McCain has built an impressive career on the foundation of her love of storytelling through the art of music — more specifically, through her ability to tell stories on the piano. With three degrees in Piano Performance, performing is where she laid her roots. Renowned by the New York Times as a “virtuoso pianist,” the confidence she has built from world-wide appraisal and performances continues to inspire others on a micro-level. 

She has branched her career out to impacting individual lives through speaking and teaching. Currently, she is associate professor of piano and coordinator of the Keyboard Area at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis and co-founder/director of the Memphis International Piano Festival and Competition.

She facilitates a sense of community and inclusivity into the music realm by curating Underrepresented Composers Concerts. She is proud of recent engagements and concerts such as one that was organized by Solange Knowles, famous singer and sister to the one and only Beyoncé.

Hamel Music Center features pianist Artina McCain this SeptemberWednesday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m., Arnita McCain will perform her refreshingly unique program “intersections” at the Hamel Music Center Read…

Everyone starts somewhere. McCain’s advice to young people just getting started with their careers is to focus on your friends, your mission and bringing other people’s talents into your circles. 

Her journey hasn’t always been easy. After receiving her degrees in piano performance, an injury kept her from performing for a few years.

Putting a positive spin on this challenge she coined as a ‘detour,’ according to McCain.

“We’ll all experience some type of challenges at different stages in our life,” McCain said. “So I think the biggest thing is to not give up and to persevere whether that looks like continuing on that career path that you’ve had or maybe reinventing yourself in a way that’s more relevant based on your circumstances.”

Post-recovery, she is now an advocate for musician wellness, empowering others in ways she found to empower herself. 

Now that she is back into performing, she has hit stages worldwide. Recently, she has experienced what she calls life altering engagements. She performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York at a concert assembled by Solange Knowles. This performance has landed her her first feature in the New York Times. On one level, she explains, this is culturally significant due to the exposure granted by working with the high-profile Knowles family. On a second level, the praise she received by the New York Times is academically rewarding. 

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McCain is such a notable artist not only for her obvious achievements but because of her authenticity and her powerful mission. 

In her upcoming concert, she will be playing her program “intersections.” This repertoire blends “the old with the new,” while telling the story of a life journey. In one song that focuses on motherhood, she weaves “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” and a sacred religious song about Mary looking at Jesus on the cross. These songs came to the public with different styles, influences and historical contexts. Franz Liszt popularized the Christian work. This Hungarian composer’s art is hailed in higher education. According to Voices Across Time, “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” is an African American spiritual that originated from enslaved peoples and carried on through oral tradition before it was recorded. 

Additionally, she features artists she describes as being in canon for centuries such as Debussy or Rachmaninoff alongside a diverse group of contemporary artists from different music genres such as Joseph Jubeir and Maria Coralie.

She also shows her passion by crafting Underrepresented Composers Concerts in her series, Mahogany Chamber.

By bringing underrepresented composers and artists to the front of the stage to explore new musical styles along with standard ones, McCain said.

“I feel like it creates a more welcoming environment, maybe a safer environment if you’re wanting to explore musical styles, but you don’t know a lot about various musical styles,” McCain said. “Yeah, they’ll always just wait five minutes, there’ll be something that you know, so it’s been really nice to be able to share music in this way.”

By connecting lesser-known and better-known pieces and styles, these concerts stimulate meaningful conversations about music, culture and inclusivity. 

In McCain’s current position as a piano professor, she teaches applied piano one-on-one with students who want to have a career in playing or teaching. When asked about a moment when she knew she was significantly impacting her students, she says that at a music teachers conference international students came up to her that she had never met before and told her how much they loved her work.

“Work that we started for the community has branched out to something that’s even beyond our state in our country,” McCain said.

This concert won’t be one you want to miss. McCain knows how to captivate audiences of any interest. Her take on musical experiences is that there is “something for everybody.”  Even if you are a business major and have never touched an instrument in your life, storytelling is a universal means of communication.

“Regardless of whether a student is a musician or not, music is healing for the soul,” McCain said. “And so that’s something that I hope to bring in the storytelling like I was telling you, there’s themes of motherhood, there’s themes of joy, there’s themes of social justice. And if this story isn’t for you, you can learn something. So I think you should come because music is meant to be a balm. It’s medicine for us. Regardless of what we think we might like, we can come away refreshed and hopefully learning something new.” 

