- Friday, Jan. 6 through Feb. 26 The Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts will open an exhibit featuring the work of Dean Valadez entitled “Our Plastic Visage and the Rainbow Machine Complex. The Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. An open reception will take place on Friday, January 27, from 6:30 to 8 pm. RSVP by calling (262) 781-9520 or e-mail rsvp@wilson-center.com and write “dean” in the subject line. Valadez uses an imagery that feels much like a deconstruction of space and matter. Using acrylic, paper collage, and printing, Valadez creates futuristic, mechanical worlds in his works. Valadez’s earlier work draws inspiration from George Orwell’s book 1984 and focuses on the ways in which technology shapes our experience.
- Tuesday, Jan. 10 Kapco Metal Stamping in partnership with Coins of America will host a blood drive for the Blood Center of Wisconsin from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Kapco headquarters, 1000 Badger Circle in Grafton. Members of the public are encouraged to spare an hour of their time, and sign up to donate. To register, call Val at 262-377-6500 or make an online appointment at www.bcw.edu/KAPCO110.
- Saturday, Jan. 14 First Stage Children’s Theatre Steps Series presents Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus., a performance based on the books by Mo Willems, at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 325 W. Walnut St. This interactive theater experience is part of First Stage’s First Steps Series, designed to introduce children ages 3 to 6 to live theater in an engaging and lively environment. The show will run through Sunday, Feb. 5. Tickets can be purchased for $10 online at www.firststage.org or by phone at the First Stage Box Office at 414-267-2961.
- Thursday, Jan. 19 The Milwaukee Center for Independence (MCFI) will host a professional conference series entitled “Confronting the Crisis: The correlation between childhood poverty and disability.” The conference will take place at the MCFI Conference Center, 2020 W. Wells St., in Milwaukee from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The half-day conference explores the real-world consequences of childhood poverty, and what needs to be done now to address the issues presented by record levels of poverty in our community. The keynote presentation will be conducted by Walton Schalick physician supervisor and assistant medical director at the Central Wisconsin Center, Institute for Research on Poverty, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Geri Lyday, administrator for Milwaukee County, Disabilities Services Division; Kimberly Kampschroer, homeless education coordinator at Milwaukee Public Schools and Shirley Moutry, Ph.D., LaVerne Jackson-Harvey, Ph.D. and Janice Duff, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Office of Urban Education will also weigh in. Cost to attend is $20 per person, including a continental breakfast and materials. To register, contact Dawn Nelson, MCFI Resource Specialist, at 414.937.2030, or via email at dawn.nelson@mcfi.net. Participants may also register online at http://tinyurl.com/116pov.
- Thursday, Feb. 16 SummerStage will host its fourth annual “Break-A-Leg Gala” from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Seven Seas Grand Ballroom in Hartland just off Highway 83. This year’s theme is “Rock Around the Clock – A Look Back to the 50s and 60s. Highlights of the evening will include a raffle, silent auction, dinner, and live entertainment featuring local performers, and special SummerStage announcements.
Cost to attend is $60 per person or $480 for a table of eight. Tickets for the event may be purchased in advance on line at www.Summer-Stage.org.
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