 Hello and welcome to the special edition of quality of life Today we're coming from the Plymouth Art Center on location and we're located in the gallery 110 North Joining us today is kitty Lynn Klitsch who's a local artist here Sheboygan County and the executive director of the Plymouth Art Center Donna Han ladies. Welcome to the show. Thank you Thank you very much. Thanks, Dave. Okay. I'd like to start out with you kitty as far as how have you become involved in art, you know In your in your journeys through it. Well, I I've always loved art I loved it as a child and there were long periods of my life when I wasn't able to Create art, but when I was in I would say in my 30s, then I really took it up seriously and when I moved to Wisconsin I Was teaching and I had the opportunity Opportunity there was a new art center opening up in Plymouth and I had the opportunity to have a class here and that one class soon turned into four classes and 18 years later. I finally retired from from teaching here at the Art Center and I also You know, I do Different forms of art. I like to act. I've been in plays and there's just so many ways that a person can express themselves Artistically and I I feel that I'm a creative person and so I'm always thinking of ways to create Now one other special activity that you take part in is your own actually TV show and WSES TV called painting journeys Could you tell us a little bit about that? Right? I? Originally I had a show that was Based it was the name of the show was gallery works and it was based on The artists that showed here at the Plymouth Art Center and the reason for that show was to Give these emerging artists a chance to be seen in the area, you know throughout the viewing area But then when I retired from teaching I thought okay, what what is it? What am I going to do? That's going to keep me going that's going to keep me alive and fresh and I thought I'll create a television show that will be for people that are like shut in or that don't understand the arts or Have net don't have any experience with them And so I created a show named painting journeys and that show is based on Where I travel and then I come and I do the show and I paint in a journey across the canvas as I tell about my Experiences on my trip and that I also am sharing my creative process and The show is really taken off. It's seen nationally now. I'm very proud of that But my main goal for that show is to bring art into the lives of those that may not have That opportunity to get out and actually see art Okay, now Donna as an executive producer and director of the art center What is your role and how are you involved with art as the executive director? I kind of run the show at the art center Meaning I oversee a lot of the shows. I don't actually direct Like a theater program or a concert, but I take care of all the administration work You know all the behind-the-scenes work all the advertising the marketing of the shows We do a lot of communication with the actors all the artists You know all of that all those things go through our office Nice, so in the art center where we are today at gallery 110 north is the holiday Membership exhibition could you tell us about that? Well, we have six shows per year and the holiday membership is show is just one of those shows and it features our members work So if you're a member of the Plymouth Art Center You're allowed to submit one entry to this show and we will automatically hang it for you Of course the gallery team has the final word on the piece, but we do Most most often hang everything that's provided to us And then we have we have a prospectus that we send out earlier in the the fall and we ask for the member artists to submit their pieces and We do get quite a few of our members Participating that way and we get new members to participate So we put the call out actually to the whole state of Wisconsin and beyond because our membership goes beyond Wisconsin so everyone that is a member can put their piece in the show And then we hire a judge and then we give away awards Certificates and in this particular show we have the best of show for second and third and then the Robert Hoyle award and merit awards and so it's it's a real Wonderful thing for an artist to you know have their artwork on display in a gallery And then the icing on the cake is to receive an award Definitely Go ahead Kenny. May I add to that too? As an emerging artist as someone that has never had the opportunity to show in an actual gallery setting such As gallery 110 north you as a member you have that opportunity You don't need to worry about if your work is is as good or better than anyone else's you have that opportunity For some people the first time in their life. They've always wanted to You know be able to partake in something like this participate And they actually have the opportunity here at the Art Center and that's what's so beautiful about it It isn't that we just show the big names We give the people that you know the little guy that's that's creative a chance I know I'm just taking a tour before the show. I just noticed and you have some works here You know that you've done personally I also noticed that our WSES station director Kerry Coulter also has a painting on exactly exactly And and I have to add to that that several of these pieces that you see hanging on the wall are my former Student's work, and I can't tell you how proud I am that they have They they're actually hanging in the show. It's just it's a it's a real You know definitely. Yeah, I know exactly what you mean Ladies if you could just give our audience, you know an idea of what is art or your idea of art? You know I mean art has been around for centuries, you know, and what is other than a person's first name? Well, I Years and years ago. I had a teacher and he would not he said he would never call himself an artist he was a painter or He was a potter or he was a draftsman or whatever, but he would never give himself the title artist, and I I Don't agree