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Category: Arts & Humanities

Madison Tibetans celebrate the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday

The Cap Times

Richard J. Davidson, founder of the University of Wisconsin Center for Healthy Minds, reflected on the Dalai Lama’s influence on neuroscience.

“When I first met His Holiness in 1992, there were three scientific papers published on the effects of meditation,” he said. “Now there are thousands. This has been a legacy that will live on for many, many years and has transformed our understanding of the human mind and the human heart.”

Column: Where are the shows about regular people fighting back?

Chicago Tribune

Author Kashana Cauley began her career as an attorney before shifting to writing for TV (including the animated Fox series “The Great North” and “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah”) and as a novelist.

“I’m a first-generation college student, so nobody in my family really knew what college was for, how to get there or what it is you might do with such a degree. I don’t think that’s uncommon among Black American families; only two or three generations of us have been going to college. So I did my undergrad in economics and political science at the University of Wisconsin, but I had no idea how you got a job because I didn’t know you were supposed to get jobs through your friends’ parents; my parents sent me to college so I didn’t have to work on the assembly line at General Motors like my dad, so I was completely confused.”

UW-Madison’s Black Males in Engineering Video Series wins prestigious Telly Award

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

The Black Males in Engineering (BME) video series, led by UW-Madison School of Education faculty member Dr. Brian Burt, recently received a Silver Telly Award in the Campaign – Education & Training category. The honor recognizes non-broadcast video campaigns created for general educational purposes and underscores the series’ impact on addressing critical gaps in STEM education support.

Madison architect Kenton Peters dead at 93. Here are some of his best-known projects

Wisconsin State Journal

A UW-Madison alumnus and former Badgers football player, Peters began his career in Madison in the early 1960s and was a prominent figure in the city’s development scene into the 2000s. He designed and built two of the high-rise condominiums now overlooking Lake Monona, including the metallic Marina building, among numerous other distinctive projects Downtown, on the UW-Madison campus and throughout the region. Many are still standing — and standing out — today.

Madison musicians, artists collaborate at Next Wave

The Cap Times

On the last weekend in June, artist and recent University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate Ava Albelo organized “Cog in the Machine” at Next Wave Studios, a multimedia production space on Madison’s east side.

Albelo said she funded the project with a grant from the UW-Madison Art Department. She hoped younger people would come to the show “and be interested in the artwork and ask questions and enjoy the music.”

Here’s a sample of the common readers colleges are assigning this year

Forbes

Duke University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison are both assigning “James” by Percival Everett as their common reader. The novel is a fiercely satiric and darkly funny reimagining of Mark Twain’s American classic, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” told from Jim’s point of view. It won both the National Book Award for 2024 and the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

From Lainey Wilson to Megan Thee Stallion, best and worst of Summerfest 2025’s Weekend 2

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Summerfest’s talent team has been dealing with several cancellations (including from Whiskey Myers, Nessa Barrett, Nettspend, Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony and Milwaukee rap star Chicken P, who was arrested), and finding some solid last-minute replacements, including University of Wisconsin-Madison alum Yung Gravy and Bow Wow.

She wanted to meet women. Instead, she cemented herself in D.C. history.

The Washington Post

Although there were other publications focused on Black lesbians, most were geared toward their own cities, according to Emerald Rutledge, a PhD candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison whose research interests focus on 20th century Black gay and lesbian literature. Aché (1989-1993) and Onyx (1982-1984) — two Black lesbian-focused outlets — were based in San Francisco; Venus (1995-2007) was originally based in Atlanta but eventually moved to New York.

“You could see [the magazines] as a first encounter for people looking for community who may be closeted or socially isolated,” said Rutledge.

Madison’s residency programs support creativity across disciplines

Madison Magazine

At the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Department hosts an elder-in-residence for a week each semester. Writers-in-residence at the Illuminating Discovery Hub, housed within UW–Madison’s Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, can craft anything from play scripts to music with the Institute’s support — so long as the work features or portrays science in some way.

Artists who don’t fit the bill there can consider two options at UW–Madison’s Division of the Arts: the Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program or the International Visiting Artist Program.

Camp Randall neighborhood bustling ahead of Morgan Wallen performances

Channel 3000

A trio of trailers emblazoned with Morgan Wallen’s image arrived at Camp Randall Stadium Wednesday morning, bringing loads of sound, stage and lighting equipment for what will be the venue’s first concert in 28 years.

The Grammy-nominated country artist will perform two shows this weekend at the home of “Jump Around,” marking a historic return of live music to the stadium that last hosted a concert when The Rolling Stones performed in 1997.

What to know about Morgan Wallen’s Madison concerts at Camp Randall Stadium

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Morgan Wallen is days away from creating more Wisconsin history. In 2023, the country music star became the first artist to headline a Wisconsin stadium for two consecutive nights when he kicked off the North American leg of his “One Night at a Time” tour at American Family Field.

