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Ann Orlowski, Spring Green Art
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If the oxygen mask drops, put on your mask first then help others. The safety instructions we receive on airline flights can be a metaphor for our lives as well. We cannot do and give if our own needs aren’t met. Attending to our own well-being belongs at the top of our to-do list, not relegated to the bottom.
During times when the world feels like it’s spinning out of control, how well you’re able to handle and get through it may be directly connected to how well you take care of yourself and address the stress you may be feeling.
Kat McMullin shares how yoga helped her heal physically and, after she incorporated it into her lifestyle, has allowed her maintain her physical health and connect to her sense of self. Through Mala Yoga Center, Kat brings these life benefits to each of her students at their level and pace.
While Green Owl Cafe has always been known for wonderful vegetarian dishes, when Erick Fruehling purchased the restaurant in 2019, he ensured Green Owl is welcoming to vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores. His success is due to both the quality and variety of options.
cover photograph
Taken by Dan Fearing
photographs on page 3 (top left to right): Northside Farmers’ Market taken by Matt Galle
Banh mi Salad from Green Owl Cafe taken by Eric Tadsen (bottom left to right): Shifting Perspectives 2, 40x30 casein and acrylic on panel taken by Ann Orlowski Taken by Eric Tadsen at Mala Yoga Center
DEI may have become controversial—in my opinion, surprisingly and inexplicably—because some who are opposed to it present it as discriminatory. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. It’s important to understand DEI and all its components to see how it positively affects us all. Disability Rights Wisconsin Executive Director Jill Jacklitz provides one such example with her nonprofit’s work to “create a Wisconsin where people with disabilities can live safe from abuse and neglect; free from discrimination; and with all the supports and services necessary to be fully engaged in school, employment, and community life.” How could this be seen as anything but reasonable and necessary?
We also have informative articles about the Spring Green Art Fair, Northside Farmers’ Market, and the work of artist Ann Orlowski, and Dr. Lori Scarlett, DVM, shares great news about a new treatment for cat diabetes!
My wish for you this spring is enough time for self-care to provide you the strength needed for any situation that may arise.
by Kyle Jacobson
When I was a 12-year-old mouth, I worked at Subway sandwiches. I remember the day we started selling vegetarian patties, only consumable with a heap of barbeque sauce. Then in college, one of my friends invited me to their vegetarian Thanksgiving, and I
discovered why tofurky almost sounds like a swear. I don’t know if I’ve come a long way or if food has, but today’s vegetarian options are something I’ll not only order from time to time, but something I’ll actually crave. When it comes to some of Madison’s most beloved vegetarian options, look no further than its longest-running vegetarian restaurant, named after an animal you’re not allowed to eat.
Jennie Capellaro opened Green Owl Cafe in 2009. The restaurant found a lot of success over the next 10 years, as well as Erick Fruehling, a dishwasher who would work through the ranks as he attended school. Erick says, “I just really enjoyed working in that highpace environment. The days go by really quick. There’s always something to do, and there’s plenty of room to experiment with food and try new things and new ideas.” To put his ambition to the test, Erick purchased Green Owl Cafe from Jennie in November 2019.
“One of the things that was a big goal of mine taking over was making sure we’re
a vegetarian can take their meat-eating friend to GreenOwl, where anyone who goes in with a receptive mind LEAVES satisfied.
attractive to a wide variety of people,” says Erick. “Not pigeonholing ourselves into people with plant-based diets.” Too many times have I taken friends to restaurants that didn’t have anything on the menu they could eat, whether because of allergies, religious reasons, or ethics. Watching them pick apart a side salad while I enjoy my entrée tends to leave a bad taste in my mouth, which generally means I won’t be coming back when I’m with that person. Turning this situation on its head, a vegetarian can take their meat-eating friend to Green Owl, where anyone who goes in with a receptive mind leaves satisfied.
Take the Peanut Macrobowl: sweet potato, coconut quinoa, steamed kale, shredded carrots and cabbage, scallions, cilantro, and sesame seeds served with a ginger-peanut sauce. An ensemble of something that looks almost like fried rice and meets the palette with a melody of flavor harmonized by texture. If you like food, odds are you’ll like this.
And then there’s the House Burger. This thoughtful combination of jalapenos, caramelized onion, arugula, aioli, and cashew cheez sauce on a Stalzy’s roll does precisely what I have come to insist on when choosing vegetarian foods: it doesn’t pretend to be meat. Though Erick offers a Beyond burger for those who prefer it, numbers don’t lie. Erick says, “95 percent of the burgers we sell are with that house-made patty.”
