Madison Essentials November/December 2021 by Towns & Associates

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INSIDE

n o v e m b e r/d e c e m b e r 2 0 21

v o l . 76

publisher Amy S. Johnson ajohnson@madisonessentials.com

editorial director Amy S. Johnson ajohnson@madisonessentials.com

essential arts Clay, Glaze & Firing: Michigan.......................................... 30

community

lead designer Barbara Wilson

senior copy editor & lead staff writer Kyle Jacobson

Intention vs. Impact........................................................... 40 Kiva Greater Madison.......................................................... 6

dining

copy editor & staff writer

Ember Foods....................................................................... 10

Krystle Engh Naab

landmark

sales & marketing director Amy S. Johnson ajohnson@madisonessentials.com

designers Jennifer Denman, Crea Stellmacher, Linda Walker

administration

Shorewood Hills.................................................................. 38

nonprofit JustDane Runs on Volunteers............................................ 26 NAMI Dane County............................................................ 14

pets Not One More Vet.............................................................. 24

Debora Knutson

shopping

contributing writers Sandy Eichel, Jeanne Engle, Chris Gargan, Anna Moffit, Anne Sayers, Lori Scarlett, DVM, Michelle Sherbinow

Cloth & Metal Boutique..................................................... 18

travel Uncovering Wisconsin’s Hidden Gems: Green Bay.......... 42

photographer Eric Tadsen

additional photographs Austen Brantley, Greater Green Bay CVB, Greater Madison at WWBIC, Green Bay Packers, Daniel Greenspan, Kenyon Hansen, Lindsey Ann Heiden, JustDane, NAMI Dane County, PC John Oates Photography, Travel Wisconsin

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including From the Publisher................................................................ 4 Contest Information........................................................... 46 Contest Winners................................................................. 46

(continued)

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| 3

from the

PUBLISHER

I’m not sure if it’s the pandemic or just my getting older, but while 2021 is on the verge of ending, I’m holding a personal to-do list scarce of checkmarks. It feels like I’ve been on a speeding locomotive missing all the stops. Unable to change what has occurred, I hope to slow down enough next year to find time to simply enjoy life. Not something big and splashy, just less demanding.

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We welcome your questions and comments. Please submit to Madison Essentials, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc., PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 or email ajohnson@madisonessentials.com.

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But 2021 has been demanding. As we’re affected by inundating local, national, and world issues, Madison Essentials continues to seek and learn about what this has meant for the Greater Madison area. True to form, we’ll continue exploring educational and inspirational themes and a wealth of local perspectives and experiences in 2022. I have many to thank for providing me the opportunity to pursue these stories. First, our readers and local business sponsors. Thank you for picking up our bimonthly issues and supporting the businesses who sustain us through advertising. Madison Essentials is free because of you. When advertisers benefit from your readership, they’re able to support our growth and expansion of editorial coverage, which means more free content. It’s a thing of beauty—a collaborative community support system.

To place an advertisement, please call (608) 215-5240 or email ajohnson@madisonessentials.com.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission by Madison Essentials. Towns & Associates, Inc. PO Box 174 Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 P (608) 356-8757 • F (608) 356-8875

madisonessentials.com

Watch for the next issue I also wish to thank all who contribute to Madison Essentials. My colleagues, who have been working beside me for 5, 10, 15, and even almost 20 years, and share my belief that what we do is more than a job. Our content contributors, including writers, photographers, and our stories’ subjects. Our printers, who have been generous during a difficult time, operating more as partners instead of vendors. And those who work so diligently to make sure our magazines are always available for readers. I’m fortunate to do what I do because of all of you.

January/February 2022. Cover photograph—Botanical Garden Light Tunnel taken by Greater Green Bay CVB Photographs on page 3: left— Tandoori Chicken Coleslaw from Ember Foods taken by Eric Tadsen right— Headbands taken at Cloth & Metal Boutique by Eric Tadsen

amy johnson

4 | madison essentials

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e sse nt i al community

Shaun, The Baked Lab

greater madison Established as the world’s first personal microlending website, Kiva began lending to a handful of fishmongers in eastern Uganda in 2005. Kiva’s platform enables everyday people to pool lending contributions to provide financial access in the form of crowdsourced loans. Kiva’s model garnered worldwide recognition and accolades. In 2011, The Economist honored Kiva with their Innovation Award. Following their international success, Kiva tailored its model to tackle financial exclusion and provide support to entrepreneurs in the United States. Kiva provides 0 percent interest business nanoloans of up to $15,000. Kiva’s average loan size is $6,000. Kiva realized that there was a gap in the U.S. financial market for small-business

6 | madison essentials

Dreams Are Universal, Opportunity Is Not by Michelle Sherbinow

loans—a gap often filled by predatory lenders and credit cards, which all carry high interest rates and fees. In conjunction with a small loan size, Kiva loans remove barriers that prevent many small-business owners from receiving a loan. Kiva does this by using their own system of underwriting, social underwriting, to determine the creditworthiness of a borrower. Through social underwriting, Kiva will never reject an entrepreneur because of their credit, net worth, or years in business and doesn’t have a collateral requirement. By removing these barriers, Kiva helps small entrepreneurs access capital and make better lives for themselves. Since its beginning, Kiva U.S. has facilitated the crowdfunding of $29 million from 230,000 lenders to 5,500 borrowers. In 2015, Wendy Baumann, president and chief visionary officer of Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation

Ellen, Fifth Scoop Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert

Loans that change lives

(WWBIC), brought Kiva to Wisconsin by making Milwaukee an official Kiva@ WWBIC hub. Wendy saw that Kiva works in unison and alignment with the microloans and lending capability of WWBIC and WWBIC’s services of providing business and financial educational programming and access to fair and responsible capital. In 2019, Kiva@WWBIC established Madison as a Kiva City with a dedicated Kiva Capital Access Manager housed in WWBIC’s south central office. For almost 35 years, WWBIC has worked to address the wealth gap in Wisconsin with access to fair and responsible capital and through financial empowerment and asset-building programming that helps individuals and families create wealth, which can be passed from one generation to the next.

schedule, and Kiva distributes the funds back to the lenders. All with no interest and no fees. The Kiva@WWBIC model is truly community based and partners with local groups who regularly work with our targeted demographic, specifically women, people of color, and anyone who has been underrepresented or left behind by traditional financial institutions. We depended on our valued community partners to connect us with entrepreneurs who

Erica, Fiddlesticks Knits

Through Kiva, entrepreneurs apply directly and crowdsource their loan on Kiva’s website. They are connected to millions of Kiva lenders from around the world, but Kiva@WWBIC takes supporting local businesses to a new level. Everyday people can support businesses in their own neighborhoods by making a direct loan of as little at $25 on Kiva’s crowdfunding site. You can support economic development locally by helping a business start, grow, or survive a pandemic. Kiva borrowers pay their loans back on a fixed monthly

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Angel, Tortillas Los Angeles, LLC

Alex, Black Label Auto

Supporting local businesses can benefit from a Kiva loan. Working together, we provide both capital and resources to help businesses grow and survive. We want borrowers to thrive through the Kiva loan process and beyond. Sixty percent of Kiva borrowers have been rejected for other financing before

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8 | madison essentials

coming to Kiva. This means Kiva is often the first step of the capital ladder. Kiva is one of many players in the larger financial system. Our goal is to help our borrowers begin their journey to complete financial inclusivity. “How can anyone disagree to fair and responsible capital to start and grow businesses?” says Wendy. Community partners also can participate by becoming Kiva trustees to endorse Kiva applicants and by establishing loan-matching accounts, which match loans dollar for dollar during the crowdsourcing phase. In 2020, the City of Madison established a matching fund for Kiva loans and matched lending contributions for a total of $45,000, providing direct support to local businesses, many who were trying to survive the consequences of the pandemic. These matching funds can live many lives, as they are paid back and recycled to match loans for future City of Madison Kiva borrowers. Kiva is working in Greater Madison. Since 2019, the Kiva@WWBIC model,

in collaboration with local chambers and organizations as well as other partners who support small businesses, has supported 81 crowdfunded business loans for $534,500. Sixty-seven percent of our borrowers are women; 58 percent are ethnic minorities. Get in on the action by becoming a Kiva lender for as little as $25 or purchasing a mindful gift of a Kiva gift card this season. Visit kiva.org and wwbic.com for more information. Michelle Sherbinow is a Kiva capital access manager at Greater Madison at WWBIC. Photographs provided by Greater Madison at WWBIC.

