Historically, collage has been a pretty queer art medium when you look at zines and different artifacts. I wonder sometimes about why it was that I got so interested in collage when I was younger and now because it does seem like a lot of queer artists use it as a medium.

As you scroll through social media feeds, how often do you stop to watch a video? Im not talking about cute puppy videos or the shaky video from your last family reunion, but a well-produced video from one of your favorite brands. And how many times do you like or share those videos? Or, more importantly, how many times have you purchased something because of them?

The connections people make to ideas of place are these intangible threads of identity that often manifest in very real ways, and sometimes in unexpected moments. Bring up Green Bay, and a lot of people in Wisconsin will talk of taking the pilgrimage to Lambeau. Talk about Eau Claire, and the river, the bluffs, or the music tend to become the shift in conversation. Where some people bounce around to fully embrace what it is to live across the state or nation, others find themselves tethered to a home in perpetuity. For Colin Murray, that home is Madison.

Getting an education is widely regarded as the best pathway toward forging a secure and successful future. From finding meaningful work in an increasingly sophisticated job market to alleviating poverty and cultivating wealth, education resides near the heart of seemingly every major issue facing the United States today. And even as the need for quality schooling grows ever more pressing, leaders and lawmakers entrusted with building a robust and effective system continue to fall woefully short.

If you followed my story in 2018, you read about my life of shouldI should be this, I should do that. I was miserable trying to be what others wanted me to be and decided to come out of the closet of should. For 2019, Im talking about how I stopped being a should-er, and am sharing the lessons I learned through the process. These lessons were earth-shattering for me, drastically improving my entire life. Since we all battle the monster of should, Im sure youll also find something valuable in these lessons. Buckle up and come along for the ride!

Madisonians and visitors wishing to enjoy dinner with a side of panoramic views have found it all at Fresco on the top floor of Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA). For 13 years, the wall-to-wall windows of the third-story, 3,000-square-foot rooftop restaurant and lounge have provided diners with a view of downtown Madison, the Capitol, and State Street. And, when weather allows, that view expands with the addition of the MMoCA sculpture garden and the restaurants outdoor terrace.

Acts of creation are ordinarily reserved for gods and poets, but humbler folk may circumvent this restriction if they know how. To plant a pine, for example, one need be neither god nor poet; one need only own a shovel.
Aldo Leopold

This quote seems like an appropriate start for multiple reasons. First, I like it. Second, its the 25th anniversary of the Aldo Leopold Center, which we talk about in this issue. Third, its our Open Air issue. Fourth, its springtime in Wisconsin, and many of us are finally ready to spend time in the outdoors!

When the switch to WORT-FMs transmitter was first turned on in 1975, radio station staffers embarked on a mission that was remarkably simple on one hand, yet profoundly complex on the other. Since its inception, the listener-supported station has aspired to have a little of something for everyone.

Is nothing sacred? Theres a fine line between masochistic intrigue and sacrilege toward things we hold close to our hearts. But thats more a reflection of who we are than who might be contesting the value of pieces we identify with and assemble to establish our assumed individuality. Still, theres a sense that its our turf. I love Tom Waits, and though I fall well short of fisticuffs when someone bashes his creations, theres still a needle that pinches my skin. Now imagine people listening to your favorite artist knowing theyre not going to enjoy the music. Without a doubt, regardless of the song, theyre going to hate it. But then some music app will reward them with an achievement for wasting their time writing a review. In the beer world, thats a reality.

Lets face it, in Wisconsin, we need to savor every warm-weathered moment possible. When Mother Nature shines down upon us with favorable temperatures, we need to escape the stuffy trappings we look to for refuge in the winter and soak up the sun.

Growing up in the city, gardeners took care of our yard, but my mom always planted her own herbs. For fresh herbs, we would pop out the kitchen door to pick a handful of this or a sprig of that to season whatever was cooking. Now, if I could only plant one or two things, I would grow herbs.

When a suggestion is made for a city to convert a cemetery into parkland or open green space, the realization that the process is not an easy one is often quickly reached. Madison, though, can take pride having successfully converted its first cemetery into its first public park.

For the past 25 years, something special has been happening on the 20 acres at Aldo Leopold Nature Center (ALNC) in Monona. Its magical actually, and it cant be found in any book or on a website. It has to be experienced and explored. Its intriguing, beautiful, and awe inspiring all at once.

Labrador retrievers, rottweilers, golden retrievers, boxers, and pit bulls. If you own one of these or another large-breed dog, you should know that your dog is at risk of rupturing one or both of its cranial cruciate ligaments. This time of year, veterinarians see more dogs coming in limping or holding up a leg. If its a rear leg, the first thing we think about is a cranial cruciate rupture. What exactly is this? Is it preventable? And if it happens, what does it mean for the dog?

Improving the health of a community isnt always a black-and-white endeavor. Some initiatives require a thoughtful look at the benefits weighed against the resources on hand. Others might come with negative baggage to consider. So when the rare opportunity comes to take part in something that boosts people, animals, and the environment in tandem with no adverse side effects, extra effort taken by those involved to make it sustainable must be matched by the community in awareness and support if it is to survive. Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) has found such a gem in their year-old program, Pets for Life.

Growing up I never really paddled except at summer camp, so when we arrived in Madison in 1987, I did so with little freshwater-paddling experience. Luckily, this didnt deter paddling-loving friends from inviting my husband and me to join them.

Theres been quite a bit of buzz in recent years about the future viability of brick-and-mortar retail as online shopping grows in popularity. But Pam Schwarzbach, who co-owns Hive of Madison, says a stores physical presence is still vitally importantparticularly when it establishes roots and becomes entrenched within a community.

Liz Wessels passion for travel became a career after promoting the benefits of ecotravel and supporting local economies. When Liz started Green Concierge Travel in 2006, it was because she felt there was a need for more ecotravel and green tourism. Ecofriendly travel was the way I liked to travel, but nobody was really doing it. When I planned my own trips, I recognized the gap. The other part of it is, at the time, I was doing some contract work for a nonprofit organization, the Biodiversity Project. They were doing market research to reach different audiences with their message, and what we found was there was an ecotravel niche out there. Not so much in the United States, but definitely in Europe and other places.