2021 Curb Out of the Dark

OUT OF THE DARK 2021

Athletes train while you sleep

LATEST DRAMA Theaters innovate to attract new audiences

ALL NIGHT LONG Drink and dine across Wisconsin

ON THE COVER: UW runner Rowen Ellenberg trains at sunset along the Arboretum. His team finished 11th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in November. Read more about him and other UW athletes who train before sunrise in Rise and Grind on p. 52. Cover photography by Kalli Anderson.

02 Editor’s Note 03 Stars Under the Stars Out Like A Light 04 Essentials in the Dark 05 Books to Keep You Up At Night It’s Freakin’ Bats 06 Dark Academia Check Out Wisconsin’s Northern Lights 07 Curb 20th Edition

DUSK Explore the stories after sunset

Badger

Continue on your UW journey with the Wisconsin Alumni Association® (WAA). Share in Badger spirit.

Access all things UW. Strengthen campus connections — and more! WAA is here for all alumni and for every stage in your life as a Badger.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALLI ANDERSON

uwalumni.com/go/curb

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONNECT ON LEARN ON DISCOVER ON ACHIEVE ON CELEBRATE ON ON CHEER ON TRAVEL ON SUPPORT ON

08 Amped Up 12 Alpine Adventures 15 Thinking Outside the Black Box 18 Evening Song 22 Let’s Go Out!

DARK Embrace the moonlight hours 27 A Deep Dive 30 Darker Tails 32 Follow the Money 35 Indigenous Voices Light the Way 37 The Night Shift 39 Support for Survivors 41 A Circus Like No Other

DAWN Discover as the day breaks 43 A Watershed Moment 46 At Last 48 A Way Forward 50 “Even in darkness it is possible to create light.”

52 Rise and Grind 54 Her New Medium 56 Culture Shift 57 Our Own Little Chapel 60 Seize the Day

OUT LIKE A LIGHT

By Kate Morton

EDITOR’S NOTE

No one can function without sleep, but many of us lean into bad habits that keep us from getting a full night of rest. Here are some tips that will have you sleeping like a baby in the wink of an eye.

Don’t use screens right before bed. Screens emit

S

Margarita Vinogradov Editor In Chief

There’s more to love!

Visit us at curbonline.com Curb is published through generous alumni donations administered by the UW Foundation and in partnership with Royle Printing, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin © Copyright 2021 Curb Magazine

The Starlite 14 Drive-In in Richland Center

Editorial Margarita Vinogradov, Editor In Chief Maya Fidziukiewicz, Managing Editor Cailyn Schiltz, Lead Writer Elea Levin, Lead Writer Lauryn Azu, Copy Editor Kate Morton, Copy Editor Isabella Byrne, Copy Editor

STARS UNDER THE STARS

By Kalli Anderson

A

Business Henry West, Business Director Anna Aversa, Public Relations Director Lilly Freemyer, Public Relations Director Jack Murphy, Engagement Director Claire Henneman, Marketing Representative Mallory Pelon, Marketing Representative Design Lili Sarajian, Art Director Grace Landsberg, Production Director Shannon McManus, Production Associate Madison Mooney, Production Associate Kalli Anderson, Photographer and Photo Editor Online Molly Kehoe, Online Editor Jessica Gregory, Online Associate Joe Rickles, Online Associate Tamia Fowlkes, Multimedia Producer Publisher Stacy Forster Editorial support from Jenny Price

ILLUSTRATIONS BY LILI SARAJIAN

Cheers,

blue light, which suppresses production of the sleepinducing hormone melatonin.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALLI ANDERSON

cientists tell us that humans are born with only two innate fears: the fear of loud noises and the fear of falling. Yet soon, often in early childhood, many develop another: the fear of the dark.

As we grow up, we come to associate different things with darkness. For some it’s the nighttime, crawling with nocturnal life while our own circadian rhythms kick us into sleep. For others, life just begins — whether that means work, play or a rest from the constant rush of the daytime.

I’ll be honest. More often than not, my most memorable tales happen after 12 a.m., whether that be staying up late working on this magazine, bartending at a local student bar or enjoying my senior year in Wisconsin a little too much...

So this year at Curb, our team decided to challenge the notion that darkness is inherently villainous. Yes, darkness can be sinister, mysterious and even surprising. Yet some of our most important moments happen in the dark, the peaceful and the joyful. As this collection of stories will come out in December — the darkest time of the year — we are left wondering: can anything good really happen after midnight?

In this issue, we will explore all types of stories rooted in the dark — both literally and metaphorically. In reading “Out of the Dark,” we invite you to challenge your beliefs about darkness and discover what it means to the people of Wisconsin. We hope to reveal how they embrace it, expose injustices in the shadows and highlight the unseen with a celebration of the dark. And hey, maybe you’ll come out a little less afraid of it.

t one time in the 1950s, there “This [was] one way families were 79 drive-in theaters in felt safe to be out in public, and the state of Wisconsin. Now, also get to do one of the things there are only 11 left. they love, and that’s watch movOne of them is Starlite 14 ies,” Holly says. “COVID has really Drive-In in Richland Center in helped bring back the outdoor the southwestern part of the movie theaters and really show state. When the previous owners families how special they are.” decided they wanted to retire after As one of the last drive-ins 32 years of running it, Holly and standing in the state, Starlite 14 Tony Johnson and Brent Montry still has connections to its past. knew they had to buy the drive-in The theater has made significant to preserve this essential place in upgrades — including remodeling the community. the concessions stand — but they Buying the drive-in theater in still use the old speaker posts to July 2020, right in the beginning direct cars on where to park. of the COVID-19 pandemic, gave Still, a huge part of the attracStarlite 14 a new opportunity — not tion of an outdoor movie theater only to keep running, but also to is the connection between the offer a space for people to get out motion pictures on a screen and of their homes. being out in nature.

Attendees showed up in all “Everybody loves the movies, forms, from being masked up and just to be under the stars, be outbarely rolling down the windows side, have the fresh air and reunite to not having a mask in sight and with each other,” Holly says. meeting up with people outside of their household.

Avoid heavy meals before going to bed. The body needs time to process big meals. At the same time, avoid going to bed hungry by eating a light snack.

Dairy foods in particular can facilitate sleep.

Limit napping during the day. Daytime siestas can be

tempting, but if you struggle with insomnia, avoid naps longer than 30 minutes after 3 p.m.

Create your own bedtime routine. Completing

prebedtime tasks in the same order helps tell your body it’s time to go to bed.

Avoid using your bed for anything other than sleep.

Your bed should be a place of rest. Set up a designated area away from the bed for work and other non-sleep tasks that distract the brain from sleep.

CURB

3

ILLUSTRATION BY GRACE LANDSBERG

ESSENTIALS IN THE DARK

By Margarita Vinogradov While we all spend at least some of our day in the literal dark, here are some products guaranteed to brighten up these hours.

BY LUCY FOLEY

A destination wedding results in a murder. Complicated relationships and pasts are revealed, keeping you guess- “THE SEVEN HUSBANDS ing whodunit all the way OF EVELYN HUGO” through.

BY TAYLOR JENKINS REID Monique Grant, an average “THE PUSH” journalist, is contacted to “VERITY”

BY ASHLEY AUDRAIN write the story of a lifetime BY COLLEEN HOOVER In this complicated moth- about iconic actress Evelyn Verity Crawford, a highly er-daughter relationship Hugo. Hugo has not invited successful novelist, has a “THE PAPER PALACE” that is told through multiple media attention in decades, tragic accident that leaves BY MIRANDA COWLEY HELLER generations, Blythe Connor but with Grant she shares her unable to write again. Elle Bishop cheated on her is determined to have the details of her personal and Lowen Ashleigh is hired to husband with her best friend relationship with her children professional life that have finish Verity’s renowned book last night, and “The Paper that she always wanted to never been told before. The series. During Ashleigh’s Palace” tells the story of how have with her mother as a biggest question of all: Who stay at Verity’s house, some she got there. A dark famchild. This novel will keep is the love of Evelyn’s life? unsettling events occur. Plot ily history and upbringing is you guessing until the final And why is Grant the one to twists will keep you guessing revealed between a blended sentence. tell the story? and incredibly creeped out. family.

Cable holder $7, amazon.com This adhesive cable holder set will be sure to keep all of your messy cables organized.

4

CURB

For the Beauty Sleeper Sleeping mask

For the Early Riser Sunrise alarm clock

$3, target.com A popular herbal tea with a variety of health benefits, evidence suggests that its antioxidants can reduce inflammation, lessen symptoms of anxiety and depression, boost the immune system and promote sleepiness.

$10, amazon.com Gentle on the delicate skin around the eyes, this face mask will block both natural and artificial light, ensuring a deep and undisturbed sleep.

$100, amazon.com Popularized by TikTok and chosen as the top pick by The New York Times, this alarm clock simulates the sunset and sunrise during any time of day — which is especially useful in rooms without windows.

Almonds $7, target.com Almonds have been shown to lower the risk of developing chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, which research attributes to their monounsaturated fat and fiber.

Lavender essential oil $24, pharmaca.com Studies show that lavender oil increases the amount of slow and deep-wave sleep as well as vigor in the morning.

Beauty and sleep vitamins $17, target.com This blend of melatonin, biotin and vitamin E will ease you into a deep sleep while strengthening your hair, skin and nails.

IT’S FREAKIN’ BATS!

By Joe Rickles Bats — nature’s only flying mammal — may seem like a creepy concept out of Transylvania, but Wisconsin has its own species of native bats that are vital to our ecosystem. Yet the state’s population of these misunderstood critters is in danger, and they need our help.

“The Little Book of Mindfulness” by Tiddy Rowan $10, amazon.com This small book promises wisdom on how to calm your mind and lighten your spirit. Read it in the morning to help declutter your thoughts.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WISCONSIN DNR BAT PROGRAM

$24, amazon.com Like the double meaning of this very issue, this title is both a literal reference to the spectrum of light beyond the ability of human eyes to detect and a metaphor for the invisible stories within World War II.

For the Midnight Snacker Chamomile tea

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALLI ANDERSON

“All The Light We Cannot See”

by Anthony Doerr

By Claire Henneman

“THE GUEST LIST”

For the Night Owl Happy light $30, verilux.com Created to simulate sunlight for those that do not get enough during the daytime hours, this light is proven to enhance mood, energy and sleep without the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays.

BOOKS TO KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT

GETTING SICK White-Nose Syndrome is a mysterious fungal disease affecting bats that originated in upstate New York around 2007. Since then, it has spread across the country and has done significant damage to bat populations across North America. Although numbers of bats have stabilized in recent years, they are far from the preWhite-Nose years.

WHERE TO FIND THEM Bats live all over Wisconsin — maybe even in your own backyard.

“If you’re there at sunset, you’ll often see lots of bats flying over Lake Mendota or Monona,” says Amy Wray, a postdoctoral research assistant at the University of Wyoming who studied Wisconsin’s bats.

“They’re pretty common at Picnic Point, [which] has a little bat house so there’s usually bats flying over the water there.”

DIFFERENT SPECIES The Badger State is home to eight different kinds of bats. The most common are little brown bats and big brown bats, which hibernate together underground during the cold winter months.

HELP WITH A BAT HOUSE You don’t have to be a biologist or expert to help bats. One of the best things to do is build a bat house. Here’s some tips from conservation biologist Heather Kaarakka of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

•

Do a little bit of research into where you can place it and what type of house you’re going to build.

•

Generally, the bigger the house the better success you have.

•

Bats tend to like it warm. It helps them gestate and the pups mature quickly. Paint your house a dark color.

•

Place it 10 to 15 feet in the air. Avoid putting it in a tree because trees can provide too much shade and offer easy access for predators like raccoons.

CURB MAGAZINE

CHECK OUT WISCONSIN’S NORTHERN LIGHTS

20TH EDITION

By Grace Landsberg and Anna Aversa When the first edition of Curb was published, most of the current Curb staff was just a year old. Now, 20 years later, this issue of “Out of The Dark” is in thousands of hands. Join us in reflecting on two decades of Curb by taking a look back at our past covers.

By Mallory Pelon

T

he northern lights are a natural phenomenon that many people only dream of being able to see. The northern lights have fascinated people for ages, and lucky for the people of Wisconsin, the northern lights are visible from time to time in the state because of Wisconsin’s northern location and its various areas with low light pollution. The best time to see the northern lights in Wisconsin is January through March because of the long and cold nights. So, grab your winter coat and head out there!

By Jessica Gregory

L

iterature. Poetry. Existentialism.

The dark academia aesthetic is perhaps best described as a pretentious, scholarly demeanor accentuated by moody clothing and a classic novel. It’s essential to maintain a mysterious composure, a hunger for knowledge into the unknown and wallow in nostalgia for the romanticized past, just for the aesthetic.

Enjoy a curated gallery of students who donned their dark academia garb, placed in particularly studious locations on UW–Madison’s campus.

Think this aesthetic might be for you? Try it out!

Get the look yourself Clothing pieces: blazers, slacks, collared button-ups, vintage university sweaters, turtlenecks, chunky sweaters, knitted vests, plaid pleated miniskirts.

Shoes: brown, black or gray oxford loafers, Dr. Martens black platform boots.

Accessories: full-framed glasses with round lenses (real or fake), vintage gold, silver jewelry or jewelry with unique gems, leather book bags, hardcover notebooks, Pilot G-2 Premium Ink black pens.

Door County The Door County Peninsula extends into Lake Michigan and is home to Newport State Park, an internationally recognized dark sky park — a location that has little to no light pollution, which means the views of the night sky are extremely clear. Grab a cup of hot chocolate and camp out at this park for a breathtaking view of the night sky, with or without the northern lights.

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Located in northern Wisconsin, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest covers more than 1.5 million acres. This vast area offers low levels of light pollution, which make the chances of seeing the northern lights much higher.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALLI ANDERSON & JESSICA GREGORY

YOUR GUIDE TO DARK ACADEMIA

The Apostle Islands Just off the tip of Wisconsin, the Apostle Islands are a group of 22 islands located off the shore of Lake Superior. Since these islands are surrounded by Lake Superior, they offer a great view of the northern lights with little obstruction.

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

OUT OF THE DARK 2021

Athletes train while you sleep

LATEST DRAMA Theaters innovate to attract new audiences

ALL NIGHT LONG

6

CURB

Drink and dine across Wisconsin

Singer-songwriter Noah Kahan sold out the Majestic Theatre in Madison in October 2021. A year before this show, the venue was still closed and silent.

AMPED UP The return of live music brings excitement and new challenges

By Anna Aversa

8

CURB

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WILLIAM AVERSA

T

he music blasts through the speakers so loudly that your ears begin to ring. You can feel the floor beneath you shake as the crowd screams out the familiar lyrics. As you jump up and down, your feet stick slightly to the beer-soaked floor while you smile ear to ear, remembering the days when standing next to sweaty strangers was the last thing on your mind.

The intoxicating feeling of standing in a sea of people singing your favorite song with your favorite artist 50 feet in front of you is what live music is all about.

One hundred and fifteen years ago, the Majestic Theatre opened its doors, and 21 months ago, the Majestic closed its doors due to the pandemic. For 17 months, it stood empty and dark.

A building that was once home to lively concerts from rock to folk and everything in between didn’t host a concert for over a year. But now, we’re back — maybe with masks and vaccines, but once again that familiar sensation of hearing the pulse of live music from the speakers is alive in the Majestic.

On the night of Oct. 16, Noah Kahan, a pop singer from Vermont, took the stage. The energy vibrated through the venue while the audience sang the lyrics to his songs almost as loudly as the speakers delivered his voice. Live music exists to give comfort in the dark times and to make the joyous times even more exciting. Finally, it seems like we are out of the dark hold the pandemic put on live music.

Kahan’s show took work from dozens of people who will never be thanked; individuals who came to the theater long before he was on stage and stayed long after he exited.

People like Reanna Roberts, Frank Productions’ venue director for the Majestic, the Sylvee, High Noon Saloon and the Orpheum Theater, work behind the scenes to ensure the magical feeling of live music for all who attend a show. Roberts has spent 12 years in the live music industry, 10 of which she spent working exclusively at the Majestic.

