Events Calendar

Color Play: Making the world a little more rainbow

bernie & zuzu's residence term at Pinney Library Studio: February 2023 - August 2023

bernie & zuzu's in-Studio work time: Thursdays from 12-2 pm

bernie & zuzu's drop-in open Studio time: Thursdays from 2-4 pm at Pinney Library

bernie & zuzu wants you to come make the world a little more rainbow! Bernie invites the Madison community to explore color at weekly open studios and drop-in art making sessions that focus on color, shape, and mark-making in abstraction through the mediums of drawing, collage, block printing, stenciling, screen printing and painting. Throughout the residency, Bernie will invite the community to assist her with making the art studio into an installation and exhibition space that explodes with color: a rainbow room! Come play and be part of the fun!

bernie & zuzu is named for Bernie Witzack (she/her, a human) who is the creative force behind bernie & zuzu, and the extraordinary zuzu (a cat) who takes care of the business side of things. At bernie & zuzu, we create handmade, hand-painted, and screen-printed goods in small batches. We specialize in unique, one-of-a-kind art, home goods, accessories and prints with an emphasis on bright, bold color and playful shapes. bernie & zuzu is run out of a studio in the Madison Enterprise Center and we screen print at Polka Press, Madison’s local printmaking collective. We hope our artwork and goods inspire tiny moments of beauty, wonder and joy. 

Bernie studied Studio Art at Beloit College and has been making and exhibiting her art ever since. She earned an MFA in Fine Art & Design from the University of Michigan in 2013, focusing on improvisational drawing and painting. She then went on to study graphic design at Madison College, falling in love with screen printing along the way. She was working full time as a graphic designer and pursuing her art on the side when the pandemic hit in spring 2020. She left the design field in spring 2021 to focus on her art full time, launching bernie & zuzu in fall of 2021.

You can find bernie & zuzu’s goods at the Dane County Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings from April-October, at Little Luxuries, Hatch Art House, and Communication Madison. They also vend at local art markets such as The Eastside Winter Market, Femmestival, The Crafty Fair and the Madison Maker Markets. bernie & zuzu have an online shop at www.bernieandzuzu.com

Chop with a Cop, is a collaborative effort between the Southside district community officers and neighborhood youth. As constructed these interactions can increase the vision and physical presence of neighborhood officers. While aligning neighborhood youth with officers that are engaging,supportive and understanding. They will be equipped with various activities furnished by but not limited games, arts/crafts, with additional things created through the youths' "voice and vision". 

Stop by Meadowridge Library to meet with a representative from Operation Fresh Start. 

Since 1970, Operation Fresh Start has empowered more than 8,000 emerging adults to find a pathway to a family-sustaining career.

OFS programs are designed for a critical time in life: the transition to adulthood. They provide a path forward for emerging adults through mentoring, education, and employment training. OFS graduates earn their high school diploma, driver’s license, certifications in the construction and conservation fields, and gain college/career readiness skills. Participants are also giving back to the community — building affordable homes for low-income families, completing conservation projects and environmental justice work in city and county parks. After program completion, OFS staff continue to support graduates as they transition into post-secondary education and/or self-sustaining employment.

Please join Operation Fresh Start Outreach Specialist, Greg Miller, for an informational session about their legacy program.

Through the OFS Legacy program, young adults have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and Driver License while working on crews that improve Dane County parks or build affordable housing. OFS Legacy is for young adults who left High School without graduating or who are not on track to complete high school. Participants focus on their own personal growth and change as they prepare to achieve their personal goals. During their time at OFS, participants are paid a small stipend and earn an AmeriCorps Education Award to help pay for college classes after program completion. Our graduates leave OFS prepared to reach their goals.

Applicants must be 16 to 24 years old. Applicants who are school-aged (in the first 4 years of high school) must have a referral from their school to be considered for a position in OFS Legacy. 

Calling all teens and tweens! Join us every Thursday evening to learn more about an influential artist and make your own masterpiece to add to your very own portfolio! All supplies will be provided, so just show up and have fun! 

This week we will be learning about Piet Mondrian and his abstract angular art. Participants will create their own abstract painting to add to their portfolio!

Gathers most Thursday evenings! Middle and high school students can meet other aspiring authors, bounce ideas off one another, share their stories, and feel the creativity flow! Writing club is led by local author Carole Madrzak.