The Rita

The Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities • University of Wisconsin-Parkside

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The multi-storied Brookwood Entrance is named in honor of the Heide family home on County Highway A, northwest of the UW-Parkside campus. In 1931, Christen P. Heide reconstructed the home, brick by brick, after moving the building from its original Kenosha location along the Lake Michigan shoreline at 50 69th St. Christen’s son Charles and his wife, Kathryn, live in the home today. Christen P. Heide was a generous, philanthropic Kenosha industrialist during the first half of the 20th century. His passions included education, nature, family and faith.

“Growth in any societyis driven through understanding and appreciation of the arts and humanities. Through the Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Artsand Humanities we will learn together a deeper respectfor social responsibilityand community.”

Bryan Albrecht, PresidentGateway Technical College

Welcome to the Rita Tallent Picken

Regional Center for Arts and Humanities.

When I arrived at the University of

Wisconsin-Parkside just a few years

ago, this amazing project was already

in motion. In fact, some of our campus

“veterans” will tell you the plans have been

in the works for more than 20 years.

Now, thanks to the hard work and

dedication of our campus planning team,

the Wisconsin Division of State Facilities

and the Department of Administration,

the University of Wisconsin System, HGA,

Miron Construction and many other

valued business partners...the wait

is over. Theatre productions are taking

place in the new Black Box Theatre; art

exhibits adorn the walls in three beautiful

art galleries; and music is fi lling the

incredible Frances Bedford Concert Hall.

The Hallmarks of the University

of Wisconsin-Parkside can be found

throughout this building: Student Success;

Academic Excellence; Diversity and

Inclusiveness; and, of course, Community

Engagement. The Rita — as it is quickly

becoming known — exemplifi es not only

the mission of our university, but the vision

of its namesake, Rita Tallent Picken. From

her tireless eff orts to grow the UW-Kenosha

Center into what is today the University

of Wisconsin-Parkside, to establishing

the Capsule College, Rita Tallent Picken

understood the importance of connecting

higher education to our communities.

I invite you to see for yourself. Please

join us for the grand opening, Saturday

evening, January 28. And make plans

to attend many of the more than 300

concerts, plays, art exhibits, shows and

readings during 2012 as we celebrate the

Year of the Arts and Humanities.

Debbie Ford, Chancellor

University of Wisconsin-Parkside

Debbie Ford, Chancellor

University of Wisconsin-Parkside

on the coverArtist Steve Feren’s work “The Life Expressive” welcomes visitors to the Rita Tallent Picken

Regional Center for Arts and Humanities. Feren was inspired by the passion of Ferdinand

Cheval, a retired postman in the south of France who spent more than 30 years of his life

creating Le Palais Idéal. Cheval — armed with only a wheelbarrow, bucket and trowel

— built an imaginary castle, a wonder of the creative world.

1 january 2012 the rita uw-parkside

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The grand opening of the

Rita Tallent Picken Regional

Center for Arts and Humanities

will be held Saturday, January 28,

2012. The open house, running

from 6:30–8:30 p.m., features self-

guided tours and performance

and exhibit “menus.” Additionally,

complimentary desserts

and a cash bar will be available.

A more detailed event schedule

appears below:

6:30 p.m.Arrival and Registration

7 p.m.Act I Performance “Menu”

• Music Performances Frances Bedford Concert Hall

• Theatre Performances Black Box Theatre

• Art Exhibits and Demonstrations Art Galleries and Art Studios

• Humanities Presentations

7:30 p.m. Act II Performance “Menu”

• Music Performances

• Theatre Performances

• Art Exhibits and Demonstrations


8 p.m.Final Performance “Menu”

• Music Performances

• Theatre Performances

• Art Exhibits and Demonstrations


8:30 p.m. Event Concludes

grand openingschedule

2 uw-parkside the rita january 2012

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vision Through the Rita Tallent Picken Regional

Center for Arts and Humanities, the University of

Wisconsin-Parkside will be recognized as a regional

educational leader and community partner for the

arts and humanities, supporting and promoting

academic and artistic programs that contribute

to the cultural vitality and economic growth of

southeastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois.

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is

proud to partner with arts and humanities

organizations throughout southeastern

Wisconsin, including Black-Eyed Press,

Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, Bruce Niemi

Sculpture Gallery, Burlington Area School

District, Carthage College Gallery, Choral

Arts Society of Southeast Wisconsin, City

of Kenosha Commission on the Arts, the

Civil War Museum, ExposeKenosha.com,

Gateway Technical College, Kenosha Area

Business Alliance, Kenosha Area Chamber

of Commerce, Kenosha Area Convention

and Visitors Bureau, Kenosha Community

Foundation, Kenosha Public Museum,

Kenosha Symphony, Kenosha Unifi ed School

District, Lakeside Players, Lemon Street

Gallery, Mathis Gallery, The Prairie School,

Racine Art Center, ArtSpace Gallery, Racine

Arts Council, Racine Art Guild, Racine Art

Museum, Racine Community Band, Racine

Community Foundation, Racine Heritage

Museum, Racine and Kenosha public

libraries, Racine Symphony, Racine Theatre

Guild, Racine Unifi ed School District, Rhode

Opera House, Sixth Street Theatre, Southeast

Wisconsin Performing Arts Kenosha, and the

Windows of Downtown Kenosha Project.