Show days can vary considerably in length, and Roberts says she works an DUSK

9

average of 14 hours per show day. With schedules well beyond the typical 9 to 5, it is apparent that those who work in the live music industry love what they do.

“It’s so weird to me now that I don’t work in it to go to [concerts] because it almost makes me emotional because I’m like, I can’t believe I literally did this every day,” says Cassidy Schrader, former event manager at Pabst Theater Group in Milwaukee.

as advertising and digital ad spending.

Parshall and the rest of her team ensure that the Madison community knows about the show — after all, if the show isn’t made visible to the public, it can’t be successful.

“It really is like a teamwork between us and the public because we need people to come to shows. We can put them on, but we want the community to come to them,” Parshall says.

Noon Roberts arrives at the venue, opening the doors for other staff who are essential to setting up, such as the catering team. The groundwork begins, trucks are unloaded and staff begin to show up. The touring crew gains familiarity with the Majestic as its members begin to put together their set. Roberts begins her work communicating with tech workers and stagehands.

“You get goosebumps and you get chills, and you can feel all the people in the room have that same sort of wavelength energy,” she says. “That’s the best part. And you can’t get that from listening to Spotify or from a livestreaming of a concert, you can only get that at shows.”

8:02 p.m.

Blake Rose, the opener, saunters onto stage in a striped sweater, while the crowd is still trickling in. Rose is grinning ear to ear when he tells the crowd that this is his first-ever tour. Some people are chatting among themselves, others are grabbing a drink at the bar. The majority of the crowd, however, is nodding their heads along to the first song as Rose begins to strum his guitar.

At the bar you can overhear a couple conversing about Kahan, hoping that he will play his song “Maine.” The bartenders are smiling and exuding positive energy while slinging drinks, making it apparent that even the staff is happy to be back here.

Local venues have to find staff that keep the concerts alive. While concertgoers are itching to get back inside, stagehands and security are at a disadvantage.

With dwindling staff numbers, those on hand fill extra shifts and work longer hours, doing what needs to happen to keep the show going.

“At its core, it’s just like customer service, whether you’re interacting with patrons or with the actual band, and just making it a good experience,” Schrader says.

7 p.m.

Doors open to the public and audience members begin to file into the building.

One member of security works his way up the line checking vaccination cards against photo IDs, while another strikes up conversations at the beginning of the line while he waves a metal detector over the audience members.

“Show me some real estate!” one security member jokes, and the man in line happily opens up his arms and steps apart his feet. After one last check-in to prove drinking age, audience members move toward the stage.

Ahead of the show, various staffers work on the out-of-venue side of shows to ensure shows are booked and executed properly. Grace Parshall, a marketing coordinator with Frank Productions, helps spread awareness of shows and get tickets sold through various marketing efforts. For Parshall, this means posting on social media in real time for shows, but that usually requires more work on the front end on such things

10

CURB

9:06 p.m.

A hush falls over the crowd ever so briefly, followed by screams that echo across the Majestic as a shadowed figure makes it to the mic. The lights go up and Kahan appears, his long, black hair shining under the light. You can feel the buzz radiating off of the audience and, almost as if in a trance, everyone starts to dance.

After his first song, Kahan addresses the crowd: “Thank you for singing the words, I write a lot of songs and to be

completely honest I forget a lot of the lyrics. To know that you guys are right there with me is just wonderful.”

“We love you, Noah!” a fan screams from the balcony next to the stage. Kahan closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and moves on to the next song.

In the dark, audience members stand side by side, connected through the music, connected through an energy that radiates from the stage. The concert staff ensures that the energy is there, whether by making sure the touring artists have soft towels or that the audience feels safe and comfortable.

“I think it’s such a unique service you provide, it’s an experience for people that can be really cathartic, and really joyful and a memory that will stick with them,” Parshall says.

10:56 p.m.

The lights turn on brighter, but this time the stage is dim and the audience is bathed in light. Audience members are smiling and taking their last selfies of the night, then turning to leave. But work for the venue staff is far from over. The venue must be cleaned, and every piece of Kahan’s band’s equipment must be broken down and loaded onto the tour bus. The bar must close and be cleaned, and eventually the venue must be locked up. The audience files onto the sidewalk, where Kahan’s name has already been removed from the marquee so the next artist can take the stage.

And just like that, the Majestic is silent and empty for the night.

“Even on the absolute worst day when everything is an entire dumpster fire and everything goes wrong, it is still better than a day without a concert,” Roberts says.

Royle Printing is proud to support the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication and all contributing students who produced Curb Magazine.

As part of our growth, we’re looking for passionate, creative and hardworking team members to join our family.

Schedule a tour today and learn more at royle.com/careers

Proudly celebrating over 70 years.

royle.com

ALPINE ADVENTURES

A skier heads into the main chalet at Christie Mountain.

Get hooked on night skiing in Wisconsin

O

n one of the last runs of the night, Dimi Schweitzer and I decided to extend our poles out to one another and glide straight down the hill without making any turns.

Together, we gradually picked up speed as the trees blurred together on either side of us.

After spending the majority of my junior year of college staring at a computer screen, night skiing at Devil’s Head Resort, about 50 minutes from Madison, was the closest thing to normalcy I had felt in a long time.

However, my love for skiing only slightly outweighed my overwhelming anxiety about interacting with the very real snow monsters that were surely hiding in the depths of the woods and were sure to only be active at night.

For a first-time night skier, navigating

12

CURB

in the dark felt daunting. But for kids at the Blackhawk Ski Club, navigating dark trails is just an exercise in trusting themselves and their abilities.

“There are places, especially on the Nordic trails, that are really dark, and it is so cool to watch the kids learn to navigate that and be confident,” says Blackhawk executive board president Amy Grunewald.

A typical night at Blackhawk Ski Club starts the moment kids get released from school. The private, not-for-profit ski club is located in Middleton, Wisconsin, roughly a 20-minute drive west of Madison.

“There’s no lights,” Grunewald says. “So if you forget your headlamp, you just have to let your eyes adjust, and you’re skiing in the total dark.”

Although Grunewald jokes it would

be ideal to have greater funding to replace all of the lights, she doesn’t dwell on their shortcomings. Rather, individuals are challenged to navigate terrain in the dark. This ultimately becomes an exercise of trust.

For talented ski racer Martha Daniels, under the fluorescent lights is where she will do some of her best skiing.

Daniels’ childhood was defined by night skiing. She grew up in a suburb just outside of Milwaukee and spent as much time as possible on the hill both with her family and friends, and later with her competitive high school team.

While many of her peers spent their after-school hours finishing homework or socializing with friends, Daniels was on the slopes until late into the night. It was second nature to her.

“I love night skiing, and I love night

PHOTO COURTESY OF KYLE LEHMAN

By Grace Landsberg

practices,” Daniels says. “It was just so fun to go. I don’t know, it’s just cool.”

In her freshman year, Daniels wasn’t sure she wanted to join the UW– Madison alpine ski team. She remembers missing the deadline to sign up, but later realizing she wanted to continue skiing.

UW–Madison’s alpine ski team is most active at night. Practice typically starts once team members have finished classes for the day, says the team’s senior director Alec Riddle. The team then carpools in fleet vehicles up to Tyrol Basin, a ski hill roughly 40 minutes outside of Madison, sets up the race course and then trains through the night.

For Wisconsin natives Daniels and Riddle, skiing at night is second nature.

As lifelong competitive skiers, the fluorescent lights simply illuminate their playground.

While COVID-19 put a strain on the UW–Madison alpine ski team’s ability to practice, the pandemic may have been a saving grace for Christie Mountain. The small ski hill in Bruce, in northwestern Wisconsin, saw more traffic on the hill than ever before.

Christie Mountain didn’t have limitations on the number of skiers who could purchase lift tickets in a given day, says manager Andrea Vohs.

Without those limitations, skiers flocked to Christie like never before.

Vohs is hopeful that some newer skiers that tried Christie for the first time last season will return this coming season.

Without the flexibility of an entirely remote school schedule, I am also hopeful to return to the slopes this coming winter.

DUSK

13

Professor Megan Reilly uses her body to demonstrate her favorite lighting styles in the UW–Madison lighting lab.

14

Read our fact-checked, nonpartisan investigative reports at wisconsinwatch.org CURB

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALLI ANDERSON

Journalism that brings truth to light.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BLACK BOX Theater reinvents itself to bring audiences back

By Lili Sarajian

DUSK

15

“Light creates a space, so if you want to create an intimate space, take down the lighting.” industry is due to catch up. Directors embrace the use of digital media in theater performances to increase audience engagement, a direction that parallels avant-garde theater throughout the 20th century. This new wave of theater is capable of revolutionizing the entertainment industry as we know it.

Avant-garde playwrights of the 1920s and 1930s, including Antonin Artaud, Vsevolod Meyerhold, and Maurice Maeterlinck in Europe strayed from the trend of grandiose productions to create more intimate and evocative performances.

These leaders threw out all of the preconceived standards of theater — down to the theater architecture and the stage itself — and started from scratch with just an empty black box.

Black box theaters are flexible spaces that allow theater companies to produce a wide variety of shows with little to no scenery or props. They gained popularity in the 1960s when educational

16

CURB

institutions across the country built black boxes on their campuses. The flexibility of these spaces was ideal for teaching and producing small-scale student shows.

These black boxes are just what they sound like: empty square or rectangular rooms often painted black or draped with black curtains. Portable risers allow the stage and seating arrangements to be configured in any way the designer chooses.

Black box theaters allowed actors and producers to focus on content and performance rather than impressive scenery or mechanics. Traditional proscenium stages only allow the audience to view the action from one direction at a distance, but black box theaters force the audience to sit much closer to the actors.

“There’s an electric connection when you realize that person on stage just saw you and you saw them and you saw them seeing you,” says Rob Wagner, the scenic studio supervisor at the UW–Madison Department of Theatre and Drama.

“You can lose that in a proscenium piece really easily because the actors are playing the fourth wall.”

Because the audience is so close to the action, lighting designers can play with shadows. They don’t have to flood the stage with light to make sure the audience can see everything in the same way they would in an opera house or for a musical. Instead, black boxes can be lit with just a spotlight or even a single candle held up to an actor’s face.

“Light creates a space,” says Megan Reilly, assistant professor and lighting designer at UW–Madison. “So if you want to create an intimate space, take down the lighting. Create a smaller circle, create a smaller lit area, to the point of, if you just light a candle, that’s the most intimate space you can get.”

Modern experimentation with digital media, virtual reality and alternate reality is an evolution of those early avant-garde movements that sought to make theater more immersive.

And this new evolution is just in time.

“Traditional theater is in trouble,” Reilly says, speaking to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond that, with the array of digital media vying for audiences’ attention — social media,

television, film, video games — theater simply can’t offer the same level of convenience and immediacy.

“We’re losing people from live theater because they can get a better, more immersive experience with their 52-inch flat-screen TV, Dolby surround sound, sitting on their couch in their jammies,” Wagner says.

So, directors are embracing the use of digital media on stage to increase audience engagement and immersion during the performance. It’s all about trying to offer a unique performance that audiences can’t recreate in their living rooms.

According to Reilly, the term “immersive theater” has already become somewhat meaningless because every director has their own perception of what it means. For her, immersive theater is “where the actors and the audience share the same space,” she says. “The fourth wall is broken and the audience is on its feet, exploring the same space as the actors.”

Now, some theaters are removing that fourth wall by experimenting with video game design and VR technology to develop virtual spaces in which actors and audience members can interact.

“The Under Presents,” a live, interactive virtual reality game, produced and performed Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” entirely in VR. Audience members joined the game as anonymous avatars that could interact with one another while waiting for scheduled virtual performance times to attend within the game. During the downtime between

Reilly demonstrates the variety of colors available.

experience and the actors’ interaction with their stage environment.

The team consulted with a game designer to sync the actor’s movement with a digital projection behind her using sensors from an Xbox video gaming system. The actor moved forward on a treadmill, triggering the Kinect sensor, which would cause the digital projection to move according to her speed. When she raised her arms to jump down the rabbit hole, the Kinect sensors picked up on the motion, triggering the flying harness to lift her off the ground.

“It inverted the usual actor-digital interaction and put the live actor in control of the environment in a way that hadn’t been done before,” Wagner says.

Instead of matching the actor’s blocking and action to a prerecorded projection, she was essentially in control of the entire production, from the projection to the stage lights to the flying harness.

With experimental forms of theater on the rise, it’s easy to question what is lost from the live, in-person experience of theater. For theater professionals like Dan Lisowski, chair of the Department of Theatre and Drama at UW–Madison, the goal is to “replicate the feelings of the live entertainment experience in a different medium so that people still experience the art form in a way that is meaningful to them and touches them and kind of changes them going forward.”

This was the same goal of the experimental theater movements in the 20th century. Theater always aimed to create

“There is an electric connection when you realize that person playing that person on stage just saw you and you saw them.”

Reilly uses the lighting board to create different moods.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALLI ANDERSON

Y

ou enter a barren landscape, dry patches of grass spotting the flat dirt plains in every direction. As you take a few steps forward, trees sprout up to your left and a river materializes ahead. You whirl around, looking behind you to find five masked and cloaked figures standing in a line, silent. Suddenly, the action begins.

Each figure takes its place to perform a scene from Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” But what you’re seeing is not a normal theater performance. It’s happening entirely in virtual reality.

This is the future of theater.

While isolation during the pandemic has yielded a new appreciation for in-person experiences — like watching a show at the theater — the entertainment landscape has shifted irreversibly to digital platforms, and the performance arts

shows, actors hung around the virtual common area and interacted with audience members.

Even live, in-person theater is making room for digital experimentation.

The UW–Madison theater department produced a research project called The ALICE Project (Augmented Live Interactively Controlled Environment) in 2015 that explored the use of various digital technologies to enhance the audience

immersive spaces where the action is performed right in front of you, but the challenge faced by the industry today is finding a home in the digital landscape of the entertainment industry — offering something more immersive and evocative than audiences can find anywhere else.

DUSK

17

EVENING SONG

The sun sets in Horicon, Wisconsin, a popular destination for birdwatchers due to the variety of species that inhabit the area.

Wisconsin’s birdwatching community thrives after sunset

I

t’s 5 p.m. in Horicon, Wisconsin. We have one hour before sunset, and the sun hangs lazily to the west, shining down on a brisk fall day. A couple of retirees, a family of four, two bird experts and one reporter with her photographer in tow, gather on the edge of a hill to witness the majesty of birds in flight.

After a long day of feeding off crops from nearby farms, the birds will return to the marsh to roost, where they are protected from predators before the sun dips below the horizon.

The beauty and drama of the endless skies at Horicon are what birdwatching aficionados travel for miles to see. And at

18

CURB

dawn and near dusk is when the drama reaches its peak — when birds begin to take flight, feed, continue migration or rest after a long day’s travel.

Over 300 species of birds have been identified in Horicon, America’s largest freshwater cattail marsh. Before European colonization, it was the home of the Potawatomi and Ho-Chunk. Beginning in the 1800s, the marsh was dammed, drained and dredged, and its fauna was exploited for commercial purposes. In the 1920s, conservationists advocated for the state to make the land a wildlife refuge to reverse the rampant destruction of years past.

Today, Horicon Marsh is divided between the federal government and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The marsh encompasses 33,000 acres, and is an isle of wilderness amid civilization in southcentral Wisconsin.

According to Jeff Bahls, president of Horicon Marsh Birding Club, almost 80% of birds migrate at night, but migration happens year-round. In the fall, birds who summer north are heading back south. In the spring, it’s reversed.

Because waterfowl such as ducks, geese and swans migrate in fall and spring and inhabit the marsh’s wetlands,

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SKYLAR GDANIEC

By Lauryn Azu

tonight’s watch is a guaranteed display A few elements distinguish the night of their V- and J-formations moving birder from their daytime counterpart. cohesively above.

A healthy sense of adrenaline, for starters.

A keen sense of sound, so you can listen Night chasers to know whose neighborhood you’re in, Birders chase night skies for several rea- and direction, so you don’t find yourself sons. A serious birder gains a different wandering in circles. It doesn’t hurt to perspective of a favored bird in the dark. nail your bird calls either — Brian McCafA novice would need to learn fewer birds frey, a longtime birder based in Bayfield to make initial discoveries.