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Since Sweetgreen was founded in 2007, the fast casual salad chain has become a nationwide go-to for a quick, healthy meal.

Now, the business is expanding further into the college student market. In 2023, the chain expects to open nine locations in college towns throughout the country.

The Sept. 21 grand opening included a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. Those who purchased food during and immediately after the opening received custom Sweetgreen cookies, tote bags and hats with their order.

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Sweetgreen also partnered with abstract artist and recent University of Wisconsin MFA graduate Tony Duvall to create a piece inspired by Madison’s geography to display inside the new restaurant.

Sweetgreen Madison area leader Dave Hopkins said their eco-friendly efforts make them stand out from other restaurants. They use organic products, compostable tableware and source from ethically-raised animals, Hopkins said.

For every meal sold on opening day, Sweetgreen donated a meal to REAP Food Group, a sustainable food movement in Madison. Sweetgreen also donated leftover food from the opening to the group.

“We not only want to be good for the earth, but we want to be good for people,” Hopkins said. “We joke we’re just salad, but we’re the best salad.”

Sweetgreen’s mission is to build healthier communities by connecting people to real food, according to the Sweetgreen website. The company is committed to creating a solution to climate change through making a plant-focused menu that averages 30% less carbon than the average American meal.

Sweetgreen continues to improve its standards by being transparent about its supply chain and increasing the welfare of farm animals they source ingredients from, according to the Sweetgreen website.

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Plant-based or not, Sweetgreen’s menu includes a wide variety of salads, such as the BBQ Chicken Salad or the Kale Caesar. It also offers warm bowls, including the Harvest Bowl and the Chicken Pesto Parm Bowl.

UW junior Elizabeth Haefeli was one of many students excited about the grand opening of Madison’s first and only Sweetgreen.

“As a busy college student, sometimes the more convenient meal options are not as nutritious,” Haefeli said. “Having a healthy option that is also convenient will allow me to incorporate more veggies in my life.”

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Prebiotic vs probiotic — what’s the difference? Prebiotics (found in OLIPOP and Poppi brands) are substances found in types of carbs that humans can’t digest. The beneficial bacteria in your gut eat these substances.

Probiotics (found in De La Calle and Culture Pop brands) are live bacteria that can provide an array of health benefits, including improved digestion, a possible boost in the immune system and heart health. Ingesting a balance of prebiotics and probiotics can help ensure the maintenance of a healthy gut.

We tried and ranked four different brands of prebiotic/probiotic sodas so you don’t have to.

4. OLIPOP

Coming in fourth place is OLIPOP, a company founded in 2017 by business partners David Lester and Ben Goodwin. Lester and Goodwin founded OLIPOP in hopes of creating a way to drink soda without health drawbacks. Stars Camilla Cabello, Gwyneth Paltrow, the Jonas Brothers, Mindy Kaling and more are investors in the company.

We tried three flavors of OLIPOP sodas — Dr. Goodwin, Vintage Cola and Cherry Vanilla. Dr. Goodwin (a play on Dr. Pepper) was found to be the best of the three, with a subtle flavor of Cola present. Vintage Cola and Cherry Vanilla, however, were both unpleasant. Vintage Cola had a slight scent of Cola, which seemed promising, but that scent did not carry into the flavor. Cherry Vanilla had a biting floral taste without an essence of cherry or vanilla and an overpowering sweetness.

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3. Culture Pop

Culture Pop was founded in 2020 by beverage industry veteran Tom First. He has been involved with the industry since the 1980s and has significant experience with rising soda trends. Culture Pop combines traditional flavors such as watermelon with spices and probiotics to create unique flavors. An added benefit of using spices to flavor the sodas is that it allows Culture Pop to maintain a low calorie count while having bold flavors. First’s inspiration for using spices in his sodas traces back to a dinner he shared with his kids. The mocktails that his kids drank combined rosemary with fruit juice. Drinking this inspired him to try a similar combination with soda and the result was Culture Pop. In addition to unique flavors, the company boasts benefits for both gut and immune system health.