For a smaller café, Erick will be the first to tell you the menu feels big. There’s wings, nachos, fries, four burgers, four wraps, another nine sandwiches, pasta, grain bowls, salads, and soups. Will Ferrell joked on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee that he “likes a place with a lot of items on a menu because you know they do them all beautifully.” But in this case, it’s true. Erick says, “It’s hard to have a lot of things. I think quality can
go down if you stretch yourself too thin, but people really, really like options. We did a menu change this winter and definitely broke a few hearts.”
The success of making it all work when it feels like too much comes down having a great staff. Erick makes it a point to give the incredible people he has working for him the space they need to be creative, often encouraging them to run with their ideas. He’s found that letting go has made him happier.
Cara Mosley, described as the in-house savant of all things sweet, has been with Green Owl since it opened. When it comes to what pastries will be on the menu, Erick is happy to delegate it all to Cara. “She makes just amazing things. I don’t know how she does it. She’ll tell me I need this, this, and this for a dessert, so I’ll get it for her. She does a ton of really amazing cheesecakes. She’s been doing a lot of cupcakes. A wide variety of different types of cookies. We’ll do ice
cream sandwiches in the summer, layer cakes; she can do pretty much anything.”
In true Wisconsin fashion, Green Owl also has a full bar, and in true Green Owl fashion, Erick has ensured the drink menu’s upkeep is in the hands of
a more experienced mixologist. Heaven is the front-of-house and bar manager. She’s the one coming up with monthly drink specials to fit the theme of the food specials. To get the precise flavors she’s looking for, she’ll infuse liquors with strawberries or jalapenos and create syrups to smooth out or enhance the drink’s profile.
At the top of the cocktail menu is Green Owl’s Spicy Margarita, which combines the month’s rotating house syrup with a house-infused spicy tequila. With a little bit of lime and a glass rimmed with Tajin, this drink excites tastebuds in an experience where the reward outweighs the risk. Imbibers imbibe.
Along with some other great cocktails and beers, Heaven has concocted some NA cocktails to round out the menu, which is in line with the overall mission of Green Owl to leave no diner behind. Anyone who comes through the front door would be hard pressed to find a menu item that could be considered an afterthought.
During the warmer months, the city has granted Green Owl and its neighbors access to the street to set up patio furniture and string lights. “You’re kind of on this busy corner, so it’s good for people watching and just hanging out in
May 24, 2:00-8:00pm Troy Farm, 502 Troy Dr. Live local music food • kids’ activities Sup l gardens! w i o r g
the neighborhood,” says Erick. And since seating often fills up fast, Green Owl has started providing grab and go options. Simply swing by, pick something from the cooler, and be on your way.
This article could’ve focused on Erick and his Madison roots—he’s a graduate of Madison East, has worked in a handful of area restaurants, earned his botany degree at UW–Madison, and even played in a local band—but he stresses that Green Owl is about all the people making it a success. Whatever the future holds, I’m confident Erick and his team will continue proving that
great food is one of the simplest paths to a more inclusive world.
Kyle Jacobson is a writer who, when asked by a farmer what they should name their twin baby cows, responded, “Café and Calf B.”
Photographs by Eric Tadsen .
Green Owl Cafe 1970 Atwood Avenue Madison, WI 53704 (608) 285-5290 greenowlcafe.com
by Kyle Jacobson
“You can observe a lot by just watching” —Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra may never have practiced yoga, but his axiomatic quotes sometimes capture the mindfulness exemplified in the philosophy. When we observe ourselves, when we observe the mind and body, we’re presented an opportunity to address inefficiencies and asynchronicities. Regardless of how a person practices yoga, they’re acquiring another way to listen to their body.
For some, the daily yoga gym routine is enough. Yoga can function simply as a means to start the day with the benefit of improving a person’s overall flexibility and mobility. For Kat McMullin, owner of Mala Yoga Center, yoga goes beyond the mat, functioning as the bedrock of her lifestyle.
“Yoga changed my life,” says Kat. “I have this mild scoliosis, and I also have the mild hip misalignment, where my hips are crooked. It caused me a lot of pain. Even in middle school, I would get sciatic pain shooting down my leg. When I started driving a car when I was a teenager, I’d have to stick a soda bottle under my hip to alleviate that sciatic pain.”
After traveling to India in 2011, Kat started practicing yoga daily. Though the discomfort from the poses was intense, she was realigning her entire body. She advocates that yoga heals by highlighting tight areas that need addressing. “What I noticed after a year or two of practice was that my pants didn’t fit me crooked anymore. After six to eight months, the sciatica completely went away.” A physical therapist confirmed that the list of poses Kat was focusing on were perfect for fixing her body.