County in northwestern Wisconsin, can Some birds, like owls, are nocturnal, nail the call of the American woodcock. meaning the greatest opportunity to For some birders, it helps to hear a friendly see them active is at night. Others, like voice call back to you in the darkness. nightjars and American woodcocks, are About five minutes into our watch at crepuscular, meaning they are most active the Horicon Marsh, a red-tailed hawk at twilight. soars overhead, meeting up with another

hawk. We began our watch seated neatly at picnic tables, but now everyone is on their feet and out from underneath the shelter to get a good view of the commotion.

The crowd collectively gasps when the hawks get aggressive, hovering around each other, and a battle ensues.

Down below, a gale streams through long grasses on the knoll we’re standing on, which makes our birdwatching leaders raise their voices a few notches. When McCaffrey goes out at night, he’s looking for times when the wind is low. Night birders need their ears to tell who they’re looking at in poor visibility.

“I go on AccuWeather and see if it’s like

DUSK

19

… five, six miles an hour. That’s usually suitable for hearing,” he says.

In Horicon, wind speeds hovered around six miles per hour that night, but as we’re huddled on the side of the hill, the gales feel stronger.

After 15 minutes, we get our first gull sighting: one returning to roost, perhaps after dining in a landfill in Mayville less than 10 miles away from here, says Liz Herzmann, a wildlife educator for the Horicon Marsh Visitor and Education Center who is leading tonight’s discussion with Bahls.

“We’ve had some nights where this whole area up here is just white with gulls, just hundreds and hundreds of them,” Herzmann says.

Not so scared of the dark Here on the state-owned side of Horicon Marsh, hunting and trapping is permitted.

Around a half-hour into the watch, the sound of gunshots in the distance reminds those of us on the hill that we’re not the only ones here, nor is birdwatching the sole objective of human activity on these lands.

Birders can’t be naive about the dangers at night that accompany the beauty they’re seeking. Sometimes the wildlife they’re looking for can pose its own kind of threat.

“I was once scraped by a saw-whet owl in the twilight just before dawn,” McCaffrey says. “I’ve been calling it, and it had been calling back. And then, I wasn’t quite sure where it was, and suddenly, out of my peripheral vision I saw it coming right at my head across the top of my car and ducked, and on my recording, you can hear my shuffling as I’m ducking from this little teeny owl that was going for my head.”

When McCaffrey is out night birding in Bayfield County, he’s more often than not looking for owls. He also drives to and from where he’s birding to avoid the risk of getting lost in the woods at 1 or 2 a.m.

“I’m more comfortable doing it up here than I would in a more populated area,” McCaffrey says. “Because really, my greatest concern is encounters with people on these back roads where it’s not many people doing what I’m doing, so it’s like, what are they doing back here?”

For birders in more urban settings, risk

20

CURB

is a certain reality of birding at night. Madison birder Jeff Galligan, who’s seen over 300 bird species in Wisconsin over the years, describes himself as “very careful” during his night outings as a Black man.

Galligan says he’s attuned to his surroundings and where he’s pointing his camera and binoculars when he’s birding at night because people, like police, can make assumptions.

He and Dexter Patterson co-founded BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin this year precisely for this reason, with the goal of getting people of color involved in the predominantly white world of birding and feel comfortable exploring Wisconsin’s outdoors. He’s excited about its potential to expose Madison youth of color to different perspectives and opportunities.

“Environmentalism and stewardship and having a vested interest in things like reducing the carbon footprint, being aware of global warming … is something I want people of color to be seeing and experiencing more because we all are here and our children are all going to be inheriting the same Earth,” Galligan says.

Back at Horicon, two sandhill cranes, the night’s main attraction, fly about 15 feet from the top of the picnic shelter and give their strangled honk that jolts me back into the moment.

County his entire life.

The orange band of the sunset thins away, until night envelops the marsh completely. Herzmann and Bahls fold up the scopes they carried in.

It’s 6:24 p.m., the sunset was 15 minutes ago and just a few of us are left. I hear the gurgling motor of a duck hunter and his dog in his airboat first, and then see the flashing green light that guides him through the winding Rock River.

As a writer, I chose Horicon because I wanted to see birds in all their glory and what brings people to them. But what I found instead was how nature brings out

“I want people of color to be seeing and experiencing more because we all are here and our children are all going to be inheriting the same Earth.”

the best in us. Sure, “...it’s fun to at least be aware that a huge number of birds can be flying over you at night at this time of year,” says Madison Audubon director of education Carolyn Byers.

But more than that, birders find it empowering to develop a lifelong connection with the natural world, to make River of birds new discoveries in familiar places and see a After 40 minutes a flock of mallards side of creation while the world is sleeping. loops around the picnic shelter, and one of robins follows soon after. Of all the waterfowl, wood ducks are the last to roost tonight.

“If you get a good night you’ll see this river, of waterfowl, or cranes or whatever, going from one spot to the other because they’re just kind of following one another,” Bahls says.

It’s 5:50 p.m. now, and as the sun sinks in the sky, the Rock River glistens in the distance. Still, Bahls and Herzmann don’t miss a beat at identifying birds for the thinning crowd. Off in the distance is a sedge of sandhill cranes, says Herzmann.

“A lot of it is just training your eye in silhouettes, is how I look at it, so every bird has a different shape and flight. …

They have different wing beats,” she says. Bahls can name birds at the drop of a hat because he’s been birding in Dodge

WHAT’S IN YOUR BIRDING BAG? Six essentials you need to get started Story and Illustration by Lauryn Azu

Be sure to bundle up, as evening temperatures in Wisconsin can drop fast after sunset. “I usually try not to have synthetic fabrics on the outside of what I'm wearing, because they can be surprisingly noisy,” says Brian McCaffrey, a birder in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.

He likes to wear a Carhartt coat or a wool sweater to muffle the sound of his steps and not spook off the birds he’s looking for ($110, carhartt.com).

These are essential for spotting birds from far away. Pick up a pair of Nikon Prostaff 3S 10 x 42 Binoculars ($140, rei.com), to bring small creatures to eye. Add a harness ($28, rei.com) so you don’t have to carry them, BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin co-founder Jeff Galligan recommends.

Though bright lights are necessary for navigating dark trails, they can damage the eyesight of nocturnal creators if flashed directly at them, according to Carolyn Byers, director of education at Madison Audubon.

Still, take extra nighttime precautions with a 3-in-1 safety light, lantern and flashlight from L.L. Bean ($15, llbean.com).

Birders like to use a variety of apps to make their nighttime treks more rewarding. The two apps most favored by birders are eBird and Merlin.

Madison birder Neil Gilbert calls Merlin, “like Shazam for birds,” where you can record a bird call and generate an instant identification. Birders who record their observations in eBird are citizen scientists because they contribute to data used for scientific research and the conservation of birds. Wisconsinites have submitted more than one million checklists to eBird, according to the state’s Department of Natural Resources.

Also, for safety reasons, a phone is a must in case of an emergency.

Keep track of field observations the old-fashioned way, using paper and pen. For gold standard note taking, try out Moleksine’s Pocket-Sized Classic Soft Cover ($16, moleskine.com), and Muji’s 0.38 Gel Ink Ballpoint Pen, which will provide enough ink flow for on-thego notes in cooler temperatures ($1.50, muji.us).

Stay awake and warm in the dark hours with a tumbler of hot coffee or tea.

Madison-based JBC Coffee Roasters offers light to medium roasts in whole bean or a variety of grinds ($15-20, jbccoffeeroasters.com).

DUSK

21

Let’s Go Out! OLD FASHIONED, NEVER OUT OF STYLE

Wisconsin’s signature drink puts a modern twist on a classic cocktail

By Joe Rickles

22

CURB

paper straw. I’ll never forget the thoughts that ran through my head.

“That sucks.”

Then I took a second sip. There was less brandy in that one, so it was more doable. I took one more sip, sighed and put the drink down. Suddenly, something inside me opened up and I began to talk; about the pressure of school, about the fear of letting down my teammates with a crappy story.

The Korbel brandy old fashioned has been a Wisconsin tradition for as long as most people can remember. Its story is one of mistaken origins, countless variations and above all else the idea of “gemütlichkeit” — an undefinable German word that still perfectly describes the quietly hypnotic feeling of sipping a cocktail with close confidantes.

To understand how the classic Korbel old fashioned came to be one of Wisconsin’s most iconic traditions, we have to explore two pieces. First, where the old fashioned itself came from, and second, how Korbel made it to Wisconsin.

In a 2005 piece for Isthmus, the late Jerry Minnich wrote that the original drink dates back to the 1890s, when Louisville clubs made a drink honoring whiskey maker Col. James E. Pepper.

Because it was made to honor a Kentucky whiskey distiller, the original cocktail understandably used whiskey or bourbon as its base. The rest of the drink consists of simple syrup and bitters. Some mixologists made some changes to the original recipe, but that’s the gist of it.

The story of Wisconsin’s brandy

A maraschino cherry and a slice of orange top off an old fashioned made with traditional Korbel brandy.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KALLI ANDERSON

I

t was a dreary Monday afternoon in Madison. I sat on a bench outside the Capitol with headphones in and tears welling up in my eyes. It was one of those days where no amount of good news could lighten it. After a few minutes, my friend and photographer Kalli came by.

I took a deep breath to hide the soulless look behind my eyes and walked behind her into The Old Fashioned, the classic Wisconsin supper club on Madison’s Capitol square.

As I slouched over the bar, a bartender asked for our orders. I asked for a classic old fashioned. When he asked if I wanted it sweet or sour, I hesitated and said sour for no other reason than that I was having a sour day.

When Kalli finished taking pictures, I was able to take my first sip out of the

obsession is a little more complicated.

For years, it was widely accepted that Korbel’s presence at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago was the main reason for the state’s fixation on brandy. But Jeannette Hurt of The Alcohol Professor blog explains that Wisconsin’s love for brandy stems more from necessity than choice. It wasn’t the exposition or the deep German roots of the state but rather a shortage of high-quality liquor during World War II. Whiskey distilleries were converted to torpedo fuel producers and most crops were diverted away from distilleries to feed soldiers. So when Wisconsin’s liquor distributors found out that brandy maker Christian Brothers had tens of thousands of barrels of brandy, it was a no-brainer to buy them up and spread them around the state.

Once it was clear that Wisconsin had a fervent taste for the fruity liquor, brandy distillers started advertising heavily to Badgers.

The rest is history. Nowadays, Korbel — the Badger state’s brandy of choice — ships 35% of its yearly output of 400,000 barrels here.

Where did the rest of the drink come from? The bitters seemed to be the only piece of the drink that has been consistent throughout time.

Jim Draeger, co-author of “Bottoms Up: A Toast to Wisconsin’s Historic Bars & Breweries,” says much like how brandy infiltrated the state, the rest of the cocktail’s components sprouted from necessity and convenience over actual taste.

As the drink evolved, fruits like

cherries and oranges began to adorn the pudgy glasses that held these drinks. Sometimes, they’ll be Wisconsin-made, like Door County cherries.

Other times, it’s just a simple maraschino cherry from a jar and an orange slice on a toothpick.

The tangible components of the old fashioned cocktail in Wisconsin have their own tales and history worth exploring, but that’s only part of the story. The brandy old fashioned is inseparable from Wisconsin’s supper club culture and everything associated with it.

Supper clubs, a strange but charming amalgamation of a restaurant, a bar and a family’s dining room, are scattered across Wisconsin. The key components of a supper club are a set menu for each night of the week, a cozy atmosphere and, most of the time, a generations-old family tradition of running the place.

Supper clubs aren’t just integral to Wisconsin’s culture; in a lot of ways, they defined it.

When I was sitting at the bar on that drab October evening, it’s not like I was visited by some kind of ancient German being that imbued my Korbel old fashioned with the spirit of generations of Wisconsinites who sat at their favorite supper clubs every week for a Friday night fish fry. But there’s definitely something there. Something homey and familiar. You don’t need to understand the complex mythology behind the drink and where it came from to feel the comfort of sitting at a cozy bar with a stiff, classic drink in hand. But it sure doesn’t hurt.

A FRESH COURSE

Chefs adapt to a challenging era for restaurants

By Jack Murphy

A

generous cut of pineapple rests on top of a steaming, porous upside-down cake. A spoon glides straight through, revealing a deliciously sticky cake inside. Served amid a halo of sprinkled sugar, the Tornado Room’s signature dessert looks like its usual delectable self.

This time, however, pastry chef Natalia Chehade baked it out of her home and not the industrial kitchen where it’s usually made.

The pandemic put the heart of a restaurant — its staff — in situations that tested their every resolve. In the summer of 2020, the Wisconsin restaurant industry lost 20% of its workers.

On the edge of Madison’s Capitol Square, the staff of Tornado Room was already stretched thin. Instead of five chefs, a team of two now operated every station in the kitchen. Chehade added salad chef and delivery driver to her role as a pastry chef so the team was at its best.

DUSK

23

With the staff revitalized from the initial shock of the pandemic, their focus on consistency made them a James Beard Midwest semifinalist in the past.

Inside Liliana’s Restaurant, in the Madison suburb of Fitchburg, hues of purple, green and gold radiate within.

Chef Dave Heide works with his team to bring the soul of New Orleans to the Midwest.

Heide effuses knowledge on Louisiana’s cuisine and loves the role his food can play in people’s lives. His focus is on the well-being of his community and the passion of his chefs.

Amid the pandemic, the staff continued a favorite tradition. Every Tuesday, the chefs brainstorm a three-course meal, and after 13 years, they have yet to offer a repeated menu item.

While new problems will arise, every innovation rediscovers the passion that led these chefs to their profession. The leading light that drives chefs to find a way is apparent again.

“For me, it’s all about making sure that the people who are in the kitchen continuously stay in love with food,” Heide says.

PERFECT WINTER PORRIDGE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALLI ANDERSON

“I love this, this is my job. This is my second home,” she says.

Every industry is facing unique challenges as we emerge from the pandemic, and for the restaurant industry, those go beyond the menu. When COVID-19 hit, the lights went out and businesses lost their staff as sales spiraled without a visible solution to guide the way. In a time when everyone is straining under this new reality, innovation behind the scenes is bringing restaurants into a post-COVID-19 world.

You might not see the difference if you visited Ardent, a restaurant tucked into Milwaukee’s east side. The staff pivoted to offer one seating a night and a prepaid, fixed-cost menu.

Owner Justin Carlisle built a working philosophy around his employees: the walls of the restaurant were not just his — they belonged to every staff member.

COVID-19 extinguished the certainty of stability, but the camaraderie of the staff kept the engine running.

“The family and the strength that we have — we made it through this.

We pivoted every day we showed up,” Carlisle says.

For a nourishing dish to warm up your Wisconsin night, Carlisle recommends a rice-based mushroom porridge. In a mushroom stock, cook down the rice, then add several sliced raw mushrooms on top. Hard herbs, like rosemary or thyme, are perfect for a winter flavor profile. If you want, root vegetables like carrots and potatoes can add another dimension to your porridge before the next venture into the cold.

Bartender Ariana Rios pours up an order at Chasers 2.0 in Madison.

Hey, Bartender!

LESSONS ON LIFE AND LEADERSHIP FROM HAPPY HOUR TO LAST CALL

By Margarita Vinogradov

Chefs at Liliana’s Restaurant push through dinner service as a braised short rib waits to be taken out to its expectant diners.

24

CURB

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACK MURPHY

T

here’s a running joke in New York City. When you tell somebody you’re an actor or a dancer, they ask at what restaurant.

That’s according to Helen Rothberg, who says she got to where she is now after bartending her way through life, making up for what she didn’t have in money with moxie.

“From all my consulting and all my teaching, the truth is everything I do, I’m just bartending,” says Rothberg, now professor of strategy at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, and author of “The Perfect Mix: Everything I Know About Leadership I Learned as a Bartender.”

In fact, she learned so many lessons from bartending that she developed a model to train executives of a multi-

tude of Fortune 500 companies: action, gle night on the block — almost like determination, vision, integrity, com- people have forgotten how to behave munication and empathy, which form themselves.

“They like to over-consume. And the acronym ADVICE. there’s not the maturity that once was,” says Barron, now 26 years old. Despite (A)ction: “Do more, say less.”

