(Sad Yeti by Gail Simpson and Aris Georgiades, photo courtesy of artists)

For the first time in recent memory Madison finally has a winter event that truly expresses the legacy of the capitol city's creativity and quirkiness. And where else but Madison would you find an artist curated event staged in the throes of winter that equally forges ice sculptures, musical collabs and public art in a clarion call to action against global warming? Winter Is Alive is Madison

It is no coincidence that the thematic backbone of this citywide, artistic collaboration is rooted so deeply in environmentalism.. Tamsie Ringler, a former UW art teacher, the creative force behind this month long, event is a life long, environmentalist and accomplished artist. Ringler attributes her environmental passion and social activism to her family. Her grandma Louise Erickson played a large role in forming Tamsie's beliefs. Louise a staunch environmentalist in her own right, helped establish Chiwaukee Prairie near Racine, and get Rock Island (off the coast of Door County) designated as a state park. Tamsie recalls as a young girl being woken up at 5 am by her grandma so the two of them could go bird watching.

Much of Ringler's artistic work is imbued with environmentalism and raising the alarm about global warming. Winter Is Alive is another such call-to-action for the community and the region when so many of us are ready to act.

Normally, putting on such a large event like Winter Is Alive would have taken over a year of planning says Ringer but all of the right elements, people and funding came together in just three months. Marc La Pointe and Anna Orbovich are two such collaborators with Ringler, along with Karin Wolf, Director of Madison Arts Commission that were instrumental in accelerating this event to fruition.

And in this time of COVID-19 and Zoom the artistic collaborations in Winter Is Alive are global. One outdoor installation titled The Dying Iceberg is a work designed by Latvian-based, artist Ojārs Feldbergs constructed on frozen, Lake Wingra by a team of UW students. Feldbergs' work like all the participant artists' submitted pieces have an environmental theme. There are over 30 such installations scattered about the city's lakes and parks. TetraPAKMAN,aka Victor Castro, a Mexican artist based in Madison is another such artist who creates collaborative-driven, public work with a social message. His newest work, installed on Lake Monona, is a large black scar (oil spill reference) appropriately made out of polyester., a petroleum-based fabric. Madison artist, Sara Meredith's submission is a collaboration with East High School students that prompts " people to add their name to this piece when they take a pledge to take one or more of the action steps listed to help reduce rising temperatures caused by the activities of human beings."

If this weekend's sub zero, wind chills are not putting you in the winter spirit there are a number of online programs, and events you can participate in as well. There is a virtual, open mic night on opening night (2/12/2021,) artistic performances, poetry readings, musical performances, lectures and virtual collaborations scheduled throughout the month of February. You can even watch outdoor projections, a whole mini, Wisconsin Film Festival of shorts at Madison's newest, community jewel, the Garver Feed Mill. 

In all, Winter Is Alive, a family worthy, celebration of the arts and our fragile planet, a true tribute to winter and a timely call to action for us all.

When: The event runs from now thru March 7th..

Where: Installations on many of Madison's Chain of Lakes and around the city.

For more details please visit: https://www.winterisalive.org or follow them on Facebook: Winter is Alive

or on Instagram: @winterisalive2021 or Twitter: @alive_winter