Applications for the Winter 2025 Madworks by StartingBlock accelerator are OPEN!

Applications for the Madworks Accelerator 2025 cohort are open now through Friday, February 7. Please share with any founders you know who might be interested. 

Program Dates: March 12 – June 4 (12 weeks). New this year: 4 additional weeks of follow-up programming & mentor sessions in fall 2025.

Calendar: Tentative schedule here.

About: Madworks Accelerator by StartingBlock is an operations – and governance-focused accelerator located in Madison, Wisconsin. We help founders create a strong, sustainable foundation for their growing companies. Get your strategic financials in order, learn to run an effective board meeting, tackle legal issues, learn about raising capital, practice your pitch, and more – all while working with experienced mentors and Madworks & StartingBlock staff. Companies must be based in WI and see a pathway to scalability.

Benefits: Each participating company receives a $5,000 grant and a 1-year membership to StartingBlock, with dedicated space for Madworks companies. Teams have weekly group educational programming and regular mentoring sessions.

Location: In-person at StartingBlock Madison, 821 E. Washington Ave, Madison.

More Information: Expectations and additional details here.

Questions: Reach out to Program Director Susie Younkle, support@madworksaccelerator.org.

Wisconsin Union Theater: Solemn Brigham of Hip-Hop Duo Marlowe Will Perform in Madison on Jan. 30 as Part of Black Box Sessions Series

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 24, 2025

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Public Relations and Communications Officer, Wisconsin Union
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

READ RELEASE ONLINE: union.wisc.edu/about/news/marlowe

SOLEMN BRIGHAM OF HIP-HOP DUO MARLOWE WILL PERFORM IN MADISON ON JAN. 30 AS PART OF BLACK BOX SESSIONS SERIES

MADISON – Solemn Brigham, rap prodigy and half of the acclaimed hip-hop duo Marlowe, will perform selections from Marlowe’s albums in Madison, Wis., on Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. at the Play Circle Theater as part of the Wisconsin Union Theater’s (WUT’s) Black Box Sessions.

Formed in 2017, Marlowe arose from a more than 15-year friendship between Brigham and producer L’Orange. They first worked together during childhood as part of a group known as Lost Artists. Years later, Brigham was featured on L’Orange’s album “The Ordinary Man,” which ultimately inspired the creation of Marlowe.

Marlowe’s first two albums, “Marlowe” and “Marlowe 2” received multiple Album of the Year awards from BBC Radio 6, Yahoo! Entertainment and Amoeba Music and earned the title of #1 hip-hop album in the U.K. on iTunes. In addition, Marlowe was featured in Gatorade’s Olympic campaign in 2021 and video games like NBA 2K22, Saints Row and Fortnite.

Building off of the first album, “Marlowe,” Brigham became more involved in production and style with the duo’s second album, “Marlowe 2.” In an interview with PopMatters, Brigham discussed the themes of identity status and redemption when asked about the creation of “Marlowe 2.”

The album focuses on the inner reflection of the two artists and combines a broad range of emotions with jazz and gospel. Brigham said he wanted to dive further into who he is and speak on how people may be seen versus who they are.

“Marlowe’s music exemplifies what this year’s Black Box Sessions is about: celebrating the history of hip-hop and embracing the boundary pushing innovation happening now in the genre,” said Kate Schwartz, Black Box Sessions curator, Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee programming advisor, and WUT artist services manager.

Through the Black Box Sessions, the WUT team hopes that audiences and artists alike will experience a strong sense of simultaneous nostalgia and novelty. The team designed the series as club-style concerts that occur in WUT’s black box theater, the Play Circle.

Tickets to all WUT performances are available online, in person at the Memorial Union Box Office or by phone at (608) 265-2787. Additional Black Box Sessions events include Smif-N-Wessun on Feb. 13 and Blackway on March 6.

WUT has a more than 80-year history of bringing what’s next now in performing arts to stages in Madison through student-led collaborative artistic direction.

Patrons can visit union.wisc.edu/theater for information about the full season lineup and to purchase tickets to WUT events, such as the performance by Marlowe’s Solemn Brigham on Jan. 30.