Behind the industrially remodeled bar this, he continues to do the most with at what used to be a bank on the east his actions for everyone in the surside of the state Capitol is Sawyer Bar- rounding Main Street bartending comron. He’s been in the industry since munity. he was 18 years old, working his way up from barbacking — dropping off (D)etermination: “Get things waters and cleaning up dishes — to done with civility and bartending and managing at Lucille, a ingenuity.” locally sourced cocktail, beer and pizza On the west side of the Capitol is bartender Caity Mongeluzo. Now 20, venue.

Barron says that after the pandemic Mongeluzo started bartending the slightly simmered down in early 2021 summer after her senior year of high and Lucille reopened its doors last school, first at a Long Island concert June, there has been a fight every sin- venue, then eventually a Hamptons bar

DUSK

25

Ultimately, Rothberg says having bar media,” Barron says about both his a vision of what is right like Mack is a regulars and other bartenders on the trait that can shape careers — especially block. “You get to talk back and forth. for women. When men assumed she … It’s just something that you don’t was the support person walking into really get in day-to-day life, especially their boardrooms in the ’80s and ’90s, at work.”

However, the true bartending comshe learned how to give people the munication test for Rothberg is makstink eye. ing people feel noticed in conversation (I)ntegrity: “Tell the truth all the while realistically paying them little attention.

(V)ision: “Know where you’re time and own your own sh*t.”

“Even if you’re smiling and you’re being going and turn the lights on for yourself, that can be taken as a little flirty, (E)mpathy: “Dare to care.” others.”

Alex Mack is just a block and a half and drunk guys are so aggressive and they No matter how long bartenders like Barron, Mongeluzo and Mack remain away from Mongeluzo at Whiskey don’t understand,” Mongeluzo says. in this service role, Rothberg is certain She has since changed the way she Jack’s Saloon, a Wild West-themed bar. that being able to shapeshift throughacts when bartending to what she She started working there in February out their careers by applying the describes as a “bro girl” or makes her 2021 and says keeping up with the disinterest in any romantic connections ADVICE model comes down to caring crazy hours wasn’t a problem for most about the customer. a night owl like her. However, it’s extremely clear.

“When you’re a bartender, so little of between the hours of 1 and 2 a.m. when she’s noticed the most eye- (C)ommunication: “Try to create it really is about knowing how to mix drinks, especially if you’re in a smallmeaning.” opening incidents concentrate.

“Men come up to me while I’m work- Barron has never been one for social er neighborhood place, and so much ing behind the bar and offer me hard media platforms, but he finds his more about it is understanding how to drugs,” Mack says. No matter what she’s bartending job has created enough read somebody,” Rothberg says. presented with, she knows what is ethical meaning to replace this aspect of during these hours and makes sure to modern digital life.

“This is my social media, but it’s like shine light on it for other customers, too.

While the affluent residents of the Hamptons could afford to throw away large sums of cash, Mongeluzo says her co-workers there were looking to rake in enough money within two or three months to keep up with rent for the entire year. Yet despite how they behaved for this reason, she became determined to find ways to take it in stride.

Eats

26

CURB

By Madison Mooney

By Jessica Gregory

When hunger strikes past bedtime, it can be hard to find somewhere to grab a bite. Here are some favorite Wisconsin restaurants and bars with late-night grub.

The Dogg Haus

Leff’s Lucky Town

Ian’s Pizza

Closing Hours: 8 p.m. Mon 10 p.m. Tue-Thurs, Sun 3 a.m. Fri-Sat

Closing Hours: 2 a.m. Sun-Thurs 2:30 a.m. Fri-Sat

Closing Hours: Varies by location

If you find yourself wandering the streets of Milwaukee past midnight on a weekend, the Dogg Haus should be your first stop. Serving Chicagostyle hot dogs, sausages, burgers, chicken sandwiches and more, you’re sure to find something you like. This restaurant stays open until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, satisfying the hunger of night goers in Milwaukee.

Looking for somewhere to watch a game in Wauwatosa? Leff’s Lucky Town is your place.

Established in 1994, Leff’s is famous not only for its burgers, but has become a go-to for the many large screens it has positioned around the restaurant.

After finishing your meal, stay and throw some darts or hang out at the Golden Tee Golf and Buck Hunter.

Ian’s Pizza is a late-night favorite in Madison and Milwaukee. Serving pizza by the slice, the line often leads out the door. Stop by after a night on the town and enjoy one of Ian’s Pizza’s iconic offerings — the macaroni and cheese pizza!

PHOTO COURTESY OF WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

NIGHT

Discover the treasures and terrors of Lake Michigan’s shipwrecks

ILLUSTRATIONS BY GRACE LANDSBERG

Late

A DEEP DIVE M

aster scuba diver Rich Laiacona floats down to the sunken SS Milwaukee like he’s her fairy godfather, gaping at the beautiful mess she’s got herself into. Not just anyone can reach out their hand to the ship’s wreckage and offer their condolences.

Laiacona has five minutes. With one oxygen tank at a depth of 120 feet in Lake Michigan, he has limited air at the bottom before he must make his gradual return to the surface. Flying around the ship, peering curiously into its nooks and crannies, Laiacona feels weightless in the frigid water and his senses are restricted.

When he jumped from the charter boat that brought him eight miles

northeast of Milwaukee’s Breakwater Lighthouse, he left the modern world behind. There’s history at the lake’s bottom that is entirely detached from the world above, providing a glimpse into the past, but only for those who know how to access it.

••• In the case of the Milwaukee, Lake Michigan disrupts time and space to create a time warp. As the diver connects with the mooring line and descends 100 feet in the water, he’s transported to the late 1920s as he reaches his destination.

The Midwest’s Great Lakes served as a highway of commerce before the industry’s decline in the mid-20th

century, carrying passengers and goods from port to port. Deep within its five bodies of water, there are over 10,000 ships locked in a broken time machine.

Far past their operation, the ships have proved their tenacity even at the bottom of the Great Lakes. Beautifully preserved by the cold freshwater, divers explore the sunken ships beneath the surface and bear witness to nature’s tragedies.

••• It was Oct. 22, 1929. The turbulent gale of an unforgiving storm rocked the Milwaukee and the 28 railcars stored in the stern’s car deck. Colleagues of the Milwaukee’s Capt. Robert “Bad Weather” McKay placed ominous bets

Divers who reach the ship’s intact pilothouse can see “Milwaukee” above the door.

DARK

27

“There’s history at the lake’s bottom that is entirely detached from the world above...”

28

CURB

be as into the history, it’s still fun to just could sail tomorrow. In these oxygen-dedive around on the things and see all the pleted waters, there are few aquatic anidifferent components of it. It gives you a mals that could cause damage to the ship, bit more of a challenge and you just see besides the invasive quagga mussels that some really cool things,” Dankert says. have dominated the waters in the past In the summer season, maritime 20 years. In Lake Superior, the water is archaeologist Caitlin Zant and her team so cold that some ships still have paint of historians and divers explore ship- on the exteriors. As long as the sunken wrecks to collect measurements, record history stays in place, the site becomes their observations and create scaled its own underwater museum. But what model drawings of the ships. Archaeol- is a museum without its exhibits? ogists like Zant who study shipwrecks ••• for a living digitize their records in the Before it left port, the Milwaukee winter, write grants for the upcoming loaded its 28 train railcars with vegetables, summer’s projects and submit historical butter, cheese, wood veneer, farm animal preservation reports for shipwreck sites. feed, Kohler Co. bathroom fixtures and A rule within the field is to leave three Nash Motor Company automoartifacts underwater as you found them. biles. An estimated $720,000 in financial When a wreck’s wood is removed from losses from the cargo and railcars sank the water by human contact, it quickly with the ship. deteriorates. The cold, dark, deep fresh••• water is the key factor in their slow aging, In zero-current waters with fair visand Zant says some 150-year-old ship- ibility, Laiacona can see 20 to 30 feet wrecks in the Great Lakes look like they ahead. With ease, he traverses obstacles of

ILLUSTRATION BY GRACE LANDSBERG

on the likelihood of the vessel’s survival.

The ship and its 47 crew members met a foe that boasted unmatchable strengths.

As the storm raged on, it broke local wind speed records and carried forceful waves. No one returned. The crew’s families were left to cope with their grief just two days before the stock market crashed, leading to the Great Depression that later washed over the United States.

••• Not all divers visit shipwrecks for their ties to history. Bob Dankert, a Madison-area diver and instructor, enjoys it as a purely recreational activity.

“I love diving and it gives you something to look at. Even though I might not

PHOTO COURTSEY OF C. PATRICK LABADIE COLLECTION

Only 30 feet shorter in length than a standard football field, the SS Milwaukee sets sail loaded with railcars and its crew.

preserved automobile frames and pieces of bathtubs, sinks and toilets.

“Being able to fly around things [in the water] and see it from every angle, turn yourself upside down, it’s just so LAKE much fun,” Laiacona says. “You can’t SUPERIOR do that in a museum, right?”

Several of the Milwaukee’s artifacts that were detached from the ship by crew members did make their way to museums. Two life preservers branded with “SS Milwaukee” are located at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, 81 miles north of Milwaukee.

Chicago’s regional National Archives and Records Administration is working to preserve one intimate artifact — a letter, handwritten by a crewmate — that describes the ship’s final hours.

On Oct. 26, 1929, a letter in a waterLAKE tight metal case was found in an SS MilMICHIGAN waukee lifeboat off the coast of Holland, Michigan — on the other side of the lake from Milwaukee. Zant says these notes were not unusual for the time.

“All these ships had a black box, essentially, like airplanes do,” she says. “It was a watertight case that if something was going wrong, you could write on it, ‘This is what’s happening,’ and then toss it overboard.”

The author of the Milwaukee’s letter, purser A.R. Sadon, succinctly described the fateful scene.

“The ship is making water fast,” Sadon wrote. “We have turned around and headed for Milwaukee. Pumps are working but the sea gate is bent in which indicated the sea gate was bent and can’t keep the water out. Flicker is inward. The Wisconsin Historical Sociflooded. Seas are tremendous. Things ety’s investigation in 2014 determined look bad. Our [crew] roll is about the that there is no evident damage to the same as on last pay day.” inside of the car deck, which wouldn’t The note was later authenticated, be the case if a railcar was freely moving becoming the only real, recovered record aboard the ship during the storm. It is from a lost ship in all of Great Lakes thought that the sea gate was comproshipwreck history. It did, however, raise mised, allowing for water to flood in, and questions about what caused the ship to its hatches might have been loose on the sink. After reports of fishermen snagging car deck and lower decks. their lines in the area where the MilwauWithout any survivors, it is nearly kee sat undiscovered, two divers found impossible to know why the Milwaukee the ship in 1972. found its forever home in Lake Michigan.

••• Without maritime archaeologists and Some experts theorized that a railcar scuba divers, the stories of failed voyages broke loose and smashed through the would be unwritten in the cold, dark sea gate, which was preventing water Great Lakes. The Milwaukee remains a from penetrating the deck. Zant says favorite shipwreck for Wisconsin scuba this didn’t align well with Sadon’s note, divers.

Shipwrecks In The Great Lakes Near Wisconsin’s Borders

LAKE HURON

EVIE JEWELRY www.eviejewelry.com DARK

29

Aries the cat relaxes at his forever home with Madelyn Korbas.

DARKER TAILS Pet owners embrace black cats despite age-old superstitions

I

t is a cool, dark night. A black cat crosses your path. You suddenly trip, fall and end up with a bloody nose.

Coincidence?

Your first intuition may be to think it isn’t — it had to be the cat. For centuries, the black cat has been thought to cause bad luck, and those stereotypes run deep.

Without realizing it, we’ve been taught to fear black cats.

Since early history, many people have been wary of black cats and the bad luck we think they bring. Over the years, this led to mistreatment of these animals,

30

CURB

ranging from violence against them to lower adoption rates, which has meant more black cats on the streets. However, in modern times, these creatures have proven to be as affectionate, playful and loveable as cats of any other color.

The superstition surrounding the dark feline dates back to the Middle Ages, when people didn’t understand the scientific causes of illnesses and deaths. There needed to be something to blame, and the devil and subsequently witches were convenient targets. With their dark coats and sly nature, black cats

were connected with the sinister nature of witches and often thought of as companions to witches.

Amber Cederström, a folklorist and acquisitions editor at UW–Madison, finds that the beliefs about black cats also stem from the understanding of cats’ roles in earlier societies. Cats were seen closely related to humans in the spectrum between God and the devil.

“Cats, who were around farms, could have this human infant-like existence, [which was] really distressing,” Cederström says, speaking of the

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALLI ANDERSON

By Shannon McManus

relation of cats to humans. The shape of cats worried people as they were so similar to humans, yet not actually humans themselves.

The rise of the superstition toward black cats was more culturally specific, with continental Europe largely associating the black cats with evil. The exact timeline of the origin of the superstition varies, but the fear had a strong resurgence in the 18th and 19th century in Europe and North America.

“The color black has a negative association in our culture and has for a long

time,” Cederström says, alluding to the prevalence of the black cat superstition continuing in America.

During the rise of the superstition and years following, mass killings of black cats occurred, and Puritans spread the fear of black cats when they came to America. The Puritans worked to protect themselves from the devil and all evil, thus the witches and black cats were feared.

Now, even if people don’t know the history of the superstition, the belief is fed through reinforcement. Andrea Kitta, a folklorist at East Carolina University, notes the belief can continue even if it is not always in the forefront of someone’s mind.

“It kind of constantly gets reinforced by popular culture ... hats and Halloween decorations ... It’s a constant little feedback loop of that association over and over,” Kitta says.

Madelyn Korbas, a student at UW– Madison, was aware of this belief when she visited the Madison Cat Project shelter in Madison. It had two available kittens, one black and one gray. The shelter seemed to have prepared for the black kitten having a smaller chance of adoption by lowering the price.

The superstition didn’t deter Korbas — she left with her pure black kitten, Aries.

Often, there will be incentives for people to adopt black cats at shelters such as a lower price. Shelters around the country also promote black cats on special days or months related to them, such as Black Cat Appreciation Day or in October around Halloween.

While this fear of mistreatment of black cats remains in many shelters, most are pushing for the adoption of the cats all year long to combat the effects of the superstition. Cederström has volunteered at shelters in the past in Oklahoma, where she has found firsthand how deeply rooted the beliefs still are.

While the impacts of the superstition are higher in the South, Wisconsin seems to show more positive attitudes towards black cats from varying shelters and rescues.

Sip & Purr is a cafe in Milwaukee with an adjoined room full of adoptable cats to visit. It is a popular place for cat

lovers to visit and potentially meet their new best friend.

Katy McHugh, owner of Sip & Purr, sees little difference in adoption rates of black cats compared with others.

This may be because patrons are able to see more of the cats’ personalities, and McHugh has strong photography to show off the black cats.

In broader media, black cats are becoming more popular in shows such as Salem in “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” Binx in “Hocus Pocus” and Snowball II in “The Simpsons.” These black cats all show unique personalities that become fitting companions for their humans.

Black cat advocates themselves have also pushed for the adoptions of black cats to combat the superstitions. Kor-

“It kind of constantly gets reinforced by popular culture ... hats and Halloween decorations ... It’s a constant little feedback loop of that association over and over.” bas has joined Facebook groups that talk about black cats as well as following hashtags on social media to appreciate the beauty of black cats.

With the recent push towards combating the superstition of black cats, it is encouraging to see how it can positively affect adoptions. For Korbas, the joy that she has gained from adopting her black cat inspires her to encourage others to consider doing the same.

“They are super loving, vocal and sassy, and they make great little companions with tons of entertainment,” Korbas says.

DARK

31

FOLLOW THE MONEY How Wisconsin Super PACs stay in the shadows to influence elections Story and illustration by Tamia Fowlkes

W

I thought the answer would be hen Kirk Bangstad plastered a nearly 32-square-foot far easier to find than it proved to be.

