Artful Magazine

dios, this wouldn’t be possible. Other studio users, particularly
students, highlighted the capability to use studio
supplies for free as a key resource for their continuation
of art as a hobby, or a place to create reasonably-priced
gifts for friends.
While the scheduled classes provided by Wheelhouse-
Studios are often too expensive and time-consuming for
a student’s schedule, the studio’s Free Art Friday program
once a month provides a regular opportunity for free artmaking.
Senior Jennifer Shutter has attended Free Art Friday
semi-regularly since her freshman year. Free Art Friday is
a popular event, and on Friday, Nov. 4, hardly any table
space remained as Wheelhouse Studios and the Rathskeller
in Memorial Union filled with crafters like Shutter celebrating
the Day of the Dead with painting and sewing.
She described how spending time at Wheelhouse Studios
connects to her major while helping her relieve stress.
“They’ve helped mental health-wise, because it’s sort of
a way to relax and unwind, once every single month and
it’s helpful,” Shutter said. “To focus on just making something,
and then immediately seeing the fruits of your labor,
it’s comforting.”
A look around
Another senior, Tess Lo, seconded this stress relief aspect
of Wheelhouse, despite the busy scene.
“It’s nice because you can see a lot of different people
and it’s not just students, it’s like people from the community,”
Lo said.
Next to Lo sat Diane Nolte, a Madison community member
and retiree who comes to Wheelhouse Studios to
continue manipulating objects. For Nolte, Wheelhouse
Studios is a personal solution and stress reliever for how
to stay busy. She’s also able to revive art skills from when
she was younger.
Landowski values personal stories similar to those of
Nolte, Lo, Shutter and Didier as the highlights of his employment.
He struggled to choose which stories to describe,
as there were so many.
“We’re really trying to engage people who might not otherwise
have found us, or wouldn’t think to find us. Or
people who say like “I’m not an artist, I’m not good at
art”, we’re trying to say like ‘No, come in, give it a try.’”
Landowski looks forward to remaining employed at
Wheelhouse Studios for the rest of his collegiate career.
Artwork in progress
at Wheelhouse
Studios. Supplies
are free to use for
students.
32
Artwork in progress
at Wheelhouse
Studios. Supplies
are free to use for
students.
The Artful Ordinary
Clay artwork waits
to be fired in the
kiln at Wheelhouse
Studios.