Citizen Wausau

A Site About Life in Wausau, Wisconsin

Voice the official Citizen Wausau blog

Big Bull Falls Blues Festival »

by Dino Corvino on February 19th, 2009

We found this on Facebook.  Looks like the line-up is done.  Thoughts?

“Wausau Area Events Presents the 18th Annual Big Bull Falls Blues Festival!

Appearing Live…
Hounds Tooth
Otis & The Alligators
Shannon Curfman

RJ Mischo
Albert Cummings
Liz Manderville & The Blue Points
Smokin Joe Kubek
Tab Benoit”

Sidewalks, Parks and the YMCA »

by Cheryl Mathis on August 29th, 2008

If you’re like me, you’re always looking for a kick in the rear to get in another exercise. On the long list of priorities, exercising doesn’t seem as pressing as washing last week’s dishes.

Keep your eyes open, and you might get that kick. Recently, I was kicked when I started noticing how many of my fellow citizens are including exercise as a regular part of their day. Whether it’s the nightly dog walk or even the sweat-inducing jog, my neighbors are out there on the sidewalks, in the parks and going in and out of the Y. I applaud them.

If you live in town like I do, you know about all the community spaces. I get so inspired when I see those spaces used for a good workout. After all, what else should it be used for? We are a community of people, all struggling with something, and together we can support each other with our goals, even if it’s just an encouraging wave and friendly smile to someone who is trying to include fitness in one’s daily life.

I dare you to keep your eyes open this next week and count how many people you see using our community spaces to exercise, and I dare you to join them.

Wausau Community Ramping Up Support for Local Teenage Artists and Skateboarders »

by Dino Corvino on May 2nd, 2008

200 Local Artists Bring Street Culture Alive With SK8ART Exhibit and Skateboarding Event in Downtown Wausau

After sending out a call to action in February to the area high schools, Boys and Girls Club and alternative school artists, 200 teenagers signed up to participate in SK8ART. The buzz hit a new high as each student received a free skateboard deck as a blank canvas to create their art for the SK8ART opening exhibit on May 16th in Gallery 402, located at 402 Third Street in the mezzanine at Van Dalfsen’s, downtown Wausau. Over the past months, SK8ART has allowed  local skateboarders and artists to express their creativity that has been emerging from the streets of their own community, joining their passion for art and skateboarding to showcase not only the art of the sport, but the art of the deck itself.

Teachers, parents and community members alike are supporting the local artists as their art deadline is May 2nd. Wausau East art teacher Joel Pataconi shares that SK8ART is the talk of the school, “It’s unbelievable how much excitement the skate deck project has generated. I’ve seldom seen my students this engaged and personally ‘plugged in.’ This event casts skateboarding in a positive light, reaches out to kids who are often overlooked and recognizes skate culture as a legitimate art form and sport.”

The 200 decks will be juried by a group of local artists, downtown shop owners and a Wausau police liaison. The 40-50 decks chosen by the jury will be displayed in Gallery 402. The opening night exhibit will coincide with Downtown Wausau’s gallery walk, Exhibitour, from 6pm-8pm. Gallery 402 also is sponsoring a temporary skateboard park on the 400 Block to kick off the evening’s opening exhibit. Dwellers and its owner Jason Garvey will be providing the temporary skateboard park for skateboarders to showcase their ‘art.’

Curator Tasha Tatro is expecting over 800 guests to support the local artists for the opening night exhibit. “SK8ART proves that the art of skateboarding reaches beyond the tricks of the trade. Gallery 402 is proud to create an opportunity for local artists and the community as a whole.” Efforts like this enable Wausau to continue to provide artistic venues that before now, only larger cities offered. SK8ART will be exhibited through July 18th, 2008.

Gallery 402 houses the largest private collection of Pop Surrealist Art in the Midwest. The modern genre is created by 21st Century artists making political, satirical and humorous statements through their art. Otherwise known as low-brow or underground art, the Pop Surrealist collection is all originals and the public is welcome to enjoy this phenomenal collection. The gallery also offers a library of reference material.

You are welcome to meet Curator Tasha Tatro and have your questions answered on Friday, May 2nd from 12noon until 6pm in Gallery 402. Please call Gallery 402 to let us know what time works best for you, 715.845.2300.

Granite or Jewel? »

by Barry D. Liss on January 19th, 2008

Had I not lived it – I would never have believed it. This my friends is a break-out year for Granite Peak. They made it happen up there on the hill. I have been skiing a lot this year, especially with my eldest son, and the snow on the hill is fantastic. I’m not a Midwest punk when it comes to skiing. Before I took a job here I was a grad student at the University of Colorado at Boulder for seven years. My wife and I had season passes to mountains big and huge – and the ski hill here, while not comparable in size, has the right stuff to compete in terms of value and enjoyability.

The lift lines are short, the terrain is challenging, and the proximity is unbeatable. I talked to a lift operator and he said that over Christmas weekend over five thousand people skied the hill. What kind of bread is that bringing into our city? Serious bread – that’s what kind.

I talk to the folks riding the lift all the time – they come from Chicago and Milwaukee and Minneapolis just to ski at our local resort. I see UWMC students up there everyday defying gravity at the snowboarding terrain parks. One can’t really help but notice the lifers too – those elderly folks who retain their youth by steadfastly negotiating the slopes, as they have done for the past six or so decades. People who love to ski are invariably strong environmentalists – they are the first to realize that the pollution from the driving they did to get up to the hill has to be offset in other ways.

I hear this past year the hill purchased a new Snowcat plow to groom and shape the hills. We need more – larger terrain and another high-speed sixer, for starters. Who would have thought that granite could form an iridescent jewel? Well done.

First Tracks in 2008 »

by Dino Corvino on January 1st, 2008

As I sit here on this New Year’s morning, lost in the love of my keyboard, I am faced with questions, and answers, and predictions, and more questions. So I thought I would jump in the pool first, and be the first idiot to take on our virtual Polar Bear Plunge of 2008. A veritable cacophony of randomness brought on by long hours of no work, loss of mental stimulation, and overall sitting still for way too long. (more…)

The Altenburgh Christmas Shows »

by Dino Corvino on December 4th, 2007

My lack of enthusiasm for the Christmas music is pretty well documented. I am fan of this night though, not for the music really, but because some of the cats on stage are people I call friend, and watching them play together makes me laugh with a joy of watching someone you care for, do something they love.

Plus, watching Greiner scowl, that’s fun. (more…)

Gary Baseman Headed to Gallery 402 »

by Andy Laub on November 28th, 2007

If you have eyes, you’ve probably caught a glimpse of artist Gary Baseman’s work, perhaps in the form of Teacher’s Pet, the award-winning Disney series, or maybe during a heated game of Cranium. His work definitely has a style all its own, so I’m excited to see that he’ll be making an appearance at Gallery 402 (in the mezzanine of Van Dalfsen’s) in downtown Wausau. Details as follows: (more…)

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