Evening of Art Supports UW-Fond du Lac Student Scholarships

4/27/2009 - The UW-Fond du Lac Commons will be transformed into a gallery and Christie’s-style art auction during “Art Momentum 2009” on the evening of Friday, May 8, 5-9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Art lovers are invited to campus to view and purchase student-created works, featuring paintings, drawings, ceramics, sculpture, and digital media. New this year will be a live auction of items donated by professional, nationally exhibiting artists. Proceeds from both the sale and the auction support a campus art student scholarship fund created by the UW-Fond du Lac Art Students League.

“For most of our students, this is their first experience showing work, having it judged, and offering it for sale,” said Art Professor John Scotello. “There is a lot of excitement in making this step into the realm of professional artist. The students not only create a fantastic show, but also attempt to cultivate an art scene to prove just how fantastic the art in this area can be. It is an opportunity for them to show how talented they are.”

That talent has translated into continued artistic and academic success for Scotello’s students. He reports a 100 percent transfer success rate during the last four years, as students move from the UW-FDL two-year program to four-year, degree-granting institutions. “All were accepted into their first school of choice,” Scotello said. “They are accepted into schools like Pratt in New York, the Art institute of Chicago, Syracuse, RISD and many more—usually with a generous scholarship offer.”

Students who participate in the Art Momentum show commit to donating half of the proceeds from each sold item to the scholarship fund. “There is so much to be admired about the focus of this event,” said UW-FDL Foundation Executive Director Christa Williams, whose office administers the scholarship. “I am pleased to acknowledge how our students genuinely support each other, artistically and financially.”

Doors will open at 5 p.m.; a live, club-style D.J., light refreshments and a cash bar will be available. Upon entering, all art patrons will be registered—as at an auction house—to ease the tracking of purchases and participation in the live auction.

At 8 p.m., winners of the top art prizes—including those in the high school contest sponsored and brought to campus by Congressman Thomas Petri, as well as the UW-FDL students participating in Art Momentum—will be announced. The judge at this year’s event will be Senator Randy Hopper. UW-FDL art students receiving scholarships also will be announced. Auctioneer Scotello will lead the live auction immediately following these announcements, and purchased artwork may be removed from the show after prize winners are announced.

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