core values The Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center

for Arts and Humanities supports and values:

• Academic Excellence

• Artistic Opportunity

• Cultural Enrichment

• Economic Vitality

• Freedom of Expression

• Enhanced Communication

• Diversity and Inclusiveness

• Creativity and Innovation

• Community Engagement

strategic goals• To continually enrich and promote exceptional

academic programs in the arts and humanities that

are recognized for their excellence and valuable

contributions to the region

• To create and support a synergy among all arts and

humanities disciplines, resulting in high quality

performances, presentations, and exhibitions

• To explore and express the complexity of the

human condition

• To serve as a regional educational and arts

facility and facilitator that provides diverse

populations with meaningful and accessible cultural

experiences and opportunities while encouraging

emerging artists and audiences of all ages

• To enhance the region’s image by stimulating

the fi nancial and creative economies of the

campus and the communities it serves

• To foster collaboration with local and regional

arts and humanities groups, bringing

UW-Parkside programs to community venues

and welcoming community organizations

to have a presence on campus

Trenton Baylor, Art DepartmentTony Brzoskowski, Campus Technology

ServicesMichael Clickner, Theatre ArtsRobert Czarny, Campus Technology ServicesDarice Damata-Geiger, Theatre ArtsJohn Desch, Facilities PlanningLeon Fasano, Facilities PlanningAlvaro Garcia, Music DepartmentLee Goldesberry, Campus Technology

ServicesGail Gonzalez, Modern LanguagesCheryl Gundersen, Administration and Fiscal Aff airsKeith Harris, Theatre ArtsJames Heller, Police and Public Safety

Rhonda Kimmel, Registrar’s Offi ceDon Kolbe, Facilities ManagementSue Lemens, Registrar’s Offi ceBrandi Liantonio, English DepartmentJames McKeever, Music DepartmentJay McRoy, English DepartmentMegan Mullen, Communication DepartmentDavid Olsen, Facilities ManagementAlan Russell, Administration and Fiscal Aff airsKaren Sorensen, Fine ArtsWilliam Streeter, Administration and Fiscal Aff airsSteve Wallner, Student LifeSkelly Warren, Theatre ArtsDean Yohnk, College of Arts and Sciences

campus communication group

community art partners


left: The music wing of The Rita features ample exterior light, contemporary colors and bold design.

above: The exterior of The Rita seamlessly blends with existing UW-Parkside buildings.

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upper right: Students enjoy one of the many new casual meeting spaces that dot

The Rita. lower: The 340-seat Frances Bedford Concert Hall, the fi rst space on the

UW-Parkside campus designed especially for musical performances, debuted in

December with two sold-out performances of Handel’s “Messiah.”

Seeing all there is to see in the Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities

— quickly becoming known as “The Rita” —takes a little time. After all, the entire project was really multiple projects rolled into one.

the tour


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There were expansion projects

on the north and south sides of the

former Communication Arts Building.

Much of the existing portion of the

building was remodeled. Then there

were partial remodeling projects

in Molinaro Hall and Wyllie Hall,

along with parking-lot and roadway

updates and reconfi gurations.

Finally, an outdoor art facility

was constructed on the east side of

Wood Road. This prefabricated metal

building will be used for art projects

that require a high level of ventilation.

Touring The Rita actually starts

outside where a new roadway

confi guration creates easier access to

the main entrance, and easier access

to the enlarged parking areas.

Next to the main entrance, a

stunning art creation by Steven Feren

welcomes visitors. Feren’s “The Life

Expressive” celebrates the creative eff orts

of Ferdinand Cheval, a retired postman

in the south of France. In 1879, Cheval

began building a “natural temple.” For

the next 30 years, it was his life’s work.

Feren’s artwork embraces the idea that

hard work and persistence create the

foundation for creativity to fl ourish.

Inside, the spacious Brookwood

Entrance is the gateway to music

venues, theatres, art galleries, design

studios and classrooms.

The highlight of the new south

wing is the 340-seat Frances Bedford

Concert Hall. This is the fi rst space on

the UW-Parkside campus designed

especially for musical performances.

The space is beautiful. What truly sets

it apart, however, are the superior

acoustics. The south wing also

features choral and instrumental

rehearsal halls, and state-of-the-art

individual and group practice rooms.

The building expansion to the

north creates more room for theatre

arts students to rehearse, and design

and build the sets, costumes, and

other technical elements necessary

for a live theatre production.


upper right: The expanded Theatre Design Studio lies in a north-side addition

to the former Communication Arts building. upper left: The new multi-storied

Brookwood Entrance welcomes visitors and provides a friendly meeting space. lower left: The 150-seat Black Box Theatre is easily confi gured for small performances.

