The future generation of artists grasped the limelight at UW-Whitewater as students K-12 got to display their artwork for the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Youth Art Month Show. From Jan. 27 to Feb. 8, over 150 art pieces were shown in the Crossman Gallery. This regional show was a preliminary event to the 2025 WAEA (Wisconsin Art Education Association) State Art Show, which will take place in the East Towne Hall in Madison March 2-28. It’s also the first time Whitewater has ever hosted this regional event.
While every art piece was free for anyone to see, only ones with a golden star sticker qualified for the statewide show. It’s the judges who decide which ones move on.
“What catches our eye most often,” Crossman Gallery Director Ashley Dimmig said. “When we were installing the show and reviewing works, we kept coming back to this one because we were drawn to and excited about it. Sometimes it’s the basic line color skill and other times it’s, what’s the vibe?”
South East Vice President Natalie Kotnik was also there and played a big role in the decision process. They said it’s good to have someone else helping judge so it’s not biased.
There are different standards between K-12 and college grading, but even within the grade levels, they have various awards. For example, the best animal portrait, use of color, portrait, and best of elementary, middle and high school. Natalie also has a representative at Royal and Langnickel Brush who always gives a bunch of supplies for prizes for this show specifically. They like spreading wealth so they can encourage the younger students too.
Besides the competition, it was also a community event where kids got to play with various arts and crafts. There were four different tables set up, each with a different focus. Some had painting and others had paper crafts. Current Whitewater student and art gallery administrative assistant Emma Siskoff said the purpose of these interactive tables was “Being able to have college students get the art education majors working with the community… it’s best to get that experience now before doing it full time.”
Not only that, but they also had free art prints on a table for anyone to pick up as well as snacks. Another thing offered was tours of the building where guests could see the auditorium and other parts of the Greenhill Center of the Arts. Dimmig and Siskoff both pitched in as tour guides. With so many things happening at once, it’s difficult to pick out which part of the event was a favorite
“Getting to talk with students and see their enjoyment of what they completed and what’s on the wall,” Siskoff said her favorite part was. “It took them hours to complete [their art piece] and enjoy their work. They work with it for hours on end and enjoying seeing them enjoy it with their family is one of the best things.”
The motto for this year is Healing Through Color. Each state participating will make a flag that represents their local communities and ideas. The theme was picked out by the national committee, but it’s up to each state to give their flags qualities that make it unique. Given the way Whitewater was able to balance a communal environment with a prestigious youth art show, it shows that like this year’s motto, colors can heal and help form new bonds.
