\
What do you get when a poet, a clarinetist, a lawyer, a foundation director, and an artist walk into a bar?
A. A hangover
B. A lawsuit
C. A home for the arts
D. A Multi- Million Dollar investment in downtown Fond du Lac
E. Both C and D
Last time we left off with the Masons and the completion of their 88 year tenure in 51 Sheboygan Street. Now we’re up to something called the Fond du Lac Arts Council. To answer last week’s question “What the hell is a wind hover?” we have to first answer what the hell is “The Fond du Lac Arts Council?”
In 1991, the executive director of the Fond du Lac Area Foundation, Sandi Roehrig, brought together an impressive local grouping of community advocates, artists, and decision makers to create an organization to support and promote the wide variety of arts groups in Fond du Lac. This group became known as the Fond du Lac Arts Council. A board was formed, the IRS confirmed not-for-profit status, and Dr. Ray Wifler was elected the first board president.
Doc Wifler has been a fixture for music students for 40 years but he is better known for his portrait adorning the South wall of Mike’s Music….ok you may know him better as the conductor/maestro/grand poobah of the Fond du Lac Symphonic Band. But that mural is so cool….
A. A hangover
B. A lawsuit
C. A home for the arts
D. A Multi- Million Dollar investment in downtown Fond du Lac
E. Both C and D
Last time we left off with the Masons and the completion of their 88 year tenure in 51 Sheboygan Street. Now we’re up to something called the Fond du Lac Arts Council. To answer last week’s question “What the hell is a wind hover?” we have to first answer what the hell is “The Fond du Lac Arts Council?”
In 1991, the executive director of the Fond du Lac Area Foundation, Sandi Roehrig, brought together an impressive local grouping of community advocates, artists, and decision makers to create an organization to support and promote the wide variety of arts groups in Fond du Lac. This group became known as the Fond du Lac Arts Council. A board was formed, the IRS confirmed not-for-profit status, and Dr. Ray Wifler was elected the first board president.
Doc Wifler has been a fixture for music students for 40 years but he is better known for his portrait adorning the South wall of Mike’s Music….ok you may know him better as the conductor/maestro/grand poobah of the Fond du Lac Symphonic Band. But that mural is so cool….
Following a late night gig with Doc and the Jazz Box, the astute Ray Wifler notices a for sale sign in front of the Masonic Temple. Perhaps it was the pillars, or the mysterious symbols throughout, but the building spoke to Ray like no other building ever did. “How’s it going Ray?” Shortly thereafter, The Arts Council begins to ponder the need for a home, a headquarters, a spa, a room of their own, a place to hide from the cops.
Thanks to the help of National Exchange Bank and Trust, Dick Wehner, & Lindsey Bovinet, the Arts Council purchased the Masonic Temple. The rest is history. Right?….wrong…..the rest is hard, panicked, back-breaking, labor-filled with white-knuckled moments that make it all worthwhile. And we’re just talking the years 1995-1997!
The Arts Council re-christens the building The Fond du Lac Art Center and begins to rehab the building in earnest as well as creating programming for the community: the Children’s Chorale, Shakespeare on the Street, Searl Pickett, Movies on the Telly, a writers corner. Keep in mind these programs are going on at the same time volunteers (Mary Wehner, Terri Jones) are on their hands and knees pulling up carpet and asbestos.
But to really transform the center, the Arts Council was going to have to get serious about fund raising and this is where we finally answer the question “what the hell is a wind hover?” But I’m tired now and need my beauty sleep. I know I’m beautiful, but I have to work at it. So we’ll pick up the story of the century next week (hah!).
Answer to the quiz: E. That was easy. But do you know who the poet, the clarinetist, the lawyer, the artist, and the foundation director were?
Thanks to the help of National Exchange Bank and Trust, Dick Wehner, & Lindsey Bovinet, the Arts Council purchased the Masonic Temple. The rest is history. Right?….wrong…..the rest is hard, panicked, back-breaking, labor-filled with white-knuckled moments that make it all worthwhile. And we’re just talking the years 1995-1997!
The Arts Council re-christens the building The Fond du Lac Art Center and begins to rehab the building in earnest as well as creating programming for the community: the Children’s Chorale, Shakespeare on the Street, Searl Pickett, Movies on the Telly, a writers corner. Keep in mind these programs are going on at the same time volunteers (Mary Wehner, Terri Jones) are on their hands and knees pulling up carpet and asbestos.
But to really transform the center, the Arts Council was going to have to get serious about fund raising and this is where we finally answer the question “what the hell is a wind hover?” But I’m tired now and need my beauty sleep. I know I’m beautiful, but I have to work at it. So we’ll pick up the story of the century next week (hah!).
Answer to the quiz: E. That was easy. But do you know who the poet, the clarinetist, the lawyer, the artist, and the foundation director were?
Comments
If you are beautiful, I'm Arnold Palmer.
You still alive?!