A Breath of Fresh Art

Katherine Kramer rose to prominence as a tap dancer, but her Primrose Retreat is a space for all kinds of artists at a charming country home in the hills outside of Verona. The theme of this two-day event is fittingly “Democracy in Life and Art.” Performances and art installations will take place around the historic farmstead with dancers KLJ Movement, Erica Pinigis & Maritess Escueta, Katherine Kramer & Friends, Heidi Krause, and Breakthrough Dance Company; musicians Cris Plata, Tani Diakite, Sally de Broux and Joe Mirenna; spoken word artists James Botsford, Sandy Kruse, Matt Geiger, Alex Bledsoe and the TNW Ensemble Theater; and visual artists Beth Racette, Lisa Frank, Judy Robb and Levi Sherman already signed up to participate. Shows are 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, each concluding with an audience participation “talk circle.” On Sunday, teams of artists will lead workshops on the interplay of democracy and the arts. It’s a joint project of the Mount Horeb Area Arts Association and Katherine Kramer Projects; more info below and updates at katherinekramerprojects.com.

media release: Like a fresh September wind blowing in from the north, “A Breath of Fresh Art” will take to the rural stages of Primrose Retreat to explore what democracy means to artists and citizens.

The two-day event, held September 21-22 at Primrose Retreat, 1261 Highway U, Verona, will bring performing and visual artists presenting on the theme of Democracy in Life & Art.  On Saturday, Sept. 21, audience members will follow maps around an historic farmstead to take in performances and view art installations by more than two dozen dancers, musicians, spoken word artists, and visual artists. There will be two show times, 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., concluding with audience participation “talk circles.”   Advance tickets for the event cost $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and younger and are available for purchase here.  Tickets at the gate will be $35.  Group tickets are available.

Performers from Dane County and the Driftless Area arts community include dance artists,:  KLJ Movement, Erica Pinigis & Maritess Escueta, Primrose Tap Ensemble, Heidi Marilyn, and Breakthrough Dance Company. Musicians include Cris Plata, The Stop and Listen, Tani Diakite and the Afrofunksters, Sally DeBroux Trio, Bob Weinswig,  Joe Mirenna. Spoken word artists include James Botsford, Sandy Kruse, Matt Geiger, Alex Bledsoe, and the TNW Ensemble Theater. Visual artists include Beth Racette, Georgene Pomplun, Lisa Frank, Levi Sherman, Mariah Moneda, Leah Sheber,  and Maia Brunel. Art Shegonee (dancer, activist) will conduct a land acknowledgement and facilitate a talk circle.

On Sunday, Sept. 22, teams of two artists from different genres  will lead four participatory workshops on the interplay of democracy and the arts. 1:30-3 pm workshops are led by Beth Racette (visual arts) and Laura Berger (dance), and Mike Geiger (writer) and Erica Pinigis (dance). 4:00-5:30 pm workshops are led by Leah Reinardy (music) and Mariah Moneda (visual arts), and Katherine Kramer (dance) and Sally DeBroux (music).  Tickets at the door are $15. per workshop.  Reservations highly recommended.

The event is supported by the Katherine Kramer Projects, Wisconsin Arts Board, Dane Arts, WORT community radio, Create Wisconsin, and the Mount Horeb Area Arts Association.

For more information, see www.katherinekramerprojects.com