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 the lobby for The Playhouse Theater. Overture Galleries are free and open to the public.
Artists’ Information Upcoming Exhibitions Previous Exhibitions
PLAYHOUSE GALLERY – Creative Life on the Spectrum – ArtWorking Artists
JAN 10 – MAR 1
ArtWorking artists celebrate Children’s Theater of Madison’s production of Mockingbird. In Mockingbird, Caitlin, who is on the autism spectrum, uses art to process her world. This exhibition showcases visions of the world through the eyes of professional artists with disabilities from ArtWorking as well as youth from CI Pediatric Therapy Centers and Achieving Collaborative Treatment.
Winter 2019/20 Exhibition Cycle
In Galleries I, II and 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.
ROTUNDA GALLERY – Urban Bubble – Rob, Trionna, Ariez, Savannah, Dakwon, Lamar, Artemas
DEC 14, 2019 – JAN 26, 2020
Join us for a reception with the artists of the Urban Bubble show in Rotunda Lobby MON, JAN 13, 6-8 PM
Living in and on the Urban Bubble is precarious at best. Being young, gifted and black does not equate with being understood and encouraged by the systems that be. Moving through the turmoil, we, as artists, seek to define ourselves and project our realities into the future, owning our narratives and images.
The Bubbler, in collaboration with Faisal Abdu’Allah and MMSD’s Foundations Central graduation recovery program located at the Urban League of Greater Madison, presents this art exhibition by Madison youth. Over a nine-week course held in the Bubbler Room at Central Library, URBAN BUBBLE is the culmination of conversations and productions that celebrated identity, excellence and the powers within each individual.
Faculty and staff: Faisal Abdu’Allah (UW Madison), Rob Dz (Bubbler), Jesse Vieau (Bubbler), Jennifer Tomlinson (MMSD), Kevin Evanco (MMSD), Gordon Heingartner (MMSD), Alison Stauffacher (MMSD).
Participating organizations:
Fauhaus -Faisal Abdu’Allah / UW Community Arts Collaboratory / Madison Public Library / Bubbler / Dane Arts / Scooter Software / Leila & Mickey Straus Family Foundation / Epic
Gallery hours
Monday – Thursday, 9 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday, 9 AM – 9 PM
Saturday, 10:30 AM – 9 PM
Sunday, NOON – 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