Having found healing through a traditional yoga practice, Kat provides that same level of connection to the self through Mala. It starts with the Mysore methodology, which allows students to practice at their own pace with personalized attention from a teacher. “The room is silent. The teacher is not
telling you every pose to do, every breath to take. You’re taught the sequence, and then you practice it on your own while the teacher goes around and works individually with students. It’s like a mini-private lesson in every class.”
Through Mysore, Kat teaches Ashtanga yoga, or classical yoga as Patanjali, the compiler of the yoga sutras, called it. Ashtanga focuses on the eight-limbed path; each limb is part of a sequence that shifts focus from the outside world to the inner mind. Simplified, the path begins with things we can abstain from, then goes to things we can observe, then to our posture, to our breathing, to withdrawal from the senses, to concentration, meditation, and finally a state of meditative consciousness.
At its center, Kat’s yoga practice trains her students to go from a state of reacting to the world to responding to it. “It was gifted to us in the first place to face your discomforts. Face the physical and mental difficulties on your mat. Meet it with the breath. Meet it with the calm. ... Reacting is an immediate impulse. It’s the first emotion that arises. In yoga, we raise our hands above our heads; this is going to get our primitive brain active. Whoa, we’re being chased by a wooly
mammoth! Run! The most primitive part of our brain. By breathing, relaxing, calming, engaging muscles, we’re creating a pattern that these actions are no longer causing any reaction. I have overridden that reaction system in my body after years and years of practice.
“Responding is kind of being able to slow time down a little bit. The first reaction may be there of panic, of fear, of anger. It’s almost like lengthening a fuse. Instead of having a short fuser, where the initial reaction happens and is carried out in the mind and the body, we’ve got a little bit of a longer fuse. You take that breath; you’ve got a little bit more mental space to not only recognize what emotions or feelings or sensations are coming up in the body, but to go is this true? Is that what I want to act on? Or am I going to do a little bit of responding instead?”
Mala isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of chamomile tea, but those seeking a
traditional practice will find her studio to be exactly what they’re looking for. It’s why a lot of my conversation with Kat focused on precisely what she’s providing. Mala is a connection to what yoga is at its heart. Kat recalls her teacher from India questioning the need to add on to yoga. “He said, ‘Oh, you Westerners always want to add these
things to do yoga. You want to do hot yoga, dog yoga, mosquito yoga. Why not just do yoga?’”
After nine years and three positive moves, Mala feels like it’s found the
perfect home in an actual home, filled with the positive energy only a onehundred-year-old house can provide. “Because it’s old, you can feel the rich history in the energy of the home just when you walk in. It’s such a beautiful
setting. This is one of those homes everybody in Monona knows about.” With a refinished wood floor in the living room, complete with floor-toceiling windows facing the sun, each session brings some aspect of the natural world to the mat.
This year, Kat will start offering restorative retreats along with the services she already provides, including massage and reiki. As a former special education teacher, Kat also offers afterschool programs and a summer camp for kids to engage in crafts and learn the peaceful aspects of yoga. “My goal here is to just be a communitycentered space where all people are welcome. This is an inclusive space for people to do their own personal healing and wellness.”
Whether at a studio, a gym, or in your own home, incorporating yoga into your life provides the tools to live a more thoughtful and engaging life. And if want an experience layered with experience and authenticity, Mala might be just what you’re looking for.
For events and to see all the services and retreats offered at Mala Toga Center, visit malayogacenter.com.
Kyle Jacobson is a writer who wonders if the karma chameleon ever got what was coming to them.
BY KYLE JACOBSON
From musicians to painters and sculptors to the silver screen, Wisconsin has meaningfully contributed to the creative identity of our country. When considering just why that is, it’s impossible to ignore the impact Wisconsin’s forests, lakes, and waterways have on our artists’ perceptions of the world at large. That might be why creatives residing here aren’t afraid to inject a little small-town charm into whatever they’re pursuing. To that end, it’s hard to think of a better setting for an art fair than one of Wisconsin’s most cherished small towns: Spring Green.
With the American Players Theater and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, Spring Green has earned a reputation as an artistic hub, but it’s the quaint downtown and friendly community that make it the perfect setting for an art fair. It started in 1969, when over a game of bridge, Helene Duren mentioned the idea of an art fair
to Virgil Steele. Virgil then pitched the idea to the Spring Green Chamber of Commerce, who liked the idea so much, they even put up $300 in seed money in the event the fair didn’t succeed. The money wasn’t needed. Helene organized the event, and it was a huge success. To this day, the fair annually draws in over 10,000 people.
During the event, 180 artists line both sides of Jefferson Street, the town’s main drag, and showcase their work in thoughtful arrangements meant to not only highlight their pieces, but engage potential patrons. “All of the artists are very friendly,” says Linda Kettner, jury chairperson for the Spring Green Art Fair. “Several of them do demonstrations in their booths of the art they create. Sometimes, there’s a couple of woodworkers that’ll carve things, and then there’s a person who does caricatures. They’re just really open to talking to people.”
