Catch the Menagerie on Exhibit at RAM's Wustum Museum

This summer, the Racine Art Museum features an exciting array of exhibitions and programming that highlight animals and their relationship with humans. Museum Menagerie at RAM's Wustum Museum highlights a collection of animals by community artists safely held captive for all to view. For the fifth year, RAM's Wustum Museum showcases innovative artwork all about animals by RAM's students, teachers and staff in Creature Comforts, open now through August 25, 2012.

Creature Comforts features works created by area families and art students on view side-by-side with well-known regional artists who teach or work at the museums. The exhibition includes a wide range of media that reflects the stunning variety of different workshops and classes taught at RAM's Wustum Museum.

Three artworks will be chosen by RAM Curator of Exhibitions Lena Vigna to receive Curator's Choice Awards. The winners will be announced on Thursday, June 7, 2012 during the Artist Reception and Awards Ceremony from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Wustum. Visitors are also encouraged to vote for their favorite artwork. The audience award will be announced after the close of the show.

Artists Included in the Exhibition   

Caledonia: Nancy Neider; Franklin: Ramon Talamantes; Franksville: David Gaura, Sue Horton, Rose White; Greendale: Dianne Anderson; Gurnee, IL: Anita Johanson Maddox, Hayley Maddox; Kenosha: Candace Hoffman, Darcelle Matus, Paula Touhey, Greg Uttech; Milwaukee: Janet Falk, Ney Tait Fraser, Tom Hoffman, Gary Warren Niebuhr, Jessica Zalewski Schafer; Mount Pleasant: John Clazmer; Nashutah: Alice Rossman; New York, NY: Lucy Feller; Pleasant Prairie: June Ambro; Racine: Robert Bagley, Jerrold Belland, Russell Bohn, Karen Broman, Sue Buhler-Maki, Ellen R. Cardwell, Larry D. Cardwell, Jean Chars, Deedee Dumont, Ron Dunnett, Mary and Dorothy Dwyer, Tammy Easton, Lisa Englander, Sally Falaschi, Dian Gabriel, Alexander Greiveldinger, Patricia Guttenberg, Sarah Henkel, Ann Henkes, John Hilmer, Pamela Kazarian, Judy Stapleman Kroes, Alex Mandli, Jr., Jason Madson, Nancy Maio, Randy Maio, Jayne Miner, Winifred Nathan, Bob Ottum, Holly Ottum, Joyce Ottum, Adrianne Paffrath, Bruce W. Pepich, Leslie Perrino, Toby Prioletta, Lance Raichert, Linda Reeves, Mary Rhomberg-Spengler, Alyssa Roberson, Patty Roberson, Kevin Rydzik, Suzanne Schackelman, Barbara Schoeffel, Constance Sharp, Grace Siler, Susan Silver, Jean Sullivan, John Tepley, Jean Thielen, Jan Thompson, Donald Tobias, Ardath Trebra, Mary Ubuntu, Robbin Ulmer, Diane Van Patten, Jim Wardrip, Kelly Witte, Marc Wollman; Sturtevant: Janet Mrazek; Trevor: Steven Rys; Waterford: Jeanne Baas; and Wind Point: Samantha Nelson

Also at RAM's Wustum Museum, Animal Magnetism: Works on Paper in RAM's Collection featuring primarily two-dimensional works that reference or incorporate animals is open now through August 25, 2012. A companion exhibition at the Racine Art Museum (June 24 to October 21) includes mainly three-dimensional works that use animals as subject matter. Both exhibitions, drawn from RAM's collection, highlight a diversity of materials and a variety of approaches to one topic.

RAM downtown hosts Beth Van Hoesen: The Observant Eye now through September 9, 2012. Van Hoesen is known for her realistic images of animals, floral studies, figure drawings, and portraits. Her animal prints are particularly engaging. As RAM Executive Director and Curator of Collections Bruce W. Pepich describes: "These are not scientific studies as much as they are portraits...She does not create anthropomorphic renditions in which she projects personal traits onto these figures. Instead, through hours of careful and clear observations of cats, dogs, birds, and a host of other beasts large and small, she manages to locate the essence of each that communicates a sense of the animal's individuality."

Open June 10 through October 7, 2012, Animal Nature features contemporary artists working in a variety of media that address the complex relationship between humans and animals with work that is witty, insightful, and poignant. Whether using jewelry, cut paper, blown glass, or other materials, these artists create engaging works that reflect on both animal and human nature.

Animal Magnetism: Sculpture from RAM's Collection presents works from RAM's significant permanent holdings that feature animals as subject matter. Handle with Care: Recent Acquisitions in Glass in RAM's smaller Ruffo and Schumann Galleries highlights works made of glass that were recently gifted to the museum. This exhibition not only celebrates the arrival of significant glass works to RAM's collection, it is also linked to a nationwide anniversary of studio glass in America.

Discover a variety of other animal-related and family-friendly events scheduled throughout the summer at RAM and RAM's Wustum Museum at www.ramart.org

RAM's Wustum Museum is located at 2519 Northwestern Avenue, just a few miles from RAM's downtown location at 441 Main Street. Parking and admission is always free at Wustum. Offering studio art classes since 1941, the museum is a nurturing and inspiring environment for novices, emerging artists and professional artists to experiment, practice and learn. Summer art classes start June 11. Class information is available either online or by calling 262.636.9177.