Total Visibility

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Traci Nickolaus/Alicia Rheal

Two colorful artworks depicting individuals.

"Meet Me Where I Am" by Traci Nickolaus (left) and "Edith" by Alicia Rheal.

The current exhibit in the Rotunda Gallery, “The Fabric of Community,” features textiles, paintings and collage by Tracy Nickolaus and Alicia Rheal considering the various stages of a human life span. “Total Visibility” will dig deeper into one aspect of life — the impact of Alzheimer’s disease — with an evening of art and a panel discussion of efforts to raise awareness and fight the disease. The artists are joined by Fabu Carter (a poet and senior program manager for the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center) and Catrina Sparkman (founder of the Memory Collectors Storytelling Project).

media release: Join Overture Center on Tuesday, Dec. 3 for “Total Visibility,” an evening of dialogue, art and action focused on raising Alzheimer’s awareness in our community. From 5:30-8 p.m. at the Rotunda Stage, local artists and experts will explore the impact of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in the Black community, through creative expression and powerful stories. Don't miss this insightful discussion that blends art with advocacy to shed light on a growing health issue. A livestream option is available, too.

The free panel discussion begins at 6:15 p.m., spotlighting local artists Dr. Fabu Carter, Tracy Nickolaus, Alicia Rheal and Catrina Sparkman as they share their creative efforts to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and its deep impact on families and communities. Guests can enjoy heart-healthy refreshments in the Rotunda Studio during the reception, with time to mingle and connect with the panelists for deeper conversation and insight.

About the Panelists: 

Dr. Fabu Carter, poet and senior program manager for the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, will speak about the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer’s disease on the Black community and discuss initiatives aimed at combating the disease.

Tracy Nickolaus, exhibiting artist, will discuss her portrait work blending paint and textiles and how her personal experience with dementia and caretaking has influenced her artistic journey. 

Alicia Rheal, an artist and member of the Memory Collectors, will share her connection to Alzheimer’s and her Legacy Quilt Project, which combines portraits and domestic textiles to honor the memories and histories of individuals affected by Alzheimer’s. Rheal’s artist statement reflects the depth of her work: 

"In 2023, I joined the Memory Collectors. This group of senior women uses arts and healthy choices to fight against the onset of Alzheimer’s—a disease that took my own father. Working with these incredible women inspired the Legacy Quilt Project. Each small quilt is a collaboration with the subject using meaningful fabrics as a base for the integration of a portrait inspired by their narratives." 

Catrina Sparkman, founder of Ironers Press, The Creators Cottage and the Memory Collectors Storytelling Project, will highlight her community efforts to fight Alzheimer’s through art, quilting, storytelling and promoting healthy lifestyle choices such as exercise and nutrition. Sparkman’s Memory Collectors Storytelling Project emphasizes the importance of community support and artistic expression in delaying the onset of dementia. 

• Date: Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 

• Time: 5:30-8 p.m. (Panel begins at 6:15 p.m.) 

• Location: Rotunda Stage, Overture Center for the Arts 

• Refreshments: Heart-healthy snacks available from 5:30-8 p.m. in the Rotunda Studio 

This Overture Galleries event is free and open to the public. Overture Center for the Arts is committed to fostering awareness, inclusion and education through extraordinary cultural experiences. 

Celebrating 20 years in Madison, Wis., OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that features seven state-of-the-art performance spaces and five galleries where national and international touring artists, nine resident companies and hundreds of local artists engage people in more than 500,000 educational and artistic experiences each year. Overture’s mission is to support and elevate our community’s creative culture, economy and quality of life through the arts. overture.org

Winter Exhibits:

Galleries I, II & III: Tuesday, December 10 - Sunday, March 2, 2025.

Playhouse Gallery: Tuesday, November 26 – Sunday, March 9, 2025

Rotunda Gallery: Tuesday, November 19 - Sunday, February 23, 2025

Reception: Friday, January 17, 5:30pm - 8:30pm

The Fabric of Community

Tuesday, November 19 - Sunday, February 23, 2025

Textile, paint and collage portraits celebrate life at all stages in “Fabric of Community.” The work of Traci Nickolaus and Alicia Rheal explores a range of experiences and exposes the strength and fragility of individuals through meditation on the present and reflections of the past. 

EVENT: Total Visibility

Tue, Dec 3, 5:30pm - 8pm | Rotunda Stage

Hear from Alicia Rheal, Traci Nickolaus, Catrina Sparkman and Dr. Fabu Carter as they discuss their work around Alzheimer’s Awareness.