In Madison, we BLINK all the way to 30 below Zero. . . Another round of fabulous temporary public art projects taking place in Madison this winter. The Madison Arts Commission is proud to announce funding for six new public art projects, some of which are already installed, and others will soon follow.

Projects include:
• Artist Abbie Kurtz has created a series of 12, 8 ½" x 11" watercolor pencil paintings featuring various endangered species of Wisconsin. The paintings of Lost: Endangered Species of Wisconsin are modeled after poster formats used for those seeking lost pets and will be placed around Madison. Information about the animal will be included on the posters in addition to the cause of its plight. Tear outs will be at the bottom of each poster where the viewer can educate themselves about the wildlife around them. (Contact: (608) 245-1758.)

• The ever popular and familiar work of former pail and shovel party member Timothy Browning will appear in early January and will be on display until early March, 2009. His proposal consists of eight painted plywood sculptures of a "sea monster" placed on a frozen Lake Monona. (Contact: Before 2 PM (608) 255-2405.)

• Kent Hutchinson has created a large format kinetic sculpture entitled, Seabird, that is currently installed at Madison's Law Park. The overall theme of the piece is movement, which will be promoted by the windy conditions of the park and mirrored in its lively atmosphere of runners, bikers, and passers-by. The name and design of the sculpture are intended to symbolize Wisconsin's native waterfowl that reside in the Law Park shores. (Contact: khutchu@gmail.com)

• On December 6th, 2008, Madison's Edgewood College invites the entire community to design and fabricate an eco-friendly Madison winter garment or shelter in their project, 30-Below: Staying Warm the Eco-Way - Hot: Green, Warm: Functional, Cool: Fashionable. Participants will parade through the winter weather on the Lake Wingra Park and Pleasure Drive and finally be rated by a panel of judges. (Contact: Doreen Dietzel at tdietzel2@edgewood.edu)

• A retrospective exhibition beginning at Madison East High School for former local street artist, Brendan Scanlon/ "SOLVE," that will travel to subsequent major Midwest cities. Madison East students can participate in an afternoon workshop and store-bought paintings that will be displayed outside on school property; a lecture about street art by Chicago's RGB Artists' Collective will also take place. (Contact: Yong Kim at ykim@madison.k12.wi.us) Postponed, new date TBD

• Finally, current MFA student Emerson Stone III has created a series of 6 small printed cards consisting of different molecules and text describing their significance to the origin of life; elements of spirituality are depicted through various awe-inspiring natural events. The cards will be distributed to the public at various downtown Madison locations over a six week period. Abiogenetic Affirmations will create awareness to the developing hypothesis of Abiogenesis while also making correlations between science and spirituality. (Contact: estone3@wisc.edu)

For more information about the Madison Arts Commission's BLINK! Program visit our website at www.cityofmadison.com/mac or contact Karin Wolf, the Arts Program Administrator kwolf@cityofmadison.com
Next BLINK application deadline is February 1, 2009.