We tried five Culture Pop flavors — Ginger Lemon and Turmeric, Strawberry Rhubarb, Lemon Lime and Cardamom, Watermelon and Lime and Wild Berries and Lime. The unique flavor combinations create a kombucha-like essence. These sodas are flavorful without being too sweet. The Wild Berries and Lime flavor carries what tastes exactly like a fresh blueberry and the Ginger Lemon and Turmeric carries a refreshing kick.

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2. Poppi

Poppi was created in 2016 by entrepreneur couple Allison and Stephen Ellsworth. Allison’s chronic health issues inspired the duo to experiment with the powerful prebiotic apple cider vinegar to create sodas that would help ease her symptoms. They paired the prebiotic with fresh fruit juices to create a tasty product with health benefits. Within a week of drinking the soda, according to the couple, Allison showed tremendous improvement with her symptoms. Poppi lists numerous potential health benefits that include complexion improvement, digestion aid, lowering cholesterol, helping with weight loss, detoxification and blood sugar stabilization. The company has shown impressive growth, starting at farmer’s market and now sold by major distributors, even securing an investment from Shark Tank.

In our tasting, we tried their root beer, orange soda and cherry limeade flavors. We found the Root Beer flavor to be a mediocre attempt to capture the flavor of a traditional root beer and were put off by its aftertaste. However, the Orange Soda and Cherry Limeade proved to be much better. Of all the flavors we tried, the Orange Soda was the most faithful to the flavor it was attempting to recreate, capturing the essence of a classic orange soda. The Cherry Limeade flavor was our favorite of the Poppi flavors with a lovely refreshing sweetness.

1. De La Calle

De La Calle is a brand that specializes in the ancient Mexican beverage tepache — a probiotic fermented soda alternative made with pineapples at the core of each flavor. While visiting the meat and produce markets of Mexico City, De La Calle founder Alex Matthews was introduced to tepache. Later, he met Rafael Martin Del Campo, a native-born Mexican who had knowledge of making tepache from his grandmother. Together, they created a product specializing in maintaining the cultural authenticity of tepache while innovating new flavors and keeping the drink healthy.

We were able to find two De La Calle tepache flavors at our local grocery store — Pineapple Spice and Mango Chili. Pineapple spice introduced a perfectly sweet pineapple flavor at the first sip, with a cinnamon-y aftertaste. Mango Chili’s tropical sweetness complemented its spicy kick. Tepache secured the No. 1 spot in our ranking by embracing its own identity without trying to replicate a “regular” soda. Though the other brands did their best to encapsulate the flavor profile of a Coca-Cola or a root beer, it’s inevitably disappointing when something is not quite the same.

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Lake Mendota 

Before it is too late, jump into a swimsuit and visit Lake Mendota. Sit on the Memorial Union Terrace and enjoy a hot coffee or a cold, creamy ice cream. To really experience the lake and wind, kayak, row or fish with the Wisconsin Hoofers. Or, simply sit by the shore for a tan before the leaves start falling. 

Pumpkin patches, apple orchards and cider donuts 

As the leaves turn colors, pluck plump pumpkins from the ground and red, ripe apples from the trees. Visit any of Madison’s farms, apple orchards and pumpkin patches opening mid-September for a true Wisconsin experience — they offer delicious apple pies, cider donuts, golden corn mazes, adorable chicken coops and horseback riding.

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Explore nature

Before winter begins and the ground is covered in snow, savor the full flush of autumn. Shake the dust off your scarf and check out the golden brown leaves at Picnic Point. Sit with friends or take a solo hike among red maples, honey suckles, and wild apples. 

The splashing shores of Lake Mendota and Monona and the UW Arboretum’s woodlands and prairies are also great for walking or biking. Devil’s Lake State Park is another option outside of Madison. Don’t forget your camera!

Halloween festivities

Paint your pumpkins, put on your best costume and join Madison in one of its most celebrated festivities. Madison has a long, fascinating history around Halloween — become a part of it.

Visit haunted forests and dark night corn mazes at many of Madison’s farms or attend concerts on State Street; gather around friends and family to join the city in celebrating the unique holiday by trick-or-treating on Oct. 31.

