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Outreach Collected Thoughts: Collaborative Murals | Stories in Art - Wausau

VSA arts of Wisconsin offers Outreach programs throughout the state. VSA's Outreach programs are designed to broaden and expand involvement of groups and audiences in VSA programs. Typically, outreach programs are short-term initiatives that involve more than one session with a VSA artist. Outreach initiatives can be in any art medium, including visual art, movement, music, drama and creative writing.

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Collected Thoughts Collaborative Murals

Students at Prince of Peace work with Kitty Dyble-Thompson on the finished mural VSA is offering a unique opportunity for individuals with and without disabilities to create a collaborative mural in Collected Thoughts Collaborative Murals, a first-of-its-kind initiative. Milwaukee-based artist Kitty Dyble Thompson is facilitating the 10-hour project at the following sites: 1) Milwaukee Center for Independence (MCFI); 2) Wauwatosa and Franklin School Districts (project pictured below), Transitional Living Programs; 3) Mitchell Manor; 4) Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin; 5) Easter Seals Kindcare Southeastern Wisconsin; 6) Prince of Peace School/Escuela Principe de Paz; and 7) Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin. Participants at each site will collaborate to determine a mural theme that addresses issues of importance that they want to share with the Milwaukee public. The theme may be related to the ideas, interests, and needs of the participants served and/or the agency as a whole. Each group’s theme will be incorporated into a collaborative art piece that comprises 12”x12” painted panels. Thompson will work with the group to develop an original, artistic design (drawing for the Franklin-Wauwatosa group pictured below) that will be transferred to the panels. After the transfer is complete, participants will paint the panels, creating a vibrant and expressive piece.

The murals were exhibited in June at Bayshore Town Center in Glendale.

Collected Thoughts Collaborative Murals is intended to raise awareness and community interest in issues facing Milwaukee’s disability communities. When all six murals are complete, they will be displayed as a collection at various public spaces in Milwaukee, including Milwaukee City Hall. Accompanying each mural will be a description of the agency/organizations and individuals involved in the project, as well as how and why they selected their theme.

See images from the Franklin-Wauwatosa project.

See images from the EasterSeals Kindcare project.

This program is made possible in part through funding provided by:

Apple Family Foundation
Kikkoman Foods Foundation
Liberty Mutual Foundation
Loehrke Family Charitable Foundation
Northwestern Mutual Foundation
Stackner Family Foundation
VSA arts, under an award from the U.S. Department of Education
Wisconsin Arts Board, with funds from the State of Wisconsin

Wausau Stories in Art

Stories in Art Exhibit
Thanks to the success of the Stories in Art programs in Milwaukee and Madison in FY'07, the program was replicated in the Wausau area during FY'08.

The eight-hour program involved as many as 50 students (36 with disabilities) and their teachers in an in-depth exploration into fiber art. Students worked with a VSA teaching artist to create a fiber arts piece of artwork depicting their personal stories and interests, enhancing their artistic skills and encouraging their creativity and pride in their work.

The unique fiber art panels created by students with and without disabilities from John Muir Middle School, Riverview Elementary School, and D.C. Everest Middle and High Schools were exhibited at Marathon County Public Library in Wausau during June.

Stories in Art quilt made by John Muir students
John Muir Middle School quilt

Stories in Art quilt created by DC Everest Middle School students
DC Everest Middle School quilt

DC Everest High School Stories in Art quilt
DC Everest High School quilt

Riverview Stories in Art Quilt
Riverview Elementary School quilt

Support for this program has been provided by CESA 2 through a discretionary grant from the Department of Public Instruction, the George Kress Foundation, Judd S. Alexander Foundation, Thomas Jacob Foundation, Wausau Paper Foundation, VSA arts, under an award from the U.S. Department of Education and through the Community Arts Grant program of the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, with funds provided by the Wisconsin Arts Board, a state agency, the Community Foundation, and the B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation.

For more information on Wausau Stories in Art, please contact the Program Director.

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