with that philosophy. I believe that if you have a creative Part in your nature no matter how it comes out in sewing and Making quilts or crocheting or whatever that you do that you're able to do that is that comes from you Come solely from you whether it's singing acting Dancing anything at all that comes from you Even if you just sit down and doodle and you do the best doodle in the world, you know, this is your creation To me art is creation Definitely Donna, would you care to add I can agree fully with kitty I don't consider myself an artist But since I've been employed at the art center, which I'm in my 16th year now I've seen so many forms of artwork come through the door and You know, we have like kitty said dancers musicians singers and people that are you know creative writing and For myself. I thought well, I'm not an artist, you know But I love to do the business side and the administrative side, but I found myself making posters and Thinking hey, I'm pretty good at this and I never I never really realized I could do that but I found that you know, I like it and I'm very happy to do it and so I think we all have a little bit of Creativity inside of us and sometimes it just takes a teacher to bring that out and I can speak firsthand About kitty and her teaching here at the art center We've been so proud of her all these years And we were really sorry that she retired, but we certainly understand that she had to move on in her own life And but I know that her students have come to the art center for more than just art class It has been an art therapy class. They came here to relax to be fulfilled and You know, we just saw them Transform right before our eyes while they were in class with kitty and kitty always said If you have the desire I can teach you so you know We've we've seen a lot of that over the years and so I want to say again how proud we are of kitty and all of her All of her teaching here at the art center. Excellent. Well, and That's why we have we have you on the show this time for this episode is you know art You have to have both you have to have all the people who are creative Creating art, but then you also have to have the people who appreciate that Creativity and want to see it, you know, they're envy. They're in awe You know, I mean there's two sides to it which you know, it's part of our whole community and our culture, right? And when you you know, when you speak to the lifestyles You know a healthy lifestyles part of your program, you know without art I can tell you that any any grade school teacher Will tell you that if they take away the arts out of the school the children will suffer They'll chop they'll suffer with their other studies mathematics with their reading with their with their behavior even if you take the arts away from them and if you take the arts away from the the Say the elderly. All right, if they don't if they have always been told no, you can't do that. You've got to Get married. You've got to get a job. You've got to raise those kids and then They finally get that chance to pursue something that they've always wanted to pursue, you know, and then You see them just blossom just open up and here out of this person You just look at them and you think gosh I can't believe it They would have an artistic bone in their body and yet they're like flowers Opening up and budding and blooming and without the arts without the opportunity What would happen to these people? They just kind of dry up. I Like to also comment on and I agree with you a hundred percent I think art is not only creativity, but it's a form of expression And another part of tools that we use in our evolvements. So, you know when we're younger it's how do you what's the what's the answer to the puzzle or the answer to the question and You use your creativity, you know when you're young by drawing the pictures the coloring books and stuff and it forces you to I shouldn't say forces you but encourages, you know one to use their mind to grow which then they can use in their studies You know nowadays everything is so high-tech and complicated. It helps build that creativity as well, right? Exactly, exactly which is needed in today's, you know a society exactly exactly and of course We can always learn from our elders as well as they continue to evolve and express themselves in different forms so and you know and I think that Art is always evolving. There is there's always there's always a Shift in what is popular? I remember there was a time when pot when Computers were so popular and all of a sudden computer art became very popular And that was the thing and then there was a shift toward Photography and that was the thing then for a long time watercolor paintings for the thing and oil paintings or Pastels they weren't so popular, you know and then then the shift went back to oils and now now I think we're we're seeing a new shift in the direction of art and I think it's more towards the cutting edge And it's kind of reflects the type of lifestyle that everyone is living right now, and that is a More forceful quicker, you know, it's almost like a We're turning into a throwaway art society in the sense that you can create it fast And you can dispose of it and make something new, you know You have these little pens that you can doodle on your computer and and boom You got it and boom you delete it and you know, so we're we are changing we're evolving But I must say though that that real fine art will never go out of style There'll always be a place for it They'll always be a place for the masters and the masters of yesteryear are you know the the masters of today will be The become the masters of yesteryear fine art will always persevere right And your point you know everything is what you call disposable It also makes it easier to build on what you've already done like here You've done a painting right beautiful, but on a computer I can do that now Well, I want to take this little piece out and now I can build on that or do that which makes it You