Every artist is handpicked by a jury, and has been since 1991, to ensure a diverse range of high-quality work is on display. “We have 10 different categories,” says Linda. “Three of them would be twodimensional: painting, photography, and graphics. The others are woodworking, pottery, fiber, jewelry, sculpture, glass, and then the fine craft part of it.” Having different mediums helps each booth feel like its own window into another artist’s mind.
The variety of work also creates a sort of persuasive experience meant to encourage some visitors to see art as accessible to everyone and others to broaden their appreciation for what artforms they might consider worthwhile. Where someone with an extensive collection of two-dimensional pieces might grow the desire to make room for sculpture in their life, another might find an affordable piece they would like to have to start their collection.
At the end of the event, Awards of Excellence are distributed to eight artists in the form of $500 and an invitation to next year’s fair. The committee hires a group of judges to determine the recipients, as the fair’s organizers want visitors to recognize both the legitimacy of the event as well as the fact that, for most of the participants, this is their career.
That said, the Spring Green Art Fair is the perfect opportunity to promote all aspects of community. “The downtown
has a lot of offerings with businesses, stores, restaurants, and things like that,” says Linda. “And we have entertainment at the art fair.” For example, there’s live music in the Post House Garden, a cozy stage one block south of the art fair complete with wrought-iron tables and chairs.
In addition to delicious food provided by local restaurants, the fair invites local nonprofits to do some fundraising through their own food sales. The Spring
Green Lions Club sells brats from Straka Meats, burgers from Prem Meats, and hot dogs; the Boy Scouts sell cheese curds, ice tea, iced coffee, and lemonade; River Valley Music Boosters has cream puffs; River Valley Area Community Gardens sells ice cream cones and other frozen novelties; the River Valley Girls Swim Team has walking tacos and a loaded baked potato bar; and the River Valley Soccer Team sells nachos, Snocones, root beer floats, Dreamsicle floats, Purple Cows, beef sticks, and popcorn.
It’s easy to spend a whole day looking at art, exploring local shops, and supporting nonprofits.
With food stands spread throughout the event space, it’s easy to spend a whole day looking at art, exploring local shops, and supporting nonprofits. Something I find particularly appealing is that the experience doesn’t come with that busy feeling associated with art fairs in larger cities. Linda says, “The Spring Green Arts and Crafts Fair has quality work, and the size is not overwhelming for people.”
And the fair is something for the whole family, with the library hosting a children’s craft area. Linda says, “I’ve
been a teacher for a long time. Kids enjoy looking at the different artwork and being able to create something of their own. And it’s good for them to be exposed to different artforms and see what it looks like when someone makes something out of wood and clay.”
While you’re in the area, be sure to check out one or two of its defining features. Hiking trails include breathtaking views of the Wisconsin River, the House on the Rock is a bit of a trip, Taliesin is great for anyone interested in nature and architecture, and the American Players
Theater is one of the most authentic ways to experience Shakespeare and other compelling playwrights.
The Spring Green Art Fair is a fitting complement to Spring Green. It recognizes the prowess of Midwest artists while emphasizing the people and organizations working to make Spring Green the gem it is. “Those are important things for us as a group,” says Linda. “Attract people to see what Spring Green has to offer and give back.”
Find out more at springgreenartfair.com.
Kyle Jacobson is a writer who likes getting lost in a small town.
Photographs provided by Spring Green Art Fair.
by
by Jill Jacklitz
Imagine if when you were in high school and college you were asked to leave classrooms because your disability caused you to make noises and utterances. If now, as an adult, you need your parent to drive to your home each morning to help you bathe, dress, and get ready for work because you don’t have access to necessary supports. People across Wisconsin experience injustices like these every day. The good news is they don’t have to face them alone.
Since 1977, Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) has been working alongside people with disabilities and their loved ones to advance dignity, selfdetermination, and inclusion as the Governor-appointed and federally mandated Protection and Advocacy agency for people with disabilities. DRW works with people with any disability in every corner of the state by providing advocacy and legal aid to individuals and working to ensure that state and
local systems actually work for people with disabilities.
The goal of DRW is to create a Wisconsin where people with disabilities can live safe from abuse and neglect; free from discrimination; and with all the supports and services necessary to be fully engaged in school, employment, and community life. It’s a tall order for a team of just 70 advocates and attorneys working from offices in Madison, Milwaukee, and Green Bay as well as remotely across the state.