Biden-Harris sign to the Here’s what I found. exterior wall of his Oneida County business in September 2020, he had Part I: What is “dark money?” no idea that he had taken his first steps In 0.53 seconds, my Google search for toward becoming one of the most “dark money” produces more than prominent political action organizations 2 million results of websites, videos, in the state of Wisconsin. articles and images that have some Now, donors have contributed more relationship to dark money. Definitions than $375,000 under Minocqua Brewing offered by Wikipedia to describe the Company’s name and a slogan that concept include “political spending by touts “dark money for good.” nonprofit organizations” and organizations As a political science student and that “can receive unlimited donations from an avid reader of political news, I had corporations, individuals and unions.” some questions: What is dark money What remained unclear was how in politics, and what does it look like in this issue impacted voters on a daily Wisconsin? And how can it be good? basis and played a role in shaping

32

CURB

DARK

33

know who’s donating the money and that’s why it’s called dark money,” says UW–Madison political science professor David Canon.

In Bangstad’s case, The Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC — an independent expenditure-only Super PAC — is not a dark money organization but was created to challenge major conservative spending initiatives in the state and provide a stronger voice for the northern population’s progressive ideals.

As an independent expenditure organization, the PAC may receive unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, labor unions and other political action committees for political activities in the state so long as the funds do not directly support a specific candidate. The organization is also required to report spending and donation records to the Federal Elections Commission.

The effort started when the company was trying to sell its last few barrels of blonde ale before its quickly approaching expiration date and Bangstad decided it was time for a rebrand.

Gaining nationwide attention with its celebratory “Biden Beer,” the company took advantage of its newfound visibility to pivot its efforts on progressive policy goals in the state by contributing 5% of its profits to the Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC in addition to an influx of online donations from people across the country who supported company in the nation, and the rapid The reason why this donation pri- Bangstad’s efforts. growth of their political influence. vacy exists is because dark money orga“Instead of running a political non“When they coached American nizations, typically referred to as “social profit where one has to constantly ask politics, they looked at it as engineers, welfare organizations” and 501(c)(4)s, for donations to exist, The Minocqua which I think gave them a great advan- have an IRS tax code designation that Brewing Company is able to sell a product tage,” Mayer said during a Cap Times requires that they spend no more than that people want and fund our political Idea Fest panel with Washington Post 50% of their money on politics. activism through those profits,” he says. journalist David Maraniss.

As regulations continue to diminish, Mayer spoke about efforts led by the seeking accountability grows to be an brothers preceding the 2012 presidential increasingly challenging obstacle. election, detailing a dinner they hosted that year with major conservative leaders Part III: Dark Money for Good? from across the country and some of the “Dark money for good” is a phrase that wealthiest individuals in the world. At comes up several times in my interview the party, Charles Koch implored guests with Minocqua Brewing Company to join a collection of more than 30 pri- owner Kirk Bangstad. vate donors who had contributed more Among political scientists and than $1 million each to determine “the experts, openly claiming this mantle life or death of this country.” is rare.

Listen to Curb Conversations for more on this story and According to research by the Bren“The big problem is accountabilother “Out of The Dark” pieces. nan Center for Justice, powerful political ity, because with 501(c)(4)s you don’t

INDIGENOUS VOICES LIGHT THE WAY

action committees and organizations have poured more than $1 billion into affects the messages we hear is just as federal elections since 2010, focusing perplexing as understanding its impact. their efforts on highly competitive races As I dug in more, I learned dark locally and nationwide. money has the potential to cross our The most major pressure points path at any time and on every platform. proved to be growing political division Whether it be Facebook or Instagram, in and control over money. your mailbox or on your television screen, Jay Heck, executive director of messages fueled by organizations with a Common Cause Wisconsin, has been a clear intention to sway political perspec- champion for transparency in campaign tives are prominent and commonplace in finance for decades. Leading the small our everyday activities — even in years team at Common Cause Wisconsin, between elections like now in 2021.

Heck has seen firsthand the dramatic shifts that Wisconsin campaign finance Part II: Dark Money In The Dark policy has taken over the past 20 years.

In her book, “Dark Money: The Hidden The change is largely due to a pivot in History of the Billionaires Behind the the mindset of business owners, who in Rise of the Radical Right,” journalist the past directly contributed to political Jane Mayer details decades of right-wing campaigns. campaign fundraising and spending that Now, more business owners choose plagued Wisconsin’s democratic system to put money into an issue ad group or and redefined the state’s understanding nonprofit organization, Heck says. By of dark money. taking that step in today’s political landDuring her visit to UW–Madison scape, there are no limits on the amount in September, Mayer detailed her expe- of money someone can contribute, and riences investigating Charles and David their commitment to a particular candiKoch, the owners of the largest private date remains a secret. their political futures. For many, f inding tangible examples of how dark money

Indigenous communities bring attention to missing and murdered women and girls

By Molly Kehoe

J

eneile Luebke is a surviWisconsin Attorney Genervor of an abusive relation- al Josh Kaul defines this crisis as ship. Sasha Maria Suarez the “significantly disproportionis a survivor of sexual violence. ate impact for missing persons Cherie Thunder was attacked as a cases, as well as homicide college student and then raped cases, within Indigenous comyears later. munities.” Homicide rates alone I set out to interview these people are 10 times higher for Native based on their careers in research, women than the national averacademia and advocacy surround- age. According to the Center for ing the missing and murdered Public Integrity, an independent Indigenous women crisis in Wisconsin. Only in our conversations did they each tell me about their personal experiences with violence, each in an effort to explain the prevalence of this crisis. The story of the missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis is not one that can be told by looking at data, but rather through narratives of resilience from survivors and their families.

34

CURB

ILLUSTRATION BY GRACE LANDSBERG

“When they coached American politics, they looked at it as engineers, which I think gave them a great advantage.”

DARK

35

Luebke, a postdoctoral fellow in the UW–Madison School of Nursing who studies gender-based violence in Indigenous communities and the barriers to seeking help after experiences of violence, is the only person in the state to ever publish data on its magnitude.

“We estimate, going by the one large national study that was done by the National Institute of Justice, that almost 85% [of Indigenous women] have experienced lifetime violence,” she says.

One of the reasons that quantitative data collection is difficult, Suarez says, is in part because state institutions struggle to classify Indigenous women when reports are made. Resulting from the decades-long boarding school and adoption crises, as well as the Indian Relocation Act and other federal policies, about 70% of all Native Americans in the country live off-reservation in urban areas, according to Luebke.

The story of the missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis is not one that can be told by looking at data, but rather through narratives of resilience from survivors and their families. in the UW–Madison Law School. He believes that both tactics work in tandem with the goal of destroying Indigenous livelihood.

One of the reasons the missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis has remained in the dark is the lack of media attention. Journalist Gwen Ifill coined the term “missing white woman syndrome” to explain the media’s disproportionate fascination with stories of missing and murdered white women compared with their Black and Indigenous counterparts.

“Most Native women that you talk to will eventually hint at the fact that most other Native women they know are survivors of sexual violence; it is a very prevalent issue that doesn’t get a lot of attention,” says Suarez, a White Earth Ojibwe descendant and assistant professor in UW–Madison’s history department and American Indian studies program.

36

CURB

This presents challenges because of the combination of reservation-based recordkeeping that cannot account for urban relatives’ experiences and urban police departments that can’t keep track of the transitory Indigenous population, Suarez says.

Indigenous communities have been defending their land and fighting for sovereignty since 1492, and in 2021 pipelines and mining ventures threaten not only Indigenous people’s sacred land, but also their women. Suarez explains that these extractive missions are sometimes referred to by the media as “open hunting on Indigenous women” because of the way that non-Native men come to reservation land and kidnap and traffic women.

A study from the National Institute of Justice found that 97% of Native women who have survived violence experienced that violence from a non-Native perpetrator. Kaul attributes this increase

in violence during extractive missions to themes of all missing and murdered persons cases. He explains that human trafficking increases when there is an influx of people from “out of town” in a community, so with these camps on Indigenous land he expects similar outcomes.

Monette, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of the Chippewa Nation, cautions against this narrative, saying non-Native folks have tried to tell the story of this crisis, but the focus on jurisdictional disputes portrays “lawlessness” at these extractive sites.

To deconstruct the barriers Americans have in place that prevent progress, Monette says citizens must reckon with the fact that “raping and plundering and pillaging was part of the charge of the day. This is how you colonize people, at least in some definitions of colonialism. This is how you exploit them. This is how you rend their societies asunder, and that’s what [Europeans] did, and it was rewarded. It wasn’t condemned.”

In the meantime, Indigenous advocates and community leaders like Suarez, Luebke and Thunder, a community organizer and Menominee woman, feel cautiously optimistic about the steps being taken in Wisconsin. While some may see the Department of Justice as the colonizer, Luebke says the task force is truly Indigenous-led and that the department leaders have always emphasized the importance of that.

Thunder attributes this centuries-long resilience to the support networks and trust within Native communities.

“Seeing all of the other tribes and Indigenous peoples who have been standing up and making these issues known is part of that, too — part of our reservation and the people there finding their resilience,” Thunder says.

THE NIGHT SHIFT Workers who clock out — then clock back in

By Henry West

T

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALLI ANDERSON

journalism organization, more than half of Native women have reported that they were sexually assaulted.

State Rep. Jeff Mursau (R-Crivitz) of the 36th Assembly District proposed legislation in 2019 that would create a missing and murdered Indigenous women task force. In his role as chair of the State and Tribal Relations Committee, Mursau’s Indigenous constituents brought this crisis to his attention.

He and his colleagues subsequently wrote a bill for the creation of a task force that ultimately did not pass in the Assembly, but Kaul decided to move forward with the proposal anyway.

A byproduct of stark cultural differences and disrespect, the history of sexual violence and trafficking by European colonizers is one of erasure as much as the assimilation boarding schools are, says Richard Monette, a professor

om and Ingrid Sommers drive to rehabilitation. It was an uphill battle for and the market economy, says the Garth Beyer first the end of the long, gravel lane her to find employment in a field that tradeoff between extra income and extra discovered his love for beer while heading away from their cozy requires several years of experience for free time may not always be worth it. writing for one farmhouse. Three redbone coonhounds full-time roles. She landed on a part-time “People who get paid by the hour of UW-Madison’s ride patiently in the bed of the truck. position with the Boys and Girls Club tend to work more hours, but they tend student newspaThe Sommerses are electricians — in Oshkosh, working with kids after the to be less happy because the time that pers and thought they own their own contracting business. school day. they’re not working, they feel, is wasted,” it could become However, after a long day of manual “It’s pretty fun,” Bullard says. “I like Whelan says. “If you are working out of a reality after a “beer-cation” labor, they slip seamlessly into the sec- getting to know the kids’ different per- a passion for a particular cause or goal in Hungary. ond gig they run: Hollow Oak Redbones. sonalities...because I really want to work that’s different because the work...is For them, when the sun goes down, with teens [and] mental health.” being done for that higher purpose.” another workday begins. The same goes However, by the time her students Garth Beyer was an undergraduate for the other 7.6% of working Wisconsin- arrive at their after school program with at UW–Madison writing a column ites who hold two jobs. Whether chasing her at 2:30 p.m., Bullard has been awake about beer for the Badger Herald when a passion or a paycheck, thousands of for 12 hours already. Her work day starts he realized his passion for beer through moonlighters throughout Wisconsin at 2:30 a.m. picking packages in a FedEx connecting with area brewery owners. aren’t stopping at 40 hours. distribution center, where she works a However, after graduation, he started Emma Bullard is one of those chasing full shift before noon. his career at Hiebing, a Madison-based a paycheck.

Christine Whelan, a clinical professor marketing agency.

Bullard graduated from UW–Stout of consumer science in the UW–MadHe also continued to work with local in August 2021, studying vocational ison School of Human Ecology and an brewers while covering the beer beat for rehabilitation with a focus on psychiatric expert on the intersection of happiness The Capital Times. Their dedication

DARK

37

to the craft inspired him. Finally, after guided hunts is just a side perk. a stop at a bar called Hops during a Starting with just two dogs, their “beer-cation” to Hungary, a concept for pack has been as large as 20. Currently, a new bar clicked, and he returned to they own seven.

Madison determined to make it more “This is our lifestyle. We choose to be than a dream. out and doing and going,” Ingrid says.

His vision came to fruition in DecemBeyer is also a doer, balancing his ber 2019 when he opened Garth’s Brew passion for beer and the bar, while being Bar on the west side of Madison. a full-time ideas man at Hiebing and In Bullard’s case, she understands raising his 10-month-old baby with his her current situation isn’t permanent. wife. He says staying regimented and “I’m fine where I’m at now,” she keeping his mind mentally on the task says. “I’m going to use this experience at hand is most important. to advance in my field.”

“I try to be where I’m at,” Beyer says.

Her ultimate goal is working with “So if I’m working at Hiebing, I’m all in at-risk teens in a mental health or sub- at Hiebing. When I’m working out bar stance treatment center. In the mean- stuff, it’s all bar stuff. Likewise, when time, FedEx is strictly to help pay the bills it’s family, it’s just family.” while she acquires the skills to progress.

Despite their different reasons for Finances aren’t always the main moti- taking up a night-gig, Bullard, Beyer vator for seeking secondary employment. and the Sommerses have all been sucAccording to Whelan, not all second jobs cessful in pursuing their passions — no are going to be paid. matter how thinly stretched they’ve “Unfortunately, we tend to only value been at times. By moonlighting they’ve work that is done for pay, but a better embraced the grind, enriched their lives way to think about it would be to say with new experiences and found balance that care work is work, whether it’s paid among it all. Beyer thinks everyone is or not,” she says. capable of doing the same.

For the Sommerses, Hollow Oak “If there’s anybody thinking of quitRedbones is all about their love for ting a job to start something new and the dogs. The little revenue it brings in pursue their dreams, I’d say don’t,” he through fruitful raccoon hunting and says. “Do both.”

SUPPORT FOR

SURVIVORS

OUT OF THE DARK Is brought to you by:

Advocates work to improve sexual assault resources

By Elea Levin

S

urviving a sexual assault is one of survivors to report their assaults and opens their mouth, has the courage to the most difficult experiences a to determine how they want to move schedule that appointment and actualperson can go through. forward on their own terms. ly walks through that door, there’s no The process of seeking support after When Racine resident Christina way I can get them to go anywhere else,” can be even harder.

Trinidad, 32, was sexually assaulted at Curran says.

Survivors of sexual assault in Wis- age 13, she wasn’t aware that resources To help combat the decentralizaconsin face barriers to accessing the ap- and options for sexual assault survivors tion of survivor services, Kate Walsh, a propriate resources and are kept in the were available. It wasn’t until she was professor in the gender and women’s dark about where to find help, what nearly 17 that she connected with Be- studies and psychology departments options are available and how healing LEAF Survivors (previously Sexual As- at UW–Madison, partnered with or justice can be achieved. Now, orga- sault Services of Racine) and began to Dane County Multi-Agency Center nizations across Wisconsin are working receive counseling. after receiving a grant from the Deto secure more funding for resources Trinidad said she might have come partment of Justice Office for Victims and streamline the process of finding forward about her assault earlier if she of Crime in Wisconsin. They used the assistance. knew what kinds of resources existed grant to bring forensic nurse exams — Transformative justice can be a par- for survivors. She believes that adver- a physical assessment performed by a ticularly important option for people tising these resources broadly in places healthcare professional following a from marginalized communities who like schools and grocery stores could sexual assault — to University Health historically had more negative experi- help spread awareness about services Services at UW–Madison in July 2021. ences with the legal system. One option and options.

Previously, Meriter Hospital was the for informal resolution at UW–Madi- “It’s a lot on your shoulders as a only location in all of Dane County son is for the survivor to request that victim,” Trinidad says. “That trau- to offer forensic nurse exams. Having ma should never be on them to try to these exams available at University go out and try to find help. The help Health Services for students and staff should be right there in front of their eliminates the extra step of traveling to a hospital. face.”

Though movements like #MeToo Rachel Sattler, a victims’ rights attorhave brought greater national attenney, and co-founder Kim Curran were inspired to establish the Dane County tion to the issue of sexual assault, the Multi-Agency Center to address this biggest barrier that many organizations a staff member issue a reminder to the problem and take a more victim-cen- continue to face is a lack of funding. individual who harmed them about tered approach to sexual violence. The “I’ve been doing this work for 20 campus policies regarding sexual mis- purpose of a multi-agency model is that years,” says Kelly Moe Litke, associate conduct. it collects and provides all the options director for the Wisconsin Coalition Other survivors, however, may want for action and resources following a Against Sexual Assault in Madison. “I to pursue a legal route. Social justice sexual assault in one place, which can feel like something’s different, but movements that gained national at- help ease the burden on the survivor. funding’s not different.” tention in recent years inspired some “I can tell you that when someone In 2020, Wisconsin saw a rate of

Tom and Ingrid Sommers have been hunting with their own redbone coonhounds for 38eight years.