Michelle Sherbinow

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e sse nt i al dining

Onion Pakoras with Tamarind Chutney

Ember FOODS BY KYLE JACOBSON

Authentic Indian Street Food

As a youth, I started out with the daft innocence most of us do, unaware of the cultural origins of even the most basic of foods placed before me. Mom brings home fast-food tacos; okay, that’s tacos. Burns the blood (fine, the myoglobin) out of a burger; okay, that’s a hamburger. Years later, I’m driving a car and doing the Bruce Springsteen thing as a gangly blob of overconfidence happening upon a Mexican food vendor in Longmont, Colorado, and he turns my world of taco upside-down. Then I learn how to make a burger, a real burger, and my food horizon started to look less like a straight line. Chapter Next: Ember Foods reinvents my understanding of Indian food. Yakub Kazi and Nausheen Qureishi’s offerings combine the flavors of India, Australia, Indonesia, America, and the Middle East, and through samosas, pakoras, tandoori chicken, tamarind chutney, rice pudding, and mango lassi, I found myself discovering how each dish enriched the next— ensuing bites capturing more and more of that authentic flavor, striking balance with spice and texture. One of the keys to getting those flavors is accounting for the time needed to get it right. On the tandoori chicken, Yakub says, “We have to marinate this overnight, keep it in the cooler,

10 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

and get the spices right into the meat. When you bite into it, you get that flavor, and it’s so good.” As I see it, that’s only half the battle. Yakub and Nausheen still have to cook the chicken perfectly to get the right texture. Yakub used to be a fabric designer in Mumbai, India, and his designs were block printed, a very time-intense process, in Jaipur, so doing things carefully over time is already in his nature. The effort always pays off, and the result is soft, flavorful chicken that almost feels like it’s melting in your mouth, the spices rolling, as opposed to crashing, over the tongue. Yakub also spent 23 years in Sydney, Australia, where he learned about garlic sauce. You know how you dip hot wings in bleu cheese, and the flavor just explodes? It’s the same concept with taking that tandoori chicken and dipping it in that garlic sauce. You get this sweetness right up front, but it

the indulgence is almost guilt free

Mango Lassi and Vegetable Samosa with Tamarind Chutney

all culminates into this salty garlic punch—addictive as potato chips. That’s something Yakub found throughout his research when deciding what to make next: use fresh ingredients and pronounce them. He tried to tone it down for Western tongues, but when he took it to Willy Street Co-op (one of the places you can find Ember Foods products), “they said, ‘No, it’s bland. We need some spice in it. Chilis or whatever. Make it hot. Make it spicey.’ And then we introduced some spice, and they are loving it.” The spiciest dish I had the pleasure of tasting was the tamarind chutney, a fantastic complement to the pakoras and samosas, but we’re not there yet. With fresh tamarind pulp, ginger powder, cloves, red chili powder, and salt, the immediate thing that hit me was the sweetness. I just love how that flavor played up the chili powder. With a lot of Indian food that I’ve had, I feel like the focus is on the spice, but here it’s the mixing of textures. Nothing is getting muddled; each ingredient is identifiable and feels equally important to the final taste.

didn’t have any sisters. I was the lucky one to learn all the skills from my mom at a very young age.” I think it’s both Yakub’s love for his mother and his love for Indian street food that inspired him to perfect Ember Foods’ biggest seller: the samosas. After breaking through the flaky wheat flour shell, you’ll find a lot of exciting

spices hitting your nose. The potato is really keeping beat to the pop of green peas and crunch of onions as these wonderful textures work with the asafetida, dill, carom seeds, and green chilis. Bonus points if you dip it in the tamarind chutney. Same with the pakoras. I just dipped them in the chutney and appreciated the

Vegetable Samosas with Tamarind Chutney

It’s almost mindboggling that these fantastic flavors are coming from a clothing designer, but then Yakub told me how he’d learned it all from his mother. “My mother was the inspiration. Back in India, usually the daughters are given all the cooking skills, but we madisonessentials.com

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Tandoori Chicken

Rice Pudding (Kheer) crunch of each bite. Though similar to the samosas, the lack of potato, onions, and green peas really made it easy to just keep tossing them back. Thanks to the asafetida and healthy benefits of the other ingredients, the indulgence is almost guilt free. While I’m enjoying all this food, I’m occasionally taking drinks of their mango lassi, so satisfying and rich thanks to the alphonso mango (considered the king of mangoes).

striking balance with spice and texture

Chana Masala With that pulp, sugar, cardamoms, yogurt, and milk, I almost prefer this to biting into a fresh mango. Everything is coordinated to deliver a flavor easily missed in a simple smoothie. Mango lassi is distinctly Nausheen’s contribution to the menu, and it’s something people eagerly seek out at food events. Finding Ember Foods is as easy as going to your local Hy-Vee, Metcalfe’s, or Willy Street Co-op, where you’ll

find a selection of frozen favorites, but Yakub and Nausheen agree that fresh is best. You can go to their website (embermadison.com) to see what events they’ll be attending. “My main goal is to open a restaurant,” says Yakub. “We are one of the participants for the Madison Public Market, hopefully opening in 2023. That’s where I want to make charcoal grill chicken. ... That particular chicken is not sold anywhere in the United States.” Yakub also shared his wish to introduce börek to his menu. “It’s a dish from Greece and from Turkey. It’s like a pastry filled with spinach, and the other one is cheese. ... My concept of food is to give something new, which always has been my principle from my days of working as a fabric designer.” As Ember Foods continues to seek evolution in their venues and offerings, I can’t think of any reason not to be excited about what they’ll offer next.

12 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

PRA

watch th e

RI IV A E R W

Come eagles soar

Be on the lookout for Ember Foods’ Sweet Corn Chicken Soup at this year’s Soup’s On! Yakub and Nausheen are grateful for the exposure the event gave them through the worst of the pandemic, and hope everyone continues their support again this year.

WH E RE

ADVENTURE COMES

Kyle Jacobson is the lead writer and senior copy editor for Madison Essentials.

naturally

SAUKPRAIRIE .COM

Kyle Jacobson

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

Photographs by Eric Tadsen.

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e sse nt i al nonprofit

NAMI

Dane County

Beginning in 1977, several mothers, each with a son with schizophrenia, met to discuss the challenges they shared raising a child with serious mental illness. These mothers assembled a group of family members and friends of persons with mental illness who shared similar concerns, forming the Alliance for the Mentally Ill. This name was chosen partly because of its beautiful acronym, AMI, which means “friend” in French. AMI was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation in November 1977, with Bev Young serving as the organization’s first board president. In September 1979, with the assistance of Roger Williams from University of Wisconsin–Extension (UW–Extension), AMI Dane County organized a national conference at the Wisconsin Center in Madison. The conference was titled “Advocacy for Persons with Chronic 14 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

BY ANNA MOFFIT

Mental Illness: Building a Nationwide Network.” Sponsors included UW– Extension Mental Health, UW– Extension Health Policy Education, and the Dane County Alliance for the Mentally Ill. The organizers hoped for as many as 50 people, but, amazingly, 284 representatives from 59 groups (representing 29 states) attended— among them were mental health professionals, including Dr. Herbert Pardes, then director of the National Institute of Mental Health. By the end of the conference, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) was formed. Today, NAMI is based in Arlington, Virginia, and has grown significantly with 600 local affiliates and 48 state affiliates. “These trailblazers, Harriet Shetler, Bev Young, and Nancy Abraham,

changed the mental-health landscape through tireless dedication,” says Anna Moffit, executive director. “NAMI Dane County’s legacy continues to drive the work done today in Dane County. … Our mission is to provide education, support, and advocacy for people affected by mental illness in Dane County as well as to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness to ensure that people get the support and information they need. We rely on a vast network of volunteers with lived experience to implement our education programs, community presentations, and support groups. Peer support is a foundational piece within our model of support for individuals impacted by a mental illness.” During the pandemic, NAMI Dane County needed to quickly pivot to online programming. Knowing that individuals living with a mental illness

would experience greater challenges with the isolation and anxiety, the staff worked quickly to secure technology infrastructure and train facilitators. In just a few weeks, they were running at capacity, and even expanded the number of their support groups. According to Adult Program Coordinator Celeste Florentin, the virtual format has led to greater access to programming due to the removal of barriers like childcare and transportation. “Thankfully, our facilitators and educators have really stepped up to meet the community’s needs. We are definitely seeing a greater need for support for children and youth as well as caregivers of adult children.” NAMI Dane County provides a wide variety of services at no cost to participants. One of their most popular services is weekly support groups. Each group is targeted to a specific demographic group in order to ensure that each group is culturally responsive and safe. These include young adults; bipolar/depression; women’s anxiety

and depression; family/caregivers; and, most recently, a transgender support group in partnership with Madison Area Transgender Association. All of the support groups are facilitated by individuals with lived experience and focus on a trauma-informed and strength-based approach. One of the exciting initiatives is a pilot of youth support groups in partnership with the Madison Metropolitan School District. Last year, NAMI Dane County staff provided several area high schools with numerous school presentations, which were very well received by parents, students, and staff. Based on these outcomes, a part-time youth coordinator was hired to create a comprehensive curriculum to help youth better understand mental illness, develop coping skills, build connections, and increase resiliency and self-efficacy. The youth support group pilot is in collaboration with two University of Wisconsin doctoral students. Similar to its other services, this effort

improving the lives of

INDIVIDUALS impacted by mental illness in our COMMUNITIES

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Peer support is a

FOUNDATIONAL piece within our model of support.