Seasonal markets

With every Saturday comes a chance for you to visit Madison’s famous Dane County Farmers Market (also on Wednesdays now at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd). Visit Capitol Square from 6. a.m to 2 p.m. every Saturday to get fresh baked pies, juicy jams, pumpkins, primroses, strawberries and of course, cheese. 

You might have heard of the farmer’s market already, but have you heard of Madison’s Night Market? Do you want to buy decorations or gifts? Do you want to see balloon artists or a juggler? Or do you simply want a break from work or school?

Visit the last Night Market of the season on Oct. 19 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on State Street and Gilman Street to enjoy live music, food, and shopping.

Also, don’t forget to stop at the Holiday Market, which will be held every Saturday from Nov. 18 to Dec. 16 from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Monona Terrace. Purchase holiday items from Christmas trees to Christmas treats.

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Wisconsin Cheese

If Wisconsin is anything, it’s the cheese capital of the country. The state produces more than 2.8 billion pounds in over 600 varieties every year. Visit Madison’s three-day “Art and Cheese Festival” happening from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 to taste the exotic cheeses of Wisconsin. Definitely try the cheese curds!

Fall sports

Feel the warmth and cheer at Camp Randall as our beloved Badgers play on the field. Hear the roar and cheer of an ecstatic crowd and UW marching band. “Jump Around” with Bucky and witness a new era of Wisconsin football. 

Also, do not forget to watch the UW women’s volleyball team, 2021 national champions, as they play against Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Ohio State at the Kohl Center this fall. Go Badgers! 

Trivia nights

As the nights get longer, it’s time to make them exciting. Cozy up in a warm bar or restaurant and get ready for questions on absolutely anything — Star Wars, Taylor Swift, Disney, and ’80s and ’90s hits.

The fall semester at UW goes by in the blink of an eye, so enjoy it while it lasts!

The post What to do in Madison this fall appeared first on The Badger Herald.

The showing will include Cinemadison’s internationally acclaimed short film “Faces of the Void” alongside their films “Fragments,” “The Helper” and their collaboration with DePaul University film students, “Saint Abby.”

Open to all students interested in any aspect of production, Cinemadison is UW’s Registered Student Organization dedicated to filming. It provides students a platform to write, shoot and publish films.

Cinemadison’s Head of Outreach Indu Konduru said the club welcomes students of all backgrounds.

“We actually don’t have many film majors in the club, it’s mostly STEM majors with a passion for filmmaking,” Konduru said. “I had absolutely zero experience coming into the club, but now I’ve had the opportunity to make a film, which anyone would be grateful for.”

Konduru’s short film “The Helper” will debut at the event. Written at the crossroads of self-help, addiction and consumerism, Konduru examines an exploitative industry.

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Konduru said her film questions the effectiveness of self-help content.

“On one side [self-help consumers] know, hey, this probably isn’t really helping me,” Konduru said. “But on the other side, they’re like, what if I read one more book or attend one more conference? Will I find the thing that finally clicks with me? I think it’s an interesting mindset to explore.”

The critically acclaimed “Faces of the Void” — a 2022 film examining the life of an online hacker through his changing relationship with an elderly woman he attempts to scam — will also make its Madison debut Sept. 19. It has been shown throughout the U.S., India, South Africa and Russia.

“Faces of the Void” won Jury’s Choice at the Tigra Film Festival and a nomination for best first-time director at the Black Panther International Film Festival. It was also a semifinalist for best drama at the Student World Impact Film Festival, a massive event with around 20,000 submissions a year.

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These accolades are a testament to the time and careful work Cinemadison put into the production of their films.

Konduru believes Cinemadison’s open-mindedness gives the club an edge against other student film projects.

“There are a lot of people out there who have a passion for the visual arts, but cannot attend film school or don’t think they have the resources for filming,” Konduru said. “We want those people to get an opportunity to participate.”

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After the release of her album “Midnights” in October 2022, Swift announced The Eras Tour — a series of concerts around the world including three hours of music from throughout her entire career. The concert involves songs from nine of her 10 albums — each “era,” receiving its own time to shine.

