Rhinelander, WI

Scroll to learn more about Rhinelander’s Arts For EveryBody project

Rhinelander, WI

Scroll to learn more about Rinelander’s Arts For EveryBody project

Photos captured by Scout Tufankjian

Rhinelander, WI

On July 27th, ArtStart, the City of Rhinelander, local artists and youth skaters partnered to create “Push Against Loneliness,” a day celebrating community and belonging in Rhinelander. The event kicked off with a Skate Jam celebrating the proposed location for Rhinelander’s new skate park, petitioned in 2021 by youth activist and skater group, Over It!. Attendees then engaged in a “March Against Social Isolation” to the site of the new, interactive public sculpture, designed by artists Witt Siasoco and Norma Dycus Pennycuff. Following the sculpture dedication, the day featured various art activities, a tree planting, and concluded with a community meal and entertainment by local performing artists.

ArtStart, a community arts organization, is leading the project in Rhinelander alongside the City Council. The team is working with area healthcare providers and social service organizations on addressing mental health and isolation. They are working with local youth to co-design and build a new skatepark with integrated art elements and youth arts opportunities to provide an ongoing oasis of gathering, creativity and support for teenagers. They are also working with the county’s Aging and Disability Resource Center on art programs for adults with memory loss. Both projects are creating ongoing opportunities for art creation as a space for connection and social cohesion. The project will culminate in July 2024 with the installation of a public sculpture by artists Witt Siasoco and Norma Dycus Pennycuff. The piece Push Against Loneliness will consist of two parts: 1. Sculpture Installation located in the Beach House at Hodag Park in Rhinelander and 2. Series of Poetic Banners hung along the Hodag Park pathway. On Saturday, July 27 the team will culminate the project with an event consisting of performances and a community meal.

Meet The Team

Ashley McLaughlin

Program and Operations Director, ArtStart
Ashley McLaughlin, a Rhinelander native, has always been passionate about nonprofits and the arts. McLaughlin is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point where she studied public relations and communication and focused on nonprofit work.
She has lead community nonprofits for over 15 years, most recently as the Director of The Fix Is In, Inc., a mobile spay, neuter clinic. In 2015, McLaughlin began as a gallery assistant volunteer and coordinator at ArtStart. Her passion for the organization grew, and in early 2017, she joined ArtStart staff as the Program and Operations Director.
From childhood to adulthood, McLaughlin has participated heavily in arts education. She enrolled in art classes throughout her education in the Rhinelander School District and at Nicolet Area Technical College. Her areas of artistic interest are in ceramics, soft pastel drawing, and acrylic painting.
Beyond ArtStart, McLaughlin enjoys the northwoods lifestyle and the uniqueness of Rhinelander’s bountiful lakes. She and her young family recreate through watersports, kayaking, fishing, snowshoeing, dog walking, hiking, and biking.
Carrie Mikalauski

City of Rhinelander Alderperson, Social Service Aide/Kinship Care Coordinator for Oneida County Dept. of Social Services
Carrie Mikalauski has been the District 3 Alderperson for the City of Rhinelander, Wisconsin since April 2020. In her role as Alderperson, Carrie sits on the Planning and Zoning Committee and represents the City as a Site Team Member for One Nation One Project.
Carrie works for the Oneida County Department of Social Services in the Protective Services Unit. This unit is in charge of all the protective services for both children and adult. Carrie is also a Kinship Care Coordinator, which includes a caseload of families providing care for their child relative that has been placed outside of their parental home.
Carrie has been married to her husband, Brian for over 25 years and they have one adult daughter, Kaydee. In Carrie’s spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, camping, watching/playing sports and serving her community. Carrie also loves the companionship of her two dogs, Cooper and Korbin.
Melinda Childs

Community & Cultural Development Director , ArtStart
As Community and Cultural Development Director for ArtStart in Rhinelander Childs focuses on Arts Based Community Development in rural settings. She leads collaborative community projects that span sustainability, economic development, youth advocacy, and cultural inclusion. Recent projects include working with local youth on a skatepark feasibility study for the CIty of Rhinelander, gallery and public art curation for Nicolet College, co-coordinating Project North, a music, art and sustainability festival, and launching a Northwoods JEDI initiative. Prior to moving to Rhinelander Childs was Director of Artists Services and a consultant for rural placemaking at Forecast Public Art in St. Paul, MN. In this role Childs designed professional and economic development training programs for artists and communities. Childs studied at the University of MN where she created an individualized degree focused on Art and Social Change with emphasis on Urban Studies, Geography, and Art. In addition to her work with ArtStart, Childs owns a frame shop and art gallery with her husband Jaron who is also an artist. The couple live in the woods with their two children, two dogs, a mess of chickens and lots of gardens.
Norma Dycus Pennycuff

Artist
Norma Dycus Pennycuff is an analogue photographer and cyanotype artist living in Eagle River, Wisconsin. A change of studio locations brought her to ArtStart of Rhinelander Wisconsin, where she is currently an artist in residence. Norma often draws on past experience working with families experiencing dementia or autism to influence the workshops and events she designs. She can be found on instagram at @artistic.norma
Witt Siasoco

Artist
Witt Siasoco is a community-based visual artist living and working in Minneapolis, MN. Witt's practice is rooted in conversation and making art that catalyzes civic dialogue and collective action. Throughout his career, Witt has created community-engaged projects including This Home is Not for Sale, an Americans for the Arts' Public Art Award recipient; Drawing on Rice Street, a large-scale installation distilling over 200 conversations with St. Paul residents; and Carry On Homes Northeast, an installation focused on immigrant participation in the 2020 Census. You check out more of Witt's work at wittsiasoco.com.

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