County is also seeking opportunities and advocating for policies that decriminalize mental illness.

is being coordinated by a variety of community stakeholders and volunteers. This past year has also been filled with a myriad of community presentations, as many organizations and businesses identified the need for greater mentalhealth support and education due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically, presentations are centered around creating a better understanding of mental illness, sharing community resources, and suicide prevention; however, presentations have been modified to provide other information as well. In 2020, NAMI Dane County reached over 3,500 individuals in Dane and other communities.

Additionally, NAMI Dane County contracts with Dane County to provide Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) and Crisis Intervention Partners (CIP) training for law enforcement and first responders. This has been the busiest year yet, with nine trainings taking place throughout Dane County. The training helps law enforcement and first responders better understand how to support someone experiencing a mental-health crisis, to develop verbal de-escalation skills, and to be able to utilize self-care in regards to their own mental wellness. While training law enforcement to be better equipped to support individuals living with a mental illness, NAMI Dane

“If someone has a heart attack, we send an ambulance,” says Anna. “However, if someone has a mental-health crisis, we send a squad car. This has to change.” Beginning in September 2021, the City of Madison will be piloting the CARES (Community Alternative Response Emergency Services) team, which will consist of a paramedic and a social worker. This team will be able to do proactive outreach and respond to behavioral health calls received via dispatch. This model has been extremely successful in diverting and deflecting individuals with behavioral health needs away from our jails and prisons. NAMI originated in Madison, Wisconsin, decades ago and has since benefited countless families across the country. Today, the work of NAMI Dane County continues to be critical in improving the lives of individuals impacted by mental illness in our communities. Anna Moffit is the executive director of NAMI Dane County. namidanecounty.org. Photographs provided by NAMI Dane County.

Anna Moffit

16 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

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e sse nt i al shopping

CLOTH & ME TAL

Boutique

CR AF TING ART AND CONSCIOUSNESS BY K RYS T L E E N G H N A A B

After earning her degree in art metals from UW–Oshkosh, Lisa McGuire wanted to make her pieces matter in a space designed for others to appreciate the aesthetic and thought involved in making her crafts and choosing items for her boutique. Before opening Cloth & Metal Boutique, she did a lot of research and used her own closet to decide which brands she wanted. “I’ve always been into fashion and putting looks together, but I also have this artistic side,” says Lisa. For her store, Lisa focuses on items made locally or in the United States, and if they’re not made here, they have to have sustainability associated with their company brand. “The brands need to be conscious of what they’re doing, 18 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

like using plastic bottles to make the stitching in clothing. There have been brands that sold well in the store, but they didn’t fall in our core values. … It’s not about something looking cool or having a good price point, it has to be quality made or fall within our core values.” Trying to get her name out there, Lisa would do art shows on the weekends while working full-time. She thought it was important to show her pieces because they have a niche; she also wanted to make sure people liked what she was creating. “I was getting good feedback, and people were coming to certain art shows because I was there. The goal was to someday open my own shop.”

In May 2019, Lisa opened her boutique on Parmenter Street then relocated to Hubbard Avenue in Middleton summer 2021 when the new space became available. Her recent move showcases the merchandise in an open, updated industrial space with plenty of room to browse. The boutique’s downtown location has advantages of being centrally located among local shops, restaurants, and attractions. It makes for a great day trip or day out to explore what’s in store at these businesses. Lisa and her staff are attentive and ready to help customers when looking for a certain item or needing suggestions on how to style an outfit. They establish good rapport with customers not only to have repeat business, but

“

MAKING SURE

I’M CONSCIOUS OF THE THINGS I B R I N G I N TO T H E S TO R E , I T H I N K T H AT M A K E S

”

A DIFFERENCE.

because they care and are excited when they provide a new favorite piece to someone’s wardrobe. During our interview, a customer approached and shared that she was window shopping and had to stop inside the boutique. She was impressed with the clothes and won over completely when she heard us talking about Lisa using recycled paper hangers because of the environmental impact. “Store hangers are made out of recycled paper and cardboard, so if they break, you can recycle them. And if they end up in the landfill, they will decompose, while other hangers put toxins into the earth.” Of course, Lisa keeps in mind the fashion trends when she’s deciding what to buy for the shop. “I only buy a certain amount of each style, and when it sells out, then it’s gone. Depending on the item, if someone really wants it, I’ll reach out to my vendor to see if I can get it, but typically most of the vendors cut to order. So I’ll have to decide if it will be a really good seller and order more than I typically would to have enough in stock.” The jewelry Lisa crafts herself can be classic, edgy, or clever depending on the repurposed items she’s using and her inspiration. “I’ll start with a design. Being earrings, bracelet, or a necklace, I’ll try to make a set if I can depending on the look. Then create another design off the first piece. If I get tired of making a certain piece, I’ll stop making it and make something new. I’ll see a weird shape, like outside on a billboard, and start messing with the metal. I should be sketching more, but that’s not really my thing either. I basically take the madisonessentials.com

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“

I T H A S TO B E Q UA L I T Y M A D E O R FA L L

”

W I T H I N O U R C O R E VA LU E S .

metal and I start forming it. If it looks good and is kind of what I was coming up with, then I just let it go. “We’re really big on not just having my jewelry in the shop when it comes to small goods; it’s also about supporting other makers. I have a handful of other local makers, like handmade headbands; hats; luxury dog treats made in Madison, because we are a dog-friendly store; scarves.” Lisa also pours and makes all the candles in the boutique at home in her basement art studio. “I use soy wax, eco wick, and the scents are eco-friendly and burns cleaner.” The candles are welcomed seasonal scents, and she also repurposes jars rather than ordering new ones. “Most of the jars were drinking glasses at some point; some might have stems on them, like a champagne flute, so when you put a bunch of them on a table with all the different heights and dimensions, it looks really fun and different.”

20 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

True to her philosophy on the pieces she carries, Lisa takes her enthusiasm for supporting local efforts and gives back to the community. “I have partnered with the women’s shelter in downtown Madison. We had an event where if ladies came in and donated feminine and hygiene products, they would get a percentage off their purchase that day, and a percentage of the sale went to the women’s shelter as well.” Cloth & Metal Boutique also hosts private shopping and events. “I partnered with Grape Water Wine Bar to kick off fall, and she provided wines to sample while women were shopping. I like to partner with other local businesses to try and get their names out as well. I’m also thinking about doing a shared shopping night with Journeyman Co. because when women host events at my shop, the men go shopping next door.” No detail is too small when it comes to Lisa highlighting her passion for buylocal lifestyles and sharing the message of conservation. “Making sure I’m conscious of the things I bring into the store, I think that makes a difference. Maybe it will attract other people to start being more conscious of what they are doing too.” Krystle Engh Naab is a freelance writer and copy editor for Madison Essentials.

Krystle Engh Naab

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

Photographs by Eric Tadsen.

C L O T H & M E TA L 7531 HUBBARD AVENUE MIDDLE TON, WI 53562 (608) 203-8891 CLOTHANDM E TALBOUTIQU E.COM

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Brandy Old Fashioned Gift Set featuring Homemade Brandy and Door County Cocktail Cherries, Angostura Bitters, and a cocktail book. Just $50. Old Sugar Distillery 931 East Main St., Suite 8, Madison oldsugardistillery.com Concocting truffles and treats to create the ultimate chocolate experience! Place orders on our website or call (608) 249-3500. Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier 2083 Atwood Ave., Madison gailambrosius.com

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These polarized sunglasses by Vuarnet are perfect for cutting glare while skiing, on the water or just looking cool. Only at Ulla Eyewear. Ulla Eyewear 562 North Midvale Blvd., Madison ullaeyewear.com

From cozy sweaters, locally made fine jewelry, hats, candles, and even luxury dogs treats for your fur babies, you will find it here. Check out our new space. Cloth & Metal Boutique 7531 Hubbard Ave., Middleton clothandmetalboutique.com

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AND

BRICK MORTAR

more in store

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Have a Hygge Holiday with Avid Gardener! Offering eclectic gifts and other fantastically useful goods. Avid Gardener 136 West Main St., Cambridge avid-gardener.com Hundreds of vinyl stickers to choose from designed by local and indie artists. Anthology 230 State St., Stop 1, Madison anthologymadison.com

Lots of great gifts for this holiday season for your whole list. Gifting Happiness is our motto! JNJ Gifts and More 201-A East Verona Ave., Verona jnjgiftsandmore.com

When it comes to an Old Fashioned, there’s no place like home. Celebrate life’s special occasions with our beautiful Wisconsin-made and -themed glassware. Little Luxuries 230 State St., Stop 2, Madison littleluxuriesmadison.com