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The Black Box Theatre, which seats

150, can be confi gured in a variety of

ways. Two new rehearsal studios may

also host smaller performances.

The remodeled and expanded

scenic shops are named in honor

of the Klopcic family. Dick and Betty

Klopcic founded the Fireside in 1964

and in 1978 opened a professional

theatre in Fort Atkinson, Wis. In 1986,

the Klopcics formed a partnership

with the UW-Parkside Theatre Arts

Department to have Fireside sets

and props constructed on campus.

Over the years, grants from the

Fireside Theatre have funded the

salaries of multitudes of UW-Parkside

faculty and staff , and provided learning

opportunities for hundreds of students.

Step into the Fine Arts Gallery;

you may think you’ve found another

new portion of the building. Actually,

the Fine Arts Gallery is part of the

remodeling, as is the Regional Center

Gallery adjacent to the Main Stage

Theatre lobby, and the UW-Parkside

Foundation Gallery located near the

Art Department studios.

The 2,000-square-foot Fine

Arts Gallery is a museum-quality

space that hosts exhibitions with

an interdisciplinary character. The

Regional Center Gallery presents

work by local and regional artists,

and the Foundation Gallery features

student exhibitions and solo shows

by emerging professional artists.

Additional new Art Department

spaces in The Rita include print-

making, painting, drawing, and fi ber

and textile studios. Sculpture and

ceramics studios have been moved

to a remodeled space in Molinaro

Hall. Remodeled space in Wyllie Hall

is now home to 3-D animation

and digital-art computer labs.

Back in the Rita, the Dhaliwal

Modern Languages Laboratory on

the L1 level highlights expanded

lecture halls, classrooms and learning

environments for the humanities.


upper left: Part of a three-level music wing, the Choral Rehearsal Hall features

adjustable acoustics to match the size of the choir. lower left: The sculpture studio

is part of expanded, renovated space in Molinaro Hall. right: A group of students

participate in limbering exercises in the new Theatre Rehersal Studio A.

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7� ��january�2012��the rita uw-parkside

“I applaud the vision and determination of UW-Parkside to partner with Kenosha and Racine.... This powerful collaboration builds the regionalcommunity fromits imaginative core...”Barbara Lawton, Chair of Wisconsin Arts Board

and Former Lieutenant Governor

The UW-Parkside Foundation Gallery, one of three galleries in The Rita, provides space for student exhibitions.

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Kitty Picken believes her stepmother — and

fellow adventurer — Rita Tallent Picken would be

quietly pleased to have her name associated with

the University of Wisconsin-Parkside’s new arts and

humanities center.

“I think she would not have thought of this on

her own and if she’d been here — and I suggested

it — she would have probably thought it was

too much. But the idea, if it were presented to

her on a platter with no way of refusal, she would

become very quickly used to it,” Kitty said. “She had

a tendency, because of her natural humility, to

protest…but not hard.”

The building her name now graces, the Rita Tallent

Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities —

aff ectionately known on campus as “The Rita” —

embodies many of the things Rita strived for when

the Kenosha campus was created in the 1960s —

and that she helped nurture during the next decade.

It is appropriate that buildings with the name “Tallent” on them now bookend the University of Wisconsin-Parkside campus. Tallent Hall represents the beginning and now the Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities is the present and future of the university.

rita tallent picken:educator, traveler, lifelong learner

“Rita loved the arts, she loved culture,” Kitty said.

“She would be thrilled to know her name is on a

building that will host such a variety of artistic and

cultural events.”

Rita, along with her fi rst husband, Bernard

Tallent, was instrumental in the creation of

UW-Parkside. Kitty said Rita was proud when

Tallent Hall was posthumously named for her fi rst

husband. Tallent led the two-year UW-Kenosha

campus and strongly advocated a four-year

campus be opened here. Rita’s voice was part of

the chorus advocating UW-Parkside’s creation.

Joining the university’s administration shortly

after the campus opened, Rita naturally gravitated

toward community engagement, making it her

mission to bring the campus to people and people

to the campus.

“She felt very strongly that it was important for

her to be out in the community,” Kitty said.

1919: Rita Wex born in Wausau,

Wis. Last of seven sisters.

1938: Rita graduates high school

and attends Wausau

Extension Center.

1939: Rita transfers

to UW-Madison.

1942: Rita graduates after “three

glorious years in Madison.”

She is hired to teach

English in Sheboygan.

1945: Rita joins the Red Cross to

help with the war eff ort.

She was assigned to Brazil

after one month of train-

ing in Washington, D.C.


UW-Parkside fi le photo

of Rita Tallent Picken.

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orld

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Growing up in Wausau, Rita followed her two

passions — education and travel — to become

a lifelong learner long before the term existed.

She taught English in Sheboygan and California

before spending a year in Brazil with the Red Cross.