DRW provides coaching and advocacy, and shares resources and tools so people can advocate for themselves or on behalf of a person they love. When necessary, DRW attorneys provide legal representation in court or at administrative hearings to resolve disputes, appeals, and protect individual rights. Imagine being physically abused by a group home staff member but nobody believes you because you can’t speak to tell your story. DRW’s Victim Advocacy program makes sure survivors with disabilities receive the advocacy, legal representation, services, and support needed to move forward, get justice, and obtain safety and stability in whatever form they need.
DRW has long advocated on behalf of Wisconsinites with disabilities, and its reach is growing each year. In 2024, DRW served over 6,600 clients. Behind each of those served is a human story of collective resilience, strength, and dignity. Current DRW board member Mackenzie Wann was previously a client. “I was fortunate to have witnessed firsthand how DRW empowers people with disabilities. They fought alongside me to get approval for a specialized wheelchair to increase my independence as a quadriplegic. And today, looking to the future, DRW is incorporating the voices of those with lived disability experience to be front
Rachel Lichtman
and center. In doing so, DRW is offering opportunities for self-advocacy and transforming our communities to be as inclusive as possible.”
The sentiment echoed throughout experiences shared by those with disabilities is that DRW champions them to assert their own rights. Felicia Clayborne, a longtime disability advocate, also knows DRW’s impact. “DRW has provided me with opportunities to engage in public policy work and participate in annual Disability Advocacy Days at the state capitol. Through DRW’s projects, I have been given the means to voice my opinions on policies affecting those with disabilities and to maintain regular communication with legislators throughout the years. As a result of my involvement with DRW and other disability rights organizations, I have become a passionate advocate for issues, such as transportation, healthcare, mental health services, and safety for people with disabilities in Wisconsin communities.”
Even the simple act of voting can be complicated if your polling place doesn’t
have an accessible way for you to mark your ballot. In 2024, DRW’s voting rights team worked tirelessly to make sure people with disabilities had equal access to the polls by educating voters on their rights and educating election officials on accessible voting laws. When DRW learned that a Wisconsin township had removed their accessible voting machine, DRW alerted the Wisconsin Election Commission, which then took action to restore the legally required machine.
As a nonprofit organization relying heavily on federal funding, DRW is concerned about the future of federal grants. Cuts to funding have already hit hard. A loss of $700,000 from the Victims of Crime Act Fund last year meant DRW had to cut back on needed services. With more potential cuts coming, DRW is working hard to raise new funds and document the impact of its work. We know how significant our work is for Wisconsinites, and we want to be here in 2026 and beyond to continue providing our services, including making sure kids get their educational experiences and helping adults with disabilities to stay in their homes.
Cuts could also reduce access to Social Security offices and threaten Medicaid. These are essential services for people with disabilities. DRW is here to help ensure these services are maintained, and we need others to speak up as well. You can contact your congressional
representatives to remind them how important federal funds are in serving people with disabilities.
If you would like to learn how you can help DRW ensure the rights of children and adults with disabilities across Wisconsin are maintained, visit disabilityrightswi.org. You can also follow DRW on Facebook and Instagram.
Jill Jacklitz is the executive director of Disability Rights Wisconsin.
Photographs provided by Disability Rights Wisconsin
Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disease in cats similar to type 2 diabetes in humans. Risk factors for cats are being overweight and inactive. Eating a high carbohydrate diet can also contribute. These things lead to too much blood sugar, which, over time, leads to insulin resistance. This is different than type 1 diabetes, where the pancreas isn’t producing insulin. The clinical signs of diabetes in cats are the same as in people: increased drinking and urination, hunger, and unexpected weight loss.
Until recently, the most effective way to treat diabetes in cats was twicedaily insulin injections. Insulin works by helping glucose move from the bloodstream into cells in the body. There was always the risk of giving too much insulin, which could lead to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and possibly death. Additionally, owners didn’t like poking their cats twice a day, were worried about missing a dose, and had concerns about taking a vacation and having a pet sitter give injections. Even though the needle is small, cats didn’t like being poked twice a day either.
Approximately 10 years ago, a new class of drugs was discovered to treat type 2 diabetes in humans. Common brands of these sodium-glucose cotransporter 2
by Dr. Lori Scarlett, DVM
(SGLT2) inhibitors include canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin. After many years of research, two are now available and effective for cats. They are in the same flozin class, but FDA-approved for use in cats only: bexagliflozin (Bexacat) and velagliflozin (Senvelgo). Both medications are given orally—one is a pill (Bexacat) and the other a liquid suspension (Senvelgo)— making them potentially easier to give than insulin. They also only need to be given once a day.
The medications work very differently than insulin. The SGLT2 protein is responsible for the reabsorption of glucose in the kidney. By inhibiting this protein, the kidneys reabsorb less glucose and excrete more glucose in the urine, thus lowering the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. In type 2 diabetics, the pancreas is still producing insulin, but the body doesn’t respond as well. By lowering blood sugar, the cells start responding better to insulin, making the diabetes better controlled.