know here where if you want to do that Well, now you've got another piece of canvas and you start over which makes it your true You know hardcore art so to speak as far as You know that weathers over the times right exactly, you know like your masterpieces that you say yeah It brings me back to you know We started out when in kindergarten first grade we had art class need a draw house where it was the square and then the Roof and then the door with the dot and then the crosswind there was a navy a chimney Mine still look like yeah, exactly. Well, I wasn't when I was in college I had a drawing class and we had a draw it was like a house or whatever and all that we were going or you know Models and factories with the class we had assignments and I went to my instructor Well, that's simple I can draw a house in a matter of seconds and I did that same thing what I did year ago I thought he was in the fall over laughing, you know He appreciated the you know, which was kind of nice, but now then I have to bring you to this though When you drew that house Okay, didn't you have fun? Oh, it was a blast. You enjoyed it. Yeah, and so what did that do for your body? What did that do for your soul? What did that do for your heart it lifted you it lifted it did a couple things it put you at ease and relaxed you But yet it raised your level of energy. Yeah, exactly see and that's and that's what this is all about Definitely What are some of the forms of art you have here at the art center itself here in Plymouth you speak to that, okay? Well, we start out with our fine arts program Which is our gallery program here in gallery 110 north and as I mentioned before that we have six shows per year Each one is totally different Sometimes you might see a total glass show or a print show or it could be a wood show The one coming up next is going to be abstract art We have an artist coming in from lack to flambo and her art is very very contemporary So every show is different so we encourage people to always come back and check on us every Couple weeks because we're going to change that show and have something new and fresh In addition to the gallery program We also have several special events that are you know considered fine art events and kitty has Coordinated our paint the town event for many years and we do have a new coordinator this year Dan Rizai is going to coordinate that for us, but that is an event where we invite Artists from the Midwest basically to come in and paint for a whole week in Plymouth the Plymouth area and we have boundaries set and they come in and get their canvas stamped And it's a plein air event so they might paint houses in the community or downtown businesses and then we have a big party at the end and we have a silent auction and People come in and bid on pieces and artists receive awards. We have purchase awards So it's a great fun event for the community And it also gives artists a chance to show their work in a different format And then now we also have an event coming up and it's our second annual Which is the northern marine spring art tour another fine art event where we encourage Local artists to open their studios and we have several artists participating in Sheboygan this year We have Frank Juarez and Dale Knack and we also have the SVA artists opening their studio We go as far as keel with the obler art glass over the elk heart for two fish gallery and Then in the country we have some of our member artists Richard and Pam Brock Pam is our Coordinator for that event and right here in Plymouth We have several studios that are opening kitty will be at the Serania studio with her work and Susan Ratke The owner will be there showing her work and a number of other artists there as well Plus we'll have artists here right at the art center We'll have Dan Rizai will be set up here in the great room and we'll probably have at least You know half a dozen to ten artists Here in our gallery in our great room and then we go all the way to random lake and we have the Mon locks over there with their pottery studio so it gives people a chance to Get into some of the private studios Laurie Beringer is on the tour you can go into her her studio and See how the artists are creating and what their space looks like and you can get an up close and personal look So in addition to that We have a whole program of performance art and in February alone. We're going to jump from a sock hop to Broadway and Hollywood show on Valentine's night To a classical music show on the 20th of February and then kitty is going to take a bus Load of people down to Milwaukee at the end of the month and take them to see Cabaret So we offer Cabaret the musical and it's a the Broadway production. So we have you know Great variety of things going on here at the art center in addition to our full Education program which is taught now by Laurie Beringer and Mary roll and Kathleen Mulholland and then we have other guest teachers that come in so we kind of do it all and Maybe not on a large scale for some of the activities, but for a community of you know, just over 8,000 We have a pretty Really active art center. How many people would you say visit the art center over a year on average say that? We're probably right around 20,000 if you consider all the activities that we do in addition to our jazz crawl Which is a great big hit every year. We run that event the second Friday in August and we have at least 10 to 12 bands playing throughout Plymouth Downtown Plymouth and here at the art center and we have a big auction and you know It's just a fun food, you know lots of lots of things to do that evening So I think with all of those events. It's right around 20,000 What type of facilities do you have here at the art center to actually host or even Configured to have all these activities. Well, we have a huge great room which we remodeled our building back in 2012 Which is the second time the building has been remodeled. It's it's an old car garage It was a Chevrolet dealership and auto body shop