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About the Wisconsin Union Theater

For more than 80 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater has served as a center for cultural activity in the heart of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. The Theater hosts performances in multiple locations, including Memorial Union, and has an extensive history of remarkable performances. The Wisconsin Union Theater is committed to social justice and works to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive place for all who engage with the Theater’s programming, events, and activities. The Wisconsin Union Theater is part of the Wisconsin Union, a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/wisconsin-union-theater.

About the Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee

The Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee is part of the Wisconsin Union’s leadership development program for UW–Madison students and supports the Wisconsin Union Theater’s mission of serving students through the performing arts. By helping to program the Theater’s annual season of performing arts presentations, the students learn about program curation, relationship-building, marketing, communications, budgeting, and production. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/get-involved/wud/performing-arts.

The Deliciouser: Businesses at Main Street Industries To Host Open House Saturdays

The Deliciouser and other local small businesses are teaming up and opening the doors to the Main St. Industries Building every Saturday starting on January 18th from 3-6 PM to the general public. This is a joint effort to showcase the local businesses housed at the former Greyhound Bus Station. People will be encouraged to walk the halls and tour the diverse business suites found there. If their door is open, walk on in. Owners and employees will be around to help with retail, answer questions, provide tours, and promote their businesses. The event is free to enter and open to the public.

The building is part of Commonwealth Development, a private non-profit that helps elevate communities and neighborhoods in the Madison Metro Area.

For more information, please contact:
Mayra Linares or BJ Lee at The Deliciouser
(608) 286-1226
mayra@thedeliciouser.com

Carnelian Art Gallery to host art workshops starting Jan. 23

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARNELIAN ART GALLERY
221 KING ST., SUITE 102
MADISON, WI 53703
CARNELIANART.COM

CONTACT: EMILIE HEIDEMANN
MARKETING DIRECTOR
EMAIL: EHEIDEMANNCAG@GMAIL.COM
PHONE: 920-763-6980

MADISON, Wisconsin, Jan. 3 – Carnelian Art Gallery, located at 221 King St., Suite 102, in downtown Madison, is pleased to announce that it will for the first time ever host art workshops starting on Thursday, Jan. 23, with a course in coffee painting.

“Our brand new roster of workshops represents a culmination of months of work researching how we as an art gallery can best serve our clients and the artists we host,” said Emilie Heidemann, Carnelian Art Gallery marketing director. “Visitors to and residents of downtown Madison deserve a space where they can learn about the many facets of art. We also wanted to find an additional way to support local artists besides selling their art in our gorgeous gallery space.”

“Carnelian Art Gallery is pleased to offer educational programming for the first time,” said Evan Bradbury, Carnelian Art Gallery owner and acrylic painter. “We wanted these workshops to be fun, engaging and accessible. There’s something for everyone.”

Here is the gallery’s educational programming schedule as it stands:
• “Learn How to Paint With Coffee” from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23, with art instructor Chele Ramos
• “Intro to Oil Painting” from 6-9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28, with art instructor Kim Strittmater
• “Websites for Artists” from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30 with instructor Julie Raasch
• “Watercolor Painting for Beginngers” from 6-8:30 p.m. from Tuesday, Feb. 4, to Thursday, Feb. 6 with Ramos

Chele Ramos is a self taught portrait artist raised in Madison, Wisconsin. She has been painting since 2016 and teaching for a couple of years. Ramos works with a variety of mediums such as watercolor, oils, acrylics, graphite, charcoal, pastels, and coffee.

Kim Strittmater is an artist living on the Wisconsin River. She finds inspiration in the natural world around her. She is fortunate to be near ancient land that has been carved by glaciers and is surrounded by healing waters, which she often goes to for grounding and reflection. Her style of

painting blends the fluidity and emotion of impressionism with the detail and accuracy of realism.

Julie Raasch is a Madison jewelry artist and photographer. She has always been a creative person, loving art and making since she was a child. Julie studied anthropology and biology in college, but after graduation realized she enjoyed creating the covers and making the graphics and diagrams for the papers she turned in more than writing them. With that in mind she returned to school to study graphic design.

After graduation, Raasch worked for years as a graphic and web designer. She designed for real estate agents, for Brava Magazine, several small businesses, and at UW-Madison. Raasch has also designed and built websites for several arts organization and artists. She is versed in various web platforms. Raasch has been a working artist since 2012 so she is well versed in what makes a good artist website.

