​

​April has been a busy month at the Beloit Art Center and May promises to be great too. Both galleries are full through the end of April with over 200 pieces of original artwork created by students from Beloit’s four area high schools. As part of the high school exhibit, twelve pieces were selected to represent Beloit at the Association of Wisconsin Artists (AWA) Statewide Teen Art Mentor Program (STAMP).  The chosen artwork will be published and exhibited at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau this coming August. Congratulations to the incredible artists who were selected. They include Ashley Ayaquica, Aurora Balliet, Ellie Maxwell, Gabrielle Sowicz, Jailyn Mosley, Janicza Rosas-Nunez, Jayla House, Jennifer Nguyen, Katara Bell, Ruth Stalcup, Taylor Viens, and Theo Felger. Join us in celebrating these talented young artists, and all the other amazing artists, by visiting the Beloit Art Center before the end of the month!
 
As part of the Beloit Art Center’s mission to display and promote art in the community, the Beloit Art Center offers the public four art exhibits each year located at the Beloit Public Library. This quarter’s featured artist is James Richter. James is a Janesville resident who has been creating art for over 50 years. He paints using acrylic and has recently been making a name for himself creating wall size murals. He latest creation, Bright Futures, a 20’ x 60’ acrylic mural was completed in August of 2021. It was commissioned by the Boys and Girls Club of Janesville. His paintings will be on display at the library through the end of June.
 
In addition to their regular selection of classes in May, the Beloit Art Center is pleased to announce that certified Tai Chi instructor Nancy Mayhew will be offering Tai Chi and Qigong for Fall Prevention and Better Balance. Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries for older adults. However, falling is not an inevitable part of aging. By implementing a regular practice of these ancient Chinese disciplines, seniors can improve their muscle tone, flexibility, balance, and coordination. The class will be offered on Thursday mornings at 10:00 starting May 12. The cost is $60 for an eight-week series. To register and get more information for this and other classes offered at the art center, visit www.beloitartcenter.com or call the Beloit Art Center at 608-313-9083.  
 
Finally, on April 30 the Beloit Art Center will be one of local businesses participating in the Downtown Beloit Wine Walk. During the event the Beloit Art Center Photography Club will be offering free portraits to all wine walk participants. Be sure and stop in and check out the local artwork featured in our gift shop and get your portrait taken.
 
The Beloit Art Center is a not-for-profit organization located at 520 East Grand Ave in Beloit run entirely by volunteers. Their mission is to partner with the community and regional artists, to maintain a center to teach, display and promote art through events, classes, gallery and studio space. Gallery hours are Monday from 10am - 2pm; Tuesday - Friday from 10am - 5pm and Saturday from 10am - 2pm.  for more information about Beloit Art Center visit: www.beloitartcenter.com
​

​​The Beloit Art Center is excited to announce the 2022 FISH FRENZY FUNDRAISER to benefit the Beloit area community! Community members are invited to show their creativity and decorate a fish with their choice of materials and donate it to the Beloit Art Center. The decorated fish will be auctioned, and the proceeds will be used to offer free art classes at the Beloit Art Center for those in our community that are undergoing cancer treatment.

Cancer survivor and FISH Project Coordinator Nancy Mayhew explains the motivation behind the fundraising event. “Creating art gives us more than what one might expect.  It keeps us in the moment, gives us happiness, and reduces negative emotions like worry, stress, anxiety, and fear. In 2012, while she was undergoing cancer treatment, I taught my sister how to make garden mosaics.  I saw the joy it brought her and how, for a while she was able to forget about her worries and fears. In 2018 it was my turn to go through cancer treatment.  I turned to my art to get me through.  I was able to let go of all the negative emotions that accompany cancer diagnosis and treatment, and I felt that even if I did not survive, there would be something of me left in this world. The Fish Fundraising Project came out of my knowing the difference creating art can make for a cancer patient.”

For members of the community that would like to create and donate art to help raise funds, the blank 24 inch wood fish cutouts can be purchased for $15 and are available at the Beloit Art Center, The Villager Gallery, and Walnut Creek Awards & Promotions. Be sure to get your fish soon because there are only 50 available and they are going fast! The completed fish should be delivered to the Beloit Art Center. Deadline to submit the fish artwork is the May 14th.

The FISH can be decorated in any manner an individual chooses, but for individuals that would like to decorate their fish using mosaic art, a Free Demonstration Mosaic Fish Class will be held by mosaic instructor Nancy Mayhew. The demonstration will be on Saturday, April 9th at 10:00 at the Beloit Art Center. Students who attend the demonstration will be given written instructions for completing their fish using mosaic art. Suggested materials include paint, costume jewelry, shells, sea glass, metal, stained glass, broken china, or similar materials. For those interested in a class setting to complete their mosaic fish, the art center offers Mosaic Art Classes on Tuesday mornings from 10:00-12:00 at the Beloit Art Center; class cost is $20.
​
The fish will be mounted and displayed in the gardens across from the First National Bank and in multiple business windows throughout downtown Beloit starting June 1. To support the project, bid on each of your favorite fish. Beloit Auction & Realty, Inc. will be partnering with the Beloit Art Center to auction off the fish using their online auction platform. Community members will be able to help cancer patients and “win” their favorite fish by bidding online at the Beloit Auction website or using the Beloit Auction app.