Now, he’s going to be the first musical artist to headline a concert at Madison’s Camp Randall Stadium in the 21st century, with the stadium’s last concert coming in 1997.

‘Girl dads’ are taking over the internet. Is that a good thing?

USA Today

A true shift in what parenting means is more likely to come when raising kids isn’t categorized along the lines of “his” and “hers” at all, said Jessica Calarco, professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“Gender is more fluid than we give it credit for,” Calarco said. “Often these tropes become increasingly stereotypical the more they get used.”

La Crosse Concert Band rehearses ahead of free Riverside Park Concert

WKBT -- La Crosse

Corey Pompey, director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Marching Band, guest-conducted the La Crosse Concert Band during a rehearsal Tuesday at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

The American School Band Directors Association is hosting their Regional Conference in La Crosse, and in partnership with the band, the association invited Pompey to serve as both guest conductor and keynote speaker.

‘A sad blow to the Wisconsin Idea’: Hosts react to WPR cuts

The Cap Times

Emily Auerbach has co-hosted “University of the Air” for 30 years. She’s a UW-Madison English professor who directs the UW Odyssey Project, so she described her work on the show as “a labor of love.” Along with Norman Gilliland, she interviewed university faculty and other guests on a range of topics, such as the Salem witch trials, the Harlem Renaissance and dyslexia.

“It’s a way to take the brilliant minds that are at the university … and share that learning with a broader audience,” she said.

The best thing Virgil Abloh ever made? Himself.

Harper's Bazaar

Abloh was born in Rockford, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, to parents who immigrated from Ghana. A quiet but charming kid who was obsessed with skateboarding and music, he attended Catholic high school, then the University of Wisconsin, where he graduated with a degree in civil engineering. Abloh also received a masters in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and it was in this period when he started to become interested in the intersection of fashion, culture, and music.

Capitol City Band will celebrate Juneteenth as it opens 57th season on Thursday

Madison 365

Since 1981, Jim Latimer, a University of Wisconsin-Madison emeritus music professor, has been leading the Capitol City Band and conducting hundreds and hundreds of concerts. Ronald Reagan had just become president when Latimer first started conducting the band. “Is that right?” Latimer laughs. “I hadn’t thought of it in that context. But it has been a labor of love over these many years and I am so happy and proud to be involved with it.”

Harvard alum’s book focuses on ‘The Onion’

The Harvard Gazette

The Onion has been making fun of human folly since its founding by two undergrads at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1988. The mock news site has created satiric pieces so smart some believed them real, others that were just plain silly, and one headline (“‘No Way to Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens”) that has achieved a dark fame after being reposted after each U.S. mass shooting since 2014 Isla Vista, Calif., attack.

When crime fiction great Elmore Leonard came to Madison

Madison Magazine

Leonard first came in 1990, as keynote speaker for the first University of Wisconsin–Madison Writers’ Institute. Leonard was famous by then, having landed on the cover of Newsweek around the 1985 publication of his novel “Glitz.” 

The institute was produced by the UW–Madison Division of Continuing Studies. They had no budget for speakers. But “Get Shorty” had just been published, and Leonard was headed from his Detroit-area home to the west coast to promote it. 

“I’ll put you on my book tour,” Leonard told UW writing instructor Christine DeSmet. They need only pay expenses. “He was so kind,” DeSmet told me, years later. 

Why is everybody ‘crashing out’?

The New York Times

Kelly Elizabeth Wright, an assistant professor of language sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the lead editor of Among the New Words, said that it can be difficult to pinpoint when a phrase is created, and whether or not the language comes from African American Language or if it is just used within Black communities.

“I don’t think that it’s inaccurate to say that Black Twitter and other online spaces were using these terms maybe first or more visibly than when it was floating around in high school classrooms all across the country this year,” Dr. Wright said. “I also don’t think it’s inaccurate to say that young people online are using this term. I think both things can be true at the same time.”

UW-Madison to add Korean major amid popularity of K-pop and K-dramas

The Cap Times

When Ava You applied to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she looked to see if she could major in Korean.

“Honestly, I was a little disappointed considering they had a Chinese and a Japanese major already, but not Korean,” said You, an incoming sophomore at the flagship campus.

That will soon change when UW-Madison introduces a bachelor’s degree in Korean Language and Culture this fall. The Board of Regents, which oversees UW-Madison and the state’s 12 public universities, granted final approval this month. UW-Madison will be the first school in the Universities of Wisconsin to offer an undergraduate program in Korean.

I found power, confidence and calm at a poker table full of men

HuffPost

Poker puts into focus the same gender dynamics that can create anxiety for women in a patriarchal society, says Jessica Calarco, a sociologist, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and author of ”Holding It Together: How Women Became America’s Safety Net.” “You’re expected to read the room, stay composed, and manage risk — much like women do every day in a world that asks them to carry everything without appearing to struggle,” she tells me.