CURB

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HENRY WEST

“I fought so hard. I’m no longer the victim, I’m a survivor.”

DARK

39

76.15 sex offenses per 100,000 residents, but the numbers are likely higher in reality given that sex crimes are underreported. These high rates, along with low funding, make it difficult for organizations to prioritize prevention programs.

Lack of funding is also what has prevented the Dane County Multi-Agency Center from launching its newest idea: an app that would put resources for survivors in one place. The app would limit the amount of times a survivor needs to recount their trauma while seeking help — the last thing that someone who just experienced a sexual assault wants to do is to relive their trauma by spending hours retelling their story.

The app would incorporate everything from mental and physical health care to resources on how to go about

reporting an assault to the police. It would also guide survivors directly to in-person services if needed.

While the healing process can vary from person to person, for Trinidad, attending support groups and hearing from other survivors was powerful. She was also inspired to get help for her mental health after having her first daughter, and she is now a mother of four.

Trinidad is taking classes online and hopes to become a crisis counselor to help other survivors after finishing her degree.

“It took me a long time to change my whole persona about my life and what happened to me,” Trinidad says. “I fought so hard. I’m no longer the victim, I’m a survivor.”

A CIRCUS LIKE NO OTHER

“I can tell you that when someone opens their mouth, has the courage to schedule that appointment and actually walks through that door, there’s no way I can get them to go anywhere else.”

Dark Arts Circus opens doors, possibilities for all

By Lilly Freemyer

Editors’ note: All of the performers in this piece are referred to as their stage names out of respect and safety for the artists.

40

CURB

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACK MURPHY

ILLUSTRATION BY SHANNON MCMANUS

A

mong the smaller cities that make up the Fox Valley in northeast Wisconsin is a unique artistic collective of aerialists, belly dancers and drag queens.

In 2016, Mandie Savage founded the Dark Arts Circus and Cabaret in Appleton. Her goal for the performance art collective was to create an outlet for alternative artists from a variety of skill levels and backgrounds. With the help of other artists and the local community, the Dark Arts Circus opens a door into the darkness for alternative performers and connoisseurs of the dark arts.

The collective’s artistic performances include burlesque, belly dancing, drag

and many other forms of expression.

The Dark Arts Circus welcomes all performers, showing that the dark has room for everyone.

The term Dark Arts Circus is an umbrella term to encompass all of the possible artistic performances incorporated into the shows. Within the collective, there is a sense of freedom. Freedom to learn. Freedom to express. Freedom to explore the darkness. Under this veil, the collective champions many ways of performing so that what might have become a lost art is no longer, because these artists found an outlet to explore their expression and creativity.

“We are just a happy little group of artists and our mission is to bring the weird, wild and interesting to our area and provide that access for folks,” Mandie Savage says.

Savage specializes in burlesque and sideshows but mainly performs as the

primary announcer for the group.

Her sideshows include walking across a bed of nails and jumping through fire and aerial hoops. Her signature move is with Dark Arts Circus member Miss Mego, which includes Miss Mego performing a yoga pose on top of Mandie Savage as she lays on a bed of sharp nails.

Miss Mego is a dark fusion dancer, a mixture of belly dancing and other art forms. They use veil fans to add dimension and illusions to the performance by moving the fabric to the beat of the music. The long, colorful fabric is attached to the end of a handheld fan, and it flows around the performer as they incorporate it into their performance. Their costumes are multilayered and include sequined, bikini-like tops, metal-decorated skirts and balloon pants.

Miss Mego performs a belly dancing routine at the Fox Valley Lagerfest in October 2021.

DARK

41

42

CURB

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACK MURPHY

A unique aspect of the Dark Arts Circus is that it is artist-designed and directed. All of the performers design their costumes, choreograph their work and create all aspects of the show.

“Nobody knows what to do with us when they ask us to come in and perform,” Miss Mego says. “We’re doing it on our own. We don’t have anybody who is saying, here’s your sound guy. Here’s your venue. Here’s this. We walk into a space and they’re like, we thought about that area as the stage, but we don’t know. And then we’re like, what? It’s very like doing it ourselves. We don’t have a production crew or anything like that, a lot of the stuff is just Mandie and I doing it.”

Several members of the Dark Arts Circus were very clear that it is not a troop or organized performance group, but rather a collective. Dark Arts Circus is not exclusive. No one is to be left out of the group or held back from performing because of their identity or performance level.

“We have performers from all over that come in,” Miss Mego says. “I like the fact that nobody has to be attached to us and feel like that they can’t go do a different show or they can’t attend somewhere else or stuff like that. We just want to facilitate the shows and bring that to these artists so they can get more exposure.”

Together the group’s participants provide each other with the proper tools to expand their creativity within their performance art. For example, Mandie Savage will host workshops for artists in a variety of specialties like aerial and belly dance. The group welcomes an eagerness to learn new styles and art forms. Followers and audiences of the Dark Arts Circus have responded positively to this ethos.

“The crowd that we draw definitely draws a lot of energy and inspiration from the mystical witchcraft,” says Tarl Knight, the co-owner and booking agent of the Tarlton Theater in Green Bay, where the Dark Arts Circus has had a residency since 2019. “People come in, who aren’t a part of the show, dressed very appropriately as what you

A WATERSHED MOMENT One farm strives to protect Wisconsin’s natural resources Story and photography by Kate Morton

would imagine for a dark arts crowd.”

John Wankerford III is a drag king and a regular member of the Dark Arts Circus. He does a lot of his performing digitally due to his disabilities. The Tarlton Theater also functions as a movie theater where performances like John Wankerford’s III can be projected during live performances.

Occasionally, John Wankerford III is unable to attend performances, but because he prerecords his art, he can still perform with the rest of the circus. The digital aspect also allows performers to be in two places at once. They can digitally perform for the Dark Arts Circus, while simultaneously performing live elsewhere in Wisconsin.

“I went into doing my own truth and into dark arts with the intent that everybody deserves to be beautiful, everybody deserves to have that creativity and express themselves,” says Ivy Scarlette, a belly dancer for the Dark Arts Circus. “I think a lot of our fans really appreciate and are drawn to us because we are so inclusive, with all different kinds of people, all different kinds of visual aesthetics, and again, you know performance art itself.”

Two belly dancers from the Dark Arts Circus swirl veil fans through the streets as part of a parade in Fox Valley.

Jersey and Angus steers move to a new area of pasture on Cates Family Farm.

DARK

43

M

eandering through the hills of father’s farm felt perfect. Dick started to the Driftless Area in Spring take over management of what was just a Green, Wisconsin, is Lowery small family farm with a couple of cows Creek, a spring-fed stream teeming with and transformed it into a grass-fed beef life. Lowery Creek lies on an 8,600-acre operation. He and other landowners watershed, flowing through a valley, along the stream have taken measures to continuing through Frank Lloyd Wright’s protect the water through their involveTaliesin estate, down into the Lower ment in the Lowery Creek Watershed Wisconsin River and on to the Mississippi. Initiative.

A heritage breed of brook trout glides “Some of us got together and said, through its cold waters.

‘We’ve got a pretty special location here, On a fork in the stream just south of and we’re all doing things to try to Taliesin lies Cates Family Farm. protect it and improve it. Perhaps Dick Cates Jr., who passed management we ought to band together and give of the farm on to his son, Eric, was one ourselves a name and have membership of a group of local landowners involved and have events,’” Dick says. in forming an organization in 2014 to What started as kitchen table conprotect the stream. It’s now known as servation turned into an organization the Lowery Creek Watershed Initiative. in which each landowner protects the Since then, the Cateses have worked land in different ways. Driftless Area alongside other landowners to preserve Land Conservancy projects coordinator the stream that runs along their organic, Barb Barzen helped the group organize grass-fed beef farm. a formal structure and goals. To start,

“I want to see my agricultural colleagues step up and do the best job they can in terms of saving soil and protecting our waters.”

Landowners like Dick and Eric Cates Barzen enlisted the help of students ensure the water remains clear of soil with the Nelson Institute for Environerosion, which darkens watersheds with mental Studies’ professional program at sedimentation that keeps aquatic life UW–Madison to conduct a report of from thriving. Maintaining the water the stream’s conditions. The quality of quality allows the brook trout in Lowery Lowery Creek’s water was already very Creek to flourish and provide eggs to good, so the group decided to focus on other local streams to boost the native outreach to local landowners while still trout population. monitoring the water.

Dick always wanted to farm. He In 2019, the Lowery Creek Waterstarted doing farm work in 1967 at the shed Initiative hosted a workshop at age of 15, when his father purchased Cates Family Farm to share streambank Cates Family Farm. However, he didn’t management methods the Cateses had always have the intention of taking over implemented on their property. The his father’s land. farm has won several awards for its “I thought, who would want to farm commitment to conservation, and on a side slope like this, where there’s Eric has continued his father’s work to a crick that runs down the middle?” protect the stream on his land.

Dick says.

When Eric, 36, started to take over After earning his doctorate in soil in 2016, he, his parents, his sister and science from UW–Madison, Dick, now brother-in-law purchased another prop69, and his wife, Kim, moved to Saudi erty to expand the existing farm. The Arabia, where he worked on a massive newer farm is part of a conservation dairy farm with 10,000 cows. When they easement, where the previous owner came back to Wisconsin in 1986 after worked with the Department of Natthree years in the Arabian Desert, his ural Resources to create artificial trout

44

CURB

habitat, slope streambanks and build stream crossings. Eric has kept the portion of the stream on the easement fenced off behind a buffer of trees and native plants, except for designated stream crossing areas.

Eric manages the original portion of Cates Family Farm differently, creating a “symbiotic relationship” between the cattle and the land. The farm has a herd of up to 100 Jersey and Angus steers at a time on its 110 acres of grazing pasture. The Cateses consciously understock their cattle and have more than 30 designated paddocks. The cattle are moved on a near-daily basis.

There are 25 designated stream crossings on Cates Family Farm, and Eric makes an effort to protect areas where the cattle gravitate. The Cateses have put breaker rock in along cattle crossings, which provides better footing and prevents cattle from stepping in mud and eroding the area. Eric says many people assume cattle will want to stay in the stream all day when it’s hot out, but that’s not necessarily true.

“If you can create a happy, healthy environment with lots of grass and lots of clovers, the grass actually holds moisture, and they’d rather lie down in the grass,” Eric says.

He uses spot and cross fencing around the stream to prevent cattle from staying in one area too long and destroying the land, a technique called managed grazing. The polywire fences can be cut and moved as needed.

He also targets places to protect where cattle like to rub their heads along the bank and disturb the streambed. The fences are strategically placed to direct cattle to crossings at more gently sloped spots along the stream.

Keeping the cattle away from vulnerable areas keeps streambanks protected from wear and tear. Steep banks worsen the effects of erosion, and measures like these help prevent sedimentation in the stream. The Driftless Area is characterized by high rainfall events, and Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Justin Haglund says managed grazing can help to mitigate the erosive effects of rain.

“By rotating those cattle around, it allows the vegetation to come back up,

Eric Cates and his daughter, Sloane, overlook Cates Family Farm.

Environmental Studies at UW–Madison, says if enough landowners along feeder streams take actions like the Cates family, there could be positive effects downstream in greater bodies of water.

“If you get a number of farmers that begin to bring a stream back to its original condition, where it serves as a filter to dramatic events, then you’re going to lessen that surge of water that goes into the larger water body,” Nowak says.

The natural, curved shape of streams lessens the erosive impact of significant rainfall, which carries sediments into larger bodies of water downstream.

“That’s ultimately the way we’re going to protect those larger bodies of water is to go up into the watershed and protect those smaller streams,” Nowak says.

Cates Family Farm’s dedication to conservation is just one example of a growing movement of farmer-led conservation in Wisconsin. Watershed groups like the Lowery Creek Watershed Initiative use community outreach to demonstrate successful restoration projects and encourage other landowners to take similar steps on their land.

When landowners hear about the successes of their peers, they can be motivated to follow in those footsteps.

The Lowery Creek Watershed Initiative whereas if you kept the cattle in one spot strengthening the streambanks. does this by holding monthly “evenings the entire time, you probably would see “What cattle can help do is that they afield” events for participants to learn a lot more bare soil, and then that bare help manage those weeds so that the from experts and see what other landsoil also has the potential to be trans- grass can grow and the grassroots can owners are doing. Events like these create ported to the stream in those high rainfall kind of take hold and help stabilize that an opportunity for community exchange. events,” Haglund says. bank. But it only works if you limit their “If [landowners] get good informaErosion can put the trout popula- exposure,” Eric says. tion and have a good relationship with tion at risk. It is especially important to Cates Family Farm has made efforts a neighbor that’s had really great success protect the brook trout in Lowery Creek to protect wetland areas along the stream working with the [state Department of because they are one of two native brook that birds and other wildlife call home. Natural Resources] or other organizatrout populations in the Southern Drift- Many Wisconsin farms plow their fields, tions, such as the Driftless Area Land less Area that the Department of Natural causing soil loss, but healthy grassland Conservancy, it really helps to build Resources uses for its feral brook trout filters soil and serves as a buffer in the those relationships, especially in small stocking program to spread the species event of rainfall and protects the water. watersheds,” Haglund says. to other local streams.

“Any one of those farms could As watershed initiatives grow across “Brook trout do need cold water, improve the circumstance by doing the state and farmers work together to and that water needs to be clean,” no-till and using cover crops, but many protect their land, Wisconsin’s water — Haglund says. do not because they continue to do it the and future — is brighter than ever.

If the gravel trout spawn on is cov- old way, and that’s what I’m concerned “I want to see my agricultural colered in sediment, any eggs laid during about,” Dick says. “It’s not really the leagues step up and do the best job they the winter will suffocate. size of the operation, it’s how people can in terms of saving soil and protecting The Cateses allow cattle to graze do things.” our waters,” Dick says. along the stream for set periods to fight Pete Nowak, retired professor invasive species and unwanted trees, emeritus of the Nelson Institute for

DAWN

45

AT LAST After two decades, college sweethearts reconnect

By Isabella Byrne

A

first love is powerful and nearly for help with directions. As she walked impossible to forget. And if it’s out of the car, Peter looked up and for a meant to be, it can be strong brief moment, they simply just looked at enough to cross the span of time and each other. Peter realized it was her and space — no matter what happens in Ellen realized it was him, and they went between. There’s something truly on to engage in small talk conversation romantic about a love that never quite — as former flames do — and before he ran its course. knew it, she was back in her car and on In 1956, Ellen Kayser and Peter John- her way. son came to UW–Madison from two “When she drove away, I said, ‘You different worlds. know, I think someday I’m gonna marry While Peter had his eyes on Ellen that girl,’ and I really did say that to during their freshman year, it wasn’t myself as I continued to mow the lawn,” until the fall semester of their sophomore Peter says. year when they began dating.

Peter was recently separated, and he It was a love story that began on promised himself he would wait one year Langdon Street; Ellen was the president following his divorce before he would of her sorority, Delta Gamma, and Peter pick up the phone to call Ellen. Peter was a part of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity. felt he needed to acclimate himself back At the time, though, they simply into being single, getting the hurt out didn’t sync up. of his system and the failure of his first Peter was too wild. Ellen was more marriage to allow himself to open his mature. heart again.

Ellen and Peter graduated from It was August 1985 when Peter UW–Madison in 1960, and diverged finally decided it was time. onto their own paths into the world, One day at work, the phone rang. to become the people they were meant Ellen remembers hearing someone in to be. the department saying that there was Lights out. Curtains closed. Radio someone on the phone with a loud voice silence. asking for her.

Each of them went on to marry other “Do you know who this is?” Peter people, follow their career dreams and asked her. have children.

“With a voice like that. ... A voice I can Back then, it wasn’t hard to be com- never forget,” Ellen told him. “Hi, Peter.” pletely in the dark about what an old Lights on. Curtains open. A familiar flame was up to. voice.

