Mutts on Main - 2019

Waunakee's 5th Annual Public Art Project

Summary:

The Village of Waunakee, in partnership with the Endres Mfg. Company and the Waunakee Area Chamber of Commerce, is happy to announce the fifth annual Waunakee Public Art Project. Last year’s project, Barrels on Parade, was successful in continuing to build upon the creative and innovative identity of Waunakee. The Village and its partners would like to build on this project and see it taken even further, including expanding on another facet of Waunakee’s heritage.

This year’s project is called Mutts on Main, and will highlight Waunakee’s love for our best friends, our dogs. Endres Mfg. Company will once again donate time, labor, and materials to provide our artists with steel mutt cutouts. A $300 stipend (half from Endres Mfg. Company and half from the Waunakee Area Chamber of Commerce) will be provided to each artist or artist team. Those interested in applying must currently live or work within the school district limits of Waunakee, or be a graduate of the Waunakee Community School District.

All of the finished mutts will be displayed at various businesses downtown this summer. For further details and how to apply, see below.

Project Description:

Artists will be assigned a steel mutt cutout sitting on a steel base (German Pointer, Dachshund, or German Shepard). For measurements and exact shape, please see the links below. The artist is completely free to determine theme, materials, and general direction of the final product.

Finished mutts will be placed at various downtown businesses for one month. A plaque on the base will include artist information and credits, as well as information for Endres Mfg. Company and the Waunakee Area Chamber of Commerce. After the mutts are removed from view, they will be auctioned off to the community at Wauktoberfest. Proceeds will support projects that benefit the community through the Waunakee Creative Economy Initiative and the Endres Foundation.

Dachshund Specifications

German Shepard Specifications

German Pointer Specifications 

Goals: 

  • Continue to develop a sense of place and artistic identity within Waunakee and surrounding regions 
  • Build off of the success of last year’s project and make public art a point of interest for the Village
  • Strengthen the relationship between Waunakee businesses and citizens through art and creativity
  • Promote the downtown area through commerce, partnerships, and increased foot traffic  

Whats Happening Now: 
Mutts were awarded to selected applicants during the weeks of July 8th and 15th. Artist's have been working hard to create their masterpieces. Again this year, we were extremely impressed with the creativity of our community. Below are the (8) selected Artists/Artist Teams:

  • Heidi Lezotte & Matt Smith
  • Todd Miller
  • Don Spencer
  • Kayla Proctor
  • Abby Wilson
  • Gina Tiziani-Beck
  • Mike Chamberlin
  • Sophie Wagner-Mark, Ruby Marx, Simon Marx, Violet Marx & Justin Marx

What's happening next?
On Thursday, August 8th from 5:00 -7:00 PM, we held the Mutts on Main Artist Reception and Kickoff Party at the Waunakee Area Chamber of Commerce Depot (100 W Main St). The artists were present to talk about their creations and answer questions regarding technique, materials used, subject matter and more. Thank you to everyone that came out to the Depot to celebrate the creativity that exists in our community!

On August 9th the Mutts were placed inside various business locations around the Village. Click here for more details on where to find the Mutts through the rest of the summer. Then, on Sunday, September 15th at 3:30 PM, the Mutts will be auctioned off during the Wauktoberfest event. Details on the Auction process will be available soon.

Timeline:

Friday, May 24: Submissions from Artists Open

Friday, June 28: Submissions from Artists Due (Deadline extended to July 12)

Week of July 1: Selection Committee meets, accepted artists will be notified

Week of July 8: Mutts and stipends are picked up by artists from Endres Mfg. Company

Thursday, August 8: Completed mutts are due to the Waunakee Area Chamber of Commerce Depot
                                    Artist Reception & Kickof Party at Chamber of Commerce Depot from 5:00 - 7:00 PM 

Friday, August 9: Mutts go on display at various Waunakee businesses

Sunday, September 15 at 3:30 PM: WauktoberFest auction of Mutts on Main art pieces