If you’ve been sleeping on Art Lit Lab, wake up . . . The calendar is stacked year-round, and ‘Laboratory’ is the perfect word to describe what’s going on here – just like ALL is the perfect acronym for who is welcome.
—Maggie Ginsberg, Senior Editor of Madison Magazine
ALL is a vibrant arts and literature hub in Madison whose reach extends well beyond the city limits and county line, inspiring artists and writers throughout the state. I enjoy attending and participating in events and programs at ALL. I am happy to count myself among ALL supporters.
—Margaret Rozga, former Wisconsin Poet Laureate
ALL is a treasured community site. During my readings in the gallery space, sound and visual stimuli flow through the rooms braiding together artists and audience members through light and lyricism. The architects of ALL are forging a vital space for inter-artistic exchange. I’m so grateful to have launched my debut poetry collection, Vixen, through the Watershed reading series.
—Cherene Sherrard, poet
The work (for Midwest Video Poetry Fest) was created through collaboration between my father, Dennis Vickers and myself. My Dad is a writer and educator based in White Lake, Wisconsin. We spent the last few weeks creating this work in direct response to your open call through exchange of emails, files and ideas. As I am based in Bangkok, the current pandemic has restricted my ability to travel home this year for my annual Wisconsin summer visit and the open call provided an opportunity for me to connect with my father, even if from a distance. I would like to thank you for that.
—Rebecca Vickers, interdisciplinary American artist
I wanted to reach out and say thank you for all the work you've done. A huge amount of my musical inspiration has been from artists I've seen and talked to at ALL. The first time I ever saw female jazz musicians play was at ALL. After seeing Katie Ernst play, I went home and cried - I was so inspired to see a woman playing, to realize I could also do it. Through your hard work and booking, I've learned practice techniques from Dave King and trombone jokes from Mckaya McCraven, and heard so much incredible music . . . Your commitment to creating a place for musical exploration in Madison is inspiring. It speaks to . . . your priorities and care for art and community. I've appreciated it so much. It's changed the course of my life, for sure.
—Meredith Nesbitt, UW-Madison Music Student
Honestly there are not enough words to express my gratitude and describe how I feel. As a painter to have the opportunity to have such a beautiful space to create and express what I feel through my painting is a great gift. [For five years] I could not afford to have my own studio. Finally all my ideas and emotions are becoming alive in this space.... I profoundly admire the empathy and vision of this organization... that saw me and gave me, and many other artists, the opportunity to have a space to call one’s own. No doubt they are seeding something in the universe that will come back multiplied.
—Richie Morales, Artist
Even amidst the vibrancy of Madison’s literary scene, the Arts + Literature Laboratory has shown itself to be truly peerless in its total, unflinching commitment to promoting the teaching of, the appreciation for, and the community within visual, performing, and literary arts throughout the city. ALL’s organizers don’t just host readings for authors who want to promote their books, they curate events that will bring writers and artists together for the sake of both art itself and for common causes of local and national importance.
—Sean Bishop, poet and administrator, UW-Madison
The ALL Prize from the Arts + Literature Laboratory had an immense impact on my professional career as an artist. ALL provides an inclusive space for the greater Madison community to access and participate in the arts. Because of this, over 200 people viewed my MFA exhibition reception, a 400% increase for a typical MFA show opening at a rented space or gallery on campus. This was invaluable promotion for my work as well as the strong arts program at UW-Madison. It was incredibly enjoyable to connect with groups of diverse individuals visiting ALL via tours/artists talks, opportunities that would not have been afforded to me through other venues. ALL supports the talents of emerging artists and enhances the vitality of the arts community in Madison. Though ALL Prize is prestigious in itself, the addition of financial support would further benefit future artists in the execution of a successful exhibition within the ALL space.
—Kaylyn Gerenz, UW-Madison MFA '18