The Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission announced that the 2016 Dane County Art Poster is now available at locations throughout Dane County. This year’s theme, “Everything You Never Expected…in Dane County,” is represented in Hide N’ Seek created by Dane County resident and nationally recognized artist, Judy Patenaude. Drop-boxes for donations are at each location.
The Cultural Affairs Commission will host a reception at the UW-Madison University Club on the evening of Monday, May 16, 5:30-7:30 pm. The reception will honor the 2016 poster artist. Attendees will include Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, poster artist Judy Patenaude, Cultural Affairs Commission members and community participants. Appetizers, music, and a cash bar will be available.
As an ongoing tradition, the Commission’s fine art poster helps keep our community engaged with the arts, ideally with citizens collecting each one and proudly displaying them year after year.
“Like many Dane County residents, I look forward to this time of year when the Cultural Affairs Commission presents exceptional artwork from a local artist. Dane County has so much to offer our residents. Our booming arts scene is one of the many reasons people love living in Dane County,” said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi.
“The Dane County art poster is but one visible effort to showcase the arts on display in Dane County, and I am so grateful to Alliant Energy who helps to make the poster possible,” said Commission Director Mark Fraire remarked. “It is just this kind of private to public partnership that can help continue to drive our economic growth.”
Judy Patenaude enjoyed a 30-year professional career as a graphic designer/illustrator at the Wisconsin Historical Society. While raising her family in Mt. Horeb and working full-time, she dedicated many years to community arts organizing. Patenaude founded the Mt. Horeb Art Fair, now in its 45th year. In the 1990s, she co-founded the Mt. Horeb Area Arts Council, still active today under the of the Mt. Horeb Chamber of Commerce. Former Dane County Cultural Affairs Director, Lynn Eich, was a key supporter during the start-up of both organizations. Patenaude earned a bachelor’s of science (emphasis in graphics) from the UW-Madison. Upon retiring from her professional arts job, she now focuses on creating watercolor and mixed media art. Since 2013, her artwork has been displayed in several galleries around the state.
