Pump House Regional Arts Center Newsletter - November 2022

Creative Communities Champion Award
On October 20, 2022 Allison, Kenzie and Olivia were invited on stage at the Wisconsin League of Municipalities conference in La Crosse alongside City of La Crosse Arts Board Members and Mayor Mitch Reynolds to accept the Creative Communities Champion Award. This award was presented by Anne Katz of Create Wisconsin for the 45 year partnership between Pump House Regional Arts Center, City of La Crosse - Arts Board and City of La Crosse Wisconsin.

Major gratitude for those who paved the way before us!

More on the Creative Champion Award

Thank You Volunteers!
On October 10, we had a group of volunteers from Altra Federal Credit Union join us for their fifth annual Altra Gives Back Day. They assisted one of the members from the Natural Arts Garden Club, who tend to our gardens around the Pump House. These volunteers pulled weeds and cleaned up the gardens prepping them for the coming winter.

We also had 2 other volunteers help us with the task of moving our picnic tables. This was made possible with the help of Castle Realty of La Crosse as they let us use their truck.

On October 19, the Natural Arts Garden Club did their annual fall cleaning and finished the needed preparation for the coming winter! This group volunteers their time to tend to the gardens around the Pump House a few times a year. They do a wonderful job and we appreciate them and their skills.

The Pump House is always grateful for the help of volunteers. We love being able to make and have great connections with other organizations and businesses in our community. So thank you all!

First Friday Fashion Show & Art Walk

Join us on Friday, November 4 for the First Friday Downtown Art Walk! The Pump House will be hosting a live model fashion show with Elegant Nari.

Guests will be able to ask questions on clothing, feel fabrics and even place orders. All clothing is directly sourced in India from small budding designers focused on sustainability to support local designers and workers! All clothing is handmade, and handprinted as well.

Our bar will be open for the event, so come by, have a glass of wine, enjoy some art work and discover new styles!

Facebook Event

In Our Theater

Mitzi’s Abortion: A Saint’s Guide To Late-Term Politics And Medicine In America

Oct. 27*, 28 & 29 – 7:30 PM

Nov. 3, 4 & 5 – 7:30 PM

Oct. 30 & Nov. 6 – 2:00 PM

*Indicates preview performance. Free admission. Donations appreciated.

Original story by Elizabeth Heffron

Produced by Grey Area Productions

With humor, intelligence and honesty, Mitzi’s Abortion explores the questions that have shaped the national debate over abortion, and reminds us that whatever we may think we believe, some decisions are neither easy nor simple when they become ours to make. A generous and compassionate comedy with serious themes about a young woman trying to make an intensely personal decision in a system determined to make it a political one.

Check out the this great news feature with the directors from Grey Area Productions for more insight about this performance!

WXOW News Story

Get Tickets!

Cast & Crew
Mitzi: Morgi Miller
Chuck/Expert: Jack Scharrer
Thomas Aquinas: Steven Walker
Nita: Amalia Brownell
Vera: Stacy Bruemmer
Rudolfo/Dr. Block: Joe Anderson
Tim/Geneticist: Jonathan Lamb
Sergei: Alex Attardo
Uncle Tub: Dan Radtke
Sheila/Nurse: Dominique Luecke
Reckless Mary: Chelsea McManimon-Moe

Directors: Katie Bakalars & Colin Thelen
Stage Manager: Katelyn Klieve
Sound Design: Luke Erickson
Lighting Design: Colin Thelen
Costume Design: Joe Anderson

Trapper Schoepp

Saturday, November 12

7:30 PM

Trapper Schoepp is an American singer-songwriter based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Schoepp explores themes of ghosts and rebirth, springtime and renewal on his album, May Day. The music of May Day is both a celebration of more hopeful times and a reflection of a darker past, often using the natural world as a motif.

As a Wisconsin native, it is only fitting that Trapper Schoepp has a Wisconsin based song! Check out one of his songs "On, Wisconsin" 

Get Tickets!

ReproActive
Friday, November 18, 2022
7:30 PM

Produced by Susan Fox and Diane Breeser

Free admission; donations accepted

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade earlier this year, a cacophony of dissenting voices has grown across the country. Join Susan Fox and Diane Breeser as they present Repro-Active: An Evening of Voices-in monologues, poetry, essays, short plays, and articles. There will also be a discussion with local leaders in politics and women’s healthcare.

In the haunting words of Susan B. Anthony-- “The true republic: men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less."

Updates and more information on Facebook!

Facebook Event

The Long Christmas Dinner

December 1*, 2 & 3 – 7:30 PM

December 8, 9 & 10 – 7:30 PM

December 4 & 11 – 2:00 PM

Original play by Thorton Wilder

Produced by Grey Area Productions

The Long Christmas Dinner – nine decades long – showcases the lives of several generations of then Bayard family, and some of their Christmas dinners. Wilder breaks the boundaries of time as we measure it, and invites us to partake of one long, happy Christmas dinner – past, present, and future. As generations appear, have children, wither, and depart, only the audience appreciates what changes and what remains the same.

Get Tickets!

All performance tickets are available for purchase at the Pump House, over the phone or on our website.

General Public: $30

Members: $25*

Student/Military: $15**

*log in to your online member account for discount, **tickets available at front desk of Pump House with ID

(Pricing listed does not include tax. Tax and a $3.50 convenience/handling fee will be added at check out)

View our full Performing Arts line-up 

Call to Artists!

Seeking artists to fill the galleries next season and Art Vendors at the Artspire Celebration!

- 2023-24 Gallery Season - Our call to artists represents an exciting opportunity to have your artwork juried and displayed for the La Crosse community. Exhibitions will be selected to display in one of our three galleries.

- 2023 Artspire Fine Art Vendor - Artspire is the largest, free, community arts celebration in downtown La Crosse and features a juried art fair and sale, live music, dancing, interactive arts for kids, chalk art competition and more! This years' annual Artspire celebration will be held on June 9 & 10, 2023.

All artists get the chance to win the 'Altra Artists Award' - a cash prize and recognition during Artspire 2023.

For both calls We accept a variety of mediums including photography, wood work, sculpture, fiber arts, pottery and more! This is a great opportunity for you to get your work out in the public whether you are a new artist or been creating artwork for years! Let the Pump House help you show and sell your artwork.

The call to Artists for our 2023-22 Gallery Season and Artspire fine art vendors is open from September 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023.

Apply by online application available on our website.

MORE INFORMATION

Gallery Exhibitions
September 14 – November 5

Jane Michalski
Enduring Earth
Front Gallery
Enduring Earth explores the structures of the earth through the three themes of; Bedrock Subtraction, Tectonic Shift and Rejuvenation in order to elicit a sense of wonder and appreciation for the planet. Michalski uses encaustic mixed-media paintings to express her connection to the earth and the unseen energies that connect us.

Drawn Together
Kader Gallery
One Morning each week throughout the year the Drawn Together artists meet in varied locations to draw from observation. Many local businesses, parks, and private homes have hosted the groups. The artists share their drawings informally with one another then take their sketchbooks back to further develop their ideas and images into more finished works. Drawings, paintings, sculpture, printmaking and collaged works will be shown in "Drawn Together" exhibit.

Click here for More Information