The Wisconsin Project: January 2013

31.1.13

Found: Toll Gate, Fond du Lac, WI

Found: 5900. Toll Gate, Fond du Lac, Wis. postmarked 1914
Written in fountain pen on the back side:
"Dear Mother: Received curtains O.K. this A.M. and am very much pleased oer them. Many thanks.
I will send the postage when there is enough to write a letter about. Lizzie and Loda came the noon you left.
They came here then Esther took Loren and I wheeled Loda up to Chas. I just got there.
Mrs. K. phone and said Loren was crying so hard she couldn't do anything with him so had to come right home.
Mrs. Hayes was here for awhile this P.S. and now Mrs. Barrett and Mrs. Claffe just left.
Were here after Money for the preacher.
Am sending your card on that came today. Mabel. Write Soon.

30.1.13

Chest Freezer near Kellnersville, WI

Chest Freezer with Mobile Home at Polifka's Corners near Kellnersville, Wisconsin, July 22, 2012
© J. Shimon & J. Lindeman

The wonders of rustic rural living on a budget.

29.1.13

Found: Early Days in Berlin, WI

Found: Early Days in Berlin, Wis., published by E. A. Bishop, Racine, Wis. circa 1910

28.1.13

Apartments, North 7th Street, Manitowoc, WI

Apartments, 305 N 7th Street, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, October 10, 2010
© J. Shimon & J. Lindeman

27.1.13

Found: 80 Acre Farm Sample, Merrill, WI

Found: No. 13 C. The sample of a 80 Acre Farm shown on opposite side of card with House 16x26 and 14x22 is a real snap.
For description, price and terms, address The Ev. Luth. Colonization Co., Merrill, Wis. circa 1920s.

Found: No. 12 G. The sample of a 130 Acre Farm shown on opposite side of this card has a fine Brick House 28x32 and is a real bagain. For description, price and terms, write to The Ev. Luth. Colonization Co., Merrill, Wis. circa 1920s.

26.1.13

Mother-in-Law House, Manitowoc, WI

Mother-in-Law House, North 9th Street, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 2010
© J. Shimon & J. Lindeman

25.1.13

Found: Farmstead with Orchard, WI

Found: Farmstead with Orchard, Wisconsin on Azo paper circa 1907

23.1.13

Abandoned Farmstead, Manitowoc, WI

Abandoned Farmstead, Highway 141, near Manitowoc, Wisconsin, July 6, 2012
© J. Shimon & J. Lindeman

22.1.13

Found: Wisconsin Harvest

Found: A Wisconsin Harvest Field at Sunset. (Scenes along the country roads.)
Published by E.A. Bishop, Racine, Wis. circa 1910s

21.1.13

Carousel, Oshkosh, WI

Carousel, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, October 17, 2012
© J. Shimon & J. Lindeman

20.1.13

Found: Loading Pulpwood, Rice Lake, WI

Found: Greetings - Rice Lake, Wis. Loading pulpwood for transport to the "hungry" paper mills,
beneath tranquil summer skys (sic). Paper manufacturing plays an important part in this Industrial scene
of "Beautiful Wisconsin". Photo by Bob Young distributed by
Universal Photo Service, La Crosse, Wis. Natural Color Reproduction
by Curteich Color® Art-Creation Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. circa 1960s

19.1.13

Farm View, Manitowoc County, WI, 2012

Farm View, County LS, near Cleveland, Wisconsin, 2010
© J. Shimon & J. Lindeman

18.1.13

Found: Picking Cherries, Sawyer, WI

Found: Picking Cherries at N.C. Jacobs', Sawyer, Wis. published by B.H. Dingman, Plymouth, Wis. circa 1910

15.1.13

Dairy Queen, Manitowoc, WI

Dairy Queen, Memorial Drive, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, September 28, 2010
© J. Shimon & J. Lindeman

14.1.13

Found: Showing how cheese is made, Monroe, WI

Found: The Swiss Cheese Shop, Monroe, Wisconsin. "Wisconsin's only cheese factory built exclusively to show how
Swiss cheese is made. Located at Monroe. Green County, Wisconsin in the heart of Little Switzerland.
Retail store displays over 80 varieties of cheese. Mail orders shipped anywhere in the U.S.A.
Brochure sent on request." by Aero Distributing, Evanston, Illinois circa 1970s.

13.1.13

Lombardi Steakhouse, Appleton, WI

Vince Lombardi's Steakhouse, College Avenue, Appleton, Wisconsin (9.30.2012)
© J. Shimon & J. Lindeman

Titletown Brewing, Main Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin (11.16.2012)
© J. Shimon & J. Lindeman

Lambeau Field Auditorium, Green Bay, Wisconsin (11.16.2012)
© J. Shimon & J. Lindeman

Places of Packers pilgrimage in Wisconsin.