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e sse nt i al pets

Not I love being a veterinarian. I love the energy of the new kittens and puppies and the calmer disposition of the older animals. I enjoy the challenge of figuring out what is making an animal not feel good. It’s so satisfying to remove a Cuterebra larva from a small kitten, stones from a bladder, or a rock from a dog’s stomach. But it isn’t all fun, and the days can be long and tiring. When I arrive at the clinic in the morning, I have already checked emails to see what sick animals will need to be seen, read over questions that clients have sent (and looked at accompanying pictures of diarrhea or wounds), and possibly gotten a text that one of my staff is out sick. I try not to think about work on my 20-minute drive on the Beltline by listening to a book on tape or singing along to music instead. When I get in, I see cars in the parking lot and try to smile at everyone waiting. We are still escorting people and pets into the building (although with the increase in Covid-19 cases, we are back to curbside only), so they are waiting for someone to answer the phone or come out and get them. I get a smile and “hi” 24 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

Vet

by Dr. Lori Scarlett, DVM

from my receptionists, and head to my office. I pile up notes scattered on my desk, look at my recall list of the sick animals I saw the day before, and grab lab sheets from the previous day. If I don’t have to go into an appointment right away, I get started analyzing laboratory results, thinking about diagnoses and treatments, and trying to get a few emails written. As of this writing, I’m glad owners are back in the exam room! Pets are, for the most part, less stressed when their owners are present. I get a better history about problems and know exactly which lump is concerning. I also get to hear about new (human) babies, upcoming surgeries, marriages or divorces, and other life changes. I enjoy getting to know my clients; chatting and smiling help my mood, and having that rapport helps when decisions need to be made about a pet’s care. As a Fear-Free certified practice, we spend a lot of time decreasing anxiety for pets. We don’t just move ‘em in and move ‘em out. We go through a lot of peanut butter, hot dogs, cheese sticks, and whipped cream! Sometimes a dog or cat is so anxious that we don’t do our exam or give vaccines, having to instead reschedule them for another time. This can be aggravating for the owner, but we do it for the pet. Appointments range from wellness exams, which include a full physical exam, weight assessment, vaccines, and lab testing to answering any questions the owner has. If there is a new lump, a new limp, a painful ear, or an odd behavior, that will all be addressed in the 30-minute appointment. Urgent care and sick exams are interspersed in the schedule. These exams often require more diagnostics: bloodwork or x-rays obtained, slides

examined under the microscope, and sometimes sedation of the pet to explore a wound on a paw or because the animal is too nervous to be examined. Sameday urgent care appointments are often filled by 9:00 a.m. If we don’t have an appointment opening, we try to offer a drop-off appointment so we can fit the pet’s exam in between appointments or surgeries or over the lunch hour, but staffing and cage space can limit how many patients we can see.

After the morning appointments, I grab my lunch and eat while looking through emails. The rest of the lunch hour is spent looking at animals that were dropped off earlier, calling their owners to go over diagnoses and treatments, and letting them know when they can pick up their pet. Lab results need to be reported to owners, emails answered, x-rays viewed, and minor surgeries performed. Every animal in our care gets our full attention. Afternoon appointments go much like the morning but with really sick animals squeezed into the schedule instead of dropped off. We have a great support staff of certified veterinary technicians and technician assistants, not to mention the receptionists who are fielding all the phone calls. Most of the time, we are able to get everything done and the clinic cleaned and ready for the next day within 30 minutes of closing. Sometimes I stay late finishing emails and phone calls. As the business owner, my job is never really done. There are bills to pay, employee reviews to do, payroll, and client concerns to be addressed. But the variety of cats, dogs, people, and interesting medical cases makes the day fly by and gives me something to write about in my articles and blogs. I can’t imagine a better career choice for me. Still, the job is stressful. The suicide rate for veterinarians and veterinary

technicians, particularly females in both positions, has been increasing. The CDC reported in 2018 that female vets and vet techs are 3.5 times, and male veterinarians are 2.1 times, as likely as the general U.S. population to commit suicide. One in six veterinarians has contemplated suicide. Across the board, females in caring occupations (such as vets, nurses, and doctors) have the highest rate of suicide by far. The demands of practice, the long hours, and the work overload (all those new pandemic puppies!) are real and allconsuming, which leads to a poor worklife balance. I should stop looking at my emails after hours, but I feel obligated to my patients to be available if something serious happens. Other causes for the high suicide rate revolve around money. The stress of having owners ask that services be performed or medications given at a discount because vets are “supposed to love animals.” The stress of having to euthanize a pet because the owner is unable or unwilling to pay for treatments (which we didn’t do for free). The financial stress, especially for new graduates, whose average debt load is around $180,000 (with some up to $400,000) and an average salary around $86,000. Many clients are very appreciative of their vets; they thank us for helping their pet, for getting a sick pet in quickly, for helping them let a critically ill pet die peacefully. Unfortunately, even though the thanks and 5-star ratings far outnumber the criticisms, like most people, it’s the complaints that we internalize and stress over.

Looking through Google reviews from Madison-area veterinary clinics, I read “terrible, terrible vet!” This vet “failed me.” “Almost killed my cat!” “Tragically incompetent.” “Only out for more money.” “Not professional.” “Rude and greedy.” “No compassion, unethical, incompetent, overpriced.” And my favorite: “they should know because they are veterinarians.” It would be nice if veterinarians could know exactly what was wrong with your pet without having to run diagnostic tests, try a few different treatments, and do it all for free. I wish we could save all the animals and help them live long, healthy lives. We definitely love animals, but we also like being able to enjoy time away from the clinic, paying our bills, and not living in fear of cyberbullying. I understand the stress that all of us have, especially through the pandemic. We need to help each other, work together, and be slow to judge others. Not just your veterinarian, but all people in any occupation. Our lives depend on it. Lori Scarlett, DVM, is the owner and veterinarian at Four Lakes Veterinary Clinic. For more information, visit fourlakesvet.com.

Lori Scarlett, DVM & Charlie

madisonessentials.com

Photograph by Brenda Eckhardt

Some mornings I do surgeries, which is often a dental procedure with multiple tooth extractions, lump removals, spays and neuters, and the occasional urgent exploratory surgery because the pet ate something that isn’t passing.

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e sse nt i al nonprofit

JUSTDANE RUNS ON VOLUNTEERS

BY KYLE JACOBSON

This past year, we talked about all the ways our community benefits from JustDane’s programs and efforts. Whether it’s Healing House, Circles of Support, or any other undertaking, Linda Ketchum, executive director at JustDane, makes it known that without volunteers, JustDane couldn’t provide a fraction of the services they currently do. “We have about 250 volunteers in various capacities, and our volunteers provide, on an annual basis, the equivalent of about 10 full-time staff hours,” she says.

Circles of Support, a program dedicated to helping those recently released from prison in navigating their reentry into society, has some of JustDane’s most dedicated volunteers, many of whom were once in the system themselves. Linda calls them the meat of the program, and for good reason. Each released person they take on is in a circle of four to six volunteers who meet once a week for a minimum of 90 minutes. To have 15 to 16 circles going at once, there just wouldn’t be the resources without the volunteers.

Volunteering at JustDane starts at its governance. “Our board of directors is all volunteers, and that’s a significant commitment. We meet every month, and each board member agrees in addition to being on the board to serve on at least one other committee.” This also gives committee volunteers who aren’t on the board an opportunity to figure out if they’d like to be more involved with the organization.

During the pandemic, “Circles, I will say, those volunteers, they just flowed with it,” says Linda. “It’s a testament, in part. Some of our volunteers in Circles have been volunteering for over 10 years. Their volunteering, it’s part of their purpose in life. It’s what drives them.”

early months of the pandemic, when uncertainty was particularly high, people were soon back to making meals for those at Healing House, a place where a family or child experiencing homelessness can go to heal after surgery. In other mentoring programs, volunteers worked to become more familiar with technology while JustDane helped to ensure everyone had the devices and software they needed.

That isn’t to say volunteers of other programs aren’t dedicated. After the

Two of my favorite programs at JustDane are Family Connections and Reading

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Connections. JustDane’s website (justdane.org) describes the former as seeking to maintain and strengthen relationships with families affected by incarceration by organizing regular monthly visits between imprisoned mothers and their children, and the latter as offering parents whose children reside too far away for regular visits an opportunity to bond with their child and encourage their reading. “We have one paid staff person, and everyone else working in mentoring and Family and Reading Connections are volunteers,” says Linda. “It’s mentoring with kids one-to-one in the community. Small group mentoring with justice-involved young adults. Now that the prisons are reopening, later this year, we’ll likely resume our Family Connections, taking kids to visit their mom at Taycheedah prison once a month. Select mentoring is a weekly commitment that someone makes.”

