Business of Art Symposium

Craig Bower is a creative, entrepreneur and marketing professional. From a foundation built on creative design and marketing strategy, his career expands 30+ years over several industries proving every day that you can build, market, grow and maintain compelling brands. He is currently applying that expertise as Marketing Director to help Hansen Foods build some of the top outstanding frozen pizza brands in the world. Craig is the founder of Design That Rocks, a client-focused agency delivering a wide range of creative services, strategy, and marketing since 2007, Rub That Rocks offering handcrafted seasoning and dry rubs since 2019 and has been member of the Kiss Army since 1975. 

Erin LaBonte received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and her Master of Fine Arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. She has participated in artistic residencies in Costa Rica and Argentina and has exhibited nationally and internationally. Erin practices many artistic mediums in her own studio work.  She is an advocate for bringing art to public spaces and for community engagement.  Erin is dedicated to inspiring and educating young artists in their personal explorations.  She served as associate professor of art at Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, WI for nine years, and is currently a middle and high school art teacher in Kewaunee, WI.  She and her partner, Don Krumpos formed Yonder, an art space, in Algoma, WI in 2019. 

Rob Neilson is the Frederick R. Layton Professor of Studio Art and Professor of Art at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. Born and raised in Detroit, he received a BFA in Fine Arts from the College for Creative Studies and an MFA in Sculpture from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Rob has exhibited his sculpture, installations, and drawings at galleries, museums, and alternative spaces nationally and internationally. Neilson has created public art commissions throughout the United States, including projects in California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington.

In 2006 Rob was Artist in Residence at the Kohler Arts/Industry program and has been a visiting artist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Virginia Tech University, Longwood University (Virginia), Dickinson College (Pennsylvania), Millikin University (Illinois), and California State University. 

Lauren Marie Nitka is a Milwaukee artist, educator, and curator from Greendale, Wisconsin. She attended Wisconsin Lutheran College from 2014 to 2017, receiving her Bachelor’s in K-12 Art Education and Elementary Education. As a professional artist and art educator, Lauren has not only enjoyed participating in the Milwaukee area art scene, she has collaborated with and led a number of community art projects with organizations such as City on a Hill, teaching young artists with a focus on art history and entrepreneurship.

Working primarily in oil and watercolor paints, Lauren’s art reflects on her experiences and memories while engaged in the creative process. This ranges from the vivid colors and abstract blossoms found in her Flora Folk Collection, taking inspiration from the Polish folk art, Wycinanki, as a nod to her Polish heritage to her architectural renderings of the Americana-style facades in her Greendale Collection, inspired by the 1930’s Greendale Originals located in her hometown. A portion of Lauren’s body of work has evolved into a form of worship in which she engages in the creative process while painting at live praise and worship events, in particular at City of Light Church on Milwaukee’s northwest side.

One of Lauren’s core beliefs is that art should be accessible to everyone. Her works of art are available as fine art pieces and prints and are also designed into merchandise to integrate into everyday life. She prioritizes supporting small businesses by sourcing the materials used in her merchandise like candles, stickers, and more from either locally-owned or U.S.-owned companies.

Lauren has a passion for helping other emerging artists develop opportunities and gain recognition as she aims to grow in the Milwaukee art scene. She has curated pop-up gallery nights at small businesses, notably Glassnote Candle Bar in Walker’s Point, Milwaukee, bringing together artists and art collectors from all over the Milwaukee metropolitan area. These gallery nights allow guests to experience an evening which seeks to engage all their senses through skillful curation, including gourmet beverages, ambient fragrances and immersive music.

Most recently, Lauren has launched a bit-sized podcast catered towards artists who want to take their first steps into selling their art professionally. This opportunity allows her to continue transforming her own studio practice by applying her creativity and teaching background to her entrepreneurship.    

Lisa Wicka is a mixed media printmaker and educator. Her work revolves around the evolving self through experience, place, failure and success. Often referencing architectural spaces, wallpapers, and raw materials, her work plays with perspective, dimension, fragility and time. Wicka graduated with her BFA from the University of Central Florida and MFA from Purdue University. Her work has shown both national and internationally and she has participated in numerous residencies and workshops including SparkBox Studio, Women’s Studio Workshop, Ålgården workshop in Sweden, and Officina Stamperia del Nataio in Sicily. Wicka currently is Associate Professor of Printmaking at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay.