Chat'nChocolate

Chat'n Chocolate


	Mary Ellen Hagenauer I owe a debt of gratitude to WRAA/WRAP for the incentives and opportunities it has provided to exhibit my work. I would not have had the confidence to present myself to the world as an artist if it were not for WRAA cheerleaders Donna Miller and C.K. Chang whom I met during Mary Diman's continuing education class in realist painting. Donna and C.K. enthusiastically promoted membership in WRAA and persuaded me to enter the 2005 Madison WRAP show where I won my first State Exhibit award and got totally hooked. I'm not typically a joiner but I have thoroughly enjoyed belonging to such a committed and talented group. I actually introduce myself to people now as a painter, something I would never, ever have felt entitled to do prior to participating in WRAA/WRAP events. Thank you!

Bill E. Zierke

My Story:

My adult life was working in management of bowling lanes. Love for the sport of bowling, love of drawing and painting has been the most memorable part of my life.

I heard about WRAP from an artist friend, who suggested that I enter our local Art Center WRAP. This was my first attempt of entering and little did I dream of going to Madison, and then get chosen for a state award. To see my painting among so many beautiful art pieces was awesome.

I was very impressed by how the WRAA art group put on such a wonderful large event. I was certainly proud to be part of it. I’m honored and hope to be selected again in the future. THANK YOU WRAA/WRAP.


		If you told me when I retired 4 years ago that I’d be exhibiting paintings in WRAPs, coordinating a fundraiser for WRAA and being on the WRAA Board, I’d have said “What’s WRAA and what’s a WRAP?” In 2006 Sharon Lennert, who was sitting next to me in a MATC art class, talked about a $25 award she won. It seemed like the best prize in the world to me! It became my goal to have a painting hanging at the Pyle Center. And so began my journey to get there. My next step was to take a class from Mary Ann Inman. She was so encouraging and nurturing – the perfect mentor for any artist wanna be. And I wanted to be. I couldn’t get enough of the creative energy flowing in her class. Mary Ann gave me the confidence to enter a WRAP. The Saturday workshop was fun and the afternoon critique, insightful and helpful. I got an Honorable Mention and I called everyone I knew to tell them! It meant a lot to know that someone other than my family liked my work. And I wanted to do another painting and do it better and another and another…		Sherry Ackerman

		I had a lot of fun coordinating the Tiny Treasures’ fundraiser. As a new Board member, I’m blown away by the cooperation, camaraderie, creativity, energy, communication and respect. Each person’s dedication to promote the arts and WRAA is encourages everyone else on the Board to work even harder. And there’s also Bridging Generations. Two of my grandchildren participated at Shake Rag Alley and loved the experience. Because they talked so much about it, other grandkids are planning on painting pictures for next summer’s exhibit. So how has WRAA affected me? Well, it’s taken on a life form of its own. It’s like a journey to an unknown destination! I’ve met so many terrific people who are wonderful to work with. My family has come to WRAPS to support me and it makes me feel so proud. My grandkids are encouraged to do art and I’m enjoying working with them. For me, WRAA is a family affair. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Ginny Bores

Ok, this is really "guilt by chocolate" which was outstanding and presented perfectly. I saved one for my mom.

My story regarding at least one painting (the one you framed that had the little boy in a red T shirt with the tree and mountains). It was the first painting I really framed and it was made for our daughter. It was a compilation of three photographs that she took while volunteering in Copales, Mexico. Copales is a tiny village north east of Mexico City. She and her group lived with the villagers for the summer, made water catchments and cement stoves and practiced their Spanish. Previously there had been only river and rain water and the kitchens had open smoke cooking fires. They loved the country and the people. For me it was completing my first "real" painting and the look on Megan's face was awesome. It was another memory of the great experience she had and she recognized the little boy. (It must have been the red shirt. :-) ) It reminded me of what an adventuresome, awesome daughter we have. I was thrilled to see it hanging in her new apartment.