CIRCLES OF SUPPORT

It’s important to note that not every volunteer has to give up a chunk of their week or weekend regularly. JustDane offers volunteer opportunities that fit any schedule. “Everybody’s life is a little different,” says Linda. “We can go with that. If somebody during the holidays is looking for an opportunity to help us, we can always use the help. “The pandemic has certainly decreased the number of people volunteering in terms of new volunteers. We’ve had people express interest; it’s just been madisonessentials.com

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fewer than we normally would see. I think a lot of people have been finding other ways to contribute, especially initially with Covid-19. Many of our volunteers are retired, so they’re older and higher risk for complications from Covid-19. They were very careful.”

STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS

As the holidays approach and those who are more fortunate than others seek volunteer opportunities, JustDane is hopeful that they’ll be able to accommodate more people than last year with a wider variety of volunteering options. Donations are always appreciated, but having people to do the legwork is oftentimes just as, if not more, important. “There’s groups that say, ‘Hey we want to volunteer with you,’” says Linda. “‘We have a volunteer day coming up.’ So we’ve had volunteer groups come in and clean and organize our storage unit or clean our sites. We’ve done some painting onsite at Just Bakery. And we have our simulations, which also rely heavily on volunteers helping us with each of those events. “We have a holiday party annually for kids in our program. We get donations from people in the community, stores for gifts and gift cards, but we always need help with having volunteers come help us sort the donations that come in. Helping us distribute those. Same thing with Thanksgiving. We usually work with Goodman Community Center. We get turkey baskets from them, and we get those distributed to participants in our program for

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Thanksgiving. There’s a variety of ways to volunteer.” I don’t think I ever really appreciated just how many people in the Greater Madison area are ready and willing, year in and year out, to give back. So many of our neighbors, regardless of their own personal hardships, appreciate all the good things in their lives. Are aware of their fortunes and blessings. The range of nonprofits we can take part in covers a variety of needs and interests, and they’re always looking for help. Because of the generosity from those willing to work with their hearts, JustDane and other nonprofits can improve and grow into the conscientious cornerstones our community prides itself on.

Tadsen Photography Drone/Aerial Imagery

To everyone who gives their time once a year, once a month, once a week, or daily, thank you so much for helping the Greater Madison area work toward its potential. Kyle Jacobson is a writer and senior copy editor for Madison Essentials.

Kyle Jacobson

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

Photographs provided by JustDane.

Fully licensed - FAA part 333 Waiver Stunning stills and 4k video

tadphoto.com - etadsen@icloud.com - 608-469-2255 madisonessentials.com

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e sse nt i al arts

Clay, Glaze & Firing MICHIGAN

BY C H R I S GA R GA N

Whether we’re talking sculptors, painters, authors, musicians, or any other creative, decade after decade, the Midwest produces some of the most profound artists in the world. In recognition, this year we’re zooming out from Wisconsin to celebrate ceramicists in our neighboring states. Next stop: Michigan. 30 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

Lindsey Ann Heiden Before her decision to attend graduate school at the University of Arkansas in 2015, Lindsey Ann Heiden engaged in a peripatetic lifestyle, traveling from state to state, studio to studio, doing internships, workshops, and apprenticeships as she grew her skills and defined her art. When she made the decision to get more formal education, she was engaged in a trifecta of life changes: the pursuit of a terminal degree; marriage; and the ensuing birth of her son, Wilder. She teaches at two UP schools, Michigan Tech University and Finlandia University.

While she loves being engaged with the student artists, “sparking people along,” as Lindsey says, she realizes she might rather be in the studio making work. The dilemma of every serious artist/academic is the pull to work on developing one’s own craft while recognizing and fulfilling the needs of the students they serve— especially in this time of pandemic, when communities and learners are so atomized. Lindsey’s art is driven and informed by the multiplicity of experiences, passions,

Photograph provided by Lindsey Ann Heiden

curiosities, and encounters that mark her daily life. Making the decision to have a child while in school was daunting. The community of artists and faculty embraced her motherhood to the point of her major professor rocking her son when she made a presentation to her class. As a nursing mother, she became fascinated by the notion of what it meant to engage in “milking” and the biology that was necessary to do so. One of her most compelling pieces, The Milking Mouse was a direct consequence of this experience. A small, kneeling, quasi-angelic creature, the mouse features multiple rows of breasts, a blonde bouffant of hair, wide staring bright-blue eyes, and a set of wings spread in a gesture of protection. Yet the image is not totally comforting or inviting. The polychrome application of glazes and paint is carefully descriptive in areas and gesturally haphazard in others. There exists a kind of dichotomous relationship between what Lindsey refers to as a “kitschy-cuteness” coupled with an almost creepy otherness that invites the viewer in but is willing to repel. The nature of the mouse is part of a larger written narrative that often accompanies Lindsey’s work. She constructs stories and fairy tales about other participants in her imaginative menagerie. Mr. Spider Goat sports an inscrutable expression of half-closed eyes and something that might resemble a hint of a smile topped with a roached mane of human hair and a devilish goatee. His story is broadened with a series of small wall pieces, which seem to emerge from a Victorian nightmare of framed animal parts and trophies. Lindsey emphasizes that she wishes these pieces to have the edge or spirit of whimsey, but with a bite. And she is not bothered that the narrative might be somewhat obscure when first approached by the viewer. She holds something back. “You

Photograph provided by Lindsey Ann Heiden

Two Ducks and a Bleeding Heart

Rabbit-Vulture madisonessentials.com

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She wishes these pieces to have the edge or spirit of whimsey, but with a bite. don’t get the whole cake to eat. If you did, it would make you sick. … It must have tooth to it.” As a respite to the confrontational nature of these narrative works, Lindsey has also made a series of functional ceramic pieces that comfortably occupy the niche of usability. These are delightful vases and platters who arrive as chickens or turkey vultures or snails or even semidemented bunny

rabbits, their identity closely tied to the seasonal arrival of wildlife at her back garden. They provide a moment of exhalation for the viewer, taking refuge in an unexpected sweetness that informs them. As someone commented to her husband, Kenyon, when they were exhibiting together, “Your wife has quite an imagination.” If they only knew.

Photograph provided by Lindsey Ann Heiden

Cardinal Vase

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Kenyon Hansen “I always wanted to be the worst potter in the studio.”

teapot

Kenyon Hansen is a remarkable and grateful artist. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he embarked on a sojourn of 12 states, working at internships, apprenticeships, attending workshops, and serving as a general dogsbody in the studios of celebrated artists and artisans to learn and perfect his craft. In the above sentiment, he is acknowledging his debt while celebrating his optimism and ambition to become the consummate artist he now is. Frustration fed his hunger; failures sweetened the rewards of success. Kenyon, wife Lindsey, and son Wilder live in Dollar Bay, Michigan, a “community of makers,” he says of Photograph provided by Kenyon Hansen Photograph by Kevin Montague

He has trained his eye to see what’s important, the moment that “sometimes things just sing.”

orb jar

Relic I Cloud Scoop 2020

thrown and altered stoneware forms

his Keweenaw neighbors. Not being the easiest location to make a living as a potter, it compels him to cultivate relationships with collectors, galleries, and the ceramic community, enabling him to sustain a life devoted to his passion and creativity. As sales strongly affect his production decisions, he relies on evolutionary changes in his work to continue to fuel growth and change for his pieces. His passion for handmade objects and all of the human, cultural, and nostalgic baggage that accompanied those pursuits led him, almost by accident, to a three-week ceramics class that fired his commitment to make a life as an artist. As he points out, “Academia does not give you a strong sense of what it means to be an artist.” He learned to trust his intuition, by which he means the

Photograph provided by Kenyon Hansen

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variety of cups

Kenyon in his studio

Photograph provided by Kenyon Hansen

and glowing or muted and mottled, searching for the perfect expression of wintery essence.

Photograph provided by Kenyon Hansen

confluence of thoughts, ideas, feelings, and experience. He has trained his eye to see what’s important, the moment that “sometimes things just sing.” He celebrates the marriage of function and form that embraces momentary human experience. Perhaps lifting a cup to one’s lips can become a more centered moment when it’s accompanied by a vessel made with exquisite attention to every nuance of aesthetic and practicality. Kenyon’s ceramic work is

deceptively charming in the immediacy of its presentation: inviting shapes of beautifully proportioned vessels, cups, teapots, pitchers, orb jars, boxes, plates, bowls, and platters insistent on being lifted, turned, tilted, and opened. The surfaces are varied between gridded lines, which more often than not terminate in eccentric joinery; bold stripes of highly chromatic hues; patchwork quilts of soft muted tones; and geometric shapes that float on the surface. His glazes can be intense

As Kenyon points out, most homes contain very few things that carry the mark of the human hand, presenting evidence of the maker. Therefore, they often lack the capacity to mark the moment, build and extend the relationship with use, interaction, and connection. He insists that this connection is virtually impossible with manufactured products. The connection begins and resides with its origins in the maker. By working with his hands, by building a lifestyle that accompanies this making of stuff, he serves as a paradigm of that most-aspired value: he is not living for the weekend. As an echo to this working philosophy, Kenyon makes the majority of his sales directly, abetted by a few art shows each year and added to by those sales he makes at the workshops he conducts annually. Kenyon is not just selling pottery; he’s selling the idea that if we slow the pace of our lives to appreciate a moment as passing as sipping a cup of coffee in the morning, we begin a connection through the marriage of aesthetics and function to a lived experience that can only be richer for its recognition.

