Royal Purple

Issue date: 1/23/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Haley Smith Alumni artwork hangs on the walls of the new Roberta Avon Fiskum Art Gallery, which debuted with the opening of the new University Center.

The new University Center is now home to the Roberta Avonn Fiskum Art Gallery, which opened with the start of classes.

The UW-Whitewater Alumni Show opened Tuesday, highlighting the artwork of eight UW-Whitewater alumni. Artists featured in the exhibit include Melanie Floyd, Greg Gent, Connie Glowacki, Linda Godfrey, Frank Korb, Terese Millmann, Mike Schmidt and Albert Schweitzer.

Lead Gallery Assistant Beth Wiza believes students will benefit from the variety of topics and media offered at the show, which runs until Feb. 15.

"It is an awesome show due to the fact that everyone will find something they like," Wiza said.

The gallery will present four exhibits throughout the semester, including Phenomenal Women, Aesthetic Apparatus and Graffiti, and the Best of the Best. All exhibits are free and open to the public. The gallery is open Monday - Thursday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

University Center Executive Director Kim Adams is excited for students to utilize the new art gallery after all the preparation that has been done.

"We have completed major coordination of alumni artists, taking everything step-by-step," Adams said. "Great collaboration with Michael Flannagan helped the process by listening to his expertise."

The gallery holds the new logo of the Roberta Avonn Fiskum Art Gallery, in memory of Roberta Fiskum. Her parents, Robert and Yvonne, have funded the Student Art Gallery to fulfill their daughter's wish to open her own art gallery and have also helped with designing parts of the gallery.

The design of the gallery was inspired from other galleries in the Milwaukee area. Field visits to five other galleries helped decide lighting systems, fixtures, paint and architecture. The unfinished ceiling tops off the gallery, leaving a warehouse feel, Adams said.

The gallery will sponsor five art programs offered to students. The first program, Painted Picture Frames and Organic Flowers, will be presented just in time for Valentine's Day. The program is Feb. 5 from 5-8 p.m. in UC room 261. All programs are free and supplies are provided.

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