Each concert also includes two “surprise songs,” which are random songs from her discography that are not on the official setlist. These songs leave fans anxiously waiting each night to hear what Swift plays next, hoping their favorite song doesn’t play before their own concert date. Fans arrive in elaborate costumes, each representing their favorite era.

The Eras Tour began March 2023, and ticket sales remain highly competitive. Originally, the demand for Eras Tour tickets was so great that Ticketmaster crashed during presale, even while requiring a code that was sent to only a small percentage of Taylor’s fans. The tickets sold out so fast that general sale of tickets was canceled, sparking disappointment and outrage among “Swifties” everywhere. Since then, tickets have been resold for thousands of dollars, many eager fans willing to pay whatever it takes.

University of Wisconsin student and Taylor Swift fan Becca Kaminski had a harrowing Ticketmaster experience.

“My friends and I were in line from when it opened until about 2 p.m.,” Kaminski said. “Five hours.”

Kaminski has been a Taylor Swift fan since middle school and, like many others, dedicated her day to securing Eras Tour tickets when they became available November 2022. She says she would do it again and thinks experiencing the tour was worth it.

International UW student from Brazil, Thamyres Costa, shared a similar experience.

“I spent about eight hours in line, because it crashed,” Costa said. “The line was not moving…I even missed class because I was afraid the line was gonna start moving.”

The Eras Tour has even been credited with boosting the United States economy. According to the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, Philadelphia hotel revenue in May was the strongest it’s been since the beginning of the pandemic due to the surge of guests coming to town for the Taylor Swift concerts.

The cultural impact of Taylor Swift, and especially the Eras Tour, is undeniable — clothing stores now have unspoken “Eras Tour” sections full of themes and sequins, Ticketmaster has been involved in a court case involving their monopoly over ticket sales, and Taylor’s album sales continue to rise.

She recently broke her own record for most spots occupied on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart by a female musician at once — 22 — with help from her July 2023 album “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).” Few other artists have caused such a stir with a tour. What makes Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour such a cultural phenomenon?

Fashion trends to watch this fall · The Badger Herald

Costa, a Taylor Swift fan of ten years, says what makes Swift’s music stand out are the genuine lyrics that make fans feel like they’re sharing parts of their lives with her.

Costa said Swift’s ability to relate to many aspects of the human experience, throughout many stages of life, makes her music unique.

“You’re going through a breakup, or not doing well at school, you feel like your life is going too fast…or if you’re older, you feel like your friends are getting married, but you’re not,” Costa said. “It’s that feeling of representation and being able to see yourself in another person and just connecting, being able to be in the stadium with that person.” 

Though Taylor Swift is an American artist, her cultural impact doesn’t stop at U.S. borders. Costa explained the impact of the Eras Tour carries over to Brazil, which she’ll visit on Thanksgiving.

But Costa said she experienced the same thing trying to get tickets — the line stopped moving, prices skyrocketed and they missed opportunities.

“It’s actually crazy, especially considering that this is another country…that does not speak English,” Costa said.

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The tour highlights Taylor Swift’s entire career, taking the audience back to times when they were young. Swift’s first album was released in 2006 when she was just 16 years old. Many of Swift’s fans have grown and changed along with her music. Kaminski said it’s what she grew up listening to.

This, according to Costa, is another reason why the tour has been so successful. It allows fans to relive the nostalgia of when Swift’s music was first being released — when things were “easy.”

“I think that’s what makes the hype worth it,” Costa said. “[Fans are] like, ‘Whatever, I’ll pay as much as I can just so I can live that dream.’”

Taylor Swift continues to surprise fans — she recently announced “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” concert film, which will release Oct. 13 in AMC Theaters, just before the release of her album “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” on Oct. 27. This film will allow fans to experience the concert on the big screen. Demand for these screenings is high, as tickets for AMC Fitchburg 18 shows are already nearly sold out over a month in advance.

