UW–Madison Division of the Arts to host Sri Vamsi Matta and Marlon F. Hall as 2023–24 Interdisciplinary Artists-in-Residence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 18, 2023

Media Contact: aryn kresol, Arts Residency Programs Coordinator at UW–Madison Division of the Arts, akresol@wisc.edu

URL: go.wisc.edu/Matta

Link to media assets: https://uwmadison.box.com/s/1c187t0l7tpdhunjhieqlfl8w0z6qj42 

Link to article: https://artsdivision.wisc.edu/2023/04/18/iarp-artists-2023-24-announcement/ 

UW–Madison Division of the Arts to host Sri Vamsi Matta and Marlon F. Hall as 2023–24 Interdisciplinary Artists-in-Residence

Madison, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts is excited to announce two artists selected for the Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program (IARP) for the 2023–24 academic year: Sri Vamsi Matta and Marlon F. Hall. Sri Vamsi Matta (Bengaluru, India)is the inaugural academic-year-long Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence. Marlon F. Hall (Tulsa, OK) is the Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence for the Spring 2024 semester.

While in residence, each artist will teach an interdisciplinary course and participate in public programming with campus and Madison communities. The Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program provides students with extended learning experiences with a working artist, increases diversity of teaching staff on campus and strengthens programmatic ties among individual departments, programs and other campus and community arts entities.

Beginning in August 2023, the Division of the Arts and the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures will welcome Sri Vamsi Matta, a Bangalore-based theater and visual artist, to UW–Madison through May 2024. For the Fall 2023 semester, Vamsi’s residency will include teaching a 3-credit course, Whose Art Is It Anyway? Explorating Folk Performance from South Asia structured around central questions such as: What are some rules that govern performance culture globally? Who set these rules? Can they be broken? How? Throughout the course, students will examine the appropriation, weaponization, dilution or valuation of particular performance practices from historically marginalized South Asian and American artistic communities by dominant groups. The course will also juxtapose the history of these performance styles with models of contemporary artists in South Asia and the US who have subverted these “classical” forms for activism and political assertion. 

Vamsi’s residency will continue during the Spring 2024 semester with public programming with campus and Madison communities, and a residency-long engagement with a UW–Madison based theater and storytelling group, leading up to a final production entitled “BLUE.” An original musical written by residency lead Zara Chowdhary and Vamsi, “BLUE” will be devised in collaboration with First Wave Scholars, Indian and Indian American poets, Black, Brown and white musicians and artists. Dates for public programs are to be announced.

The residency is presented in partnership with the Division of the Arts and the Department Asian Languages and Cultures, with Jamal Jones, Assistant Professor, as lead faculty and Zara Chowdhary, Lecturer in Hindi, as residency lead. Co-sponsors for the residency are the Department of Theatre and Drama, Department of History, Center for Visual Cultures, Center for South Asia, Center for Humanities, International Learning Community, Center for Research on Gender and Women, and the Human Rights Program.

In January 2024, the Division of the Arts and the Art Department will welcome Marlon F. Hall as the Spring 2024 Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence, concurrently with Sri Vamsi Matta. Hall’s residency will include teaching a 3-credit course, The Olive Tree; Growing Community Engaged Storytelling from Irritation to Intrigue, centered in community art that nourishes social healing in Madison. The olive tree nourishes the soil it’s planted in just as much as the soil nourishes it. From social irritation to ethnographic intrigue to art-making innovation, the course will provoke questions like: What irritates you about society? How can we develop purposeful listening in the community? How can the responses to these questions become an art-making process? 

Throughout the course, students will explore topics such as the power of community meals, listening to community stories and creating ethnographic films, audio narratives and large-scale photography as community-based healing installations. The residency will also feature public programming with campus and Madison communities throughout the semester, including site-specific installations and film screenings to be exhibited in public spaces all over the city.  

The residency is presented in partnership with the Division of the Arts and the Art Department, with Faisal Abdu’Allah, Professor and Associate Dean of the Arts, as lead faculty.  

About the Artists

Sri Vamsi Matta, or simply Vamsi, is a Bangalore-based Theatre and Visual artist. His practice is influenced by his Dalit identity, experience and location. Dalit is the political identity of communities formerly known as “untouchable” and considered the lowest within the Hindu Caste System, and thus oppressed by its discriminatory scriptures, social structures and norms. The identity and histories of his community and family inform the questions, topics and mediums that Vamsi engages with through his work. As a student of science, Vamsi’s work is rooted in rigorous research. As the child of a writer, he has grown up around stories and finds that they are his route to not only entertain and educate but to organize people and challenge hegemonic and oppressive structures of power.

