October is Wisconsin Manufacturing Month, and Madison College Gallery staff created an exhibit to celebrate. The manufacturing gallery currently features work from students and staff in manufacturing programs.

Chris Gargan, one of the exhibits coordinators, went through a long process of contacting and reaching out to vendors  in the community for support to make this possible. The result had an amazing response and “offers a range of materials and diversity in products,” stated Gargan.

The process of setting up the exhibit was complicated.

“It’s a lot like students putting portfolios together,” Gargan said. It is very essential for everything to be there prior to the actual set up. Gargan offers another essential component to the set up by asking, “How do you tie the floor stuff to the wall stuff?”

Nick Loveland, one of the student coordinators, was heavily involved in the set up process.

“They couldn’t have done it without hiring students,” said Loveland. “Student  helpers were incredible with the show.”

Andrew Tillmann, a student gallery staff member,contributed largely to the exhibit and supervises and helps visitors during open hours.

“It has been an experience,” said Tilmann, “I learned a lot about setting things up, it has been a lot of fun and the best job so far.”

The gallery staff specified three goals of the exhibit:

• They want to communicate, “Who is Madison College?” to the larger businesses

• They want students in the school to know employers and interest levels

• They want high school students to see we are connected to the community.

“We always try to outreach to the larger communities,”  said Loveland.

The Wisconsin Manufacturing Opening Reception will be hosted on Oct. 17 from 3-7 p.m. They will be serving refreshments. All are welcome to attend. The Manufacturing Gallery is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.