Returning home to teach English at what would

become UW-Marathon County, she met Tallent, a

young man from Kentucky by way of UW-Madison.

One of Tallent’s professors suggested he go to

1946: After returning home to

the Wausau area, Rita

begins to teach at the

UW-Extension Center. She

meets Bernard Tallent.

1948: Bernard is hired to teach

political science and be

director of the Kenosha

UW-Extension. Rita and

Bernard marry March 29.

1949: Kenosha Center moves to

new building downtown,

now the Municipal Building.

‘50-’60: Enrollment expands.

Bernard becomes full-time

administrator. Rita teaches

occasional English classes

at Racine Center. Property

on Washington Road is

purchased for new

UW-Kenosha building.

1961: New UW-Kenosha building,

now Bradford High School,

opens Nov. 1.

1965: Bernard dies Oct. 28.

State Legislature approves

a new four-year campus

in southeastern Wisconsin.

1966: Kenosha selected as site for

new campus.

1967: Rita accepts an NDEA grant

to attend California State

College for a master of

science degree in student

personnel service.

1968: Rita off ered director

of school and campus

relations by UW-Parkside

Chancellor I.G. Wyllie.

1969: Rita named “Woman of the

Year” by the Kenosha News.

1970: Tallent Hall dedicated

May 1.

‘70-’74: Rita promoted to assistant

to the chancellor and

coordinator for community

services. Rita helped fi nd

assisted living for retired

English instructor Beryl

Whitney with the help

of Doris Picken (daughter

of Peerless Confection

founder) and her

husband, Bob.

1975: Doris Picken dies. Rita

attends funeral in Chicago.

After several months Bob

Picken asks to see Rita.

After several visits, he

launches a campaign to

make Rita his wife.

1976: Rita and Bob marry on

May 1. Rita kept her job

at UW-Parkside for a year

and a half. Bob

commuted to Kenosha

on weekdays and Rita

went to Hyde Park

on weekends.

1978: Rita resigns from

UW-Parkside and

sells Kenosha home.

1999: Bob dies Dec. 24

at the age of 89.

2007: Peerless Confection

closes its doors April 30.

Rita served on Peerless

board of directors

for 25 years.

2009: Rita dies Nov. 16.

Wausau to teach for a semester. It turned into a

longer-term commitment. Kitty picks up the story:

“At the end of the semester, the professor called

and said, ‘Okay, Bernard, thank you so much. If

you want to come back to Madison you can. We

didn’t mean that you have to stop your education

altogether.’ And Bernard said, ‘You know, I like it

here. I think I’m going to stay.’ And the professor

said: ‘What color are her eyes?’”Rita Tallent Picken

(left) and friends.


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The couple traveled south in 1948, where Tallent

would lead the Kenosha campus for the University

of Wisconsin Extension until his death in 1965.

After joining UW-Parkside, Rita started a program

for other lifelong learners called Capsule College.

“This was a way of getting the community out

here, getting them to see the campus, getting

them to make the drive here,” Kitty said.

Started in 1971, the fi rst Capsule College took

one day and the class schedule fi t on a single

page. Rita worked on the program with Kim

Baugrud, a now-retired UW-Extension professor.

By 1977, when Kitty became involved as a

teacher, Capsule College was growing. At its peak,

Baugrud said, Capsule College attracted a couple

of thousand adults for three days of continuing

education.

By then, Rita had met and married candy

executive Robert Picken; she resigned from

UW-Parkside in 1978 to live full time in Chicago.

There, she continued as a community activist

serving on the board of the local settlement house

and becoming involved with the Oriental Institute,

a museum devoted to the ancient Near East.

Rita also travelled, visiting Africa and Asia along

with frequent trips to Europe and destinations

across the United States.

“Both of us discovered we liked roads trips,”

Kitty said, recalling a host of excursions to Florida,

taking a diff erent route each time, and numerous

trips to Kenosha for theatre events and to visit the

university and friends. “I don’t know how many

times I drove back from Kenosha at midnight.”

Rita Tallent Picken

with her step-daughter

Kitty Picken and their dog Honey.

The naming of the newest UW-Parkside building in honor of Rita Tallent Picken was part of a $3.5 million donation made by Kitty Picken. For many reasons, placing her name on the regional center for arts and humanities would have pleased her stepmother and good friend: “The important thing,” Kitty said, “is that it’s the arts building, and that it’s a community building, and it’s Parkside. All of those things would have made it very special to her.”


Kitty Picken at her home in Hyde Park, Ill.

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When the Frances Bedford Concert Hall

debuted with two sold-out performances

of Handel’s “Messiah” in December, one

member of the orchestra was thrilled

and a little relieved to have the new

performance space open. That orchestra

member, the harpsichord player, also

happened to be the person whose name

graces the venue: Emerita Professor of

Music Frances Bedford.

“When I fi rst saw the completed hall I

thought, ‘At last we fi nally have a concert

hall.’ Being a native Missourian, I had to

see it to believe it — the old ‘Show-Me’

mentality, I guess,” Professor Bedford said.