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ley

Austen, raised in Europe and the United States, encountered a significant degree of art and cultural diversity in his youth. At an early age, he was profoundly moved by the work of Frederick Hart’s Creation Sculptures at the Washington National Cathedral. The human figures emerge, as if in struggle, from their background. They resonated of Michelangelo’s Slaves series, in which massive muscular men seem to force their way free from the marble blocks that encase

them. These works fed his desire to become a sculptor. In high school, Austen worked with an inspiring teacher who granted him the latitude to engage his own restless creativity and the encouragement to pursue the precarious career of a working artist. Recognizing his precocious genius, this teacher provided space and freedom for Austen’s explosive talent. Austen declined formal art school training, choosing instead to pursue his artistic growth at Oakland Community College outside of Detroit. This was followed by working with artists in workshops in Rome and Florence, where his understanding and skills in human anatomy were further refined. On the question of anatomical accuracy in his life-size pieces, Austen insists that accuracy must be subsumed into

Photograph by Justin Rothshank

raw, self portrait, fired clay, 2021

Photograph provided by Austen Brantley

Finding identity and expression in an often unwelcoming world.

venus, fired clay on limestone, 2021

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Photograph provided by Austen Brantley

Austen Brantley is changing the world, and himself, one work of art at a time. The creator of over 1,000 pieces of ceramic and bronze sculpture before the age of 26, he has combined an intense love of learning, world travel, and embedded experience to emerge as a powerful voice of the African American presence in art and the larger American society that he must negotiate.

Ernest Burke statue with Austen,

2021

the grace and expressive power of the sculpted figure; it can never serve as the driving purpose. “A sculptor is a sculptor because of his ideas and expressive intentions, not because of his skill with his hands.” It’s as if he’s insisting that his astonishing mastery of craft must be taken as a given lest the viewer miss the powerful intentions of his work. Two pieces, both commissioned works, must be addressed. The first, a public work, cast in bronze, of Viola Liuzzo, a Detroit homemaker who, in 1965, was inspired by the call of Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. to go to Alabama and help with the civil rights work being done there. She was subsequently murdered by Ku Klux Klan members and smeared

boy holds flower, bronze 2021

Photograph provided by Austen Brantley

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by the FBI in an effort to conceal their complicity with her murder. The sculpture, now in a dedicated public park, shows her striding forward in bare feet, consonant with traditional depictions of prophets and saints who remove their footwear before trodding on sacred ground. The second is the life-size sculpture of Ernest Burke, a former Negro Leagues Baseball player, that was unveiled this June at Tydings Park in Havre de Grace, Maryland. After his athletic career, he returned to the Baltimore area and served as a great inspiration with his work in the African American community. Austen’s depiction of Burke as a young athlete preparing to throw a pitch shows a man of determination, promise, and optimism. Austen reveals the direct intention of his work by describing it as a melding of earth, air, fire, and water, the four elements advanced by 5th century Greeks to describe the fundamental components of all matter. His creative power is to transform the relationship between these elements into powerful emotional resonances that speak directly to the viewer without artifice or misdirection. Austen’s work connects to the viewer with visual authority and emotional force. His Cocoon Series is a profound example of his use of symbolism, the depiction of human

beings trapped in, but emerging from, fabric windings, inviting the viewer to reflect on the power of art to describe the African American experience of finding identity and expression in an often unwelcoming world. Chris Gargan is a landscape artist and freelance writer working from his farm southwest of Verona. You can find his work at Abel Contemporary Gallery in Stoughton. He is seen here with his dog Tycho Brahe.

Chris Gargan

Photograph by Larassa Kabel

Nubian bust, ceramic

Photograph provided by Austen Brantley

2021

Lindsey Ann Heiden lindseyaheiden.com Kenyon Hansen kenyonmhansen.com Austen Brantley austenbrantleysculpture.com

SEPTEMBER 2021–FEBRUARY 2022

we make a difference

madisonessentials.com | homeelementsandconcepts.com | journeyofaging.com

e sse nt i al landmark

Shorewood Hills

HOME TO DISTINGUISHED RESIDENTS by Jea nne Engle Last issue, we featured John C. McKenna Sr., developer of the Village of Shorewood Hills. Building for Shorewood Hills began in College Hills, his first plat, prior to World War I but didn’t take off until the 1930s and again after World War II. Development of the Shorewood plat began later in the mid-1920s. Architects brought an eclectic mix of building styles to Shorewood Hills, designing houses for some of Madison’s most successful individuals.

Butts was the first director of the Wisconsin Union, serving in that capacity from the opening of the Memorial Union building in 1928 until 1968. He helped design the buildings and programs for more than 100 student unions in the United States and around the world. A representative of the Association of College Unions International called Butts “the most influential figure in the development of the college union movement in the United States” upon his retirement.

Frank M. Riley, designer of 14 homes in Shorewood Hills, was one of the most important architects to practice in Madison in the early 20th century. Born in Madison and educated at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Riley spent time working in Europe before returning to Madison in 1914 to begin his own architectural firm. According to the National Register of Historic Places nominations, Riley is “best known for his residential designs, most of which were expertly and knowledgeably done in either the Colonial Revival or Georgian Revival style. … Riley was equally at home with all the major period revival styles, and his mastery [of these styles] resulted in some of Madison’s finest houses.” Interestingly, several of the local architects who designed homes in Shorewood Hills worked for Riley’s firm over the years, including William V. Kaeser.

A few years ago, the naming of an art gallery at the Memorial Union for Butts proved controversial when it was discovered that, as a student, he had been a member of an honorary society called Ku Klux Klan. Not affiliated with the secret racist organization, the society changed its name to Tumas (a Native American term) in 1923. Nonetheless, some students in 2018 expressed that they felt uncomfortable around the gallery because of the name and perceived historical ties, so Butts’ name was removed. Today Butts’ professional accomplishments are presented as part of the Union’s history on a second-floor kiosk.

Recognized as “Madison’s Organic Architect,” in 1935, Kaeser was Madison’s first city planner. His home designs were largely influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, especially in the Porter and Mary Lou Butts House, built in 1937. One of the first modern houses in the area, the interior walls are clad in wood paneling, and expansive windows overlook lush greenery—a house reminiscent of a tree house both inside and out, as reported in Dwell. 38 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

Ryan and Emily Bohochik, current owners of the Butts House, have lived there for the past two years. “The setting is phenomenal,” says Ryan. “The house is built into nature and sits well into the hill, a real complement to the landscape. This house is everything we could have dreamed for, very suited to modern-day living. … I love the house’s connection to history.” The Bohochiks possess the original blueprints and contract for building the house. Kaeser built his own home and studio on Circle Close in Shorewood Hills in 1951. His modern-style home showcases the effective use of natural materials. The large living room features a copper-hooded fireplace.

Another home designed by Kaeser, this time for Marshall and Joyce Erdman, was across the street. Marshall Erdman immigrated to the United States in 1938. With a fascination for architecture, he established his own firm in 1951. The construction of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unitarian Meeting House is among Erdman’s early achievements. He is also recognized as one of the pioneers in the building industry. Erdman brought architects, engineers, construction managers, and other staff together in one firm to deliver medical offices. He even built his own factory to prefabricate building components. By the 1990s, his firm was the leading provider of small clinics in the United States. Today, the firm’s focus is still on healthcare, but for community and large integrated systems.

The firm designed many of Madison’s most important commercial buildings, including its first skyscraper, the ninestory Gay Building on the Capitol Square. The firm had close ties to Shorewood Hills, with Potter and Edward Law building their own homes there. In addition, Potter acted as the Village’s first building commissioner. Today, the successor firm, Potter Lawson, Inc., is an award-winning architecture, planning, and interior design firm. Dr. Frederic E. and Mary Ellen Mohs built their house in 1938. Frederic E. Mohs developed what is considered the most effective technique for treating common skin cancers. He treated his first patient in 1936 at Wisconsin General Hospital (now the Medical Sciences Center on University Avenue

“THE HOUSE IS BUILT INTO AND SITS WELL INTO THE HILL, A REAL COMPLEMENT TO THE LANDSCAPE.” A pioneer in her own right, Joyce Erdman, appointed to the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System in 1975, was the first woman to hold the post of president, from 1980 to 1982. She was elected the first female president of the Shorewood Hills Village Board in 1973. As a student at the UW, in 1946, Joyce Erdman was the first woman chosen to be president of the Wisconsin Student Association.

in Madison). The procedure, still used today, is done on an outpatient basis, spares healthy tissue, and leaves the smallest-possible scar.

