The Arts and Culture News for January, 2021
A New Year: We Deserve it!
Well, here we are! The long awaited 2021... So long 2020, with your pandemic, your civil unrest, your sharp divisions... and welcome 2021, where we truly feel that there is hope, love, and myriad ways to find that elusive light at the end of this long tunnel! We at WCAB are really excited to continue to connect with our community, bringing creativity in the forms of music, art, writing, poetry and more! We have a lot of bold plans, and are so eager to get started! WE are also fortunate to have such an arts-rich, kind community, and are happy to share what is going on in and around Waupaca.

Let's start with a song... (caution: this is a slippery slope!!!) Here is one of our favorite versions of Auld Lang Syne, by James Taylor.. and another by a choir in Birmingham, that was just released on NPR... Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby give it a go....and then you have the Pentatonix version....and one more pandemic verison....this traditional Scottish song written by Robert Burns, is basically about "for old times sake." Never more appropriate than now, for as we bid good bye to 2020 and all of its challenges, we all have noticed silver linings...Go HERE to read more history of this world-renowned song.

Thanks to all who have told us that you like our new format! As always, we encourage you to browse through: see all the happenings and opportunities in our community, and if you feel curious, click on the bright blue links to take a deeper dive and get more details!
The members of the Waupaca Community Arts Board are full of optimism!
Sometimes at WCAB, we attempt to pace ourselves... and you would think that the pandemic would have put a damper on our ideas, but no... no, we seem to have even more ideas and projects than ever. And it is mostly because of the enthusiasm of our wonderful community: you have supported us, you have participated, and your feedback has been overwhelming:
"KEEP IT UP!!!"
Stay tuned for events: online, participatory, creative: to help us get through the long winter months and take us in to spring!

WCAB's Waupaca Local Live: January's Show will be spectacular!
Thursday, January 21 at 7pm on Facebook Live!
Sizzling horns, a rhythm section that hits like a jackhammer, and guitar that's as seductive as it is destructive. And at the forefront, Stephen Cooper. Combining rock, R&B, soul, jazz, blues, and funk like a musical mad scientist, he's drawn on 25 years of musical experience to create something truly special: a living, breathing musical conduit from the past to the present, guaranteed to bring you that feeling of the heart once again.

The show will be live on our Facebook page! Join in the fun!!!
Waupaca Local Live is collaborative venture between the WCAB, Waupaca's 96.3 FM radio and WAUP 99.1 fm radio. We seek to bring local and regional musical excellence to the airwaves! If you have suggestions for musical talent that you would like to hear on our show, send us a message via our Facebook page!
WCAB Winter Craft Cafe starts January 17!
WCAB has planned a series of 5 Winter crafts, with kits distributed through the winter months by our partner, the Waupaca Public Library.
From January 17-30, pick up your Luminary Kit.
The winter days of January are short and cold.  The golden glow of a candle is like giving a hug to those who see it. Create a paper bag luminary to light the night and share a hug. Our kits include a realistic battery tealight with automatic timer to make lighting safe, easy, and automatic! Help us give Waupaca a collective hug!
Bonus: Watch our website for information on a ZOOM lantern making class, for more advanced luminary making!
Go to our WEBSITE for more information!
Paul Wiegel is originally from Green Bay but now lives and writes from his home near the Fox River in Berlin. He has been writing and performing on-demand poems as a “street poet” on his 1957 Smith Corona manual typewriter for passersby at art galleries, farmers' markets, and festivals for the past five years. Paul's poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Hermeneutic Chaos Journal, The English Journal, Yellow Chair Review, and Eunoia Review.
PUBLICATIONS/AWARDS:
Winner of the John Gahagen Poetry Prize, 2014 & 2015
First place in the Lakefly Writers Conference Poetry Contest
WCAB's January Online Poetry Classes with Wisconsin poet Paul Weigel
WCAB and the Waupaca Public Library are sponsoring 2 poetry classes, to help aspiring poets learn more about writing poetry. Taught by Wisconsin Poet Paul Wiegel, these classes will be online via ZOOM. There is no cost, but pre-registration is required. Visit our website for more information!
Class Descriptions: The Short Poems workshops will focus on crafting tightly worded poems. We will brainstorm ideas, determine which language matters most, and then work toward drafting poems that get to the heart of the poem's core meaning.
Session one: January 21, 6:30 pm: we will work on writing one short free verse poem (less than 10 lines),
Session tow: January 28, 6:30 pm: we will focus on the Japanese form of haiku.
During both sessions, class participants will have opportunities to share ideas with others and provide feedback, or simply work at their own pace.

Visit WCAB for more info!
The Waupaca Area Arts and Culture Network
The Waupaca Area Arts and Culture Network is a monthly meeting of Waupaca's arts and cultural organizations, city and business leaders, who share information, mutually support each other, and work together on events that enrich our community. We have held several collaborative events including the Yuletide Trail, Make Music Day and are planning a 2021 Arts and Culture Summit.
The WAACN meets at 6 pm on the 4th Thursday of each month, on ZOOM! Join us! Send us a FB message to get the zoom link!
Yuletide Trail Update:
  • We sold all of the Hygge tins! Stay tuned for next year's historic tin!
  • If you missed the Yuletide Trail event this year, go to our Facebook page for highlights. You will find both the full and the edited versions of the Livestream concert form Danes Hall on this page.
  • To view the Holiday stories, go to the Library's you tube channel, here!
Other January Happenings... in and around our community!
Events, classes, stress relief and local artisan shopping!
Participants will try to catch the biggest Northern, Bluegill, and Perch with prizes awarded for the biggest fish caught in each category. You can fish anywhere, ensuring state laws and physically distancing recommendations are adhered to.

