The Pointer UW-Stevens Point Student Newspaper
The Women’s Resource Center is sponsoring the upcoming Female Artist Showcase to exhibit the artistic talents of women in the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and Stevens Point community at Kristin’s Riverwalk, Friday, November 30th at 7 p.m.
The showcase has been typically been held on campus and has entailed different forms of artistic performance, such as dance, live painting, singing and the spoken word. Jessica McKenna of the Women’s Resource Center helped organize the event this year.
“Typically, throughout time, women artists have not received nearly as much recognition for their artistic achievement as their male counterparts,” McKenna said.
The Women’s Resource Center creates a message and delivers it to the public asking for artists to participate in the event. All artists sign up at their own free will and have the opportunity to display their art, whatever it may be, in front of a live audience.
“We receive about 10 to 15 performers each year and about 30 to 50 observers,” McKenna said. “This year we moved the event to Kristin’s Riverwalk to encourage the community to attend, but the campus has always been supportive of the event.”
McKenna explained that the event has taken place for at least the past five years that she has attended the university and that she hopes attendance will double this year. This is the first year the showcase decided to incorporate a fundraising aspect, which will mainly be a silent auction with items donated from local businesses such as the Coffee Studio, Stevens Point Area Co-Op and the Brewhaus.
“All the proceeds will be going to a scholarship that will be given to a female student artist in recognition of her achievement on the UWSP campus,” McKenna said.
The event will feature multiple performers. One example is the group known as the Back Alley Blossoms, a four-piece, all female bluegrasss-folk music group based in the Stevens Point area. Student Loren DeLonay will also be dedicating her time to participate in the event.
“I have participated in the last two years of the event and have enjoyed each wholeheartedly,” DeLonay said. “This is a great evening to support the valuable services that the Women’s Resource Center provides to the UWSP students.”
DeLonay plans to do a Shuvani Tribal Dance with the members of the Central Sands Bellydance group. Central Sands consists of community members who study bellydance with DeLonay at Studio B Pilates. They will perform five dances at the showcase.
“This group of women meets weekly and enjoys sharing the beauty of bellydance,” DeLonay said. “Shuvani Tribal Dance was established in 2001 and has performed at various cultural festivals throughout the state.”
DeLonay encourages participation in the Women’s Artist Showcase and other performances because she feels the experience is valuable to the Stevens Point community. She looks forward to participating with her fellow dancers and expects to have a good time.
“It is always an honor to perform with the group of ladies I dance with. I also love seeing other artists sharing their work. The evening will be very fun,” DeLonay said. “I am interested in the conversations that will take place and seeing people who I have not seen for a while, as well as meeting new people.”
Doors will open at 7 p.m. at Kristin’s Riverwalk on Friday, with the event starting at 7:30 p.m. The Back Alley Blossoms are scheduled to close the event with a performance at 9 p.m.
Aaron Krish
Reporter
