When Abby Wilson and her husband Turk Wilson moved to Waunakee, she figured she’d find work. She’d been painting sets and murals for several years, with both of them working in theatrical productions like Sesame Street Live, where he was an electrician.
The couple moved to the area when he took a position with Electronic Theater Controls in Middleton.
But, the only work Abby could find was painting murals on other parents’ kids’ bedroom walls, so she started Abby Wilson Painting, LLC. She described her work at the Waunakee Rotary Club’s Sept. 7 meeting.
Most residents and visitors to Waunakee have seen Abby’s murals at area businesses such as Minuteman Press, Lone Girl Brewing Company and Red and White Wine Bar.
Her murals also can be seen at the Waunakee Village Hall and Fire Station.
Abby recently spent 21 days at Lodi Middle School painting the cafeteria mural, and she showed a video of the progress set at super fast forward. It shows how she painted Susie the Duck and her ducklings, and inspiring messages including, “Lodi Pride” “You are stronger and braver than you know.”
The 44-foot-long by 10-foot-tall mural began to be conceived of last July and was completed over the winter, often with students commenting on the work. They couldn’t wait for her to paint the ducklings.
Abby said she does extensive research before she even purchases the paint for each piece, figuring out the proper positioning, the fonts for the words and the lighting.
She’s painted other pieces, too, such as a surfboard one client wants to have near his pool as a memento of his time in Hawaii.
She learned the craft in college at UW-Madison, where she and Turk attended and were heavily involved in the theater department. When they graduated, they moved to Arizona and she worked for a company doing wall installations for trade shows before joining Sesame Street Live and finally, Apropos Paint Studio in Minneapolis.
Abby’s business was not always in such demand. In 2017, she was about to “hang it up,” as she said, and begin painting houses. But during the pandemic, she began getting more contracts.
“I was vaccinated and willing to go to people’s homes,” she said.
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Other News:
-The board of directors has approved a donation of $2,000 for Food for Kidz, President Jennifer Tasker announced.
-Congratulation to the Baer family on the birth of Kegan!
-Volunteers are needed for the Wauktoberfest beer tent Saturday during the Badger Game and Sunday. Also, tables are available for the wine tasting on Thursday.
-A group of Rotary Clubs is exploring a Pints for Polio fundraiser for October. If you’d like to get involved with planning this fundraising event, let President Jennifer Tasker know.
-The club is collecting staple items of peanut butter and cereal for the Waunakee Food Pantry Just bring donations of 16-ounce jars of peanut butter and healthy, not-too-sugary cereals to meetings for Lori Derauf to drop off at the pantry. Also, the club is still collecting lightly used games for a library in Guatemala. The games should be in English and Spanish or not language oriented, like puzzles, chess, checkers, or jump ropes.
Upcoming Events
-Sept. 9 - Heritage Fest at Schumacher Farm
-Sept. 14-17 - Wauktoberfest
-Sept. 19 - Bishops Bay fellowship event.
-Oct. 8 - Food for Kidz
Guests: Abby and Turk Wilson, guests of the Club.
Visiting Rotarians: None
Birthdays: Sept. 14, Fritz Durst; Sept. 19, Neil Kruschek.
Anniversaries: Sept. 14, Dan and Kimberly Evans; Sept. 14, Jennifer and Edward Hurley; Sept. 14, Liz and Andy Mueller; Sept. 15, Rich and Donna Murphy; Sept. 17, Ken and Mary Pesik; Sept. 20, Neil and Sharon Kruschek.
Greeters: Sept. 7, Paul Cardarella and Scott Cochems; Sept. 14, John Cullen and David Dargenio; Sept. 21, Allan Dassow and Lori Derauf; Sept, 28, Patrick Durden and Fritz Durst .