Marlon F. Hall is an artist and anthropologist whose work is rooted in social practice and grown from anthropological listening. Marlon integrates community engagement and storytelling as a process for cultivating healing in communities that have experienced political, cultural or systemic trauma. As a renowned art-making storyteller, he has served as a Lecturing Fellow for Duke Divinity Leadership Education, an Artist-in-Residence for the Princeton Theological Seminary and the Visual Anthropologist and Social Media Archivist for the Greenwood Art Project. He was recently named a Fulbright Specialist by the U.S. Department of Educational and Cultural Affairs and a 2021 Tulsa Artist Fellow. Currently, Marlon is engaged in Cultural Amnesia Therapy in Tulsa where he is working with local creatives and community advocates to help communities rebuild after the 1921 Race Massacre. His latest project features one of his carefully curated Amnesia Therapy Salon Dinners in partnership with The British Council and The Kenya Pavilion at the 2022  Venice Biennale. Through socially engaged art-installations, large-scale photography, ethnographic films shaped as visual poems and carefully designed salon dinners, his work focuses on revealing the resilient nature of the human spirit, using memory to inform imagination and helping communities reclaim their identity.

About the Presenters

The Division of the Arts’ Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program (IARP), originated through the Cluster Hiring Initiative of the Office of the Provost, brings innovative, world-class artists to the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. Since 1999, the program has hosted over 40 residencies involving more than 100 guest artists from 20 different countries, engaging over 60 university units and community organizations. All residencies center interdisciplinary arts, recognizing that interdisciplinarity can break down barriers and silos, advance intellectual artistic diversity and give opportunities to people who do not fit into the traditional modes of inquiry and practice (see the Division of the Arts’ guiding principle of The Arts for Everyone, Everywhere). The program often brings together artists, faculty, staff and students from various disciplines across the arts, sciences and humanities, sustaining the Division of the Arts’ mission tounify and catalyze the arts at UW–Madison.

Asian Languages and Cultures is home to nearly twenty faculty whose research and teaching specialities include the following: traditional medicine in India; the history of yoga; diversifying contemporary mindfulness practice with insights from Tibetan Buddhism; human rights in Thailand; Chinese ghost stories; traditional poetics and philology; sociolinguistics and discourse analysis of the Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian languages; analysis of classical Japanese tale fiction, early modern comedic narratives, manga, anime and Japanese counterculture.

The UW–Madison Art Department is a national leader in the cultivation and production of creative expression and the visual arts. The undergraduate and graduate degree programs set the practical, critical-thinking and collaborative foundation for students to excel in any area of artistic focus: painting, printmaking, graphic design, sculpture, ceramics, metalsmithing, glass, furniture-making, papermaking, photography, digital media, video, performance and more. For more than a century, the Art Department has set the standard for arts learning: established the first glass-blowing lab in the country; the printmaking programs are consistently ranked the best in the country; the art metals program is ranked among the top three; and it’s home to internationally acclaimed faculty members and visiting artists.

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Associated Bank welcomes Dennis Haefer as business banking team leader for Madison

MADISON, Wis. – April 11, 2023 – Dennis Haefer has joined Associated Bank as senior vice president & business banking team leader for all of Dane County.

Haefer brings 35 years of business banking leadership and relationship management experience to Associated Bank. He has extensive experience assisting business owners in almost every industry, with an incredible understanding of the Dane County business community. 

“Supporting local entrepreneurs, helping them grow and succeed, is my passion and part of my DNA,” said Haefer. “I enjoy helping our business customers with their banking needs, serving as their point of contact here at the bank.”

Haefer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and mathematics from UW-Madison. In the community, he participates in various committees and boards.

He is located at 7722 Mineral Point Rd.

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ABOUT ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of $39 billion and is the largest bank holding company based in Wisconsin. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of financial products and services from more than 200 banking locations serving more than 100 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. The company also operates loan production offices in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio and Texas. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at www.associatedbank.com.

Valerie Renk Joins One Community Bank Advisory Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Ameilia Abraham
One Community Bank
608-838-3141
aabraham@onecommunity.bank

Valerie Renk Joins One Community Bank Advisory Board

(March 2023) – One Community Bank is proud to welcome Valerie Renk, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Dane County, to the One Community Bank Advisory Board!

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with Valerie on the One Community Bank Advisory Board. Her deep commitment to non-profit and under privileged communities is inspiring. We are thrilled to have her passion as we continue investing in our communities,” said Jim Walker, Advisory Board Independent Chair.

Valerie is passionate about improving our communities through home ownership and below market financing. She has been with Habitat for Humanity Dane County for over 10 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in agricultural journalism from the University of Wisconsin Madison.

“I look forward to working with this group of leaders,” Renk said. “Learning and sharing how financial inclusion can improve lives right here in our community is important to families and the economy.”

Valerie has served on several esteemed boards and believes in bringing a better life to underserved communities. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and reading.

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One Community Bank is one of the largest community banks in south central Wisconsin. The locally
owned bank has 10 bank locations and $1.8 billion in assets. It provides creative solutions to both
businesses and consumers, with an intense focus on serving clients, supporting colleagues, and investing
in its communities. Regularly named one of Madison’s best places to work, One Community Bank serves
the communities of Oregon, McFarland, Waunakee, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Middleton, Adams, Oxford,
and Grand Marsh.

Kraus-Anderson Madison hires industry veteran Ted McMillan as senior project manager

Madison, Wis. (March 2023) – Kraus-Anderson Madison has hired Ted McMillan as senior project manager. 