The Eras Tour made its most recent stop in Mexico City on Aug. 27 and will begin again Nov. 9 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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Classic Badger

If you like to keep it simple and traditional, you’re a Classic Badger. One of the staples of UW game day fashion is the red-and-white striped overalls sold at the University Book Store. It’s no surprise these overalls are popular among students since they’re comfortable, unisex and easy to accessorize. Dress up these overalls with a white or red headband or a bandana. Other classic Badger items found at the bookstore include sweatshirts, sweatshorts, tank tops and cow-print clothing. At Wisconsin Design Team, a local spirit wear store with a State Street storefront, you can find other principal “Wisco” clothing items. Their bold-letter Wisconsin tees and shorts are traditional and clean ways to show off your school spirit this fall.

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Cute and Girly Badger

Whether you’re chronically online or a Pinterest lover, this one’s for you. Many different websites sell the basics you will need to create your dream girly game day outfit. Some of students’ favorites include RecessApparel and Sconnie. According to Sconnie’s website, one of their top-selling items is the baby pink and white “Sconnie” shorts that are perfect for this type of outfit. RecessApparel offers dainty sets, rompers and baby tees. These pieces can be styled differently each time you wear them. To wear any of their items in the “coastal cowgirl” style, add a pair of white cowgirl boots and a red and white flower hair clip from Emi Jay. To go in a more classy, ballerina-inspired direction, style with some flats or Mary Janes, leg warmers, bows and gold hoops.

Bold Badger

Maybe she’s born with it, or maybe she’s just from New York. Wisconsin sweatshirts, chunky shoes, flat sneakers and light-wash denim shorts encapsulate the Bold Badger style. Take any Badger sweatshirt and trim the neckline so it can be worn off the shoulder. To make the cut appear cleaner, take scissors and completely widen the blades. Slide one side of the blades across the cut you just made to produce an effortless folded look. Pair a sweatshirt like this with any denim or sweat shorts. Oversized, longer denim shorts create an especially funky bold look. Chunky or statement jewelry, denim bedazzled hats and sunglasses complement this style. The last, and maybe most important, part of this bold style is having a pair of shoes to go with it. Soccer sneakers like Sambas are cute and comfortable enough to jump around in.

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Crafty Badger

If you’re artsy or have a bit of an individuality complex, you’re a Crafty Badger. You probably don’t need very much artistic guidance, but here are a few ways to up your game more efficiently. If you’re starting from scratch, craft store Artist & Craftsman Supply Madison is close to campus. Additionally, JoAnn Fabrics and Michaels are only a bus ride from downtown Madison. Start off with any black, white or red top or bottom, and iron on Bucky Badger patches to create your own designs. Add extra glam by ironing on different patches of simple shapes such as stars or hearts. Bonus points if you take the laces out of your sneakers and put ribbon in instead. Happy crafting — you’ll be sure to stand out this football season. Maybe you’ll end up on the Jumbotron!

Eco-Friendly Badger

All Badgers can be eco-friendly and conscious consumers.  Especially for new Badgers who aren’t aware of all the nearby shops, it’s important to remember that any of these outfits can be created from local and second-hand clothing stores. Students’ most-loved local thrift stores include the St. Vincent de Paul Dig & Save Outlet and Singlestitch Madison. According to their Instagram, Singlestitch just celebrated their second year of business. In honor of their anniversary, they dropped a collection of carefully curated vintage game day gear. They frequently restock their store with red, white and Badger items, so stay tuned. Singlestitch is a great place to get special pieces, with a favorable location on State Street. For a more affordable option, you can head to one of the many nearby thrift stores — but you may have to do some digging to find what you’re looking for. There is no shortage of shops like these in Madison, but the closest one is the St. Vincent de Paul Dig & Save Outlet on South Park Street. Given its proximity to campus, it doesn’t take long to find something stylish for game day at this one.

Whatever type of Badger you are, have a safe and fun return to Camp Randall!

The post Badger’s guide to game-day gear appeared first on The Badger Herald.

The Madison Night Market celebrates artistry, creativity and culture in the city of Madison through vendors selling local art, food, fresh produce and handcrafted products. Some products available for purchase include handmade clothes, candles, jewelry and more. The market usually opens every second Thursday of the month with dates in May, June, August, September and October. 

