by Jody Kuchar for Lakeshore Artists Guild
Photo courtesy of D. Krumpos
The absolute best Art Festivals feature street performers; called Buskers in many places, Art Slam has invited local Artists, Musicians, and Dancers to perform their art on the street.
Don Krumpos is a multi-faceted visual artist who looks at the world with both whimsy and invention.
Don is a printmaker; using the art of etching from his own creations on wood, copper and other materials. He also does silk screen and serigraph. Don has participated in Really Big Prints at UW Manitowoc. Don’s technical skill is captivating as are his images which are delightful, while at times dark. Don’s work deserves a long look to absorb the entertaining details. Don also designs and works with Erin LaBonte on mural work in Manitowoc and Two Rivers. Some of their work can be seen at Woodland Dunes, 9th and Jay Streets in Manitowoc (from Art Slam 2018 Public Mural), and on a silo on Woodland Drive. Recently, Don and his partner opened a new creative space in Algoma called Yonder. Yonder is new to the Algoma art scene, but promises to be an intriguing entry to a town full of great little art discoveries. Currently Don is working on “YonderAwaygon”, a cart that is pulled by a bike. The wagon will alternate between a portable art spectacle full of wondrous curiosities from the Yonder collection, and at other times, low-fidelity, experimental theater forms such as puppetry.
Don has a love of puppetry born from inspirations of Czech puppeteer and film maker Jan Svankmajer, and Chicago puppeteer Blair Thomas. In 2005, Don built a Wunderkammer (Room of Wonders), which was his first foray into shadow puppetry and marionettes; he has been working with puppetry ever since. Don Krumpos and his YonderAwaygon puppet theater will be roaming the downtown streets of Manitowoc on Saturday, September 21 from 9am to 3pm.
Photo courtesy of Robert Powell Photography
New to Art Slam this year, Twila Jean is a Milwaukee based Musician/Songstress. Twila Jean is a musician who practices with a stick-to-it-ness that creates a great deal of technical skill, as well as being an artist who creates. Twila Jean finds musical ideas and stories in every day life; on the bus, in the garden, during an argument with a spouse, in the beauty of bird song. In dreams, and snoring dogs, and birth and death and colors of the rainbow, slant of the roof, and shape of the clouds.
An artist uses his or her own imagination to bring that which can’t really be put into words, to life for the enjoyment of others. “Why Art Slam?” We asked Twila. “Because I’m an artist.”
Twila’s earliest musical memories stem from toddling around town halls in rural North Dakota where her dad was a square dance caller. Many piano lessons later (and a few years playing the saxophone in the high school band) Twila pursued a music degree and a long, rewarding career in music education. All the while, she dabbled in cover bands in the Milwaukee area and wrote songs. Lots of songs. Fast forward to 2017. Twila has played Bastille Days, Summerfest’s Briggs & Stratton Stage, both the Renegade and Ground Floor Stages at Summerfest, and many Milwaukee area clubs and restaurants. She has become known as a writer and is well-respected among her peers. Her first album “Redemption” was released September 2017 and is available for purchase at The Shinery Cedarburg as well as The Exclusive Company on Milwaukee’s east side and the Greenfield location. In July, Twila Jean performed at Shank Hall in Milwaukee as opener for Gretchen Peters. Twila was honored to share the stage with the Grammy nominee who has written for Americana and Country music legends.
Twila Jean will be performing her musical magic outside of Aspire Reality at Quay and 8th Streets from 12pm to 3pm, on Saturday September 21st.