Before retiring from teaching in

1995, Professor Bedford spent 25 years

performing and attending campus

concerts in less-than-inspirational

surroundings.

“I had always hoped and dreamed of

an intimate space for playing chamber

music,” she said. “No more playing in

converted classrooms or uninspiring

science lecture halls.”

Professor Bedford’s $500,000 gift

ensured that UW-Parkside students would

no longer have to present their music in

spaces better suited for plays, fi lms, or the

spoken word. Of course, the essence of a

music performance space is its acoustics;

when the acoustics are right — and

the concert hall’s acoustics are right in

Professor Bedford’s opinion — music

becomes an otherworldly experience.

“The hall is acoustically perfect! That

allows a player not only to hear himself

but all the other instruments in the

ensemble, making for the best integrated

sound possible. An acoustically perfect

hall lets the sound ‘bloom’ into space and

momentarily create the illusion of another

dimension,” she said. “This facet of the hall

was the number-one priority for me and

I’m happy to say they succeeded.”

Following a performance of “Messiah,”

UW-Parkside Provost Terry Brown quoted

a visitor from Milwaukee — who has

heard music performed in some of the

best venues in the world — as saying

the Frances Bedford Concert Hall is, “the

fi nest concert hall she had ever been in.”

Another called it “world class.”

Professor Bedford agrees, saying “it

compares most favorably with other

venues around the world,” a comparison

she can make because she toured the

Midwest and Europe extensively with her

son Monte as the harpsichord and oboe

playing Bedford Duo.

When asked how it felt to know she

was instrumental in making such a

performance space available to current

and future UW-Parkside students,

Professor Bedford demurred, saying “I only

hope that I have made a good long-term

contribution to the world of music and to

the community.”

With every note played and every song

voiced in the concert hall bearing her name,

Professor Bedford’s contribution to music

and the community fulfi lls that hope.

acoustically perfect


Focus on sound quality delivers ‘world–class’ concert venue

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the acoustic perspective Embracing the belief that world-class acoustics

can be achieved within challenging budgeting

parameters, Acoustic Dimensions worked to

achieve spaces to serve the university’s music

program exceptionally well. The large volume

above ceilings and catwalks in the Frances Bedford

Concert Hall helps support strong natural acoustic

environments appropriate for musical groups large

and small. Combined with adjustable acoustic

curtains and quiet mechanical systems, spaces can

be altered to eff ectively accommodate diff erent

performance types — from a delicate harpsichord

recital to a large brass band concert.

To enable simultaneous use of performance

and rehearsal spaces, essentially three separate

structures were constructed in the building to

prevent the transfer of sound energy from one

space to another. With a collaborative and proactive

design process, this was accomplished with minimal

impact on the cost of the building. The entrances to

each space feature sound- and light-lock vestibules

to prevent disruption from outside activity.

Mechanical systems for the performance

spaces were designed to be silent in operation

to maximize the dynamic range of expression for

performers, creating an acoustical environment

that allows performers to facilitate memorable

bonds with their audience.


above: Emerita Professor of Music Frances Bedford sitting in the concert hall

that now bears her name. left: 340 seats fi ll the Frances Bedford Concert Hall.

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“Throughout history, artistic expression and diverse conversations have inspired and transformed communities. The arts and humanities have demonstrated their unbelievable power to serve as a catalyst for bringing about an unbelievable renaissance and rebirth for mankind. The vision and mission of The Rita is founded in educational achievement, artistic expression, community engagement, economic vitality, and meaningful links between the campus and diverse communities we serve. The Rita belongs to all of us in our diverse communities as a “hub” and “home” where we can come together to experience, explore, express, and celebrate what it means to be human.”


Dean Yohnk Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

“It was a dream for so long to have this wonderful space. Now, it is here and we are fi nally able to stretch our wings. With this new building we will be able to explore new technologies, produce plays in more innovative ways, and give our students the freedom to work on their own material. We have a terrifi c group of theatre students and they spend so much of their time in the theatre. Now they have places to meet and rehearse, space in which to study and design, and so much more. The Rita affi rms the importance of what we do. It will allow us to be more collaborative with our university colleagues and the community. For many of us, it is home and it is beautiful!”

