Primetime Wisconsin; 101

Welcome to PRIME TIME Wisconsin. The weekly arts and entertainment magazine produced by Wisconsin public television. On tonight's program the horn sounds and the hunt is on for an imaginary and very elusive fox putting hounds horses and riders through their paces We'll have a profile of sculptor Dave Constantine an artist so fascinated by wildlife. He spends as much time on research as he does on his meticulous carvings and we'll will also stir in a little homegrown music by the Rousers to round out this half hour of prime time Wisconsin. Here's your host Carlos Begun. Good evening and welcome to our new weekly series prime time Wisconsin is an arts and entertainment series that we hope you'll find different from other magazine programs. Our focus is a little closer to home for one thing celebrating Wisconsin people places and lifestyles that contribute to what's called our quality of life. As an example back in October residents of Winnebago County celebrated a major accomplishment in historic preservation. It took several years and millions of dollars to bring about the effort involved hundreds of volunteers and the dedication of a

staunch few who refused to let a historic landmark die. Producer Dean Thomas takes us back to the night when their fantasy was transformed into regal reality. Opening night. It's always had a special magic for actor and audience alike. This opening night has taken over six years of planning and has cost just over three million dollars. Not out of the ordinary for a Broadway premiere Perhaps but this opening night is taking place in Oshkosh Wisconsin. And it's the reopening of a theater itself one of Northeastern Wisconsin's most visible landmarks the Grand Opera House. Theatre manager Henry Tim the theater was built in 1883 by William Walkers famous local architect in the next 20 or 30 years went through its heyday. There was great

pride and a great concern. Also you have to add into that the fact that in those days in the good old days live theater political debates visiting lectures that sort of thing was the public entertainment of the time. So the theater served a tremendous function the 50s the 60s it fell into decline with movies and reached its year as an X-rated movie house. The only X-rated national historical monument by the way for it was during the 70s when the porn films were being shown here that some of the Concerned Citizens succeeded in having it made a national historic monument Finally the brick facade of the once proud landmark began to crumble and the city of Oshkosh was forced to issue a raise or repair order in 1979 in an effort to save the Grand concerned citizens persuaded the city council to form the

Grand Opera House Advisory Board with Lynn Webster as its chair. This wasn't the favorite project in Oshkosh it really was one of those that has taken a long time. It's an emotional building and so just the same as the people who wanted it saved there were the other side which felt that a parking lot would've served downtown better the people of Oshkosh did vote their support in a citywide referendum by more than a two to one margin. A local architect Robert Yarbrough was retained to oversee the structural renovation. I think that the building is architecturally unique because it is the last thing that the city of Oshkosh has dating into its history. It's the last we have of our old buildings which were still worthy of renovating and rejuvenate. That's the important thing it has a lot of history it's all Oshkosh history.

You go over to Europe and they have buildings that are erected in 600 AD and they're still using. We don't have that. Ours are 200 years old they're really ancient I just can't see any more beautiful buildings being destroyed torn down It was the most fabulous decorating committee Betty McNichol has had an association with the Grand Opera House spanning over 40 years and she has acted on the grand stage many times. And I think we're just about a point here in Oshkosh we've just got to the realization that we've got to save buildings it has a warmth it's a medium sized theater and it has that personal feeling when you play it. You see the people you could play to this audience you could play to a house this size and you could play with them. And it's

lovely to be able to see the response from your audience. You look up at the proscenium arch the proportions are classically Renaissance the sweep of the hall in the auditorium classically European the box itself And this is part of the reason why the acoustics are so stunning. It's classically European all the proportions are there. So what have we got. We have an example of an antique theater which is straight out of the rich heritage of European theater development in history right here. You don't have to go to Florence. We don't have to go to Parma to see that we have it right here. I think it's more than just a place for the Performing Arts in the city it is has a very emotional draw and that they remember and they are always tied to happy times so that the building

has a very strong emotional pull to the local populace because of memories nostalgia It's my own personal fantasy that Sarah Bernhardt did appear in the grand on her last tour with the wooden leg and the cantalilies and all of that soon as we find real documentation for that by golly Her name's going up on the wall too We know that Eddie Foy performed here. We know the Marx Brothers were here Pat Boone was here and there are those who say that Anna Pavlova appeared here I think I think that's fairly fairly true. One other creature that appeared here I think maybe perhaps was Anna Held and her famous milk bath. She was one of the great 19th century silents

