Milwaukee's Daily Magazine Friday, Jan. 9, 2009
Today
Hi: 28
Lo: 17
Sat
Hi: 24
Lo: 11
Sun
Hi: 26
Lo: 20
Section Sponsor
Article Tools
Print this Article
Make text larger
In Politics Briefs
Performance art at the polls
Michael Pettit performs "Because You Vote."  
By Molly Snyder Edler RSS Feed
OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer

E-mail author | Author bio
More articles by Molly Snyder Edler

Published Nov. 4, 2008 at 10:08 a.m.
Tags: election '08, performance art, my vote performs, voting

If you plan to vote later today, it's possible you'll see free performances by nationally recognized performance artists. The performances -- which range from original music to dance to video -- will take place at 11 different polling places throughout the city.

My Vote Performs (MVP) produced the program, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the United States.

The polling sites, located all over the city, include the Pulaski Indoor Swimming Pool, the Wisconsin Humane Society, the United Community Center and Albright United Methodist Church.

At most sites, artists will create 5- to 10-minute pieces that will be presented every 20 or 30 minutes between the highest-volume polling hours of 4-8 p.m. In addition to music, dance and video, projects will include recorded sound, puppetry, interactive sculpture and poetry.

The projects will not interfere with people voting and will celebrate and encourage discussion about citizenship.

Artists involved include Ted Brusubardis, Brent Budsberg, Raoul Deal, Mark Escribano, Dasha Kelly, Debra Loewen, Shana McCaw, Harvey Opgenorth, Michael Pettit, John Schneider, Jill Sebastian, Renato Umali and Steve Wetzel.

The Wisconsin State Elections Division and the Milwaukee Election Commission approved the project, and writer and historian John Gurda endorsed the performances.

"My Vote Performs is in the very best tradition of Milwaukee's civic life. Our political ancestors believed passionately in something they called 'public enterprise.' What better way to honor that spirit than through public performances at public polling places on the very day the public chooses its next leaders?" says Gurda.

For a complete list of participating polling places and performers, go here.



More Information ...
MVP offers a free forum featuring all of the performances at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, 273 E. Erie St., on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m.

Post a comment / write a review.

Recent blogs/briefs by Molly Snyder Edler
Elite fitness wants your fattening food
Wednesday
Drop off any leftover holiday snacks to the holiday goodies return table at one of Elite's ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. New Year brings thoughts about optimism
Tuesday
For the record, I consider myself to be an optimist, however, I know there is such a thing ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. 10 bars / restaurants I want to frequent in 2009
Jan. 02, 2009
I just made a list of places I want to check out -- or spend more time in -- during the ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Popular appetizers: 1960-present
Jan. 01, 2009
Because I'm in snack-making mode, I thought a lot about hors d'oeuvres lately, and for ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. The attack of annoying movie watchers
Dec. 29, 2008
Within the confines of one packed theater, just about every movie-watching stereotype ...