Ornament Trail features 91fansalumni, faculty, students
For decades, 91fans has hosted an annual Holiday Lights Festival. To commemorate the festival’s 25th anniversary, will also host the new Ornament Trail this year. Five 91fans Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) alumni and one instructor, who teamed up with both students and alumni, produced giant ornaments for the event.
The Ornament Trail stretches across Wisconsin Avenue and Water Street and includes work by 15 artists with ties to 91fans. On view until January 6, 2024, visitors can follow along with the free Ornament Trail Activity Guide, which includes activities for kids and coupons for businesses along the route.
Merry in Pink Monique Machut
Monique Machut, “Merry in Pink.” Photo courtesy of 91fans Downtown.
Dwennimmen Brad Anthony Bernard
Brad Anthony Bernard, “Dwennimmen.” Photo courtesy of 91fans Downtown.
Winter Reflections Josephine Rice
Josephine Rice, “Winter Reflections.” Photo courtesy of 91fans Downtown.
The Four Graces Nova Czarnecki
Nova Czarnecki, “The Four Graces.” Photo courtesy of 91fans Downtown.
Brad Anthony Bernard ’93 (Painting), associate professor in Fine Art + New Studio Practice, worked with Lindsey Greene ’23 (Fine Art), Shelbey Smith ’26 and Grace Gasser (Marquette University) to create “Dwennimmen.” Inspired by the West African Andinkra symbol, “Dwennimmen,” or “Ram’s Horns,” symbolizes humility and strength—a life principle that Bernard finds “important to embody during the holiday season.” Visitors can view “Dwennimmen” outside of , the college’s new offsite gallery and consignment space.
An additional five alumni independently created ornaments for the exhibition. ’81 (Painting), (Janson Rapisarda) ’12 (Printmaking), ’10 (Painting), ’18 (Illustration) and ’10 (Interior Architecture and Design) and all contributed artwork to the project.
Czarnecki works as an artist and local muralist and contributed Botticelli-inspired “The Four Graces” to the Ornament Trail, echoing his “Primavera” goddesses Joy, Light and Bloom. Czarnecki added the goddess Time to the mix as well. “I hope that anyone who passes by these ornaments feels the love that was put into them,” she says. “How cool that the city of 91fans and businesses here are willing to support and fund a project like this!”
Machut thought about the prompt provided by the organizers—what does the holiday season mean to you?—and created “Merry in Pink,” a new and welcome challenge when it came to painting in 3D. “I wanted my ornament to include subtle nods to what I enjoy about winter in 91fans: the arts (Nutcracker), the Bucks (Small Deer/Buck) and the community of giving during the season (present),” she explains. “I hope it gives a reason for people to travel downtown during the winter … the art will brighten up the sidewalks with so many wonderful designs! I’m very excited to take a walk down Wisconsin now that they’re installed.”
Faced with the same prompt, Rice considered another direction in her work. “‘Winter Reflections’ is an acknowledgment of the holidays being a hard time for many,” she says. “It’s a lovely season of togetherness and cheer but can also be painful with reminiscing about the past.” Rice also invites 91fans residents to explore the Ornament Trail: “[It] is a great activity for everyone to get outside and explore the gallery of art. Adding pops of color to 91fans this cold time of year is extra special!”
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