Lisa KornetskyChair, Theatre Arts Department

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• 163,000-square-foot facility transforms the

former Communication Arts Building into a

state-of-the-art education and performance

space; 91,000 square feet of renovated space

and 72,000 square feet of new construction

• The Music Department occupies a new

addition on the south side of the building,

the Theatre Arts and Art departments occupy

an addition and renovated space on the

north side; the new Brookwood Entrance

lobby is on the west side

• A three-level music wing includes the 340-

seat Frances Bedford Concert Hall, rehearsal

rooms, practice studios, music technology lab,

and music library

• The Frances Bedford Concert Hall features

maple paneling on the fi rst level, absorptive

panel curtains that can be acoustically

adjusted, and refl ective maple acoustical

clouds; diff usion ventilation fi ltered from

under the fl oor protects acoustical integrity

• 2-D art spaces on the ground level

include textile, drawing, printmaking

and painting studios, the Fine Arts Gallery,

a 2,000-square-foot museum quality space

with 18-foot ceilings, and the UW-Parkside

Foundation Gallery

• Theatre-arts wing includes

the 150-seat Black Box Theatre,

the Fireside Theatre Scenic Shops, renovated

Main Stage Theatre lobby connected to

the Brookwood Entrance and Regional Art

Gallery, two rehearsal rooms, and props,

costume, and theatre design studios

• New 85-seat lecture hall on the concourse

level of the theatre arts/2-D art wing, and

fi ve general-use classrooms on the fi rst level

• 3-D art for ceramics and sculpture

consolidated in renovated space in Molinaro

Hall; new Digital Arts & Animation Center,

and Distance Education Classroom relocated

to renovated space in Wyllie Hall

the fact sheet

above: A student diligently works in the print making studio. lower left: At night,

‘The Life Expressive’ illuminates; playfully welcoming guests to The Rita.

“The Rita provides the physical space and the fi nancial support the Art Department needs to think more broadly about what we teach, how we teach, and the communities that we serve. It has brought about a fresh perspective to our curriculum, research and creative activity, programming, and outreach. The Rita has fi nally united the arts and humanities and has created the desire for more interdisciplinary collaboration. As The Rita grows into its title as the regional center for arts and humanities I envision that the space will also become the center for connection and partnership with local and regional businesses, nonprofi t and arts organizations.”

Trenton BaylorChair, Art Department

“After decades of dreaming and planning, the Music Department now has a state-of-the-art facility in which to teach and perform. Its centerpiece, the Frances Bedford Concert Hall, features adjustable acoustics, a large fl exible stage, beautiful maple paneling, and a wrap-around balcony. In addition to the concert hall, we now have rehearsal halls for ensembles and choirs, a music technology lab, numerous practice rooms and other specialized spaces. Our students will benefi t from all these spaces, and will be encouraged to reach the highest level of music study and performance. We look forward to sharing our spaces with audiences as well as musical organizations.”

James McKeeverChair, Music Department

“Given UW-Parkside’s location between two major urban centers, the Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities providesan essential space where artists can converge and share their skills and perspectives. Poetic gestures

— be they written, aural, or visual (or some combination of the three)

— have long been a vital component of my daily experience, and I look forward to seeing how this incredible arts center further galvanizes a region fi lled with gifted visionaries and talented students eager to expand their aesthetic horizons.”

Jay McRoyChair, English Department

19548

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919555

9195

54

919860 919918

7856 W. Appleton Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53218

Phone: 414.562.9266 Fax: 414.445.9679

Email: [email protected]

Congratulations! The expansion of your new facility

is an asset to the school and community. It was a pleasure

working on such a great project.

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Some things are just meant to

be. When Michael Clickner left the

Fireside Theatre in Fort Atkinson, Wis.,

to move back to Racine and be closer

to his parents, he may have believed

his Fireside days were over.

Clickner, who is now the Fireside

Theatre technical director and scenic

lab supervisor at the University of

Wisconsin-Parkside, worked for the

Racine Theatre Guild for a few years

before getting a call from Skelly Warren.

“One day out of the blue, Skelly

called me and asked if I wanted to

work at UW-Parkside building sets for

the Fireside,” Clickner said.

professionalpartnership

Warren, an emeritus professor

of design and technical production

at UW-Parkside, remembered

Clickner when the two fi rst met

working on the Fireside production

of “Hello Dolly.”

“We worked well together,”

Clickner said. “I have great feelings

for the Fireside and I, of course, said

yes. It was the best of both worlds.”

When Dick and Betty Klopcic

opened the Fireside in 1964,

professional theatre was not part

of the operation.

“My parents started the theatre

business in 1977 and we got involved

with UW-Parkside when we re-did

our art gallery into a theatre back

in the early 80s,” said Rick Klopcic,

the son of Dick and Betty Klopcic.

Today, Rick Klopcic operates the

Fireside Theatre with his wife, Jane,

and their son, Ryan.

“The partnership helps us

both,” Rick Klopcic said. “It helps

the UW-Parkside scenic shops hire

professional people who can then

teach the students.

“It’s kind of an extension of their

education for the students to come

over here and load in and tear down

a show, and see the whole thing put

together with Broadway actors.

And it helps us get our sets and props

built. It’s kind of a neat situation.”

The partnership between the two

organizations was formally honored

with the naming of the set design

and construction space in the Rita

Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts

Humanities as The Fireside Theatre

Scenic Studios.

“It is such an honor, I know my dad

would be proud,” said Rick Klopcic.

In March 2011, Gov. Scott

Walker presented the Wisconsin

Department of Tourism Legacy Award

posthumously to Dick Klopcic.