Classes will take place inside Carnelian Art Gallery’s open studio space, which is in the back of the building after you walk through the gallery.

Private rentals

In addition, Carnelian Art Gallery is now offering up its gallery and open studio space for private rentals.

Organizations and businesses are now able to rent out both spaces for private events like fundraisers, or art classes of their own.

“Renting out Carnelian Art Gallery for a private event offers a dynamic and inspiring experience,” Bradbury said. “Event attendees may network and socialize while viewing the beautiful fine art that adorns our walls.”

For more information about class pricing, event rental pricing, square footage of the gallery and open studio space, capacity limits, parking, and more, please reach out to Emilie Heidemann or visit our website at carnelianart.com.

Wisconsin Union: Rap Duo Smif-N-Wessun Joins Black Box Sessions Hip-Hop Series, Replaces Feb. 13 Performance By th1rt3en

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 30, 2024

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Public Relations and Communications Officer, Wisconsin Union
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

READ RELEASE ONLINE: union.wisc.edu/about/news/smifnwessun

RAP DUO SMIF-N-WESSUN JOINS BLACK BOX SESSIONS HIP-HOP SERIES, REPLACES FEB.13 PERFORMANCE BY TH1RT3EN

MADISON – Rap duo Smif-N-Wessun, comprised of artists Tek and Steele, will bring its popular lyrical style to the Play Circle Theater on Feb. 13, 2025, at 8 p.m., as part of the Wisconsin Union Theater’s (WUT’s) performing arts series, the Black Box Sessions. This event replaces the previously scheduled performance by th1rt3en.

As Smif-N-Wessun celebrates 30 years of shaping the underground hip-hop scene, its Feb. 13 performance promises a blend of anticipated new material and previous projects. The Smif-N-Wessun artists released their first album “Dah Shinin’” on Jan. 10, 1995, and will release the title track and the first single off their new album, “Infinity,” on Jan. 10, 2025.

The rap duo draws inspiration from lived experiences growing up and coming up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant and Brownsville neighborhoods. Smif-N-Wessun infuses soulful beats, jazz and reggae into its hip-hop music-making. Some of the themes listeners will hear in its candid storytelling include disenfranchisement, resilience, and empowerment.

“This, and all of the Black Box Sessions, is a chance to experience hip-hop steeped in the history and context of the performing arts,” said Kate Schwartz, Black Box Sessions curator, Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee programming advisor, and WUT artist services manager. “Smif-N-Wessun is an example of the heart within hardcore hip-hop, and its energy and unfiltered storytelling transcend many elements of the medium.” 

The WUT team designed the Black Box Sessions series, which is in its debut year, intentionally as intimate, club-style performances that occur in WUT’s black box theater, the Play Circle. This year’s lineup aims to honor groundbreaking underground and popular hip-hop. Additional Black Box Sessions events include Marlowe on Jan. 30, 2025, and Blackway on March 6, 2025.

A rescheduled date for th1rt3en is being explored but is not available at this time. The team will provide WUT season schedule updates at union.wisc.edu/theater. Patrons, who purchased tickets to attend the th1rt3en event, can use their tickets to attend the Smif-N-Wessun performance.

The WUT team invites patrons to celebrate 30 years of Smif-N-Wessun and its history-making music on Feb. 13. Smif-N-Wessun performance and ticket information is available here.

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About the Wisconsin Union Theater

For more than 80 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater has served as a center for cultural activity in the heart of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. The Theater hosts performances in multiple locations, including Memorial Union, and has an extensive history of remarkable performances. The Wisconsin Union Theater is committed to social justice and works to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive place for all who engage with the Theater’s programming, events, and activities. The Wisconsin Union Theater is part of the Wisconsin Union, a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/wisconsin-union-theater.

About the Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee

The Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee is part of the Wisconsin Union’s leadership development program for UW–Madison students and supports the Wisconsin Union Theater’s mission of serving students through the performing arts. By helping to program the Theater’s annual season of performing arts presentations, the students learn about program curation, relationship-building, marketing, communications, budgeting, and production. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/get-involved/wud/performing-arts.