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Wisconsin People & Ideas – Spring 2020

In this issue: During the pandemic, an appeal to the better angels of our nature by Academy executive Jane Elder and a rumination on gathering wood by editor Jason A. Smith. Justin Kern takes us across Wisconsin in search of cosmic encounters while Jude Genereaux profiles WOJB—the voice of the northwoods. While we couldn't show their work in the gallery due to the closing of Overture Center, artists Lois Bielefeld and Comfort Wasikhongo share works that reflect our current cultural moment in surprising ways. Stellar short stories by Nikki Kallio and Michael Hopkins round out a literary section of the magazine filled with some of the best contemporary poetry from across the state.
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From the Director

In These Covidian Times

By:

Jane Elder

Over the past few months our lives have taken a dramatic turn as vague concerns about the novel coronavirus shifted to the realization that we were facing a full-blown global pandemic.

Editors Note

Gathering Wood

By:

Jason Smith

All of the ash trees in my neighborhood are coming down.

The main building of the Modine-Benstead Observatory houses a 16-inch telescope, observation deck, library, and meeting room. Photo by Justin Kern.

Essay

Dark Matters

By:

Justin Kern

Eight times a year the Racine Astronomical Society invites the public to view the skies through two intricate telescopes housed at the Modine-Benstead Observatory.

The 100,000 watt transmitter at WOJB broadcasts up to 80 miles. Photo courtesy of WOJB.

Profile

A Different Drum

By:

Jude Genereaux

EDITOR'S NOTE: A Facebook message from Robert Albee, one of the early founders and organizers of WOJB–FM, brought to our attention a few errors and some elements of the radio station’s history that were missing from this article.

@ the Watrous Gallery

Bielefeld & Wasikhongo

By:

Jody Clowes, Lois Bielefeld, Comfort Wasikhongo

We’re absolutely on board with social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. Even so, having to cancel our upcoming exhibitions is a major disappointment.

Fiction

Spirit Box

By:

Nikki Kallio

The voices were never voices, but more like the memory of sound—an echo off cavernous, sweating walls.

Fiction

Mirror Box

By:

Michael Hopkins

Dr. Merton gave Shelby Aronowitz bad news. The pain in her knee was osteosarcoma. They would have to amputate.

Kim Blaeser's latest collection of poems

Book Review

Copper Yearning: Poems, by Kimberly Blaeser

By:

Karla Huston

In Copper Yearning, poet Kimberly Blaeser fills the pages with light, lore, and love.

Photo of author Chris Fink and his new book

Book Review

Add This to the List of Things That You Are, by Chris Fink

By:

Kim Suhr, Chris Fink

“Who’s native and who’s been introduced?” asks a character in Chris Fink’s story, “The Bush Robin Sings.” The question in many ways fits tidily into the other stories within his new collection, Add Thi