While they both lived in Wisconsin, It wasn’t until November 1985 that they didn’t cross paths. Until one day Ellen and Peter finally found a date to when Peter bumped into Ellen for the meet. There was a snowstorm that day, first time in 20 years. so the roads were icy and Ellen called Peter was out mowing his lawn in Peter to reschedule.

Applewood, a subdivision on Madison’s The two of them decided to meet at west side. One of Ellen’s good friends Smoky’s Club in Madison. happened to live right up the road from In the restaurant’s dark ambience, Peter at the time. Without knowing it the two found themselves reminiscing was him, Ellen pulled over the car to ask about old memories, old friends and the

46

CURB

Peter and Ellen Johnson keep photos of special moments they shared together after rekindling their love in 1985, 20 years after they met.

nearly 25 years that had passed since they last saw one another.

“At the time, [we were] roughly 45, 46 years old, and you’re a lot more of a mature person, and you’ve experienced a lot of things in life by then. You approach a relationship a whole lot differently than you do when you’re 20 years old,” Peter says.

Ellen’s son, Grant Frautschi, remembers her first official date with Peter.

When Peter pulled up in a red Corvette convertible, Frautschi had his doubts.

“I remember thinking to myself that this guy doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell taking my mom out in a convertible on a cold night to a hockey game,” Frautschi says.

He remembers his mom coming home after the date and asking her how it was, he knew the hockey game wasn’t going to be the highlight of it.

“He drives too fast, but the sound system in his car was excellent!”

Ellen says.

Despite the fact that Ellen wasn’t a fan of hockey, fancy cars or cold winter nights, it wasn’t about that. It was about the person sitting in the driver’s seat.

“I always thought they were kinda meant for each other,” says Tim Dean, a friend who first met Peter when they were in high school and was his roommate at UW–Madison.

During their freshman year, following a Badger win, Peter ran out on the football field to yank one of the little red flags out of the end zone. It was an old school tradition for the band to parade down Langdon Street when Wisconsin won. Peter marched behind the band into Ann Emery Hall, where Ellen was living at the time, to leave the flag at the front desk for her.

Years later, after Peter and Ellen were married, the red flag was sitting in their garage.

With the emotions of a first love and depths of lived experience, Ellen and Peter Johnson remain as in love as they were at 50 today at 83 years old.

“As she said after we got married, ‘All that wildness at 20 I didn’t like, but that wildness at 50 I did like,’” Peter says.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PETER AND ELLEN JOHNSON

DAWN

47

A

A WAY FORWARD A UW education program offers a new direction for those incarcerated

Ramiah Whiteside now works for EXPO, which stands for Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing. EXPO works with both policymakers and formerly incarcerated people to fix a broken justice system and reconnect people with their communities.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALLI ANDERSON

By Kalli Anderson

s Ramiah Whiteside logs onto Zoom, a grainy photo of his granddaughter born on Sept. 9 pops up as his profile picture. His laugh fills the cyberspace as he describes that although her family showers her with tons of attention, right now, she only cares about sleeping and feeding times.

But Whiteside hasn’t always been able to be with his family during these important moments. He learned about the birth of his first granddaughter in 2014 through a paid phone call from the inside of Fox Lake Correctional Institution.

In 1995, Whiteside was in a highspeed chase with the police that ended in a collision that killed four people — one of them was his younger family member.

Imprisoned at 19 years old, Whiteside, now 46, spent 24 years on the inside for four counts of second degree reckless homicide, one count of reckless injury and one count of operating an automobile without the owner’s consent.

During that time between 1995 and 2019, Whiteside says he felt emotionally, mentally and spiritually like he was in “the bowels of a slave ship.”

Then, 21 years into his imprisonment, Whiteside found retired talk show host Jean Feraca at the Wisconsin Resource Center. At that time in 2016, Feraca was teaching her first class at the resource center through the Prison Ministry Project. The project, run by the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Madison, directs restorative justice programs that work to mend the relationships between those who have committed crimes, those who are impacted by them and the greater community.

Being allowed to take part in restorative justice programs was the ray of light Whiteside needed to come back from the brink of hopelessness and despair while still being held accountable for his actions.

“It wasn’t until the restorative justice process [that] it really started to resonate that I can be a better person,” Whiteside says. “I can be more than who I was yesterday today.”

Education in prisons decreases the lives are transformed,” Moreno wrote likelihood of recidivism — or the in an email.

In the classroom, students are likelihood that a formerly incarcerrequired to complete assignments, work ated person, once released, will offend on their public speaking skills and be again. In one study from the Journal vulnerable with their classmates. of Experimental Criminology, authors “I could tell that there was this hunfound that people who participated in ger, this huge desire to have intelleceducation programs while incarcerated tually engaging conversations around were 28% less likely to commit another deep ideas, talk about texts and write crime upon release versus those who did together,” says Kevin Mullen, co-director not participate. of the UW Odyssey Project.

Realizing that people who are In Oakhill’s library on Tuesday afterincarcerated need to have their personnoons, Mullen brings this program to life hood and inner intelligence recognized for 15 men.

When he asks his students inspired Feraca to start teaching nonto share their writings with each other, credit classes in prisons. She adapted the they get straight to work. curriculum used at the UW Odyssey “I’ve been teaching for 20 years, and Project — a program she cofounded that I have yet to find students who are more she says works to “break the cycle of genenthusiastic, driven and focused than erational poverty” in Wisconsin — into these guys,” Mullen says. her classes in prison.

The UW Odyssey Project offers four core programs for low-income “It wasn’t until the restorative children, adults and those incarcerated justice process [that] it really facing economic and other barriers to education by offering a six-credit, started to resonate that I can be two-semester humanities course that a better person. ... I can be more analyzes literature, philosophy, history than who I was yesterday today.” and art. The program aims to strengthen students’ writing abilities and critical thinking skills.

Mullen started teaching for the Odyssey Beyond Bars grew out of program in fall 2019, in what he says Feraca’s efforts to introduce human- was the first for-credit, in-person class ities-based noncredit classes to stu- UW–Madison has offered in prison in dents in prison. The program — which more than 100 years. In his English 100 recently received the Wisconsin State class, he teaches students how to write Public Defender’s Eisenberg Award for confidently and comfortably while also its work — seeks to enlighten minds connecting to other men. that may otherwise become stagnant While educational opportuniin the confines of a roughly 54 square- ties for those imprisoned are on the foot prison cell by providing for-credit rise — such as Odyssey Beyond Bars college courses in humanities subjects opening up three programs at Racine like English and Afro-American studies. Correctional Institution, Columbia Odyssey Beyond Bars founder and Correctional Institution and Green Bay director Peter Moreno started the pro- Correctional Institution in spring 2022 gram in 2018 to provide a chance to — Feraca advocates wholeheartedly for those who are imprisoned at Oakhill introducing more programs and classes Correctional Institution, a minimum- into prison.

“When you have the opportunity security prison in Oregon, Wisconsin, a as I’ve had to find out who’s in prison, suburb of Madison. you realize how much we’re missing as “Our students are so often labeled as [a] society.

There is so much potential inmates, offenders or worse, and when there.

We’ve just ignored, overlooked and they are able to finally see themselves discounted so much of it,” Feraca says. as students with long-term goals, their

DAWN

49

— Elie Wiesel

New state law requires Holocaust education for middle and high schoolers

By Mallory Pelon

I

n 2018, a picture of high school on Jewish Material Claims Against students from Baraboo, Wisconsin, Germany surveyed knowledge of the went viral on Twitter — and not in a Holocaust among Millennials and good way.

Generation Z across the U.S. The The photo showed a large group of study found that 63% of respondents boys standing on the steps of the Sauk did not know that 6 million Jews were County Courthouse grinning and giving murdered during the Holocaust, and what looked like the Nazi salute to the nearly 20% of respondents thought Jews camera. Within the group of about 50, themselves caused the Holocaust. almost everyone appeared to be caught in It’s hard to imagine that the gravity of mid-laugh, their arms raised high above the Holocaust — often called the darkest their heads. time in human history — could be forThe Nazi salute, one of the most gotten by younger generations. Yet many recognizable symbols of the Nazi move- are concerned about a rise in antisemitic ment of the 1930s and 1940s, remains a activity, which prompted the passage jarring act of antisemitism. This incident of a new state law requiring that the gave Baraboo national news attention, Holocaust, and other genocides, must but now, more and more such acts make be taught in middle and high school. global headlines.

Wisconsin is only the 18th state to pass The Anti-Defamation League found such a law. that antisemitic incidents have increased This bipartisan bill was signed by by 115% since last year. Although it’s Gov. Tony Evers in April 2021. State impossible to name one reason for the Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison), author rise in antisemitism across the globe, of the bill, says it presents an opportunity experts do have some theories. Many to learn from our past to do better, and attribute this increase in aggression to take those lessons and put them to towards Jews because of the increased use in our daily lives. violence between Israel and Hamas “It’s particularly timely as fewer in Gaza. and fewer Holocaust survivors are able But political issues aside, current to share their stories, that we make generations know less and less about the a concentrated effort to ensure that Holocaust compared with their parents. history is not only taught but therefore A recent study by the Conference is never repeated,” Subeck says.

50

CURB

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALLI ANDERSON

“EVEN IN DARKNESS IT IS POSSIBLE TO CREATE LIGHT.”

feel OK with saying, hey, I’m part of the the Holocaust will still be at the dis- teacher at Waunakee Middle School LGBT community. Can you put up an cretion of the school district. The in a Madison suburb, says since the LGBT safe space in your room?”

Holocaust Education Resource Cen- bill is so recent, it will not affect him Lambrecht says he sees these kids, ter in Milwaukee is there for schools or his classroom for some time. In who typically are in the minority group to use, but it’s hard to say how each Waunakee, students already learn about at West De Pere High School, feel proud school will tackle such a tough, the Holocaust in sixth grade.

Ultimately, the goal of the new law is of who they are. He says this wasn’t the intense topic. Schweber notes that teachcase years ago. In fact, he actually attri- ers will need to prepare themselves, not more for people to understand the stobutes this shift in attitudes in part to just the material, when getting ready to ries from the Holocaust so that an event teaching of topics such as the Holocaust. talk about a topic as deep and disturbing of its magnitude will never happen again.

“And I think part of that is the as the Holocaust.

Education can be an effective weapon Holocaust does some of that same thing.

“When you’re teaching about large- against further injustice, and the passage It helps people want to advocate for scale violence and mass trauma and geno- of this bill is helping to shed light on themselves, so bad things like this don’t cidal atrocity, there are all these skills the importance of Holocaust education. continue to happen,” Lambrecht says. that go into it and all these other dispoHowever, there is still work to do. sitions that go into making it powerful,” And Schweber is not done yet.

Implications in the classroom Schweber says.

“We have to take what we can get,” she Because the bill just became la aw, For many teachers, it’s up in the says. “Absolutely. But we have to fight teachers are still figuring out how to air how the curriculum will change to for the things that we don’t get and we integrate it into their classrooms. incorporate Holocaust education. Shad have to keep fighting for the things that To some degree, how to teach about Fanta, an eighth grade social studies people need and deserve.”

Shad Fanta shows his students the importance of being an informed citizen by providing examples of oppressive leaders throughout history.

Impact on students The significance of this bill isn’t lost on Simone Schweber, an education and Jewish studies professor at UW–Madison. She said when she first started in this field, people were already worried about the end of the generation of Holocaust survivors — and now that time has come. This bill is a first step in helping to memorialize survivors and their stories.

Additionally, Holocaust education can provide valuable lessons to students.

Brandon Bloch, assistant professor of history at UW–Madison, believes that Holocaust education is highly relevant to students and gives them the tools to look critically at their own government.

“What leads large numbers of people to believe in fanatical political movements or to see radical movements, like national socialism, as the answer to their problems? Those questions are not only historical, they have a bearing on the contemporary world and I think it provides a warning for us in the present day,” Bloch says.

Holocaust education can also affect students on a personal level. Social studies teacher Matt Lambrecht from West De Pere High School, a public school located 10 minutes outside of Green Bay, says, “I would say in the last five years, we’ve had so many more kids who

DAWN

51

RISE AND GRIND Athletes put in their hardest work before the sun rises

By Madison Mooney

C

52

CURB

Waking up early requires dedication what I need to do to be ready for practice energized throughout the rest of the day. from the athletes to get to bed earlier, so is just important to me.”

Coffee is also an essential part of her daily they can still function well throughout productivity after practice. Naps help to the school day. Some wrestlers use naps Ally Miklesh, 20 catch up on the missed sleep. to compensate for loss of sleep.

Stevens Point, Wisconsin “I try to fill in some naps here and “After morning practice, if I don’t Senior, women’s softball there, especially when I feel bogged have class, I’m taking a nap. I nap and down,” she says. “Having later classes then I do homework and I have pracThe women’s softball team’s practices in the day can be a struggle sometimes tice ... There’s not a lot of time to be start at 6:15 a.m. and go until 10:30 a.m. being awake.” social when you’re getting up so early During this time, players complete a lift The softball team hopes to be top and trying to go to bed at a good time,” session, then practice and have individual 16 in the NCAA this year, which would Rotondo says. meetings with coaches. allow them to host a regional tournaThe social life of the typical college Miklesh loves the grind. She treats ment. The work they do in the early student is often nonexistent for athletes. mornings in the darkness with a positive mornings of the fall and winter will Going out on the weekends and staying attitude. help them achieve this goal come the up late is not practical for the wrestlers “It’s a really good start to my day,” spring season. when they have to wake up so early to Miklesh says. “Practices are hard and “I think that the reason why we’re get their workouts in. obviously your coaches are gonna get really ready to go in the morning is just The altered sleep schedule and on you, but they have [the] best inten- due to respect of our team, respect to our less-active social life is all worth it when tions. So being around those people right alums, just the culture that our coaches going after their dreams. away in the morning just kind of sparks and our alums have built here,” Miklesh “I want to be an All-American,” he your day.” says. “So the fact that we’re energized, says. “So just keeping that in mind and Miklesh relies on making sure she has ready to go in the morning is just a just knowing that getting up early, doing good nutrition to keep herself awake and tribute to them.”

The UW–Madison women’s rowing team runs warm-up drills at Porter Boathouse before starting morning practice at 6:15 a.m.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALLI ANDERSON

hampions are made when no can often be the hardest for them to get one is watching. And there truly up and stay motivated for practice. is no one watching when the “It’s freezing cold outside, pitch black, sun isn’t up. the whole practice,” Belson says. “People The sports teams at UW–Madison start to get really tired of it. The morale is pride themselves on being among the definitely really low in the winter.” best in the NCAA. The success of The long, winter mornings are hard, major revenue-making sports is often but the women’s rowing team is deterwidely publicized. At the same time, ath- mined to do well at the NCAA Chamletes in smaller sports, such as rowing, pionships at the end of the school year. cross-country, wrestling and softball, The rowers hope to qualify for the AB dedicate much of their energy and time race, making them one of the top eight to their respective sports, yet compete teams in the nation. outside the glow of the bright stadium “A lot of people ask me, how do you lights. do it?” Belson says. “How do you stay Four of those athletes shared with up so early? But after a while, you just avoids trails in forested areas with lots Curb their experiences with morning realize that it makes sense to do it then.” of roots and instead runs on the conworkouts and explained why the early crete bike path that goes through the grind is worth the effort.

Rowen Ellenberg, 21 UW–Madison campus toward Verona.

Appleton, Wisconsin The path is lit up by street lights and Junior, men’s cross-country Grace Belson, 20 completely flat, perfect for running with Stevens Point, Wisconsin limited lighting.

Junior, women’s rowing Morning practice looks different for Ellenberg says the team’s goal is to the men’s cross-country team. Ellenberg win the Big Ten title and perform well The rowers are one of the first teams finds himself getting up in the mornings, at the national championships. to start practice on the UW–Madison often alone, for runs.

“We have had trouble really saying campus, working out Monday through Official practice takes place in the specifically what that means, but defiSaturday and moving their boats into the afternoon, but the men need to run sev- nitely top 10 and the high goal is top water by 6:15 a.m. every weekday. eral times a day to get in all of the miles five,” he says.

