Looking at Local in a New Light
Overture Center’s four galleries create a forum for diverse artistic expression that fosters the growth of local artists, curators and arts organizations. Three galleries radiate off Rotunda Lobby and the Playhouse Gallery serves as lobby for The Playhouse Theater. Overture Galleries are free and open to the public.
Artists’ Information Upcoming Exhibitions Previous Exhibitions
Playhouse Gallery – Ho-Chunk Art: Sharing our Sacred Voice through our Art
Curated by Melanie Tallmadge Sainz
FRI, NOV 1, 2019 – SUN, JAN 5, 2020
Join us for the Ho Chunk Art Playhouse Gallery Reception FRI, NOV 1 from 6 PM – 8 PM. Enjoy indigenous hors d’oeuvres prepared by Wild Bearies and see the pageantry of the Ho-Chunk culture with exhibition dances by The Wisconsin Dells Singers and Dancers celebrating the beauty of Ho-Chunk people.
The original peoples of the Madison area are the Ho-Chunk. In English Ho-Chunk translates to People of the Sacred Voice. Despite the arduous times faced by the Ho-Chunk, their culture and creativity has endured. While there is no word for art in the Ho-Chunk language, there are words that describe beauty and goodness. These qualities will fill the space of the Playhouse Gallery. Contemporary mixed media art will be juxtaposed with traditional Ho-Chunk art forms that blend natural materials obtained through local foraging and harvest and paired with commercial art products that reflect our adaptive lifeways.
Fourteen Ho-Chunk artists from Wisconsin and beyond will provide a broad perspective of the values and traditions of their heritage. In respect of tribal elders and creative trailblazers, the art of long-time Madison residents Truman Lowe (1944 – 2019) and Harry Whitehorse (1927 – 2017) will highlight this exhibit. The contributions made by these elders have inspired countless contemporary Ho-Chunk artists to continue our legacy of preserving our culture through the arts.
Featured artists include:
Levi Blackdeer – Simone Brown – Alvena Foss – George Greendeer – Sidney Hall, Jr. – Tom Jones – Rita Kingswan – Josie Lee- Kelly Logan – Truman Lowe – Henry Payer – Christopher Sweet – Melanie Tallmadge Sainz – Harry Whitehorse
Overture Playhouse Gallery is sponsored by Norman Berven & Barbara Mittelstaedt Berven, The Arts Access Fund, a component fund of the Madison Community Foundation and by contributions to Overture Center for the Arts. Additional sponsorship for the Ho-Chunk Exhibit is provided by Ho-Chunk Gaming.
Winter 2019/20 Exhibition Cycle
In Galleries I, II, III seven artists explore themes of identity, social context, and creative process. This winter we are pleased to collaborate with Children’s Theater of Madison, expanding their production of Mockingbird to include an exhibition in our Playhouse Gallery featuring professional artists from ArtWorking.
TUE, DEC 10 – SUN, MAR 1, 2020
Reception: FRI, JAN 10, 6-8 PM | Promenade Lounge
GALLERY I – The Space Between – Rachel Durfee & Denise Presnell
Rachel Durfee and Denise Presnell use a wide range of materials and tools to produce colorful work that is both dazzling and thought-provoking. Durfee explores how we can thrive in the gap between life as it is and life as it ought to be. Presnell’s layered canvasses display a map of vigorous creativity.
GALLERY II – Human Identity Portrait Stories – Natalie Ergas, Yongchul Kwon & Jerry Jordan
Natalie Ergas, Yongchul Kwon and Jerry Jordan explore different facets of human identity. Ergas uses collage to capture the essence of individuals, focusing on female strength and stories. Kwon is a sculptor who interrogates the role of anonymity within society. Jordan’s paintings celebrate wokeness in defiance of ancient beliefs fueled by fear, hate and cruelty.
GALLERY III – Sleepwalk – Kassandra Palmer & Justin Parks
Kassandra Palmer and Justin Parks use repeated visual imagery that is both abstract and recognizable to communicate elusive aspects of the human condition. Palmer combines wood, clay, paint, paper, and graphite in her humorous compositions. Parks embodies personal experiences in collage-like images of acrylic and graphite.
Gallery hours
Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday, 9 AM – 9 PM
Saturday, 10:30 AM – 9 PM
Sunday, 12 PM – 5 PM
For more information about these exhibits, please contact our Community and Education Program Manager, Beth Racette at bracette@overture.org / 608.258.4169
