If you plan to vote later today, it’s possible you’ll see free performances by nationally recognized performance artists. The performances -- which range from original music to dance to video -- will take place at 11 different polling places throughout the city.
My Vote Performs (MVP) produced the program, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the United States.
The polling sites, located all over the city, include the Pulaski Indoor Swimming Pool, the Wisconsin Humane Society, the United Community Center and Albright United Methodist Church.
At most sites, artists will create 5- to 10-minute pieces that will be presented every 20 or 30 minutes between the highest-volume polling hours of 4-8 p.m. In addition to music, dance and video, projects will include recorded sound, puppetry, interactive sculpture and poetry.
The projects will not interfere with people voting and will celebrate and encourage discussion about citizenship.
Artists involved include Ted Brusubardis, Brent Budsberg, Raoul Deal, Mark Escribano, Dasha Kelly, Debra Loewen, Shana McCaw, Harvey Opgenorth, Michael Pettit, John Schneider, Jill Sebastian, Renato Umali and Steve Wetzel.
The Wisconsin State Elections Division and the Milwaukee Election Commission approved the project, and writer and historian John Gurda endorsed the performances.
"My Vote Performs is in the very best tradition of Milwaukee's civic life. Our political ancestors believed passionately in something they called 'public enterprise.' What better way to honor that spirit than through public performances at public polling places on the very day the public chooses its next leaders?" says Gurda.
For a complete list of participating polling places and performers, go here.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