I came to Wisconsin parked in a Box car behind the theater I imported a lot of good Wisconsin films and then danced lasciviously on a table in a costume that revealed as much as a milky skim this was possible with a shaded and and wonderful history for a wonderful building. I think what you see is more and more theaters are being restored. And then along with that more and more cities are developing a festival attitude around it. And I think in time we will see a situation which we don't have to be either in the New York or Los Angeles in order to have a career in the arts and that's that's a very good thing to see. We need to witness our mythology and our foibles or fables. In the company of our peers shoulder to shoulder right next we need to hear each other's laughter. We need to sit in a room and and watch with horrors at a as realizes his individual fate. That is essential to our

human being. Those feelings are have to be communicated back and forth between actor and audience in and across audiences. That experience is one of the fundamental humanizing experiences we do it's a crucial absolutely important act of being human. [singing] [singing] The Wisconsin outdoors give us some of our greatest treasures for sculptor Dave Constantine it's the wildlife that he cherishes most. Our next piece produced by Art Jechno tells of Constantine's efforts to preserve wildlife through his own stylized form of wood sculpting.

I think that one of the main differences between an artist and just an illustrator is the artist can go out and connect with those feelings that one does derive from nature. He was able to incorporate that into his his art work. My goal is is not to turn out the most realistic bird carving that ever has been done no my my goal is to come somewhere close to that and incorporate enough style into my work that it can be recognized by just about anyone that's familiar with with wildlife art and carving and that's where I

want to be I want to be able to have enough style that that if anyone looks at that says hey I know who did that. The secluded rural setting of Dave Constantine's home studio near Durand Wisconsin is much more than a quiet space for an artist to live and work. It is an oasis that reflects a man's affection for nature wildlife and his love of the out of doors a refuge that provides continuing inspiration. Each and every day I spend some time in the woods. Whatever feelings are derived I think that they relate directly to my work and that I can use those feelings and incorporate them into my carving or my paintings or whatever I happen to be doing in regards to wildlife art at the time. I think some of the things that I incorporate into my work that are different things like butterflies that I carve along with the song birds and which would be the

main subject. And like on the blue jay piece specifically the derailleur which is also carved out of wood a little group of morel mushrooms which is kind of out of wood and then a lot of times just the little stones and sticks and blades of grass are either carved out of wood or made out of brass metal sheeting. With every carving that I do I try to have something a little bit subtle and a little bit unique in that it it's like a remark to the main subject. Although he's not obsessed in achieving the ultimate in realism Dave Constantine feels very strongly that accuracy and size proportion and color must be meticulously studied and maintained he will often spend as much time researching his subject as he does in the actual process of carving. My main source of reference is actual specimen on that say a

Songbird for example. And what I will do is access through a university collection or a museum collection or through a local law enforcement the department of natural resources game warden and then I'll take measurements and color notes an when I get that far with my reference then I have some real extensive accurate data on the bird itself and then I can start to do my own patterns and sketches and do the actual artwork end of it. The sound of power tools that buzz away in Dave Constantine's shop may not seem to fit the romantic notion of a wildlife carver with a knife in hand patiently shaping his materials. However to Constantine the use of band saws and other motorized tools simply save time and effort in removing excess wood

allowing him to concentrate on the finer points of wildlife woodcarving. What I do if it's a small bird such as a songbird or something like that I'll just use a It's called the Foredom tool which is nothing more and a fancy flexible shaft tool and I put different birds and whatnot on that and rough rough the bird down to where to where it just has a rough shape take all the sharp edges and corners off so they actually resembles a bird more more in form than anything else. I will further take wood off or sculpt the wood and by roughing out things like undercutting where one wing all overlap the other one and rough out the tail area and actually rough in some of the main feather groups and at that point I'll take a knife and do some of the detailing like under

cutting an entire wing and maybe relieving the upper bill from the lower bill beak from there I go in with a straight line wooden burner and burn in the actual feathers and barbs and quills of each feather and individual feathers and feather groups and basically are finishing the bird prior to painting. That's the main detail portion of carving and it's mostly done with the single line wood burner. With the feather detailing completed Constantine moves on to the culminating process of painting his carvings it is here that the artist creates the subtle textures that imitate nature. Having worked as a taxidermist for well over a decade Constantine has gained an intimate knowledge of his subject matter for some species. He may choose the soft muted effect created by carefully blending oils for others displaying bright vibrant colors carefully applied

acrylics may be used instead to produce the desired effect. Dave Constantine has brought years of experience as a wildlife painter. Outdoorsman and naturalist to his art his innovative use of miniature items that compliment the main subject. Instill in the viewer a sense of surprise and curiosity. These works all executed with impeccable craftsmanship are a delight to the eye and are certain to leave wildlife art lovers with a desire to see more of Dave Constantine's work. It's time now for a little homegrown music. Our next feature highlights the talents of an up and coming Madison band called The Rousers. Their first LP called in without knocking is selling very well regionally. We got together with the group in our studios a while back and we're so excited about their sound that we decided to collaborate on their first music video.