12.1.13

Found: Beauty Spot in Vollrath Park, Sheboygan, WI

Found: Beauty Spot in Vollrath Park, Sheboygan, Wis. by Curteich, Chicago, postmarked Sheboygan, October 7, 1946.
Hand written in fountain pen on the backside: "Sweet lassie. Movin' along. As ever. Love xxxx Dad" mailed to Chicago.

11.1.13

Two Rivers Sign, Two Rivers, WI

Twoo Rivers sign, Memorial Drive, Two Rivers, Wisconsin (10.2010)
© J. Shimon & J. Lindeman

10.1.13

Found: Grand Avenue Viaduct, Milwaukee, WI

Found: Grand Ave. Viaduct, Milwaukee, Wis. by E. C. Kropp Co., Milwaukee, circa 1920s

Found: Second Street Bridge, Burlington, Wis. by E.C. Kropp Co., Milwaukee circa 1920s

Found: Davenport Street Bridge, Wisconsin River, Rhinelander, Wis. Substantial industries give Rhinelander a firm economic foundation. Paper and lumber products, refrigerators and many other manufactured produccts find their way into the great trade channels of the world" by E.C. Kropp Co., Milwaukee, Wis. postmarked October 1, 1948

E.C. Kropp was apparently fascinated with the wonders of modern engineering.

9.1.13

Retaining Wall, Appleton, WI

Retaining Wall, R-44-15, built 2009 under College Avenue Bridge, John Street, Appleton, Wisconsin, August 6, 2012
© J. Shimon & J. Lindeman

The beauty and grace of nearly invisible public projects.

8.1.13

Found: Tobacco Country, Viroqua, WI


Found:Tobacco Country, Greetings from Viroqua, Wis., Cutting Tobacco in the South and scaffolding it to kill-down beforre removing to the barn. Color photo by Jimmie Moore circa 1950s/1960s

7.1.13

McDonald's Billboard, Oshkosh, WI

McDonald's $1 any day ending in d-a-y Billboard with AutoBody Shop,
Harrison Street, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, October 17, 2012
© J. Shimon & J. Lindeman

6.1.13

Found: The Crucifixion, Wisconsin Dells, WI

Found: The Crucifixion. One of the many scenes at Biblical Gardens
between Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton, Wisconsin on Highway 12....

"There they crucified him, and the malefactor, one on the right and one on the left.
Then said Jesus, Father,forgive them; for they know not what they do." St. Luke 23:33:34
published by Johnn Trumble photography, Wisconsin Dells, circa 1960s/1970s

5.1.13

Superbowl Champions, Appleton, WI

1.1.13

Found: Along the Lake Shore, Milwaukee, WI


Found: Along the Lake Shore in Winter, Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin by E.C. Kropp Co. Pub. Milwaukee No. 4693 postmarked West Allis, Wisconsin April 9, 1908

On January 1 in Milwaukee, Sheboygan, Jacksonport, and other locations along Lake Michigan, hundreds of people gather to indulge in or observe the Polar Bear Plunge climbing on icy shores much like these to get to the lake.

THE WISCONSIN PROJECT

Our research-driven Wisconsin Project contemplates the rooted-ness and state-of-mind resulting from inhabiting a single place, our native Wisconsin, for a long time. Through critiquing postcard views both made and found, we learn a great deal about past and present Wisconsin. We began making postcard views of the places immediately around our studio and on our drives around Wisconsin in about 2008. We use the vintage postcard film format and print the cards in palladium and cyanotype. By communicating details of a specific place, seeming to register only marginally on the national radar, the project seeks to bring audiences into a Wisconsin mental space. Some in the art world would argue that the Midwest, particularly Wisconsin, makes for banal “fly over” subject matter. Our project challenges that by finding meaning in the ordinary and inviting audiences to examine, dialog, and reflect on the particular emotional quality of the idiosyncrasies of place and the perceptions of those both inside and outside of it. Sometimes distant memories are involved and a longing for a time now gone. Wisconsin’s glacier inflected landscape and proximity to the Great Lakes creates an exotic arena for living that informs our project. The life cycle plays out and rural and urban ruins serve as monuments to existences as people, places, and ideas surface then vanish. Ultimately, we aim to grapple with complex perceptions of Wisconsin ranging from nostalgic, romantic, and idealized--as depicted on myriad real photo postcard and standard tourist postcards--to mysterious, dark, and Gothic as conveyed in works of art and literature such as Michael Lesy's "Wisconsin Death Trip" book and Werner Herzog's "Stroszek" film. The project culminated in a residency with workshops and community collaborations and the installation "We Go From Where We Know" at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center 10.13.2013-3.7.2014 and later the Harvestore Bandshell for Fermentation Fest in 10.2014. The blog continues the exploration of postcards.