Arts & Culture
Amber Runte models the new fashion rave: wearable art.
Arts Bash a picture of success last weekend
The Pointer
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Art and philanthropy fused harmoniously this Saturday, Jan. 31, in the Noel Fine Arts Center as community artists, students and faculty showcased and sold their work to the public at the sixth annual Arts Bash.
The Carlsten Art Gallery Director Karen Heft said the event’s main purpose, to raise money for scholarships for students in the art and design and theatre and dance departments, is increasingly important.
“With the economic times in central Wisconsin it’s becoming more and more difficult for families to send students to college,” she said. “So this is a big deal for us, to raise money for college.”
While half of the proceeds went to providing money for students now, the other half, according to director of development of the College of Fine Arts and Communication CJ Robinson, goes into an endowment so it will continue to generate revenue long beyond the lifespan of the event.
“10, or 20 years from now there will still be money that will provide for scholarships from that money put away,” Robinson said. “From that aspect, this is the largest student fundraising event on campus.”
Robinson said this year’s Arts Bash has surpassed every benchmark from previous Art Bashes.
“We’re going to break the $175,000 mark over the period of six years in terms of scholarship money,” he said. “Today is our biggest crowd ever. We have our largest number of sponsors ever. We’re really excited about it.”
Thomas Dailing, a University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point alumnus and internationally acclaimed jewelry designer, also auctioned off a $2,500 necklace, which he made especially for the event, in a raffle. Tickets for the raffle sold at $10 each or three for $20.
However, featured artwork wasn’t the only means of profit from the Arts Bash.
Before the main event on Saturday night, Jeff Morin, the dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication and contributing artist to the Arts Bash gallery, hosted a nine-course dinner for 20 people. The proceeds, which amounted to around $5,000, all went to scholarships.
Tickets for the event itself, which were $50 at the door and $45 in advance, garnered a large amount of profit as well.
Once in the door, however, attendees enjoyed food and beverages donated by 14 local restaurants.
Morin emphasized the significant contribution these local establishments and community members had in the event.
“Without the community, there’s no Arts Bash,” he said. “From the restaurants that have provided food for the event, to all of the community member artists who donated work to the exhibition, and the 500 people who will probably show up and have a great time, they’ve all supported students through scholarships.”
Of course, not all of the art enjoyed by patrons remained behind glass; students in the theater and dance department performed several original and dynamic pieces for the guests, including “Here and Now,” choreographed by Kayla Schetter and “In Dependence,” choreographed and performed by Thomas Bevin and Carolyn Marcotte.
Art and design students also displayed wearable art creations in a fashion show. Artists like Kandra Shechik, whose dress of interwoven plastic bags entitled “Post-Consumer Waste Princess,” carried both innovative and practical style down the runway with panache.
But the three-and-a-half-hour art extravaganza was much more than just show. Beyond raising money for their increasingly expensive educations, students had the opportunity to gain professional exposure for their work.
“It’s a really great opportunity to have your art displayed for the whole community so you can show what you’ve done,” said Dave Chrisinger, a student artist. “It’s also a really good way to meet professional artists that are here, and people that like your artwork enough to buy it.”