The Night Market houses a wide array of food trucks, live music, artists and pop-up restaurant events. Some participants of the market include 608 Bakery, April Elizabeth Art, Cafe Costa Rica, ForwardPottery and Scrima’s Wood Fired Pizza. But these make up only a fraction of the abundant participating businesses that will be vending street food and locally made goods. 

The Night Market has something for everyone. Entertainment at the September Night Market can be found at the Peace Park Music Stage with performances by Tani Diakite and the Afrofunkstars from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and by JUANCITO EN SU SALSA from 7p.m. to 9p.m. Beni Daiko will take the stage at The Forum, with Japanese Taiko Drumming from 6 to 8:45 p.m. This will be an eclectic show featuring Eric De Los Santos, Brian O’Donnell of Cajun Stranger and more surprise guests who are yet to be revealed. 

The Madison Night Market has been compared to the Dane County Farmers Market with a calmer ambiance and a focus that falls more upon artistry and craft. If you find yourself in need of unique jewelry, eclectic pieces crafted by local artisans, delicious street food or live entertainment, visit the Madison Night Market this Thursday.

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Eighteen students from professor Anna Campbell’s spring 2023 seminar Art History 506: Curatorial Studies and Exhibition Practice, collaborated to curate the gallery’s newest exhibit, “Social Threads: Making, Mending, and Maintaining Community.” It opens Sept. 13 and will remain on display until Dec. 3, 2023.

Almost entirely planned and managed by UW students, “Social Threads” gave those involved the opportunity to oversee all aspects of the exhibition process, from start to finish.

Cloth and Community

Each piece in the exhibit is unique, but as an ensemble, they represent one idea — textile-making practices can connect people.

Pleasant Rowland Textile Specialist and Research Director for the Center for Design and Material Culture Sophie Pitman, provided the students with the initial concept.

Pitman works with UW’s Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection, which houses over 13,000 textile artifacts from all over the world and many different historical eras. Throughout the semester, she invited students from the seminar to the textile center to view the collection.

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To spark the students’ imaginations, Pitman provided them with pieces that related to mending — literally or figuratively — and mentored their research over the course of the semester.

“I said, ‘Can you do a show that plays with the idea of repair?’” Pitman said.

While the collection’s size is astounding, it demanded hard work and expertise of the students in order to be pared down into an exhibit-sized group of objects.

The curation process was mostly collaborative. Students were split into small groups to propose directions in which to take the exhibit, and when one was chosen they split again to work on that one proposal.

Considering the diverse range of cultural backgrounds of textiles featured in “Social Threads,” Pitman said it was essential for the class to keep cultural sensitivity a priority throughout the curation process, especially when dealing with pieces that bring up difficult emotions.

“This is a global show and it talks quite a bit about the concept of community, but also how communities heal through trauma,” Pitman said. “As a collection, we work hard to support students working with objects belonging to cultures that are often underrepresented in university settings or museum settings.”

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Textiles are a part of everyone’s life in ways we might not think about — as we get dressed, furnish our houses and keep ourselves warm, we use textile tools, Pitman said.

Since textiles are always present in human life, everyone is justified to hold an opinion on them. This is what makes exhibit practices like “Social Threads” great for curious students — and not just students of art-related subjects.

Last year, around 60 classes with a total of roughly 1,000 students visited the Lynn Mecklenburg. Ranging in area of study from art history to financial planning, students in all kinds of majors study exhibits or individual items in the galleries as they relate to their field.

Real-World Curatorial Experience

UW art history graduate student Atefeh Ahmadi was one of the students in the seminar responsible for putting “Social Threads” together. She stayed on over the summer as an assistant to the Center for Design and Material Culture, allowing her to continue preparing the exhibit for display.

In the past few months, Ahmadi had the time and resources to do more research on the textiles featured in “Social Threads,” and developed a greater understanding of the stories behind the objects, Ahmadi said.

One piece from the exhibit that stood out to Ahmadi was the embroidery originating from Chile covered in designs with multilayered political meanings. It is a form of protest patchwork and exemplifies a textile tradition that has traveled throughout Latin America.

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“It can unfold to tell the story of many different things,” Ahmadi said. “From the story of a community, or a political protest, or a tradition that comes with certain notions or certain functions.”