Go HERE for more information!
Rotary Christmas Tree Pickup on January 9, 2021!
The Waupaca Rotary Club will be cruising around town with a huge truck, to pick up your 2020 pandemic (natural) Christmas Trees! They will start their rounds early, so have your tree on the curb by 7 am. They are accepting donations for this wonderful community service. For more information, visit their Facebook page!
We miss our patrons but want everyone to stay safe and healthy as we move forward into 2021! Therefore, we will continue to hand out wonderful Craft Kits, offer Curbside Services and virtual programming for our patrons in January as Covid conditions dictate.
Waupaca Area Public Library
The library is hosting a NEW Tall and Small Book Club on Saturday, Jan. 23. It is a virtual book club for young readers and their adult reading pals to enjoy and explore wonderful children's chapter books. "Wishtree" by Katherine Applegate will be the first book discussed in January. Please register in advance for this event:

As always, check the Library's FB Page and Website regularly to see what sorts of things they are doing for our community!
8 Hours of local music on 96.3 January 1, 1-9pm
Our local community radio station will be presenting an 8 hour playlist of local Waupaca Local Live shows on New Year's Day! Tune in for some great archived shows!

Go here for the schedule of musicians!
There are so many resources at this Iola based center, so be sure to check out their website.
And on Tuesday mornings at 9 am, log on to their Facebook Page for "Ten Minute Tuesdays" for a guided meditation exercise that will help you start your day with a calm and peaceful state of mind.

At Artha Yoga Studio, you can still attend yoga classes, albeit virtual... live online Yoga classes take place on ZOOM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays!

You can also access many resources including articles, links and yoga readings via their website. For example:

“All true artists, whether they know it or not, create from a place of no-mind from inner stillness.” ~ Eckhart Tolle
The Waupaca HIstorical Society
Where in Waupaca on Wednesday?—Check out the Waupaca Historical Society’s Facebook page for updates on the Society, peeks into their collections and stories of Waupaca and Chain O’Lakes history! On Wednesdays, try to figure out Where in Waupaca the Society’s photograph has been taken! Then, check back on Thursday for the answer and some local history.
The Holly Center is open for appointments only. If interested in doing some research or viewing the exhibits, please call (715) 256-9980 or email us.
 
“Safer at Home” community cookbook are still available at several locations! Cookbooks are $10, and all monies go toward the Waupaca Historical Society and the Waupaca Area Public Library. Cookbooks can be purchased at the Holly History and Genealogy Center, the Waupaca Area Public Library, and Northern Home. Get yours today and support two great local organizations!
The Chamber is planning for 2021 Strawberry Fest - Saturday, June 19, 2021 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm - Downtown Waupaca!
Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce
If you are an Arts and Crafts Vendor, a Nonprofit group or a Vendor/Reseller, find our APPLICATION HERE. We would love to have you be part of this wonderful annual event!

Due to Main Street Re-Construction, we will be in a new temporary location.
We will be utilizing Trinity Lutheran Church’s parking lot and Jefferson St.
Applications Accepted until June 1st or until the show is full.
Fox Cities Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
January 18, 6pm, online
Please join the Fox Cities Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration hosted by African Heritage, Inc. and Lawrence University Diversity and Intercultural Center
This event will be online and you must register to attend. Due to contract restrictions, this program will not be live on FB or anywhere else so please register!
The Waupaca School District has put together an incredible resource page called the Virtual Calming Room. The Waupaca School District Virtual Calming Room was created as a place for students, parents, staff and the community to find tools to help manage stress, anxiety, feelings and emotions.
There is something for everyone, including sounds and music, fascinating animal cams, guided meditation, coloring, puzzles,and recommended apps.
Best thing we have seen in a long time, check it out!!!!
Do you, your relative, or a friend down the road, need help shoveling? Give me a call at (715)252-0986. Feel free to share with relatives or friends!
No matter the reason, my family is willing and able to help our neighbors, so please don't hesitate. A lot or a little, we want to make sure you can get out of your house. This is contact-less shoveling, no money is required, just an address and any additional information. Whether it's your health, a late shift, Covid keeping relatives away or you just need a break, we're here for you!
To discover more fun online events, go here!
Virtual Guided Tour of the Louvre Museum in Paris
January 7 at 6pm
We can't go to Paris right now, but we can virtually visit the Louvre Museum! Learn the history and explore the works of art in the most famous museum in the world!
Go HERE for more info on this exciting opportunity!
And finally....good bye 2020...hello new year!!!
What are your New Year's Traditions? Do you make resolutions? Have festive food? Watch the ball drop from afar on New Year's Eve, watch football on New Year's Day? What ever it is that you do, we at WCAB wish you the very best, and hope that we all enter 2021 with intentions of love, light and a kinder community. Happy New Year, Waupaca. And, here's one more beautiful version of...