and our former gallery was in the old showroom of the car dealership and so we Formed that gallery now into a classroom where we have beautiful Natural light and then moved our gallery to the west side of the building where we're sitting right today And so the the gallery here doesn't have any windows, which is perfect for for our work and we just We were really happy that we did the remodeling we were you know Very fortunate to have the support of the Gentine Foundation and the Sargento Company to help us lead the way on our capital campaign and we were able to remodel it and We feel very very fortunate to have a great big space That is a pretty much like a black box theater that we can change any way we want We have a state-of-the-art sound system and theater lights so we can do a lot of concerts and and theater performances and You know then if somebody wants to rent the room for a bridal shower or a wedding We've you know actually rented it out for those kinds of things as well Can I I just want I just want to to add one thing to this what it all boils down to is That the art is touching this whole community and beyond So whether you are artistically inclined or not you are still part of the arts Because you come here and you partake of the artist Sure, and I just wanted to go a little bit further with that point is You know as our show title is quality of life and we touched about it before art brings a certain Level of quality to our life whether in our home here at the Art Center or out in public And you know within Sheboygan County How have the arts have changed and how does that help our culture our community? Because along with that, you know if you go to a friend's house, you don't see every room with bare walls You see some type of art some type of decoration some things hanging in the wall So, you know even on the Flintstones when you watch it they had stuff hanging on the walls You know as far as pictures or arts or whatever So what is it that ties it all together and what's going on and how has it changed over the years in Sheboygan County? That really brings it all together and raises our quality of life. I think for myself. I believe it's growth when I first moved here 25 years ago there weren't nearly the opportunities and then the Art Center here opened up and gradually more and more different art I would say clubs or art groups began forming and it just and art as far as like the Mill Street Guild and it just seems they're a they're a performing group You know it seems to me that it has grown It had it just keeps getting larger and larger and that's what is the most important thing is that the growth the growth the growth itself Proves to you that you this is what is needed This is what that people want. This is what is needed and that's why there is such as tremendous growth Excellent As a non-profit group, you know, we are always looking for new sponsors and new donors and We have lots of opportunities because we're a non-profit we don't have a huge staff and It's kind of a natural thing if in the non-profit world that you don't have, you know, huge staff So we're always looking for volunteers and I think what the Art Center here in Plymouth Provides is an opportunity for people to get involved in the arts like Kitty said Even if you're not Feeling like you can create you can certainly come in and work behind the scenes if you can build something or if you can You know help us with the mailing or you know, just maybe even cleaning or serving at a show or ushering There's really lots of opportunities and a couple months ago. Someone had mentioned to me, you know, I really don't I'm not an artist. I really don't like art, you know, and I said well do you listen to the radio? Oh, yeah I love the radio. Well, if you love music you love art because it's all all mixed together So I think people don't sometimes they when you say Art Center, they get the idea that oh my gosh, you know, that's pretty stuffy place or an elite place But it certainly isn't and I think a lot of people's eyes were opened a few years ago here in Plymouth We did the wall dog project which we brought in You know a hundred artists and they were painting all over town on our buildings and we are proudly displaying about 26 murals Today in a dail knack actually did our first one here in Plymouth Just down the street and so we're really proud of that and I think people really Said hey, we love art, you know We love those murals and so it was a different form of art and we have visitors from all over the world Coming to see our our murals and I get their picture taken in front of Run of the murals and buy this postcards and so Lots of forms of art here at Plymouth. I know one thing I think which kind of helps on this up We're gonna have to wrap here in a little bit, but I Myself I love nature. I love being out in nature just to walk. I like to sit and watch animals I do like to hunt, but when I'm out there. It just it's therapeutic to me Okay, so When I see a picture like this, you know or some of the other pieces in here I'm drawn to nature type pictures because what it does is That's a snapshot and time for me that I can relate to and go back to which triggers memories, which is very therapeutic Exactly, so exact as far as that goes. I you have really summed it up that yeah That's really that's really what it's about and each that that painting or any of the paintings on the walls here in the gallery Whoever looks at it will see something different in it and that's the importance in art because it touches each person in a different way Definitely well ladies I'd like to thank you for coming on the show and talking about art This has been really interesting and informative for me as well as I'm sure for our home audience For quality of life I'm Dave Augustine and I'd like to thank Kitty and Donna for being on the show if you'd like a CD copy of it You can contact us on our website at www.wsgboygan.com for quality of life. I'm Dave Augustine. Thanks for watching Thank You Dave