THIS INSPIRING STORY BROUGHT TO YOU BY GRAPE-NUTS

Sam Llanas — Formerly of the BoDeans — Now Focuses on Bullying, Suicide Prevention

Former lead singer for popular Waukesha-based band is facing a new challenge in his life: a solo career and writing the score for a play about alcoholism, bullying and suicide.

About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains. If you were hitting the bars on the East Side of Milwaukee in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, you are probably fans of the BoDeans, the rock band from Waukesha. Sam Llanas and Kurt Neumann introduced the nation to the Waukesha Sound and made a name for themselves in the music industry. In 2012, Llanas decided to leave the band to work on solo projects and is facing one of those challenges right now – writing the score for a one-man play about alcoholism, bullying and suicide. “I'm working with a playwright, Doug …

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A Week of Art in Shorewood Schools

Shorewood schools will come alive with color as art students show off their art skills, during a week-long celebration of the arts.

Shorewood schools will come alive with color as the district kicks of a week of events celebrating the arts.  Events start Monday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. with a gallery night at Shorewood Intermediate School, 3830 N. Morris Blvd., featuring work by eighth-grade, advanced-art students.  AP Art Night opens Tuesday night from 5:30 to 8 at Shorewood High School, 1701 E. Capitol Dr. The event will feature a gallery of work created by the school’s most advanced artists. At 6:30 p.m., the students will talk about their work during a slide-show presentation in the youth center before heading back to the high school art rooms for refreshments.  On Wednesday, Atwater Elementary, 2100 E. Capitol Dr., will host the Art Extravaganza Art Show from 6 to 8 p.…

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'Spring Awakening' Opens at SHS Friday

Shorewood High School drama students rehearsed this week as they prepared for six performances of the controversial musical.

Shorewood Drama's production of Spring Awakening opens Friday in the high school auditorium.  Ticket information is available here; they run $10 for adults and $5 for students.  The rock adaptation of Frank Wedekind’s 1891 expressionist play tells the story of 19th century German teenagers facing issues related to their sexuality. The controversial, Tony Award-winning musical hit Broadway in 2006.  It had been banned in Germany (and in the United States) due to its controversial subject matter. It deals with taboo topics like suicide, teen pregnancy, masturbation and sexual assault. Performances run Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. and continue May 16, 17, 18 at 7 p.m. at 1701 E. Capitol Dr. 

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spades12

5:20 am on Sunday, May 12, 2013

I think some parts of these articles are simply copied from the first post on Spring Awakening or are a variation and possibly quoted. Also, I believe Patch is not attempting to portray it's opinion but to be informative on what is going on/being said about the show.   more ›

Art Collection 'Telling Stories' On Display at Anaba Tea Room Thursday

Megan Woodard Johnson's artwork aims to tell evocative stories speaking to universal experiences as well as personal memories.

Megan Woodard Johnson's artwork aims to tell evocative stories speaking to universal experiences as well as personal memories.  Her art collection, "Telling Stories," goes on display at the Anaba Tea Room, 2107 E. Capitol Dr., Thursday. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be happy hour specials and live music. The reception is free and open to the public. The work will remain on display through June 30.  Johnson creates deliciously rich, mixed media paintings using bits of vintage paper ephemera, acrylic paint, various drawing materials and anything that might be in her arm's reach while she's working, the tea room says. She has stitched and twirled thread, affixed nails and screws and attached vintage measuring …

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Shorewood Artist Talks about Pope Portrait on CNN

Johnson has received a $20,000 bid on the artwork, a portrait of the former pontiff making use of condoms, from a Milwaukee philanthropist and plans to donate a portion of the proceeds to HIV and AIDS research and advocacy.

Shorewood artist Niki Johnson appeared on a CNN "Faces of Faith" segment discussing her controversial portrait of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI using 17,000 colorful condoms. Johnson talked about the message behind her piece and the positive and negative feedback she has received from around the globe.  "I believe our world leaders are responsible to support public health and I'm hoping, through making this piece, to engage further conversation about the importance of preventing HIV/AIDS," she told CNN.  Johnson has received a $20,000 bid on the artwork from Milwaukee philanthropist and AIDS activist Joseph Pabst, according to a new website about artwork coined "Eggs Benedict." She told CNN she wil donate a portion of the proceeds from the …

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David Tatarowicz

10:24 am on Wednesday, April 17, 2013

@ TDS Did you hear the one about the Priest, the Choir Boy and the Nun ? This might be just the right forum for all those bigot groups that hate Catholics -- the KKK, the Aryan Brother Hood, many hard core Evangelicals --- to use for their anti Catholic jokes, mis-truths, and plain old hatred of a particular religious group. Just not Baptist --- Adam said he was a Baptist, so probably not ok for …   more ›

Controversial Pope Portrait Set for Public Unveiling

Shorewood artist Niki Johnson's piece that has sparked discussion globally, is set to be part of a special exhibit later this month at a Milwaukee art gallery.

Shorewood artist Niki Johnson's portrait of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI shaped from 17,000 condoms will be unveiled publicly for the first time April 11 at a Milwaukee art gallery. "Eggs Benedict" — which has sparked discussion around the world — will be part of a special exhibit opening at the Portrait Society Gallery, 207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 526 at 7 p.m., running April 11 through May. It will also be on display through a gallery night on April 18 and 19 from 6 to 9 p.m., according to the gallery's website.  The gallery, which "showcases both current and historic artists who work broadly and loosely with the ideas of portrait traditions," will include some of Johnson's other artwork in a larger exhibition, Sourcebook: Martha Wilson and …

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A Prophylactic Portrait of the Pope

Shorewood artist Niki Johnson takes years and uses 17,000 condoms to create a portrait of Pope Benedict XVI after hearing former Catholic leader make comments about AIDS.

A concept captured and communicated visually creates a visceral relationship with the viewer in ways the written word can't, Niki Johnson says. Through her portrait of Pope Benedict XVI, which was created with roughly 17,000 condoms, the Shorewood artist hopes to spark dialogue about sexuality and making healthy sex choices. "There's so many ways to look at the types of conversations that can arrive from seeing a piece like this," she said. "Everyone is going to take away something different from it, and I feel like there are many communities that I would like to speak to. I think it's time for people to allowed to love who they love, be safe about it and make good choices with their lives. And, to have our world leaders support them." …

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