Kay Pozorski’s entry in this year’s Arts on the Square Poster Contest is a representation of the eclectic arts festival.
Her artwork includes the many aspects of the annual event with drawings of musicians, artists and even belly dancers.
“When I was little, I always did little cartoons,” she said. “I decided to draw a fun one with all these people in it.”
Pozorski’s entry was chosen as the winner of this year’s poster contest.
“The jury committee was captivated by the whimsical energy of her artwork and the fact that it was in a different medium with a slightly different flavor from what we have had in the past. We felt her artwork really captured the essence of Arts on the Square,” said Bev Crane, who is a member of the Waupaca Community Arts Board.
Pozorski’s artwork will grace all the publicity for this year’s Arts on the Square and will also be made into a poster that will be available for sale at the Aug. 18 event, Crane said.
“I thought I had to get this all in here,” Pozorski said of the inspiration behind her entry.
She is familiar with Arts on the Square – two years ago, she was one of the artists at the event.
Pozorski sought to give people a glimpse of what Arts on the Square is.
“If you look, you will find yourself and your neighbors,” she said of the drawing.
Pozorski’s background in art dates back to her childhood.
“I come from a big family of artists. My father was an architect. My three sisters and a brother are all artists,” she said. “We didn’t have much of a choice. The minute we rolled out, we were drawing.”
Growing up in the Milwaukee suburb of New Berlin, she remembers drawing on the back of her father’s blueprints.
“We drew on everything,” she said. “I thought everybody did that. We were raised like that. In kindergarten, I was kind of shy. I was mortified when everyone was standing and watching me paint a rainbow. In first grade, it was the same thing.”
After high school, Pozorski studied art – first at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and then at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.
She married her best friend, and they started a family.
After college, she began doing small restoration projects in Milwaukee. Eventually, those jobs became larger and took her throughout the Midwest.
Their business was Wood Restoration of Wisconsin and included work on many cathedrals.
Later, Pozorski worked in landscaping before returning to smaller commercial restoration projects.
With family connections to the area, there were always visits to Waupaca, and these days, she runs Strong’s Landing on Water Street.
She enjoys oil painting, watercolors and making jewelry.
“I’m going back to my roots,” Pozorski said. “I had a little detour for a little while, but now, all the kids are grown. I’m doing the art again. I’m doing it every day.”
She is surrounded by paper and pencils – just as she was during her childhood.
“In school, I was always drawing in class, including math,” Pozorski said. “I liked everything, and then I did restoration, stained glass and murals.”
She enjoys the arts and is happy that her work was chosen to represent this year’s Arts on the Square.
“This is a huge deal for me,” Pozorski said. “I’m thrilled.”