Since 1986, the UW-Parkside and Fireside Theatre partnership has been a hit

The Fireside was founded in 1964 by Dick and Betty Klopcic. In 1978, the Klopcic Family opened a professional theatre and as an extension of their commitment to excellence, formed a unique partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Theatre Arts Department in 1986. In the years that followed, grants from the Fireside Theatre to the Theatre Arts Department for the creation of scenery and props have funded the salaries of multitudes of staff and faculty working on this partnership. The Klopcics believe that God has richly blessed their family and business. They, in turn, have been a blessing to our campus and our community.

Text from The Fireside Theatre Scenic Studios dedication plaque:

Dick and Betty Klopcic.

918

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The opening of the Rita Tallent Picken

Regional Center for Arts and Humanities

comes at a time when those involved

with economic development are paying

much closer attention to a newly defi ned

industry cluster — the creative economy.

“There are various versions of how

people defi ne the creative economy,” said

Christine Harris, owner of Christine Harris

Connections and a consulting adviser to

Creative Alliance Milwaukee. “The way we

describe it is a collection of businesses,

organizations and individuals who

produce goods and services that originate

in aesthetic, cultural or creative content.”

Harris sees great value in a community

having a balance of industry sectors. “As

we have found here, if you are overly

dependent on one industry sector, and in

this case we have been overly dependent

on manufacturing, you don’t have a

balance that can ebb and fl ow with the

ups and downs of any one sector,” she said.

Not all businesses may realize

their connection with the creative

economy. “Creative industries is a new

amalgamation of businesses under that

nomenclature,” Harris said. “If you were to

go to an advertising business in Kenosha

and ask how they like being a part of the

creative economy, they might say, ‘What?

What are you talking about?’”

Traditionally, for the purposes of

government statistics and industry

analysis, businesses such as advertising

agencies or even architectural fi rms were

classifi ed as a professional service.

In Wisconsin’s M7 Region (Kenosha,

Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth,

Washington and Waukesha counties)

there are about 66,000 people working

in the creative economy, and receiving $2

billion in wages. Of the 4,100 businesses

identifi ed in the M7 creative economy,

50 percent employ 10 people or less, a

quintessential sweet spot in the area of

creative economy“Southeast Wisconsin’s economy and prosperity will depend less on how much it produces and more on what it produces, less on its cost of living and more on quality of living...”

— Creativity Works! Milwaukee Regional Creative Industries Project

economic development.

“We all know that a creative community

attracts more creatives,” Harris said. “When

you improve regional attractiveness, you

improve quality of life, and you improve

quality of place. Architects and graphic

designers don’t stop being creative at 5

o’clock; where are they going to get their

creative stimulation?”

That’s where resources like the Rita

Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and

Humanities enter the picture. Without the

opportunity for creative stimulation, the

region is less attractive overall.

Another value of the University of

Wisconsin-Parkside and its new center

for arts and humanities, Harris said, is

the combination of talent, research and

learning. “A university, because of its link

between students and the talent pipeline,

the research and teaching, and the

business community at large, gives you

an opportunity to not only help feed the

growth of the creative economies

but also to research and measure the

impact of the creative industries on the

rest of the economy.”

above: Students and Professor Skelly Warren work hand-in-hand in

the spacious Fireside Theatre Scenic Studios.

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“Businesses, institutions, and the arts are tied together when it comes to creating a successful and attractive community. We are excited to see how UW-Parkside continues to seek ways to extend its influence beyond the boundaries of campus.”

Francisco Loyola, OwnerExposeKenosha.com

19� ��january�2012��the rita uw-parkside

Students share the stage in the Black Box Theatre. With 150 seats, the theatre easily accommodates a variety of productions.

Arts Aliveuwp.edu Keyword: Arts Alive

Karla Bonoff Friday, Feb. 3, 2012; 7:30 p.m. Main Stage Theatre With a singing, song-writing career spanning four decades, Karla Bonoff has enjoyed critical acclaim, commercial success, enduring popularity and the unwavering respect of her peers.

The Jason Bishop ShowThursday, March 29, 2012; 7:30 p.m. Main Stage Theatre As America’s hottest illusionist, Jason Bishop might have a person passing through his body one moment or make goldfi sh appear from nowhere the next.

Barrage: Soundtrack of the WorldFriday, May 4, 2012; 7:30 p.m. Main Stage Theatre Barrage — a high-octane string group that features an international, multi-talented cast performing an eclectic mix of music, song and dance.

Art Galleriesuwp.edu Keyword: Art

Contemporary Journeys: Installations by Liberian Artist Catherine KennedyJan. 17 – Feb. 9 Foundation Gallery Perspectives of the artist’s journey in life following her displacement from Liberia due to civil war.

West African Art from the Mathis CollectionJan. 17 – March 10 Fine Arts Gallery A selection of approximately 50 traditional West African ceremonial objects drawn from the collection of Racine-based gallerist and collector Emile Mathis.


