Kenozia Fall Issue Release Party

Join us to celebrate the release of Kenozia Vol. 6 (our biggest issue yet), i.e., the Fall edition, at The Checkpoint on Wednesday, November 4th. The event will kick off at 5 p.m. with a happy hour. Enjoy drinks from the bar and mingle with fellow art lovers and featured artists from the current issue.

At 6 p.m., we will kick things off with a short film screening of Huck and Jim with a Q&A with the writer and director, Frank Tovar followed by two live readings: a chilling poem by Haley Valenta and a downright creepy flash fiction story called "Doll Skin" by Danielle Koziol. Next up, we will head straight into a live performance by artrock group, Sun Silo. And end the night with an insightful local music panel featuring special guests Jayna Hagen (Violet Wilder Band), Leroy Booker, Jeremiah Lunde (Lunde), and Andy Warren Jepson (Sun Silo).

Grab your friends and head over to The Checkpoint to immerse yourself in Kenosha's art community.

Admission is free! Check out the different add-on options below:

Option 1: $0; Free Admission- RSVP. Let us know you're attending!

Option 2: $9 (plus fees); Free Admission + one copy of issue 6 ($9) waiting for you at check-in.

Option 3: $TBD; Free Admission + Donation; You love to support local or the art community and able to donate to Kenozia, we couldn't keep doing this without our community behind us.

Copies of issue 6 will be available for purchase during the release party. You can pick up past issues if you haven't had a chance to discover our local arts and literary zine!

Kenozia is a print-only, quarterly zine showcasing the work of local Kenosha artists, photographers, and writers. The first issue debuted in July 2025, created by Sarah Opatz.

About Issue #6 (Fall 2026):

In this issue, we have the self-trained, colorful painter, Jim Schultz; a Local Music Spotlight on the artrock band Sun Silo; mixed media work by Melissa Bujniewicz; an Artist Spotlight on the Quechuan-American ‘Kenosha Kraken’ muralist Leeanna Chipana; a highlight on the newly installed Sculpture Walk-Harbor Park; a Community Spotlight on the Kenosha Community Foundation; our returning cartoon series, ‘Guess Who’ by Paul Merklein; an insightful essay on Orson Welles’ radio adaptation of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by local filmmaker Frank Tovar; the upcoming events and exhibitions calendar; Steampunk inspired mixed media work by Timothy Worachek; a haunted micro memoir by writer Lillian Ann Slugocki; a historical piece on the 19th century spirit photography phenomenon by Danny Villanueva Jr; a chilling poem by local poet Haley Valenta; and lastly, a downright creepy flash fiction piece by writer Danielle Koziol.

About Issue #5 (Summer 2026- One Year Anniversary):

In this issue, we have the wildly talented mixed media artist Julian Guyton with paintings showcasing his signature fractureism characters; celebrated artist Diane Levesque features her colorful maximalist paintings and recent graphite drawings; a Community Spotlight on the newly launched Wildwood Theatre Company; an Artist Spotlight on the stylish photographer Chino Villatoro; a bittersweet sci-fi flash fiction piece called CAM from local writer Chris Kaamino-Seymour; a Gallery Spotlight on Pollard Gallery and Gifts; a Local Music spotlight on retro-inspired rock band Lunde; our returning cartoon series, ‘Guess Who’ by artist Paul Merklein; and two new sections, an upcoming events/exhibition calendar and a poetry page.

About Issue #4 (Spring 2026):

This spring issue features stunning photography by Emily Burhani that captures the beauty of everyday moments; a profile interview with the creative director of KAPA Repertory Theatre, Braxton Molinaro; an allegorical sci-fi flash fiction piece by Greg York; a Community Spotlight on the large-scale movement, the Kenosha Murals Project; a Gallery Spotlight on the tucked-away treasure, the H.F. Johnson Gallery at Carthage College; an interview with up-and-coming musical talent, Leroy Booker; multi-media painting work by the accomplished Jennifer Doherty; and another edition of ‘Guess Who’ by cartoonist Paul Merklein. Can you guess who it is?

About Issue #3 (Winter 2026):

The winter issue features digital dreamlike photography by Jonny Servais; a multipart Gallery Spotlight on Outpost Gallery and AP3, and the artists who run them; a charming romance flash fiction by indie author Brighton Walsh; a posthumous Artist Spotlight on the renowned painter and professor, Dennis Bayuzick; a Local Music Spotlight on the harmonious indie band, Violet Wilder; and a new addition called "Guess Who" by Paul Merklein.

About Issue #2 (Fall/Halloween 2025):

This issue is a twofer! One side is the fall edition that features paintings by the accomplished Margaret Clark; an Artist Spotlight on UW-Parkside professor and ceramicist Lisa Marie Barber, written by Marc Travanti; a local music venue piece on The White Lilac, written by Jeff Moody; a Gallery Spotlight on The Lemon Street Gallery; and last, but certainly not least, striking analog photos by the talented photographer Steve Rodriguez.

Flip the zine over and you will find the Halloween edition. This edition features works by the talented FX artist/mask maker Paul Hoepner; a Filmmaker Spotlight on screenwriter/director Danny Villanueva Jr. talking about his new feature-length horror film, What Happened to Dorothy Bell?; eerie flash fiction pieces by our very own marketing manager Dani Koziol and local author Meg Bonney; unique artwork by printmaker Shelby Nesmith; and a Community Spotlight on the Port of Fear Film Festival.

About Issue #1 (Summer 2025):

In this issue, we are proud to feature two talented photographers, Victoria Rodriguez and Nicolas Campos, an Artist Spotlight on the distinguished Marc Travanti, an enchanting flash fiction piece by published author Greta Kelly, and a Gallery Spotlight on the historical Anderson Art Center.