The following is an article written by Bonnita Budysz for the Rahr-West Art Forward series.
As an Artist Activist (Founder of the Water’s Edge Artists – Painters for Preservation), educator, community collaborator, and creator of The Water Dance Project, I’m here to share what worked and what mattered during this past year. My husband Robert Theaker, who is also an artist, and I launched a major project 5 years ago and gathered a team of Water Dance Project partners, that included individuals well-versed in communications, promotion, networking, funding, and event planning, as well as poets and historians.
Our first premier exhibition introducing the premise of the project, in collaboration with the community was planned in January/February 2020, and scheduled to open September 19, 2020. We selected donation recipients (The Door County Land Trust, the Woodland Dunes Nature Center, and the Friends of Crescent Beach) for our ‘Stewardship Through Art’ 80 piece exhibition. Then CoVid happened, and as each month negatively impacted possibilities, the Robert Ray Gallery owners in Algoma, WI, and Robert and I had difficult decisions to make – should we cancel or delay our plans, or would we flex and flow, and ultimately move forward?
As artists who support and mentor each other, who alternately caution and cheerlead each other’s efforts, Robert and I chose to flex and flow. We decided to continue to create and collaborate with our Partners and with our Community. Since one of the co-owners of the gallery is a doctor in practice, the very best practices and protocol were put in place dealing with the pandemic. We all dug in, meeting challenges, sometimes pivoting to choose alternate paths, but ultimately having 2 safe openings in September and October 2020.
Showcasing the project premise and our paintings, are a previous September Art Forward, local Television live coverage, as well as Guest Speaker invitations. The Lakeshore Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, produced a powerpoint presentation and a You Tube Video for ‘Stewardship Through Art’. Also included on the LUUF video is the poetry of 4 poet partners, Jean Biegun, Tara Huck, Paulette Laufer, and Tori Grant Welhouse, as well as the historical stories and anecdotes of Jim O’Rourke and Kerry Trask. Robert and I selected and shared our favorite canoeing, hiking, and plein air painting adventures that propel our project. Most recently, as a “Sharing Wisdom” Guest of Theresa Marie Falvey, owner of State of Grace, our conversations explored the initial intentions and vision, the creative joy, and the focused resolve that is required to pursue dreams to fruition.
On Giving Tuesday, December 1st, 2020, because of the Generosity of Collectors and Art Aficionados, who purchased our project paintings, we were able to present to each of our Donation Recipients, a substantial amount to continue their Good Work in Support of Water Issues in Northeast Wisconsin, and we are Grateful. For the next handful of years, collaborations with museums, galleries, art centers, historical societies, and communities are in place locally and regionally. Furthermore, we had the time during covid to further develop relationships throughout the state. Book I, “Water Dance: A Painter’s Pilgrimage Exploring WI Waterways by Canoe, Past to Present” encompasses northeast WI, is under development and is projected for 2023/2024. . Books II, III and IV will celebrate northern, southwest, and southeast Wisconsin, as this 15 year project continues to unfold.
For more information, visit Bonnita’s website www.bonnitabudysz.com or send her an email at Excelventures@charter.net.
“Stewardship Through Art” Video from LUUF:https://youtu.be/XexIJGcnXg0 / www.lakeshoreuufellowship.org
“Sharing Wisdom” Video from State of Grace: https://fb.watch/3Tkr0oibq3/ / stateofgracellc.com