Students’ Choice Exhibition: Photographic Landscape and Digital Animation by Hans GindlesbergerFeb. 16 – March 16 Foundation Gallery UW-Parkside art students chose Gindlesberger as the artist to bring to campus. “I’m in the Wrong Film” places shots of the artist against the backdrop of American Midwestern towns marked by signs of economic decline.

“Eileen Mueller Neill: Imaginings” and “David Rowe: Aesthetic Constructions”March 27 – May 12 Fine Arts Gallery Rowe’s large sculptures suggest ships, drilling rigs, and massive satellite cities described in science fi ction. Mueller Neill’s smaller, brightly colored constructions feature domestic themes.

Monica Haller’s Veterans Book ProjectMarch 27 – May 12 Foundation Gallery A library of books, each written by a veteran, enlisted man or woman, or someone very closely connected with the current wars.

Foregin Films — 30th Anniversaryuwp.edu Keyword: Foreign Films

Award-winning fi lms from around the world are featured in this popular series. For schedule and show times, visit uwp.edu Keyword: Foreign Films. All fi lms in the Student Center Cinema.

Musicuwp.edu Keyword: Music

Feb. 25, Orchestras. Alvaro Garcia, Director

Feb. 29, Jazz Ensemble. Russ Johnson, Director

March 2, Wind Ensemble, Community Band,Master Singers, and Chorale. Mark Eichner and James Kinchen, Directors

April 25, Jazz Ensemble. Russ Johnson, DirectorApril 28, Orchestras. Alvaro Garcia, DirectorApril 29 and May 6, Choirs. James Kinchen, DirectorNoon Concerts in the Frances Bedford Concert HallPerformances by guest artists, faculty, and students are featured each Wednesday throughout the Spring Semester. Visit uwp.edu Keyword: Music for the complete performance schedule.

Theatre Artsuwp.edu Keyword: Theatre Arts

Great ExpectationsFeb. 24-25, March 1-3 at 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 26 at 2 p.m., March 2 at 10 a.m. Studio Theatre Classic coming-of-age tale by Charles Dickens, adapted by Gale Childs-Daly, sponsored by the Kenosha News.

Bus StopApril 13-29 Broadway Theatre Center, Milwaukee Visit chamber-theatre.com for show times. This American classic by William Inge is a special collaboration with the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre.

FreshINK Staged Reading SeriesRehearsal Studio A. All performances at 7:30 p.m. Staged Readings of today’s most important new plays.Visit uwp.edu Keyword: Theatre Arts for complete schedule.

Big Read Kenosha County 2012uwp.edu Keyword: Big Read

Part of the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read grants, the program features “Sun, Stone, and Shadows: 20 Great Mexican Short Stories,” edited by Jorge F. Hernandez.

upcoming events

photographerswritersDave Buchanan, University RelationsJohn Mielke, University RelationsJohn Valaske, UW-Parkside Retiree

editorJohn Mielke, University Relations

designBryce Ulmer, Kenosha News Graphic Artist

“With Frances Bedford, we talked about what a great space had been created. In the end I favored the more personal, close-in shots. When photographing Kitty Picken, I looked for environments in which she was comfortable. I often photograph people in their own homes, as they are surrounded by life memories.”

Michael Candee

“Photographing the University of Wisconsin-Parkside campus was refreshing. HGA Architects & Engineers did a wonderful job of seamlessly blending the new additions with the existing structure. The result maintained the clean lines and open feel. And the new hands-on facilities made me a little envious of the students. ”

Darris Lee Harris

“Photographing the construction progress gave me a chance to watch the remodeling progress and the new addition come to life. It has been very exciting to see the walls in my old work area come down to be replaced by the new costume shop and roomy new studio spaces, and to see the beautiful new spaces for music emerge.”

Don Lintner

year of the arts and humanitiescommittee membersTrenton Baylor, Art DepartmentJames Crowley, Music DepartmentDavid Diaz, University AdvancementMaureen Fritchen, Racine Arts Council Samira Gdisis, Black-Eyed PressKeith Harris, Theatre ManagerColleen Kappeler, ExposeKenosha.comDebra Karp, Director of Nonprofi t DevelopmentLisa Kornetsky, Theatre Arts DepartmentStephanie Lazzeroni, Racine Art Museum Board

President

Francisco Loyola, ExposeKenosha.comCatherine Mantuano, University AdvancementEmile Mathis, Mathis GalleryJohn Mielke, University RelationsJonathan Shailor, Communication DepartmentStephanie Sirovatka-Marshall, Student CenterKaren Sorensen, Fine ArtsDiane Tenuta, College of Arts and SciencesAnnie Walaszek, Theatre Arts StudentDean Yohnk, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

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“I’m confident the Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities will become a centerpiece of economic growth and development for the region.”

Robin J. VosWisconsin State Representative

photographers

A circle of student artists participate in a figure drawing exercise in the Drawing Studio.

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Documents

The Rita