The important note is that a cat (or human) has to be producing their own insulin for these medications to be used safely. Just decreasing the glucose in the bloodstream of a diabetic cat isn’t going to control the disease. Insulin is needed
to move glucose into the cells so the body can function. Remember, in type 2 diabetes, there’s insulin produced, but because of the high amount of glucose in the bloodstream, the cells are resistant to the effects of insulin. By decreasing the glucose in the bloodstream, the cells become more responsive to insulin.
What if you give an SGLT2 inhibitor to a cat who isn’t producing any insulin? Their diabetes will progress and their body will break down fat, leading to ketoacidosis (DKA), which can be fatal if not treated quickly. Clinical signs of DKA are glucose and ketones in the urine, high blood glucose, and a sick kitty. But DKA in a cat taking an SGLT2 inhibitor has euglycemic DKA. Their blood glucose is pretty normal. While there will be a lot of glucose in the urine, we expect that because that’s what the medication does.
Insulin administration is critical in treating DKA, so how do we figure out if they have DKA? When we start cats on insulin injections, we monitor their response and adjust the dose based on blood glucose levels. We know a cat receiving this new medication will have pretty normal glucose levels, so monitoring that isn’t useful. Instead of blood glucose levels, we need to measure ketones.
A cat with DKA will have ketones in their urine. It isn’t a very sensitive test, so we need to monitor ketones in the bloodstream. If DKA is going to happen, it usually happens within the first two weeks of treatment. This is something owners can learn to do with a fairly inexpensive monitor, or their veterinarian can do rechecks the first few weeks the cat is on the new medication as well as periodically after that. If the cat’s ketone levels increase, then we know they aren’t producing insulin and have to switch treatment.
A cat can go into diabetic remission with either insulin or SGLT2 inhibitors. If they’re getting insulin and go into remission, we see periods of low blood sugar during routine monitoring. But with the SGLT2 inhibitors, we don’t see these swings in glucose level. About the only way to determine remission is to stop the medication and see what happens, but it isn’t necessary since there isn’t a problem for a cat in remission to continue taking the medications. An SGLT1 molecule is also responsible for about 10 percent of glucose resorption. When SGLT2 is inhibited, the amount of glucose the SGLT1 molecule absorbs increases, preventing the cat from developing hypoglycemia.
Besides DKA, the main side effects from these medications are gastrointestinal
related, diarrhea and vomiting, and are usually self-limiting.
Currently, these medications are not recommended for diabetic cats already receiving insulin in case the pancreas
has stopped producing its own insulin. This may change in the future, so if you have a diabetic cat you’d like to try on these medications, consult with your veterinarian. Because diabetic dogs are almost always not producing insulin, these drugs cannot be used with them.
I still don’t like informing owners their cat has diabetes, but at least there are more options for potentially making it easier to treat. If you’re concerned about your cat’s health, please remember that your veterinarian is there to help.
Dr. Lori Scarlett, DVM, is the owner and veterinarian at Four Lakes Veterinary Clinic. fourlakesvet.com
By Kyle Jacobson
Every city, town, village, backstreet, parking lot, and alcove in the Greater Madison area seems to have its own farmers’ market, and as my high school art teacher used to say, “That’s pretty neat.” These community gems have been connecting neighborhoods to local growers, makers, and chefs for generations. What’s also pretty neat is going to each of the farmers’ markets and experiencing what they have to offer, as no two are exactly alike.
Northside Farmers’ Market, in the parking lot between Willy Street Coop—North and Old National Bank on North Sherman Avenue, is only 21 years old. When it started, co-market manager Sabrina Hilton says, “It was because there weren’t any grocery options in the area. It was created in response to concerns about food deserts.”
The north side of Madison has changed quite a bit since 2004. Not only has it
grown to meet the needs of its residents, but it’s full of people who are passionate about maintaining everything the area has worked hard to implement. As a result, the appeal of the Northside Farmers’ Market has evolved.
“People appreciate the Northside Market because of the smaller volume of people,” says Sabrina. This is in contrast to the Dane County Farmers’ Market on Capitol Square, which feels more like an event. Though I find the Greater Madison area is very fortunate to have something as impressive as the Dane County Market, it’s not really going to cater to someone looking to just grab a few things and be on their way. Vendors acknowledge that some people are just looking to stock up, which is why some participate in both the Dane County and Northside Markets.
Northside Market has also been a boon for some area chefs. Sabrina says, “One
cool feature of the market is it’s also a business incubator. There are businesses that started out just in the kitchen and selling at the market. We were a stepping stone for them, and some of them stick with us, like El Sabor de Puebla. Even though they’re growing, they continue to want to have a presence at the market.”
