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Sesquicentennial weekend features cultural/artistic ‘tour’

August 19, 1999 By Barbara Wolff

The arts will make a strong during the Sesquicentennial Weekend, graphically illustrating that “There’s Plenty to Do at the U” Sunday, Aug. 22.

Virtually all arts – visual, musical, historic, literary, dance and more – will be represented in celebration of the university’s first 150 years.

See also:
Sesquicentennial Celebration parking tips

The day will culminate with a special edition of “Simply Folk,” the Wisconsin Public Radio smorgasbord of traditional and contemporary folk music hosted by Judy Rose. The weekly program will mark its 20th anniversary with performances by Generations, the musical mother-daughter team of Candace Kreitlow and Holly Hafermann of Mazomanie; Madisonians Michael Lee Ammons, steel guitar and Pat Kennedy, harmonica; Celtic band Far From Home, composed of present or former UW–Madison students and employees; and The Last Gaspe, a Madison contra dance ensemble.

In addition, Jack Holzhueter of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin will punctuate the music with vignettes from the history of the university, and musicians from Mexico, Colombia and Spain also will perform at the event, broadcast live, 5-8 p.m., from the Memorial Union Terrace. In case of rain, the show will broadcast from the Wisconsin Union Theater.

  • The day will begin as well as end with music at the Union Terrace. The “SoUSA”-inspired Capital City Band, conducted by retired UW–Madison music professor Jim Latimer, will provide plenty of marches, polkas, waltzes and a special tribute to Duke Ellington, noon-1:30 p.m.
  • Those able to force themselves inside the Union will be able to take advantage of a free samba/mambo lesson from Wisconsin Union mini-course instructor Malia Ferron. Choose a one-hour lesson at either 1:30 or 3 p.m., Tripp Commons.
  • Visitors will encounter more dancing “feats” at the International Dance Festival. The Asian Pacific Dance Study Group will stage an alfresco performance of ethnic and contemporary dances from Lithuania, India, Turkey, China, Polynesia and other places. Library Mall, 2-5 p.m.
  • At Memorial Library, local poets, writers and book club members will celebrate the written word with readings, 2-4 p.m. Half-hour tours of the library also will be offered, including stops at the Silver Buckle Press, specializing in historical printing techniques; the Special Collections room; and an exhibit tracing the history of libraries.
  • A few steps south of Memorial Library, the Elvehjem Museum of Art will welcome visitors to its sesquicentennial exhibition, “Makers and Users: American Decorative Arts, 1630-1820.” Nearly 100 examples of day-to-day artifacts that helped shape our nation have been drawn together for the exhibition from the prestigious Chipstone Collection in Milwaukee. In addition to the show itself, a special presentation will allow museumgoers of all ages to find out what it was like to conduct the business of life from the historic chairs on display. Docents will provide guided tours 2-4 p.m.
  • Other exhibitions, open throughout the afternoon, can be found on the second floor of the Memorial Union. The Porter Butts Gallery will feature paintings by Li Hu. Showing down the hall in the Class of 1925 Gallery will be pieces by Metalpeople, a local cooperative metal studio.
  • Also in the Union will be photographs of Ten Chimneys, the Genesee, Wis. residence of actors Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. The exhibition will be adjacent to the Wisconsin Union Theater, which the Lunts opened in 1939 with a performance of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew.”
  • The path in or out of the Union from Langdon Street will pass the Wisconsin Sesquicentennial Print Portfolio, works by 15 nationally renowned artists commemorating the 150th anniversary of the state.
  • Next door to the Union, the Red Gym Class of 1973 Gallery also will offer a sesquicentennial-themed show, “Bringing Our Past to Life,” on the second floor of the newly renovated facility.
  • And back on the Union Terrace, the Young Blood Brass Band performs hip hop and New Orleans funk and Los Leoncitos displays its New Orleans/Oaxaca fusion, 2-4 p.m.

For more information, contact Ken Chraca after Tuesday, Aug. 10, (608) 263-4086 or Cathy Gray, (608) 262-4315. For detailed scheduled information and maps, visit: http://www.uw150.wisc.edu/summer/, or pick up a free publication at local food stores, coffeehouses, bookstores, neighborhood centers, the Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau and the main branch of the Madison Public Library.