Lyle and Mary Hill built their French Provincial house in 1939. Lyle Hill, with Wally Henderson, founded Vita Plus in 1948. The employee-owned company, headquartered on Fish Hatchery Road, manufactures animal and livestock Madison Essentials Fall 2021 4.75 x 2.25 $540 feed, supplements, and base mixes. It Madison’s largest architectural firm in was during the Great Depression of the the 1920s and 30s, Law, Law & Potter, 1930s that Lyle Hill and Henderson was founded by brothers James and developed a new approach to livestock Edward Law in 1913 and expanded feeding by utilizing more of the vitamins to include Ellis Potter as a principal. and minerals that were becoming Norwegian Heritage Center

• Interactive storybooks • Electronic culture stations • Build-your-journey map wall • Genealogy lab • Auditorium with on-demand films

available as a result of research at the UW’s College of Agriculture. Not a retiring soul, Lyle Hill, with Bob Heideman, initiated the ARMS (Adult Role Models in Science) program in 1990 as a partnership between WISCIENCE (formerly the Center for Biology Education) and the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Madison. Reaching more than 5,000 people and training more than 100 new mentors in a single year, this program serving Madison schools coordinates ongoing collaboration around K-8 science education and brings existing programs, resources, and stakeholders together to make a lasting impact. Don Voegeli, UW professor and music director at public radio station WHA, and wife Jean built their house in 1950. Because he composed music for commercials and television, Don Voegeli was asked by National Public Radio (NPR) in 1971 to write a theme song for All Things Considered, NPR’s first daily news program, for which he used a synthesizer—cutting edge sound at the time. John Logan, retired UW Sociology professor, has lived in the Voegeli house since 2004. “I like the open plan of the living and dining rooms,” says John. “A baby grand piano is in the same place as Voegeli had his grand piano. My son plays it well. Perhaps Voegeli’s spirit is guiding him.” This is just a sampling of the people who probably saw in Shorewood Hills what McKenna Sr. envisioned when he took that walk west of Madison more than a century ago. Jeanne Engle is a freelance writer. Photograph by Daniel Greenspan.

“Where immigrant stories come alive”

277 W. Main St. Stoughton, WI

• livsreise.org • Free Admission • 608.873.7567 • Like us on •

Jeanne Engle

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Photograph by MOD Media Productions

Please see our website or Facebook page for upcoming events

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e sse nt i al community

vs. IMPACT

INTENTION by Sandy Eichel

Welcome back to our series the “us” in inclusion, where we talk about how all of us need to take responsibility in the things we do and say every day to make our society a more inclusive place for everyone. We’re in this together, but we all have to do some work individually too. It’s our responsibility, and it will take all of us contributing to make real change. In our previous segments, we talked about what it means to be an advocate to diverse communities, examining and challenging our own biases, what systemic oppression is and what it looks like in the everyday life of people who experience it, and power and privilege. In this segment, we will talk about the difference and the importance between intent and impact. As we go about our lives, we are inevitably going to cause harm to others without intending to. None of us want to, at least I hope not, but the fact is we will say things that hurt someone around us. As we continue on our journey of trying to make our society

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better for everyone and healing some of the wounds caused by systemic racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, neurophobia, and ableism, we need to stop and look at the difference between what we intend to do and what our impact is. There is blatant discrimination, and there is subtle and unintentional discrimination. As we talked about previously with systemic oppression, we know what obvious forms of discrimination look like—someone yelling a racist, sexist, or homophobic slur out their window as they drive by or physically harming someone because of who they are. But the subtle forms of discrimination that wound us deeply and take their toll are the small, unintentional acts done by the people we see every day: our friends, family, and coworkers. Microaggressions are brief, everyday exchanges that send damaging messages to certain individuals because of their group membership. They generally happen below the level of awareness by well-intentioned

members of the dominant group; they are the fruit of unintentional bias. Usually, people perpetuating microaggressions intend no offense and are unaware they are causing harm. An example of a microaggression would be a man at work calling their female coworker and friend “baby girl” or “sweetie” out of affection for them. His intent is affection, but the impact may be that his friend feels demeaned and patronized. She may not correct her friend but cringes every time he says it. I had a good friend say to me before my wedding, “I hope you invite me to your wedding. I’ve never been to a gay wedding before.” While that may seem innocuous, it hurt. My wedding was not for my friends’ or anyone else’s entertainment; it was a sacred and special day for myself and my wife. I did have a conversation with this friend telling them how it made me feel. Thankfully, they took it well and vowed to be more aware of the things they say and do and to educate themselves more on issues in my community that they are unaware of.

Microaggressions like these are the ones that are most common and that most resemble paper cuts. They really do look so minor, but they happen so often that they wear a person down until there are profound impacts on someone’s mental and physical health. It’s death by a thousand cuts. Often when it’s pointed out to people that something they said was unintentionally harmful, they become defensive and invalidate what the harmed person is saying. This is a totally normal reaction. Everyone tends to measure their responses based on their own interpretation of a situation. You aren’t alone in that, but you also aren’t right. Your reaction is understandable based on the programming that we all receive in our culture, but your reaction is not truth. The person that experiences the harm is the one that needs to be heard; they get to decide what is harmful to them, not you. You may be saying, “But I didn’t mean to.” While that is true, invalidation is another form of microaggression that makes the original harm even worse. If anyone has ever told you, “You are being too sensitive,” you know what that means. I’m bringing up a harm that happened to me, and now you’re telling me there was no harm? I feel even worse. Again, not the intent, but the impact. Invalidation happens so often, a lot of people who are harmed by discrimination just stop bringing it up because it’s too hard and takes up too much energy. If someone has brought something up with you, that means they trust you, so don’t break that trust. An invalidation is anything that implies that the power imbalances in the world are the way they are because those on top deserve to be on top and those at the bottom deserve to be at the bottom.

intend to do and what our impact is.

we need to stop and look at the difference between what we

Let’s take a situation with your spouse or partner. You said something that really upset them. You didn’t mean to, but they’re really hurt. In this situation, certainly it matters that you didn’t mean to hurt them, but what matters more is that you did. You need to examine what and how you hurt them and apologize and learn from that situation so that you do better next time. It’s the same with a situation that involves race, gender, sexual orientation, ableism, sexism, or neurodiveristy. Our privilege (which we talked about in our last segment) can often prevent us from understanding the impact of our actions. This is where listening becomes so important—I mean stepping back from our own experiences, not being defensive, and really listening to the harmed person. We all make mistakes like this, and it’s vitally important how we respond to someone bringing up harm that we caused them. ALL is a great acronym to remind you what to do when someone says your words or actions hurt them.

L—Listen. Stop, take a breath, and listen to what this person is telling you. They are likely bringing it up because they care deeply about you and want your relationship to continue and to deepen. They’re trusting you by bringing this up. Try to avoid reacting poorly and breaking that trust. L—Learn from this situation and do better in the future. Examine more of your comments and thoughts, and be more conscious about what and how you say and do. We can all be more aware of our impact in the things we say. Words can be weapons, so be careful what you say. If someone tells you what you said was hurtful, remember that we ALL are going to make mistakes, even if we didn’t mean it. But apologizing, listening, and learning helps everyone to feel more accepted and respected. Sandy Eichel is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Speaker and Consultant.

A—Apologize. Like, actually apologize and mean it. Avoid “I’m sorry but…” I’m sorry you felt…” “I’m sorry if…” A more appropriate response is “I’m sorry I hurt you. Thank you for telling me. I will learn from this and do better.” Sandy Eichel

Common invalidations include: “You are overreacting. Don’t be so sensitive.” “Oh come on, I’m not —ist. That isn’t what I meant.” “I’m sure they didn’t mean it. I think you’re misunderstanding them.” “Just ignore them so we can all get along.”

madisonessentials.com

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Photograph by PC John Oates Photography

e sse nt i al travel

Uncovering Wisconsin’s

HIDDEN GEMS BY ANNE SAYERS

GREEN BAY

The city of Green Bay usually brings one thing to mind: Green Bay Packers. The Packers are still the only publicly owned team in the National Football League. With over a century of history, their team has made Green Bay known throughout the world. However, Green Bay is a phenomenal place to visit regardless of your football loyalties. This winter, consider putting the city by the bay on your list for winter fun and holiday wonderment. The Green Bay Botanical Garden is a stunning place to visit during every season. This winter, visitors can check out the Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) Garden of Lights, encompassed by more than 300,000 twinkling lights. Create special holiday memories with a spectacular array of natureinspired light displays, featuring an enchanted icicle forest, glistening flowers, a dazzling 60-foot walk-through caterpillar, and so much more. The Neville Public Museum, a cultural institution showcasing history, art, and science, is a gem in Brown County. This year, the animated figures that once adorned the H.C. Prange’s department store windows in downtown Green Bay are featured in a holiday exhibit. Don’t miss Bruce the Spruce, the lovable talking Christmas tree who once chatted with holiday shoppers at Prange’s.

