Hidden Treasures of Dane County mural unveiling at City-County Building

April 18, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts: Jonathan Zarov, Director of Marketing 608.354.0149, 608.335.2783; Sharon Kilfoy, DAMA Director, 608.658.3736

Madison, Wis. — Dane Arts Mural Arts and Madison Children’s Museum will dedicate a new mural, Hidden Treasures of Dane County, Friday April 21, 2 to 3 p.m., in the City-County Building, near the Carroll Street entrance. The mural, painted in a stairwell, showcases the seasons of Dane County through the drawings of children. It’s the newest project of Design to Move: Stair Trek, an initiative of the children’s museum partnering with many other community organizations.

The dedication will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony and brief remarks by Madison Children’s Museum President and CEO Deb Gilpin and others. Light refreshments will be served. The public is invited.

The new mural was designed and painted by Dane Arts Mural Arts.

The mural reflects the local community, which also played a large part in creating it. The “Life in Dane County” theme was created and honed from community listening sessions, conducted by museum and DAMA staff. The design for the mural was created by local artist Rhea Ewing. She used drawings from local children, who were asked to draw their favorite locations and activities in Dane County. DAMA lead artists Alicia Rheal and Emida Roller painted the final mural.

Visitors are encouraged to find images of dozens of animals native to Dane County, which are hidden throughout the mural.

The first Design to Move: Stair Trek project, Core to Cosmos, was unveiled in February at the children’s museum.

Design to Move: Stair Trek is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, The Richard B. Anderson Family Foundation, Diane Ballweg, the Pyle Foundation, Endres Mfg. Company Foundation, Jim Berbee & Karen Walsh, Dane Arts with support from the Evjue Foundation, Healthy Kids Collaborative and the American Family Children’s Hospital, Trek Bicycle, and Madison Arts Commission with support from the Wisconsin Arts Board. Madison Children’s Museum has received additional contributions from the Play Everywhere Challenge, a collaborative grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, KaBOOM!, Target, Playworld, the U.S. Department for Housing & Urban Development, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The project relies on the collaboration and partnership of American Family Children’s Hospital, Bayview Foundation, Urban Land Interests, Dane Arts, Healthy Kids Collaborative, Madison Arts Commission, Madison Fire Department, One City Early Learning Center, University of Wisconsin Department of Art, UW Health, The YWCA Madison, and many departments within the City of Madison and Dane County.

Related releases
New exhibit, Stair Trek: Core to Cosmos set to open February 1, 2017
Madison Children’s Museum Named Winner in KaBOOM! $1 Million Play Everywhere Challenge
Madison Children’s Museum plans Design to Move: Stair Trek with help of major grants