There are lights at the bow and stern they need. For Ellenberg, that’s a total of the boats for safety. ranging from 80 to 95 miles across nine Ethan Rotondo, 22 Belson joined the rowing team her runs every week.

Vancouver, Washington freshman year of college, after originally As the school year goes on, morning Senior, men’s wrestling being a runner in high school. runs get colder and colder.

The team will practice this early year“If it’s below zero, I have to throw on Rotondo has trekked to wrestling round, and the rowers try to stay out a running jacket and have three or four practice in the dark for four years at on the water as long as possible. This is layers on,” Ellenberg says.

UW–Madison. He gets up with his teamusually until mid November, when the The darkness also means Ellenberg mates and runs, then follows it with a lake starts to freeze. The winter months has to choose wisely where he runs. He morning lift.

DAWN

53

HER NEW MEDIUM

“We would really like to live up to our name, the ‘ritual’ part,” Abraxas says.

In Las Vegas, Raven trained in a variety of spiritual practices, but now she strives to incorporate attunement into her tattooing via stick-and-poke tattoos.

Attunement is a method of spiritual and emotional healing that uses strategies such as chakra work and body-tapping. Raven describes it as rummaging through someone’s aura to feel for a “prick,” which indicates a spiritual block, then pulling it out.

This fall Raven stepped into tattooing customers, and to complete her apprenticeship, she gave away 100 free tattoos. Megan Brown found herself as Raven’s first human canvas.

Brown, a 21-year-old from Sun Prairie, a Madison suburb, stumbled upon Ritual Moon thanks to a friend.

She noticed that the shop had something

Family tattoo shop offers training ground for young artist

By Cailyn Schiltz

Raven Moon and her family love the location of their shop, especially the proximity to other artistic spaces such as the Orpheum Theater and the 54 Overture CURB Center.

and success for her children and never suspected they would be interested in following in her footsteps.

“When the kids asked me about tattooing, I obviously had nothing negative to say, because I’ve always loved tattooing, and it’s been so good to me,” Jaded says. “But I’m like, ‘You should do real estate.’”

Raven began her first apprenticeship in her hometown of Las Vegas under a family friend. She describes it as a very masculine space — a huge shift from the matriarchal household where she grew up.

Jaded began tattooing at age 16 as a “street kid” and faced sexual harassment when she apprenticed under bikers. In order to protect her daughter and ensure Raven could flourish in her apprenticeship, Jaded settled down and set up shop.

Raven is not the only Moon training in the art of body modification in the family shop. Middle child Micah Moon, 21, is also a tattoo apprentice, and youngest brother Sequoia Moon, 19, is an aspiring piercer. Abraxas, Raven’s husband, intended to begin his tattoo apprenticeship this summer but it was delayed by two separate hand injuries.

While he waits for his hands to fully heal, Abraxas is mastering the scheduling and communications while developing his divination abilities as Ritual Moon’s resident psychic. He has been reading tarot since age 14 and is studying other forms of spiritual readings to perform at Ritual Moon, such as astrology and palmistry.

new medium to her support system.

“I will say that my mother is teaching me, and so I’m fairly comfortable. I think if anybody else was teaching me, I wouldn’t be nearly as good,” Raven says.

“Sometimes maybe I’d be more comfortable if somebody else was teaching me because maybe I wouldn’t care what they thought, but my mother is my best friend — and I care about what she thinks more than anybody else.”

Historically, cultures across the world have tattooed for artistic, spiritual and healing purposes, according to Raven and Abraxas. Ritual Moon plans to continue this tradition in its new home. Between Abraxas’s psychic studies, Jaded’s boundary-pushing art and Raven’s spiritual services, the Moon family is bringing a new element to the city.

Abraxas Moon has been reading tarot cards for about a decade and is currently studying astrology.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALLI ANDERSON

R

aven Moon is an artist, fascinated and inspired by darkness.

She’s been creating art since about second grade, wearing all black since middle school and dabbling in a variety of media over the years.

She discovered India ink in the illustrations of Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” and now uses it to add a dark, crisp element to drawings and paintings. She adores gouache, the art of using opaque watercolors to paint, and took about a year to master drawing on an iPad. But nothing compares to how Raven feels about her newest medium: tattoo ink, with the human body as her latest canvas.

Raven, 25, is an apprentice at Ritual Moon Tattoo on State Street in downtown Madison. Her husband, Abraxas Moon, 26, reads tarot cards at a sturdy wooden table in the corner of the store as the shop’s resident psychic. Her mother, Jaded Moon, is a renowned tattooist who travels to clients across the globe and specializes in inking where the sun doesn’t shine.

Jaded founded Ritual Moon as a space for her family to hone their crafts and support each other in a safe environment. As they explore and create a niche in their home, the Moon family aspires to bring a unique artistic and spiritual experience to downtown Madison.

Jaded always brought her children with her when she traveled — but training an apprentice on the road would have been impossible. She wants stability

extra to offer, an occult twist.

“Tattoo and tarot? Two of my favorite things,” Brown says.

She chose a line drawing of a flower and made an appointment, keeping her expectations low.

Before any ink is used, Raven ensures that the tattoo is within her skill level, as well as being designed, stenciled and placed 100% correctly.

As Raven tattooed Brown’s ankle, Jaded stood behind her daughter to give helpful feedback and stepped in at the end to touch up the artwork.

Brown was thrilled with how her tattoo turned out, especially considering the price point.

Raven learns more with each tattoo, exuding nothing but confidence and optimism. While she is sure of her own artistic and technical abilities, Raven attributes some of her comfort in this

DAWN

55

OUR OWN LITTLE CHAPEL

CULTURE SHIFT

The journey to rebuild a community’s spiritual center

By Maya Fidziukiewicz

A

Deaf and hard of hearing advocates seek inclusion and equity

By Claire Henneman

56

CURB

Movements of the hands and body are a crucial aspect of ASL. The word "community" is being signed here.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALLI ANDERSON

W

hat did you say, could you be treated the same way as someone UW–Madison offers academic repeat that?” wearing eyeglasses to see better. services such as live captioning, known It’s a common question, but To foster a more inclusive society, as Communication Access Realtime for people who are Deaf, culturally Deaf hearing people could consider taking Translation — or CART — to create or hard of hearing, it can be a question an American Sign Language or Deaf cul- transcripts of spoken language in real essential to understanding a situation. ture class, according to Ryne Thorne, a time for in-person and remote classes.

That’s why the frequent response is lecturer in the American Sign Language Media captioning is another resource the frustrating. studies department at UW–Milwaukee. McBurney Disability Resource Center “Oh never mind, it’s not important.” Thorne, who is Deaf, attended UW–Mil- offers to Deaf and hard of hearing stuThat’s how many hearing individuals waukee as an undergraduate. dents. Students must work with both the deal with the situation. Instead, they Though American Sign Language McBurney Center and their professors should have patience and be consider- has similar linguistic features to spoken to ensure that learning resources like ate when communicating with people English, it is a separate language with these are available for all of their classes. who are Deaf, culturally Deaf or hard grammar distinct from English. ASL is UW–Madison recently posted a job of hearing, says Kristin Johnson, a staff “expressed by movements of the hands listing for an assistant professor position member of HEAR Wisconsin, a non- and face,” according to the National for ASL and other sign languages. This profit organization that serves the Deaf Institute on Deafness and Other Com- individual is expected to have extensive and hard of hearing communities. munication Disorders. knowledge of both ASL and deaf culture.

Comments like those make her feel UW–Milwaukee has a robust ASL Thorne mentioned that going left out of a conversation, Johnson says. program. ASL courses 1 through 6 are beyond UW–Milwaukee and UW–MadAbout 500,000 people in Wisconsin offered as foreign language courses. It ison, it is important for the community are affected by hearing loss, according to also offers courses in ASL semantics, at large to know the basics of American the state Department of Health Services. Deaf culture and Deaf history.

Sign Language and Deaf culture.

But the barriers they face in educational, The university’s Sandburg Hall “Law enforcement, hospitals, [the] community and professional settings hosts an ASL living learning community, legal system — I think they should all often get lost in conversations about which gives Deaf and hard of hearing take classes for sign language and Deaf diversity, equity and inclusion. individuals the opportunity to live on culture,” Thorne says. “Because I think Being Deaf or hard of hearing can campus together. The community is that would help open their minds a little be an invisible disability to those uned- open to any UW–Milwaukee students, bit and understand what Deaf culture ucated about Deaf culture. One day, hearing students included, who are cur- looks like and how they can be more of Johnson hopes, hearing devices will rently learning or want to learn ASL. an advocate.”

ndrew, come quick. You have a It’s where kids see trees instead of skyfire at your camp.” scrapers and paved concrete. It’s where Andrew and Anna Fidziukiewicz people have a spiritual encounter with are stirred awake, first by a knock on their God. Many couples met, marriages door from a Fond du Lac County sheriff, started and relationships were saved then by calls from the police and fire here. It’s a place that fostered hope in departments. many young people, and that has a lot Their minds race. Maybe it’s the gar- of significance to anyone who stays at den shed? Or what if it’s a cabin? There the camp. was no one at the camp. Did someone It’s special to me, too. I’m Andrew forget to extinguish their campfire? The and Anna’s oldest child, and my siblings idea that it was the chapel didn’t occur and I grew up helping our parents run to them. the programs and maintain the grounds.

Andrew, president of Camp Vista, I don’t know where to begin explaining and his wife, Anna, are trying to collect my involvement with this space — it’s themselves as they look out their front been my life since my family started rundoor. They see what looks like an enor- ning summer camps there when I wasn’t mous forest fire lighting up the 5 a.m. even a year old, and then we got more dark October sky. On the other side of involved as we took over the grounds the trees is a place they’ve called a back- when I was 8 years old. yard for the past 13 years of their lives: It goes without saying that this Camp Vista. chapel taught me not just about hope, Camp Vista is a recreational Chris- but about life in general.

It’s hard to get anywhere past the tian campground located in the heart Now, when I reflect on my con- entrance of the camp, as dozens of fireof Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine Forest cerns I expressed in the past, I realize fighters are already at the scene. They’re near Fond du Lac. It's a retreat center they all played out differently than all asking for water. As my family rounds for many local groups, Boy Scouts, sum- I expected, but they still turned out the corner, they come face to face with mer camps and family retreats — a place — somehow. Such is the story of the the tragedy before them. What used to where everyone is welcome, regardless chapel, too. be the camp’s beautiful wooden spiritual of race or creed. Located at its center is ••• home was now engulfed in flames. a beautiful chapel where every family The night of the fire, Andrew and The flashing fire against the dark sky or group begins and ends their retreat Anna’s thoughts continue to race in lights up the tear-filled faces of my famtime. In its early days, founder Father disbelief. “Do we wake the kids up?” ily looming helplessly on the sidelines.

Joseph A. Fischer received a lot of help Andrew asks himself, and without think- Firefighters would not let them come from his good friend, legendary Green ing twice, he commands my brother, the near the structure, but the view was clear Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi, to oldest child there at the time, to wake enough from where they stood. Limp help fund the construction of the camp up the others. Meanwhile, my parents and anguished, they watch the building and the chapel. run to their truck and speed over to the that cultivated their childhood memories Camp Vista’s chapel is a special place. camp. Adrenaline works well for a quick and their faith be devoured in flames and It’s where families spend time together. wake up. slowly die before their eyes.

Camp Vista founder Father Joseph A. Fischer meets with legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi; the chapel before the fire; firefighters on the scene the night of the fire. Photos courtesy of the Fidziukiewicz family.

DAWN

57

“I never cry. But at that moment, I ’80s. When you hear them, their accents As a unique aspect to its fundraiscried,” Andrew says. give away their Polish identity. Tragedy ing, Camp Vista sent out brass vials The next few weeks were filled with and loss are not new to an immigrant’s that served as personal prayer time grief and consoling the many campers life story. Leaving behind a piece of capsules. Friends of Camp Vista could and retreatants who felt the loss as well. themselves and everything they’d come fill out these time capsules with their A metaphorical darkness came about to know in their physical homes in family, writing down the deepest hopes the camp — every time someone drove Poland was incredibly difficult. Amer- and desires for their present and future past the caution tape section, it felt like ica could never supply the roots that families. When the foundation was laid, a healing wound kept being reopened. their home country established for these capsules were placed in the dryOct. 24, 2018, is a day that the com- them, but they came here in search of a ing concrete and filled in, sealing these munity remembers like it was yesterday. better life. intentions in the chapel for generations So many families came up to visit the But this time it was different. to come. hole that once held the place they called This chapel was a symbol of everytheir second home. Tears were shed and thing they’ve worked toward — you Hope in the process hands were held. All we could do was can say it was like their American dream.

Throughout the building process, my silently embrace each other because there Losing a place so filled with spirit, mem- dad was very involved in the construcwere no words that could describe our ories and hope for the future was a heart- tion of the chapel. He and my brothers feelings. My family barely had time to break they never thought they would would sometimes wake up at 3 a.m. to process the loss, but we still tried to con- experience. get a project done before the rest of the sole others in their grief. Loyal retreatants team got there. and musically gifted campers came to Helping hands My dad also went out of his way to sing and to create videos to post as fundImmediately after the fire — within make sure the community was involved raisers, some as soon as the day of the fire. hours of the chapel burning down — in this project. He prioritized getting To this day, we don't know what Camp Vista already experienced tremen- smaller tradesmen on the job to support caused it. dous support from the local community. local Wisconsin craftsmen.

A friend started a GoFundMe. A group “Trades on the job were near and dear of local 7th graders hosted a bake sale. to the Camp Vista community,” says Local neighbors rolled up their sleeves Jeff Redman, project manager at C.D. — and their equipment — to help with Smith, the company that built the main the clean up. structure of the chapel. “Some craftsmen This showed Camp Vista, a non- were too small for us [as contractors] to profit organization, that we had support recommend, but Andrew wanted the from those we serve. A morale boost was community involved.”

Coming to camp very much needed because, in addition Slowly but surely, the construction The camp itself is a humble place. to planning the construction of a new started looking more and more complete, Built in the early ’60s by founder Fischer, building suitable for cultivating the faith and we’re growing to love it as much as the camp’s purpose is to be a peaceful and values of the next generation, we the old one. setting filled with 250 acres of natural had to come up with $3.8 million to My dad says he wouldn’t want to beauty that inspires the mind, rejuve- fund the project. go back to what the chapel looked like nates the soul, and connects people with The groundbreaking ceremony for before — the new one is better in every God and each other. the building of the chapel happened way he could have imagined.

Andrew, in addition to his presiden- on March 13, 2020 — the same day “Everyone has their own little chapel tial role, is also the constructor, carpenter, the White House declared the coro- in their life,” my dad says, reflecting on maintenance man, program developer navirus a national emergency. While the fire and the effort to rebuild. “To and project manager — just to name the rest of the world slowed down, them, it’s perfect and they’re very a few — of the camp grounds. Along construction moved forward on a new attached to it. But one day they wake with my mom, Anna, and my brothers chapel. The supplies were preordered up and their chapel is ripped from their and sisters, we have taken care of Camp and supply chain shortages were avoided. life, burned to the ground. That’s where Vista since 2008.

However, with businesses closing down, faith and hope come in — proving in a My parents both immigrated to finding momentum to raise funds proved time that great things can come from the United States from Poland in the to be the most difficult task of all. our darkest moments.”

CURB

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAYA FIDZIUKIEWICZ

58

The new Camp Vista chapel houses brass time capsules within the concrete, working in the history and the hopes of the community.

DAWN

59

SEIZE THE DAY

LET

US BEGIN.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KALLI ANDERSON

AGAIN. At the break of dawn, a fresh day presents itself as a blank slate — an opportunity to start anew. Our eyes open, and we are called to simply take the next step. But in the end, the darkness is what teaches us to appreciate the day. The gloom makes the sun shine brighter. We now know that the dark is not something to fear — it is a necessary part of our life cycle that we embrace.

CAN’T STOP A BADGER wisc.edu

DAWN

61

CURB

5115 Vilas Hall, 821 University Ave. Madison, Wisconsin 53706 Curb is produced and published every fall by a class of students in the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Complimentary copies are distributed to thousands of alumni across the state.

WHERE HANDS ON MEETS WORLD CLASS J-School students get access to a world-class, hands-on education that sets them up to be the most experienced writer, presenter and thinker in the room.