shake rag alley news
Newsletter Archive
Shake Rag Alley
In the News
- NEA Big Read of Citizen: An American Lyric
- Shake Rag Alley Earns Monarch Waystation Certification
- Condé Nast Traveler
- Top Big Read Books in Wisconsin
- Join Shake Rag Alley in Virtual Community Conversations About “Citizen: An American Lyric”
- Make and Create at Home With Shake Rag Alley’s Summer Youth Program
- Mineral Point Museum Night and June Programs at Shake Rag Alley
- BRAVA Magazine
- March Events
- Love Wisconsin Project | 2019
- Voice of the River Valley | 2019
- Midwest Weekends | 2018
- Magic 98 - Kathryn's Blog | January 2017
- Shorewest Realtors Blog | 2016
- PBS Wisconsin | 2014
- Wisconsin People & Ideas | Winter 2013
Artist mentions
workshop news
looking ahead to december 2020
Greetings from Shake Rag Alley, where our 2020 workshop season wrapped up this weekend with small, safe, and socially distanced mixed media and fiber arts classes taught by Lorraine Reynolds and Carole Spelic’, respectively. We could not be more grateful to them and all of the instructors and students who joined us for our safe and socially distanced workshop season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on public gatherings, we were able to hold just under 30% of our scheduled classes.
Of course we’re thankful to everyone who has supported us through these coronatimes. Your patience and understanding, and our participants’ compliance with our COVID-19 protocols, were the motivation we needed. Save the date for the Dec. 1 launch of our 2021 catalog in which we intend to safely host many of the workshops that had to be canceled this year and offer some exciting additions you won’t want to miss!
Our NEA Big Read of Claudia Rankine’s “Citizen: An American Lyric” also just wrapped up with the last of our Shake Rag Alley Chapter Book Club and in-person and virtual book discussion hosted by Platteville’s Rountree Gallery last week. If you weren’t able to join any of our six-week programming, our resource-rich web page continues to serve as a community resource. If you’d like a copy of Rankine’s award-winning work exposing the trauma of racism, email us to request yours before we run out of copies.
Click below to view the gallery of our workshops and events held this year, and read on for ways you can still engage with Shake Rag Alley in person or from home. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at info@shakeragalley.org or (608) 987-3292.
Beginning this week through March, our office is open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday.
looking ahead to 2021
To give you an idea of the amazing year ahead, here are some of the instructors confirmed to teach at Shake Rag Alley in 2021. Save the date to register on our website Dec. 1st!
BLACKSMITHING & WELDING
Hal Aavang, Dick Anderson
Dennis McKernan, Dave Rich
Vicki “Doc” Scherz, Bob Tuftee
Greg Winz
BUSINESS OF ART
Paul Pendola
CERAMICS
Joe Cole, Michael Imes
Joelle White, Katie White
CREATIVE WRITING
Kathleen Ernst, Steve Fuller
Doris Green, Sarah Hammond
Gary Jones, Patricia McNair
Christine Rice, Jacki Thomas
Catherine Young
CULINARY ARTS
Nicole Bujewski, Erin Rasmussen
FIBER ARTS
Maday Delgado, Suzi Dillinger
Jennie Hawkey, Helen Klebesadel
Chiaki O’Brien, Carole Spelić
Dierdra Stary, Teresa Steele
Anita White
JEWELRY
Deb Donaghue, Kaska Firor
Kieu Pham Gray, Julie Lukosaitis
Leslie Perrino, Eva Sherman
Cheryl Smeja, Sherry Viktora
Katie White, David & JoEllen Wollangk
MIXED MEDIA
Marianne Biagi, Jill Berry, Tom Cabezas
Clarissa Callesen, Kate Church
Andrea Matus deMeng, Michael deMeng
Helen Shafer Garcia, Dee Hooks
Tess Imobersteg, Laura Lein-Svencner
Leighanna Light, Richard Moninski
Deborah Petronio, Sara Post
Sarah Rehmer, Lorraine Reynolds
Roxanne Evans Stout, Jacqueline Sullivan
PAINTING & 2D ART
Serena Barton, Audrey Christie
Dawn Flores, Philip Hartigan
Richard Moninski, Ellen Rosewell
Mark Russell, Alfred Stark
RUSTIC ARTS
Hal Aavang, Dick Anderson
Jim Arendt, Amy Brier, Tom Cabezas
Nate Chambers, Michael Donovan
Elizabeth Johanna, Janice Johnson
Diana Johnston, Todd Kingery
Cathy Kitto, Max Kulick, Megan Kulick
Paul Pendola, Deb Ready, Ann Ristow
Jamie Rogness, Nick Scheuer
Pat Sellon, Dan Soman, Carole Spelić
Di Sterba, Evy Thuli, Bob Tuftee
Nancy Welch, Katie White
Lindy Wilson, David & JoEllen Wollangk
YOUTH PROGRAM
Kanndie Basting, Kate Olsen Birner
Jean Brings, Michael Christensen
Wendy Dueling, Nancy Huffman
Megan Kulick, Lesley Macaulay
Linda Meek, Chiaki O’Brien
Carole Spelić , Jacki Thomas
Kathy Warpinski, Marie Whisenant
Katie White
2021 RETREAT DATES
Jewelry Boot Camp: April 30-May 2
Writing Retreat: May 21-23
Woodlanders: July 8-11
Art Adventure: August 26-29
upcoming events
Button, buttons, buttons! And things that aren’t buttons: spinners, mirrors, key chains, and more. This month, express yourself through art or text, and also make great personalized stocking stuffer gift products.