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Another hit with visitors of all ages is the National Railroad Museum, full of interactive and creative installations on the history of the American rails. For the holiday season, kids can take the Polar Express Train Ride to the North Pole, featuring a live rendition of the Hot Chocolate Dance followed by a dramatic reading of the original Polar Express book. At the end of the train ride, Santa personally greets each child. At the museum, you can also view more than 40 trees, decorated by local businesses and nonprofit organizations, at the Festival of Trees. I know I’m not alone when I say I’m so thankful that live theatre is back this year, and there are plenty of options in Green Bay this season. A Frank’s Christmas is a musical comedy tradition in northeast Wisconsin, and it will be playing downtown at the Meyer Theatre. You can also take in a dinner

Photograph provided by Travel Wisconsin

and a show at Daddy D Productions, where they play the traditional favorites with a dash of contemporary flare. You can also see Mannheim Steamroller perform Christmas classics at the Weidner Center.

YOU CERTAINLY DON’T NEED TO BE A FOOTBALL FAN TO ENJOY EVERYTHING GREEN BAY HAS TO OFFER.

Do you have some holiday shopping to do? There’re quite a few shopping districts you’ll want to check out. Broadway Street in downtown Green Bay and both sides of the bridge in downtown De Pere have boutique shopping mixed with a great selection of coffee shops when you need to stop and take a break. If you’re looking for a retail mecca, try Military Avenue, just north of Lambeau Field. It’s the perfect place to get something unique or something delicious!

Photograph provided by Travel Wisconsin

Speaking of delicious, this winter will see the return of a new trend in eating out, the igloo dining experience. At Hagemeister Park, you can enjoy a gourmet burger in a heated igloo, complete with pillows, blankets, candles, music, and board games. At Lodge Kohler, you can share drinks and an appetizer while watching the snow fall in one of the restaurant’s domes. If craft beer is your scene, enjoy a local brew and delicious American staples inside an igloo at Hinterland Brewery. There are more ways to take in the natural beauty of winter. L.H. Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve, Brown County Reforestation Camp, and Neshota Park have miles of trails to explore in the wintertime by foot, snowshoe, ski, or bike. You’ll feel like you took a step off the beaten path on these wooded trails. Check out the Wisconsin Snow Report at travelwisconsin.com/snowreport for trail and snow conditions before you explore. Green Bay has more to offer than being home to an incredible football franchise, but that doesn’t mean you should skip a madisonessentials.com

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Photograph provided by Green Bay Packers

OPEN DAILY! 3330 atwood ave. madison, wi 53704 olbrich.org

| 608-246-4550

44 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

and plenty of outdoor games. In the winter, they have an ice-skating rink and tubing lanes down Ariens Hill. Check out the Winter Jubilee Light Show, a dazzling blend of holiday-themed lights and music featuring animation, lasers, and fireworks. The Packers may have put Green Bay on the map for a lot of people, but this modest city has some of the same attractions as its larger counterparts while still offering odes to small-town charm. You certainly don’t need to be a football fan to enjoy everything Green Bay has to offer.

For more festive trip ideas, be sure to visit travelwisconsin.com for inspiration. Anne Sayers is the secretary-designee at Wisconsin Department of Tourism.

Anne Sayers

Photograph provided by Travel Wisconsin

Photo by Kevin Sink

visit to Titletown and Lambeau Field any time of year. Titletown features a fullsize football field, a unique playground,

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advertiser

INDEX

association

entertainment & media

Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce..... 47

Olbrich Botanical Gardens........................... 44

Dane Buy Local............................................... 28

UMOJA Magazine........................................... 45

Dane County Humane Society.................... 45

WORT-FM........................................................... 17

CONTEST Win a One-Hour Massage at

Holiday Fantasy in Lights................................ 48 Livsreise............................................................. 39

services

Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of

Bergamot Massage & Bodywork.................... 9

Commerce.................................................. 13

The Edge of Freshness Hair Studio LLC......... 34

Soups On!......................................................... 21

Four Lakes Veterinary Clinic.......................... 25

Town of Merrimac............................................ 13

Metcalfe’s........................................................... 9

INFUSE

MASSAGE

($80 value)

Monroe Street Framing................................... 13

dining, food & beverage

Question:

Petinary Clinic.................................................. 21

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream..................... 21

Tadsen Photography...................................... 29

Clasen’s European Bakery............................... 9

WESLI................................................................. 46

“Which local business owner used to be a fabric designer in Mumbai, India?”

Fraboni’s Italian Specialties & Delicatessen......................... 17

shopping

Lombardino’s..................................................... 5

Abel Contemporary Gallery......................... 35

The Old Feed Mill Restaurant........................ 20

Agora.................................................................. 2

Old Sugar Distillery.......................................... 22

Anthology......................................................... 23

Otto’s Restaurant & Bar.................................. 16

Avid Gardener................................................. 23

Paisan’s............................................................. 29

Cloth & Metal Boutique.................................. 22

Paoli Schoolhouse American Bistro............... 5

Deconstruction Inc......................................... 12

Porta Bella........................................................ 29

The Deliciouser.................................................. 9

Sugar River Pizza Company........................... 32

Fontana Sports................................................. 17

Tempest Oyster Bar......................................... 45

Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier.......................... 22

Tornado Steak House..................................... 45

Goodman’s Jewelers...................................... 41

Vintage Brewing Co. ........................................ 5

JNJ Gifts and More......................................... 23 Katy’s American Indian Arts............................ 8 Little Luxuries.................................................... 23 Ulla Eyewear..................................................... 22

Enter by submitting your answer to the above question online at madisonessentials.com or by mail with your name, mailing address, phone number, and email to: Madison Essentials c/o Towns & Associates, Inc. PO Box 174 Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 All entries with the correct answer will be entered into a drawing for one of two gift cards for a one-hour massage. Contest deadline is November 30, 2021. Gift card will be honored at Bergamot Massage & Bodywork.

Good Luck!

Winners Thank you to everyone who entered our previous contest. The answer to the question “Which restaurant co-owners met as neighbors in the same brownstone apartment near Wrigley Field?” is Sardine. A OneHour Massage gift card at Bergamot Massage & Bodywork was sent to each of our winners, Allison Anderson of Sun Prairie and Kellie Miller of Oregon.

CONGRATULATIONS! 46 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

EXPERIENCE a classic

CHRISTMAS

Step back into a bygone era by visiting a quaint downtown square straight out of a Norman Rockwell illustration. Independently owned specialty shops ring the square, delivering distinctive Christmas gift ideas. Every Saturday of the holiday season will find horse-drawn wagons giving shoppers rides around the square, Santa Claus visiting with children eager to share their wish lists, and choirs of carolers circling the community. A Nov. 19 Wine Walk and a Nov. 20 Light Parade will kick off what’s sure to be a heart-warming holiday season!

CHRISTMAS LIGHT PARADE YENTI EILERTSON

BARABOO.COM (608) 356-8333 SCAN & PLAN >

DOWNTOWN WAGON RIDES BILL JOHNSEN

JUST IMAGINE TOY STORE

CARLA MINSKY

Holiday Fantasy in Lights Holiday Tradition Presented by The Electri e t i r o v a F c Grou n’s p Madiso

33rd Annual Holiday Fantasy in Lights would not be possible without • IBEW Local 159 Electricians • Madison Area Businesses • The Electric Group

• NECA Contractors • Volunteer Booth Groups • Madison Parks

…And all the visitors who generously support this event. Thank You!

November 13th, 2021 to January 3rd, 2022 Drive Thru • Dusk till Dawn • Olin Park • Free Admission

www.fantasyinlights.com Contractors

• A & A Electric of Baraboo • Born’s Electric • Electric Construction • Krantz Electric • Nickles Electric • Trager Electric • Wiersma Electric • 1901 Inc.

• Accurate Electric Construction • Control Works • Forward Electric • Mainstage Lighting and Electric • Pieper Electric • VanErt Electric • Midwest Electric • Future Electric & Solar

• APEX Electric • Cummings and Turk • Hill Electric • Moser Elec. & Data • Staff Electric • Westpahl & Co. • Morse Electric

Madison Essentials November/December 2021

Articles inside

Uncovering Wisconsin’s Hidden Gems: Green Bay

Clay, Glaze & Firing: Michigan

JustDane Runs on Volunteers

Not One More Vet

Shorewood Hills

Kiva Greater Madison

From the Publisher

Intention vs. Impact

NAMI Dane County