UW-Parkside Hosts International Collaborative Mural Project with Kenosha Sister City Committee
Artist and Designer Carlo Giardina of the MADE Art Academy in Siracusa, Sicily and Professor Carey Watters of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside have developed a collaborative mural project for the Sister Cities of Kenosha, Wisconsin and Cosenza, Italy. This project is also made possible by the generous support of Kenosha’s Sister City Association.
Giardina will be on campus from Feb. 1 – March 8 and will work with Watters’ Design Portfolio students on the Sister Cities Mural Project and will also be available to do guest critiques, collaborative projects, drawing exercises, and more. Giardina will also paint a mini mural in the UW-Parkside Graphic Design Studio. On Feb. 25, Giardina will lead an art workshop called: “Sound, Color, Shape and Word” at the Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha. He will also give an artist talk in Bedford Hall on March 5 at 2 p.m.
Both Giardina and Watters, along with UW-Parkside graphic design students, will design two murals that weave together the history of Cosenza and the history of the Italian community in Kenosha. This Community-Based Learning Project through the Department of Art and Design at UW-Parkside will bring together the communities of Kenosha and Cosenza and create a long-lasting visual connection and dialogue between the two cities.
The murals will be connected, reflecting the history of Cosenza and the Italian community in Kenosha. It will be up to the students, directed by Giardina and Watters, to conceptualize the project. The selection committees from both cities will have the final approval of the project.
Watters explains, “Murals have the power to transform neighborhoods, foster a sense of place, and bring communities together. This Community-Based Learning Project not only weaves together the rich histories of Cosenza and Kenosha but also provides an invaluable opportunity for students to engage with professional design challenges. I am proud to lead a project that supports cultural exchange, student growth, and community connection.”
The Kenosha mural will be installed in the summer of 2025 by Dean Tawwater. There will be a community celebration at the Italian-American Club in July. In the Summer of 2026, Watters will lead UW-Parkside study abroad students to Cosenza, Italy, to participate in the painting of the mural and to work with the Cosenza school students on a community-based learning project.
The Kenosha mural will be installed in June or July of 2025 on the north wall of the Italian-American Club overlooking the bocce ball court, and will incorporate the staircase and door into the design. For the Cosenza Mural, a new school is being constructed next to the former school building. This building will be converted into a play area, with the façade remaining. The mural will be painted on the side in June of 2026.
The project also includes collaboration with grade school students from both cities. Each unveiling will feature activities including School spirit flag making, Mosaic tiles, Papercrafts, Cultural exchange activities Community members, Sister City delegations, and University administrators will have the opportunity to participate in the unveiling activities in both Kenosha and Cosenza.
The community needs to raise $30,000 to complete the project. There are several donation levels with various benefits, but all donations will be gratefully accepted. Donations to the Sister Cities Association, a 501 c)(3) non-profit, are tax deductible. Donations can be made to Sister Cities Association of Kenosha, and mailed to City of Kenosha, Sister Cities Association, 625 52nd St., Kenosha, WI 53140. For more information, or to donate online, go to www.kenoshasistercities.com. For more information, email kenoshasistercities@gmail.com.
About the Artists
Carey Watters is Professor of graphic design at the UW-Parkside. She received her MFA from the UW-Madison in printmaking and book arts. Her book and collage work weave together concepts including feminism, historic map making, and religious and pagan symbolism. She is an internationally exhibited artist and a recent “Best in Show” winner of the Trout Museum of Art Contemporary Wisconsin Art Juried Exhibition.
Carlo Alberto Giardina teaches Illustration and mural painting within the MADE Program Visual Arts course. He received his Biennial Master in Communication Design at the NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, Milan, and completed a painting course at the “Belas Artes” Academy of Fine Arts in Lisbon. He has worked with various clients, including Google and Boston Consulting Group and has created masonry works for the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Milan, Mercure Hotels, and several cities between Italy and the United States.
About UW-Parkside
Since its founding in 1968, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside has been a trusted partner for the region’s higher educational needs, empowering students to thrive, advancing applied knowledge, and developing talent for the future. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as certificates and pre-professional programs, designed to foster personal and professional growth through real-world and impactful learning experiences. Located in the dynamic Chicago-Milwaukee corridor, UW-Parkside offers unmatched access to world-class internships, professional networks, and endless career-building opportunities, placing students at the center of it all.
Media Contact:
Scott Rudie
Executive Director of Communication and Marketing
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
rudie@uwp.edu | (262) 300-9549