Bring small photos (image should be about 2 inches or less – paper diameter needs to be 2 ¾”, finished button is 2 ¼”). Think: kids, grandkids, ancestors, flowers, a pet, Santa, special events, etc. How about your own portrait with your name for ease of identification when wearing a face covering? Also cartoons, special papers, text, collages, etc. The sky is the limit!
Gather safely in the Lind Pavilion, 411 Commerce St., on Wednesday, November 18, from 6:30-8:30 pm.
Workshop is limited to 9 participants. Masks are required.
Cost $5 project fee plus $1 per button-y item
Join us (and Santa!) at the Cabinet Shop for a safe and socially distant edition of one of our favorite community events of year!
Due to COVID-19, all Santa Day events will take place outside, rain/snow or shine. Santa will be on the Cabinet Shop porch for socially distanced photo ops with families at 10 a.m.-12 p.m. And while we won’t be able to welcome families to the Lind Pavilion to make gingerbread houses and other holiday crafts, take-and-make holiday crafts and sweet treats will be available on the Shake Rag Alley patio for all youth who register for photos until the event concludes at 1 p.m. Masks and social distancing will be required.
Take-and-Make Crafts & Treats: 10 am-1 pm
Many thanks to Susan Socher and Betty Hogan for chairing this year’s event!
Matt Blessing will read from and discuss his work, “Alaska Ho! Arville Schaleben and the Matanuska Valley Colony,” which appeared in the winter 2019 issue of the Wisconsin Magazine of History. Printed copies of the magazine are available in every public library across Wisconsin.
Learn more about Matt and his work on our Winter Writers Reading Series page. Watch the page for how to register to receive the Zoom link for the reading.
The Driftless Poets invite you to join them via Zoom for their December workshop to discuss and share poetry. Email for link.
New poets are always welcome, but only those who have submitted work one week prior to the workshop will receive feedback and critique. Poets take turns leading the workshops by sharing a poem that demonstrates a form or craft technique and monitoring time. Hope to see you, virtually, online!
David Southward, who divides his time between Milwaukee and Mineral Point, will read from and discuss his work, including his recently published poetry volume, Bachelor’s Buttons, published by Kelsay Books.
Learn more about David and his work on our Winter Writers Reading Series page. Watch the page for how to register to receive the Zoom link for the reading.
Shop from the comfort of home and let us ship holiday gifts to far-flung loved ones.Our online Artisan Marketplace features artwork created and donated by members of the Shake Rag Alley community, including instructors, students, and volunteers. Purchasing these creations benefits the artisans and our nonprofit. Branded merchandise supports Shake Rag Alley general operations.
Don’t forget the littlest ones! Purchase make-at-home art kits for youth of all ages. Detailed instructions and/or video demonstrations make for a stress-free creative activity.
INVITE A FRIEND IN 2021: PURCHASE A GIFT CERTIFICATE TODAY
Set any amount you choose. Gift certificates will be sent to email addresses you supply – including your own – you know you deserve it! You may enter a private message to the recipient during checkout and schedule the gift certificate to be delivered at any time within the year. Schedule now for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays!
We offer three private rooms on campus in our Coach House building and within a scenic five-minute walk are the Tuckpoint Garden Suite apartment and Roland’s Loft studio apartment. Each encompasses the charm of Mineral Point history, art, and architecture.
We’re proud members of the Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce, and encourage you to support our fellow Chamber members during your visit, or even from afar!
Please consider helping Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts to:
- provide educational experiences in visual, performing, and literary arts to adults and children
- cultivate the creativity that thrives in our rural community
- rehabilitate and preserve our historic buildings and rustic campus.
Click Here to discover various ways you might offer tax-deductible support.
Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Youth programming at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts is supported in part by a grant from the Mineral Point Community Chest and United Fund of Iowa County.