McMillan has nearly 30 years of experience in managing construction projects in numerous building sectors, including housing, hospitality, education, retail, office and industrial.  He previously served as a senior project manager for Fond du Lac-based Commonwealth Construction, where he oversaw national, multi-million-dollar senior housing and affordable housing projects.  He also was a project manager for Madison-based Gorman & Company, where he managed workforce and affordable housing projects.

McMillan received his B.S. in Construction Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

About Kraus-Anderson Companies

Established in 1897, Kraus-Anderson (www.krausanderson.com) is an integrated construction management, real estate and risk management enterprise working independently and in collaboration with a family of companies, including insurance, finance and realty operations. Kraus-Anderson, an Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action employer, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. and has regional offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wis., Bismarck, N.D., and Duluth, Bemidji and Rochester Minn.

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Maydm: NOW HIRING: Programs Lead Instructor – Full-Time

A 501c(3), Maydm provides girls and youth of color grades 6-12 with the skills, experiences, and connections to pursue careers in and change the face of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). We envision a world where all students know that a career in STEM is possible for them; a world where all students can pursue their dreams as entrepreneurs, developers, engineers, or professors in a STEM field. 

Maydm, as an organization, was founded as a response to the overwhelming lack of technical training that meets the needs of low income students, girls, and youth of color. Our programs offer opportunities for youth to develop knowledge and skills in science, technology, and engineering. Throughout the year we offer one day workshops independently and in partnership with other community organizations. In these sessions, students gain introductory insights into a STEM topic and begin growing their interest in STEM. Each summer, we offer a series of multi-week immersive programs where students gain in-depth technical knowledge as well as go on site visits to local companies and engage in critical conversations on confidence and equity and innovation. These experiences create opportunities and experiences for students who may not have otherwise been able to participate in holistic STEM learning, for students to change the face of STEM.

We are seeking an experienced, enthusiastic instructor to deliver Maydm educational programs in house as well as on-site with our partner schools and organizations. Program topics include web development, robotics, game development, engineering, and more. We are also especially seeking women, people of color, and bilingual (i.e. English/Spanish, English/Hmong) candidates for this position. We strongly encourage you to apply even if you think you have some, but not all of the requirements listed below. You may be exactly what we’re looking for and if so, we’ll teach you the rest!

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree or comparable training or experience in education and instruction.
• Ability to work in a small, fast-paced nonprofit environment.
• Must have reliable transportation and be able to travel between Maydm’s office and offsite school-based and partner programs.
• Background in STEM required, including game development and one or more of the following: information technology, computer science, media arts and animation, or engineering and design.
• 3+ years of successful or demonstrable experience teaching one or more of the above subjects to an academically and culturally diverse classroom community.
• Demonstrated experience and maturity in managing a classroom of middle and/or high school students.
• Experience or knowledge of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles or willingness to complete DEI training (we provide the training as part of your mandatory training for the position)
• Technical industry experience is a plus.
• Bilingual (English, Spanish) preferred.

Responsibilities:

The Lead Instructor reports to the Executive Director and is key in developing and delivering Maydm’s educational programs. The Lead Instructor works closely with the Program Manager and Curriculum Specialist to deliver Maydm programs in alignment with our vision and mission and provides leadership and direction to seasonal and assistant instructors. 

Essential Job Functions:

• Developing and updating the curriculum for the school year and summer programming to keep up with advancements in technology.
• Being available to assist students during Maydm’s open office hours with equipment, supplies, and instruction.
• Working with the Curriculum Specialist to keep supplies and equipment storage organized and accessible for staff and Maydm participants.
• Recording data points to help Maydm succeed, i.e., attendance, curriculum comprehension, learning milestones, and disciplines available.
• Teaching and supporting Maydm curriculum throughout the year at schools, summer programs, and one-time events.
• Setting up and taking down program materials for programs.
• Working with the Curriculum Specialist, making sure all software licenses and software updates are ready for programs.
• Working with Program Manager and/or Curriculum Specialist to train seasonal instructors on curriculum during the school year and summer
• Working with Program Manager to supervise summer/school year instructors on-site at partner schools and organizations

Schedule & Location

The typical schedule is weekday business hours (9a – 5p, weekdays), but occasional weekend and evening work is required for Maydm events and meetings. Lesson planning, curriculum development, and other administrative tasks are included in weekday business hours, not in addition. Actual time spent in the classroom is approximately 40% of work hours.  Maydm is conveniently located on the near East side of Madison, WI.

Benefits and Compensation

The salary range for this position is $45,760 – 52,000 based on demonstrated experience and credentials. Maydm also offers health, vision, and dental plans, sick leave, long-term disability, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, paid holidays, personal time off, a casual and inclusive work environment, and flexible hybrid (part remote/in person) work schedule. 

How to Apply 

https://www.amilia.com/Jobs/en/maydm-inc/JobPosting/ymdvKPb

This position will remain open until filled.  Target start date is May 2023.

The above list is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to the position. The list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required.

Maydm, Inc. (“Maydm”) is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. Maydm strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. All Maydm employees, other workers, and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.