It's a story set back in the 30s and 40s when Wisconsin moonshiners were running rum down to the Chicago line. The tune is dedicated to a woman named Rosa Lee. [music] [music] [music]

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[music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] One of the things we hope to do with our new series is to encourage you to get out and enjoy some of the

many arts and entertainment events going on around the state. Here is some of this week's offerings culled from Wisconsin trails magazine. Our final story produced by Elizabeth Kerner features an age old sport of aristocracy and where can we find a suitable backdrop for all the pageantry. How about the rolling hills near Racine where some old stereotypes about Wisconsin lifestyles are being put out to pasture. Johnson is farm country a place where cows are a common sight a place where hounds and horses seem as foreign as afternoon tea. But it's here just north of Racine where foxhunting enthusiasts gather once a

year. for a sport steeped in centuries of English tradition today this tradition has a contemporary twist. Huntsman Ted Kallstrom we don't have the live animal itself sandwiches put on a sock carried on a drag horse and she or he runs through the country at a predetermined route which we can then actually follow and in some respects it's more interesting to watch because we know what the hounds are doing. Where as if you're hunting live you never know. Which way they are supposed go originally intended to control England's fox population. The sport has also provided a day of rigorous fun for wealthy landowners. Today few individuals have the thousands of acres needed to hunt live fox and even fewer have the financial freedom. I'm a veterinarian I have my hours to work and so for the most of the people in our field are working people oftentimes we hunt at 6:30 Tuesdays and Thursdays

and. Many of the people as soon as we're off horse they run into the stable and change into their suit or their grey flannels and off to work they go. Well I've been riding horses since I was about 12 years old and I guess I got involved with riding with this group about 10 years ago. The day starts early for Ralph Neubauer his horse must be brushed and the mane braided before being saddled for the ride. What do you think Maxi What do you think old buddy Behave yourself today. I like horses that behave usually this horse behaves pretty well he doesn't go crazy when they sound the horn I've had horses just went crazy the sport is bound by centuries of tradition by design a tradition adds to the spectacle of the hunt.

It also demands excellence The host of this hunt Kingston Erlik nobody has the right to wear a scarlet until the master of a registered hunt tells you that you have this right then you may wear you may buy a scarlet coat to earn your colors You must ride faithfully with a hunt Club for at least two years. The hunt begins with another age old tradition called the stirrup cup cup in which there was no vase so you couldn't set it down on a table you had to finish it But we like to call it a jumping after you've had a glass of sherry or port which is customary the fences you are going to jump don't look anywhere nearly as formidable there is some dangers a lot more dangerous than sitting at home and watching TV but that's part of the excitement of it Illinois has five registered foxhunt clubs Wisconsin none but once a

year for the last 21 years Illinois' Wayne-Du Page club brings their hounds to Racine for a change of pace. Hunting is a non competitive sport where horse and human perform as one It's also a much loved spectator sport last year we'd just come home from church then we just change clothes and come up here and watch the horses come by it's really fun very lovely to watch the horses and riders especially as they go across the ridge. Riding cross-country is strenuous. This ride will last only two hours but it has over 40 jumps. The devotion of its participants is demonstrated by Kingston Erlick his course design actually cuts across his own backyard it's not merely a hobby it's a whole way of life a whole social life is involved in hunting and in horses the hunt winds down and

splattered riders return to their trailers saddles are stowed and the hunters tend to their tired steeds in an age when suburbs threaten to subdivide the country. This old world activity manages to survive. On the next edition of Primetime Wisconsin a visit to the small Mississippi River town of Stockholm where an artist colony thrives in near seclusion and hear the sparks of commentary fly as philosopher Blacksmith Carol Sychowski shows us the ultimate test of the ironworkers craft by forging a delicate rose from a single bar of red hot metal all coming up next time on prime time Wisconsin. Well we hope you've enjoyed our first show enough to want to join us again next week at this time. I'm Carlos Began We hope to see you next week. Prime time Wisconsin is a production of University of Wisconsin television and

the Wisconsin public television network.