Jon Hickey explores belonging and tribal politics in debut novel, ‘Big Chief’

Wisconsin Public Radio

In an interview with WPR’s “Wisconsin Today,” Hickey, a University of Wisconsin-Madison alum, said it wasn’t easy writing about the nuances of tribal politics, especially because it was inspired by his own tribal community. He was worried about how the book would be received — whether he was going to get called out for getting something “completely wrong.” Instead, people embraced the story.

A hidden gem on campus: Inside UW-Madison’s Zoological Museum

The Daily Cardinal

All that most students see of the University of Wisconsin Zoological Museum (UWZM), located in the Noland Zoology Building, is the fourth floor staircase’s sign prohibiting entrance from all other than museum staff.

Behind the locked doors, however, the museum’s extensive collections of animal skins and skeletons serve as a powerful resource for research and learning.

‘Hippies have never gotten their due’: What to see at S.F.’s new Counterculture Museum

San Francisco Chronicle

Czeslawski is on a gap year after graduating from the University of Wisconsin. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life so I came to San Francisco for the first time, for inspiration,” she said.  “Anyone who comes here needs to set aside at least an hour or two,” added Czeslawki. “I’m really excited to look through the book collection. I’m looking for some Joan Didion.”

Country music is dominating Wisconsin’s summer concert season like never before in 2025

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

28: Years it’s been since Camp Randall Stadium at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has hosted a concert tour. Country superstar Morgan Wallen will end the drought June 28, then become the first artist ever to headline the stadium for two consecutive nights, with a second show on June 29.

Board needs to work with community to keep MPS Italian Immersion Program open

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

When I was a student at Rufus King, I took Spanish and Italian courses. Four years later, my younger brother Michael did the same.  After high school, I went on to study Italian at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and studied abroad in Italy. After graduation, I used my Italian language skills and taught 4-year-old kindergarten at the Italian Immersion School during the 2008-2009 school year.

Democratic troubles revive debate over left-wing buzzwords

The Washington Post

Honestly, Democrats trip over themselves in an attempt to say exactly the right thing,” said Allison Prasch, who teaches rhetoric, politics and culture at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. “Republicans maybe aren’t so concerned about saying exactly the right thing, so it may appear more authentic to some voters.”

She added: “Republicans have a willingness to paint with very broad brushstrokes, where Democrats are more concerned with articulating multiple perspectives. And, because of that, they can be hampered by the words and phrases they utilize.”

51 new books for summer reading in 2025

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“Saving Hearts and Killing Rats: Karl Paul Link and the Discovery of Warfarin” (HenschelHAUS Publishing), by Doug Moe. University of Wisconsin-Madison biochemist led the team that transformed spoiled sweet clover hay into both lifesaving medication and deadly rat poison. In his spare time, this man with strong opinions liked to spar with authority and rivals.

Erika Meitner reads Philip Levine with Kevin Young

The New Yorker

Erika Meitner joins Kevin Young to read “What Work Is,” by Philip Levine, and her own poem “To Gather Together.” Meitner’s books include “Useful Junk” and “Holy Moly Carry Me,” which won the 2018 National Jewish Book Award in Poetry. She is currently a Mandel Institute Cultural Leadership Program Fellow, and she’s the director of the M.F.A. program in creative writing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Wisconsin commemorates 50th anniversary of Hmong resettlement

Wisconsin Public Radio

Mai See Thao, a professor of anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told WPR’s “Wisconsin Today” that these resolutions are “long overdue.”

“Recognizing Hmong-Lao veterans is really important because they have never received the kinds of recognition that they’ve needed, given the fact that they supported the U.S. as proxy soldiers,” she said.

Wisconsin Triennial makes a showy splash on State Street

The Cap Times

John Hitchcock, a professor of printmaking in the Art Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, pitched “Ceremonial (Pow-wow ribbon chair)” specifically for the Icon staircase in the museum’s west-facing atrium.

“It is a really important moment in this three-year cycle,” said museum director Paul Baker Prindle, who took over as the head of the museum in 2024. “We’re celebrating 20 years in the building. We’re coming up on 125 years as an organization.

‘It’s a hit’: Trump’s NEA slashes grants for Madison-area arts groups

The Cap Times

In an Instagram story, Li Chiao-Ping Dance noted that its production of “Dirty Laundry” — a “multimedia dance theater work that explores Asian American identity, culture and historical events including the Stop Asian Hate movement” — no longer qualifies either. Produced by University of Wisconsin-Madison dance professor Li Chiao-Ping’s company, which is a resident of Overture Center, “Dirty Laundry” had been granted $15,000 over two years.

“This is a major setback to us all,” the company wrote, “but it won’t keep us down. I know we will all create the work anyway.”