Other ways the market has grown, particularly in the last nine years, can be directly attributed to Sabrina and her partner, Matt Galle. It goes back to why the duo took over as managers and what attracted them to the market. “I moved to Madison in 2013 from Washington state as part of a graduate program,” says Sabrina. “I moved all my stuff in mid-May. It was beautiful. I stepped out the door and was 50 feet away from my new place when I hear my name. It was somebody I’d gone to undergrad with 10 years earlier. He lived in the north side, and he brought me to the market within the first weeks of me moving here.
“Fast forward several years, I met Matt, and we started dating. There was an election in 2016, and I talked to Matt and said we need to make an impact. The national level feels too overwhelming, so what can we do locally? He saw a listing for the Northside Market. The listing was for a manager and an assistant manager. We just applied as a couple, and we met the board. We told them we’re just going to do this as a partnership if they were
willing to have us. They accepted our application, and we started in 2016.”
The market used to just be a circle where people would go around the perimeter and interact with vendors, but now
there’s a nondiscriminatory inner circle, which Sabrina has dubbed Craft Row due to all the makers typically occupying the space. In the center, it’s not uncommon for Northside Market to host some form of entertainment.
Aside from music, Sabrina and Matt like to keep community engagement high.
“In the last two years, we’ve brought in a lot of kids’ programming. The zoo, Children’s Museum, Boy Scout troops— every week, we try to have a different
community representation with focus on kid engagement.”
Sabrina has also been working to bring more senior-focused engagement to the market, and this year will see elder
services and programming. Though our discussion brought up a potential senior talk table, where anyone can ask the attending elder any question they might have, what Sabrina really wants is to ensure seniors are connected to the resources they need and deserve.
“I think we culturally don’t see our elders,” says Sabrina. “I think they’re undervalued, but also growing tremendously—the silver tsunami. I think finding more opportunities to bring them in is important; they can become really socially isolated. As they age, mobility can become challenging. I want to have the conversation happening for people to find what programs are out there, so they can connect with them before they necessarily need to. Also, younger people can see what the needs of seniors are, and they can become part of the solution too.”
In addition, the market aims to serve those in the community struggling
financially. Some produce vendors accept WIC and senior specific vouchers, and SNAP and food share benefits are accepted throughout Northside Market. Thanks to some grant money, the market doubles those benefits up to $20, meaning taking out $20 becomes $40.
From the plant bulbs sold earlier in the year to being a compost drop-off spot, new this year, Northside Market does what so many farmers’ markets strive to do in keeping people in touch with the food cycle. Pair that with the variety of makers, and visitors are intrinsically motivated to connect by disconnecting, choosing to be more present rather than staring at their phones. That’s really the magic of Northside Market that has motivated Sabrina and Matt to give their hearts to the work they’re doing. Sabrina says of the market, “It’s apolitical. It’s values driven. ... I could be here forever.”
For more information, visit northsidefarmersmarket.org.
Kyle Jacobson is a writer who thinks you should dig what you do and do what you dig.
Shifting Perspectives - full series 40x30 in each casein and acrylic on panel
Cosmic Web 30x30 casein and flashe on panel
by Kyle Jacobson
Looking at a piece of abstract art can feel a lot like trying to solve a puzzle. Though the puzzle can feel intellectual, even mathematical, I often find the real value lies in the emotional journey of coming to a fitting conclusion. But then what does the beginning of that emotional journey look like? What about the end? And much like the answer to those questions, the conclusion reached upon considering a piece of abstract art is more of a bookmark—a point you’ll take off from the next time you engage with it.
For Ann Orlowski, finding the abstraction of everyday life wasn’t something she immediately gravitated toward. More accurately, it took her time to decipher the world at large through her landscape paintings to get to a point of obscurity that she could then reassemble to divine meaning.
Growing up in the City of Dubuque, defined by examples of Gothic Revival architecture, Ann was drawn to the simplicity of the industrial buildings. In a way, these structures serve as the tools of society; they exist because they are useful. Of these buildings, Anns says, “They weren’t necessarily built to stand the test of time. Gas stations and parking garages are
not outstanding examples of modern architecture; they are utilitarian. These structures are not intentionally built as a mark of our culture, but they are a mark on our culture.”
So it is that Ann’s earlier work consists of markedly human structures: utility poles against a blue sky and rigid architecture
stretched through perspective. The repeated subject harkens back to her time at the University of Northern Iowa, in Cedar Falls, where she studied printmaking. After moving to Madison, in 2002, she lost access to a printing press and transitioned to her painting practice. As Ann’s life evolved, so did her work, which still comes in focused bursts. For the viewer, it’s an instinctive act to organize her work chronologically.