Beyond selecting items in a way that was culturally appropriate and aligned with the theme of making and mending community, Ahmadi and her fellow students were tasked with preparing the exhibit for public viewing.

In addition to getting the pieces ready for installation in the gallery — which requires expertise as many are highly delicate — this preparation included writing press releases, strategizing social media content and planning events.

As “Social Threads” opens and Ahmadi’s class is finally able to show off their hard work, she said she is most proud of the collective effort that was put into the exhibit, which can be seen in its design.

“When you look at the final outcome, you can see traces of all the people who were involved in every step of it,” Ahmadi said. “I feel proud to share this experience with this group of people.”

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Starting strong at The Orpheum, the iconic Diana Ross will be hitting the stage Sept. 12. Exactly a month later, The Temptations, often referred to as American music royalty, will be joined by the Four Tops. If you’ve watched the heartbreaking movie “My Girl,” then you’ve probably sung along to the Temptations signature song of the same name. Revisit Pink Floyd’s biggest hits Oct. 14 with “Eclipse: Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary.”

The Majestic has an exciting lineup with a mix of concerts and DJ-style sets. If you’re hoping to catch an outdoor show before the weather cools down, Majestic Madison will wrap up their “Live on King” outdoor concert series with country singer Margo Price with singer/songwriter S.G. Goodman and rock band Seasaw on Sept. 15.

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Celebrate Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16 with Latin Pride Orquesta and DJ Fogon, plus salsa lessons with Copa Cabana Madison. For Mamma Mia or Abba fans who also love to dress up, Gimme Gimme Disco will be returning to the Majestic stage Sept. 22. The day after the Disco, “Respect: A Celebration of Women in Music” will pay tribute to iconic women in music like Whitney Houston, Gwen Stefani and Amy Winehouse. For those interested in the emo scene, the Majestic will host an “Emo Karaoke” backed with a live band Oct. 7 and Emo Night Brooklyn, an emo and pop-punk dance party Nov. 3. Del Water Gap will also visit the Majestic on his I Miss you Already Tour Nov. 1.

The Sylvee has a packed lineup with music throughout the week and the weekends. Coheed and Cambria will hit the stage Sept. 16, Jungle on Sept. 18, Bryce Vine on Sept. 21 and Bishop Briggs and Misterwives on Sept. 23. Violent Femmes, a 1980s punk rock originally from Milwaukee, will kick off October with a show on Oct. 4 and rock band Black Veil Brides & VV will appear on Oct. 7.

Country singer Carly Pearce will be at the Sylvee on Oct. 12 for her Country Music Made Me Do It Tour and American rock band The Band Camino, will perform Oct. 14. To wrap up October, rock band from Michigan Pop Evil, will play on Halloween night. November starts off strong with “The Taylor Party: Taylor Swift Night,” a Taylor Swift-inspired dance party for those who missed The Eras Tour or want to relive it Nov. 3. Following the dance party, Lil Yachty will be at the Sylvee on Nov. 4.

For those interested in attending a music festival, Willy Street Fair will take place Sept. 16 and 17, with four stages of entertainment and 150 vendors. With the unpredictable weather in Wisconsin, this may be your last chance to attend an outdoor music festival.

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Lastly, if you love music and don’t have a preference on what artist you would like to see, Madison also has several live music venues throughout the city with live music every week. On campus are both Union South and Memorial Union. WUD Music hosts weekly shows at The Sett, Der Rathskeller and, when weather permits, the Memorial Union Terrace.

State Street Brats continues their live music Fridays in the upstairs portion of the bar. Red Rock Saloon will host several country musicians. Among other DJs at Liquid, DJ Pauly D, who frequents the Liquid stage, will return to Madison on Sept. 16. In addition to hosting an assortment of music performances throughout the month, Leopold’s Books Bar Caffé hosts jazz every Wednesday. Other popular live music venues with a diverse sound include High Noon Saloon, The Bur Oak, Harmony Bar and Grill, Crystal Corner Bar, Cafe Coda and Ivory Room Piano Bar.

If you are a lover of music of any kind, Madison offers diverse venues with several artists to ensure your fall is full of sound. Whether you like small venues or larger spaces, casual live music or full on concerts, there’s something for everyone.

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