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Our Collective Members
Our Core Collective is a group of dedicated volunteers who take responsibility for particular areas of Communication’s overall programming model.
Communication is a nonprofit with a board of directors that help guide the long term path of the organization, while the Core Collective manages the day to day workings of the space. We believe in compensating artists and performers, and we aim to do that transparently. We also believe in the value that volunteer labor can bring to a community. These two ideas coexist in a space that we navigate with great care.
Jennifer Bastian (she/her)
Jennifer Bastian oversees day to day administrative, project management and outreach work for Communication, as well as the Visuals branch of our publishing work, social media, grant writing, and more.
Outside of her work at Communication, Bastian is a local artist and photographer. Her work focuses on communal experiences that connect us, the generosity of strangers, and problem solving. Bastian was one of two Bridgework Artists for 2017-18 through Arts and Literature Laboratory and Dane Arts, and was the Artist-in-Residence at the Madison Public Library's Bubbler for two months in 2017. She brings her community arts background to Communication to support and reflect the needs and interests of the adjacent community. More about Bastian’s community art practice can be found on her website.
Sara Meredith (she/her)
Sara Meredith is part of our Operations Team and our Shop Team. In the past she has handled all parts of running both our physical and online shop. She has been a passionate volunteer at Communication since very early on. She has handled artist and shop volunteer communication and coordination, writing the artist’s checks, creating and maintaining inventory systems, and shop displays. Her goal in both physical and online store to make sure that the shop is inclusive. Every artist that has work at Communication has a at least 1-2 items visibly featured in an area of the shop.
Outside of Communication, Sara is an interdisciplinary artist going by Smere Tactics. She creates a range of work from painted original woodcuts and prints to sculptural social practice work. Her artwork explores human nature and natural communities, drawing parallels between culture, ecology, psychology, community and science. She has exhibited in several galleries, markets and small businesses in the Midwest. She brings her artistic experience, passion and care for intersectional communities into her work with Communication. For more information about Sara visit her website.
Michael Wojtasiak (he/him)
Michael Wojtasiak is part of our Operations Team and our Events Team! He handles the booking for bands who perform at Communication, manages equipment set-up and sound tech for shows at the space, and trains all events volunteers. Michael has been performing and booking in DIY spaces since the 1990s.
Outside of Communication, Michael works in IT System Administration for an energy non-profit. He writes and records music at home, and formerly ran a boutique record label & online record shop.
Lauren Stephenson (she/her)
Lauren Stephenson is on our Operations Team, and handles everything volunteer-related as our Volunteer Coordinator! She responds to all inquiries from prospective volunteers, orients new volunteers to our space and programming processes, liaises between our core collective and volunteer community, and generally acts as first point of contact for all volunteers who are not sure where else to turn.
Lauren loves to pick up volunteer shifts at the shop, help at shows, and table at off-site markets, so say “hi” when you see her at our events! Outside of Communication you can find her reading under a tree or napping with her cats.
Madeline Umscheid (she/they)
Madeline Umscheid wears many hats as core support member on the Operations Team — including shop and events support, market lead, and organizational process wizard. She joined the team in 2022 and can often be found knitting while tabling for Communication off-site, or behind the shop counter.
Kate Mead (she/her)
Kate Mead is a member of our Print Collective Team! Kate has been on the team since July of 2022 and handles onboarding and support for members of the Communication print collective.
Kate is a graphic designer by trade, and is energized by projects that involve a combination of making art and problem-solving — which is why she’s such a great leader for the print collective! Kate loves to split her time between the city and her family’s space in the country, hanging out with her dog Mr. Man and jamming out to dad rock and indie pop.
Courtney Henson Brienen (she/her)
A mother, punner, and recovering performance artist, Courtney (C) joined Communication in summer 2023 as a member of our Arts Programming Team. Through her various roles in the arts and hospitality industry she’s become more firm in her belief that the arts can be a space for all to encourage, empower and precipitate social change. Using making of all kinds, she’s excited to work with the larger community to promote the artists within us all.
Tara Curtis (she/her)
Tara joined the Shop Team in summer 2023, and is focusing on supporting our online shop!
Tara loves to dabble in fiber arts and unwinds by reading and drawing Zentangles. She’s excited to bring her experience in retail and the arts to support Communication’s mission and the Madison creative community!