The methodically repetitive practice of developing a series of pieces almost feels like a step-by-step class to creating abstract art, but it’s patently Ann. “I started to deconstruct these buildings, thinking, ‘What if I take it apart? What if I play with perspective so it doesn’t make sense anymore? What if the angles are reoriented in a way that doesn’t make it feel real?’ At first, I was interested in creating realistic landscape, then I started wondering how I can twist and make it feel unreal but still based in architecture. Then I said, ‘Okay, I can make an unreal architecture, so what if this space is just its own thing altogether?’ It’s not based on a grounded object sitting in an environment anymore; it’s just about this space. I can play with all these different elements I’ve learned and manipulate them in a different and new way.”
Through her most recent works, Ann has cemented her contribution to art’s function as an antithesis to a fast-paced society hellbent on distraction. She admits her pieces might not have as strong of a hook as expected forms of art, but I find her pieces work more as this seed that’s planted in her audiences’ heads. The more time spent nurturing that seed, the more the meaning of her effort starts to blossom. Almost like jazz, what seemed out of place was just a polyrhythmic harmony yet to blend into a preconceived notion of what is and isn’t acceptable—what does and doesn’t constitute art.
“Trying to balance the moment an artwork grabs your attention versus the subtlety that keeps a viewer engaged is something I’m constantly thinking about. I’m exploring how subtle I can make a piece. Recently, I made a painting that was just black on black on black—
just subtle shifts in tone. It felt like a real risk, but people were really intrigued by it.”
Shifting Perspective is one of Ann’s paintings that, upon entering something of a perspective flow state, begins to feel like it’s moving. The painting was created by repainting the same shape in different positions in layers over itself.
“It was a practice of thinking about an idea, then thinking of it in a new way. The ghost of that first thought stays, but it gets obfuscated by the new thought.”
Something Ann has learned upon her explorations of shape and movement
casein on panel
is how to intuitively determine when a painting is finished. When painting a landscape, the work is done when the subject is complete, but with abstract art, it’s not as clear. This idea bleeds into the thoughts of her audience, who might try to figure out why she stopped where she did. Though other forms of art may seem more straightforward when it comes to their appreciation, her abstract pieces have the power to grant an entry point that isn’t so intimidating.
“There’s a pressure to understand art,” says Ann. “And people should be open to experiencing art whichever way they experience it. Their impression of
that artwork is a perfectly valid way to experience it.”
Ann was recently awarded the Forward Art Prize, presented by the Women Artist Forward Fund (WAFF). Every year, this juried competition recognizes two women artists creating outstanding work in the visual arts in Dane County. Not only has the grant allowed Ann to expand her studio and invest in new materials, it’s also brought further recognition to her as an artist. Ann applauds WAFF’s efforts in raising the visibility of all women artists in Dane County.
Throughout her career, Ann has caught herself believing whatever series she’s currently working on will be the defining collection of her oeuvre only to discover the next career-defining leg of her journey halfway through. If anything serves as the hallmark of her work, it’s that perpetual creativity. When viewed individually, some of her work might be inspiring. Some of it might be confusing. Then you see it all together,
and everything you felt starts to fit into a larger narrative. You’re left with a place to tuck in your bookmark until you once again find reason to turn the page.
Ann’s work can be found at Abel Contemporary Gallery, in Stoughton, and Cappaert Contemporary, in Egg Harbor. She’ll also be featured in a show opening May 2 at Blue Spiral 1, in Asheville, North Carolina. Visit annorlowski.com to see more of Ann’s portfolio.
Kyle Jacobson is a writer whose favorite shade of indifference is meritless.
Photographs by Ann Orlowski
association
Dane County Humane Society 17
Rooted 8
dining, food & beverage
Cambridge Market Cafe 19
Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream 13
D’Vino 25
The Deliciouser 5
Dinotto 25
Fraboni’s Italian Specialties & Delicatessen 13
Lombardino’s 5
The Old Feed Mill Restaurant 19
Porta Bella Italian Restaurant 25
Sugar River Pizza Company 5
Tempest 17
Tornado Club Steak House 17
& media
Brat Fest 31
Fitchburg Agora Art Fair 2
Our Lives Magazine 28
Spring Green Arts & Crafts Fair 15
Streets of Sun Prairie 9
Edgerton Hospital and Health Services 17
Four Lakes Veterinary Clinic 21
Julia Grace Salon 12
Madison Gas and Electric 32
Monroe Street Framing 29
Stoughton Health 24
Abel Contemporary Gallery 29 Anthology 9
Deconstruction Inc. 21
Fitchburg Center Farmers Market 2
Goodman’s Jewelers 9
The Patio Warehouse of Wisconsin 13
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