Watrous Gallery: Intertwining portraiture and legacy
Marie Pauls
Finding connections between the disciplines is central to the Academy’s mission. We often try to build on themes from science or poetry that have inspired the artist or are inherent in their work."
Wander up to the third floor of Overture Center, and you will discover a fascinating nook dedicated to Wisconsin artists. James Watrous Gallery, a branch of Wisconsin Academy for Sciences, Arts and Letters, was established as a resident organization of Overture when the building opened in 2004.
Watrous, for whom the gallery is named, taught art and art history at UW-Madison from 1934 to 1976. With a significant legacy in the Wisconsin and campus art communities, he was a key player in founding the Elvehjem Museum of Art (now the Chazen Museum of Art) and his Paul Bunyan murals (1933) can be seen at Memorial Union.
Our Wisconsin heritage and history are integrally tied to our environment, from the resources of the land that inspired folkloric tall tales to the numerous lakes and rivers carved by glaciers millions of years ago. From November 24-February 4, visitors can explore personal legacy intertwined with environmental impact through two exhibits, Women and Water by Mary Burns (Mercer) and Of Words and Trees by Madeline Grace Martin (Milwaukee). Both artists employ natural materials to create portraits that honor the individuals and their life work.
Burns specializes in jacquard weaving, a complex loom technology that laid the groundwork for the first computers. She can translate a photograph into fiber form in stunning detail. Her exhibit at Watrous is a ripple effect of her Ancestral Women of Wisconsin project, for which she wove portraits of an elder woman from each of Wisconsin’s 12 tribes. As a conduit of this 2016 project, she was struck by the inextricable cultural link between women and water.
“I came to understand what a deep reverence native women and native communities in general have for water, and that women are generally seen as the protectors of water,” says Burns.
Mary Burns' Artwork
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Mary Burns, Asha de Vos, Sri Lanka. Marine Biologist, 2017-2023. Hand-woven cotton jacquard, 42 x 31 in. -
Mary Burns, Berta Cáceras and Austra Bertha Flores Lopez, Honduras. Activists, 2017-2023. Hand-woven cotton jacquard, 42 x 31 in. -
Mary Burns, Donnata Alupot, Marie Claire Dusabe, Diane Umutoni, African Great Lakes. Scientists, 2017-2023. Hand-woven cotton jacquard, 42 x 31 in. -
Mary Burns, Nafisa Barot, India. Activist, 2017-2023. Hand-woven cotton jacquard, 42 x 31 in. -
Mary Burns, Rachel Carson, USA. Biologist, Conservationist, Author, 2017-2023. Hand-woven cotton jacquard, 42 x 31 in. -
Mary Burns, Mildred “Tinker” Schuman, Lac du Flambeau, WI. Water-walker, Poet, Educator, Ojibwe Elder, 2017-2023. Hand-woven cotton jacquard, 42 x 31 in.
A friend introduced her to “water walks,” sacred journeys in or around a body of water, which serve to raise awareness of water issues and conservation, and it soon became clear to Burns that this portrait series went beyond her home state. It evolved into a global project that embodies 29 portraits representing 39 women water scientists and activists from over 20 countries around the world, in addition to the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Twenty-three of these are showcased at Watrous.
“We’ve had people get very emotional when seeing the exhibit,” says Burns. “My goal is to bring these women to the public, and hopefully, through their stories and portraits, inspire people to take action for the water.”
Martin’s own deeply personal exhibit is a homage to her father, and one that turns the entire concept of portraiture on its head.
“I began to focus less on the face and more on the grace of what someone has touched, experienced and created,” says Martin.
She uses a wide array of media to capture the many roles her father took on, from social worker and teacher to poet and planter of trees. Pinecone scales from the trees he planted and German-style cut paper (Scherenschnitte) magnify excerpts of poems written in his own hand.
“His pendulum swung from approaching life as a fierce machismo boxer to a man who melted over babies and picked up found nests and stray robin eggs,” says Martin of her late father. “I always felt deeply loved as a child, and I think that assurance drove me to portraiture…because being loved helps us love other people.”
Madeline Grace Martin's Artwork
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Madeline Grace Martin, Tears, 2023. Found altar, pink salt, poem by Peter Martin. 50 x 36 x17 in. -
Madeline Grace Martin, Fireflies, 2023. Pencil, linoleum print collage, acrylic, pine cone scales. 15.5 x 20 in. -
Madeline Grace Martin, There Are So Many Things, 2023. Pine cone scales, acrylic, pencil. 10.5 x 10 in. -
Madeline Grace Martin, Once Something is on a List it's Not So Easy to Lose, 2023. Hand-cut paper, approximately 120 x 72 in. -
Madeline Grace Martin, Runner, 2023. Pencil, embroidery, acrylic, collage, poem by Peter Martin, 20.5 x 16 in. -
Madeline Grace Martin, Poetry Inside, 2023. Found vessels, hand-cut paper, 16 x 14 x 4 in. -
Madeline Grace Martin, Today, My Life, 2023. Pine cone scales, hand-cut paper, acrylic, poem by Peter Martin, 27.5 x 23.5 in.
Watrous Gallery goes beyond simply featuring a full range of exceptional art by Wisconsinites. Each carefully curated exhibit is anchored in a multi-layered, interdisciplinary approach.
“Finding connections between the disciplines is central to the Academy’s mission. We often try to build on themes from science or poetry that have inspired the artist or are inherent in their work. Making those connections can also create opportunities to welcome people who might not otherwise choose to visit an art gallery,” says gallery director Jody Clowes.
Guests who are eager to delve into more detail can meet both Burns and Martin at the Artist Reception on Saturday December 2, 6-8pm. Additionally, Burns will give a virtual artist talk on January 11, 6-7pm.
The Watrous Gallery is free and open to the public Thursdays and Fridays 12-6pm, Saturdays 11-5pm and Sundays 12-5pm. Make it your primary destination or stop by Overture’s third floor next time you are here for a performance!