Best of Show

When Addyson Hase sent off her art submission to the Wisconsin State Fair earlier this year, she wasn’t sure if it would even arrive in time for judging.

“I was worried, just because when I did begin delivering it, it was almost to the due date, and I was very nervous about whether it was going to deliver in time, whether it was going to the right place or the right people,” Hase explained.

Months later, Hase would make her first trip to the Wisconsin State Fair as a guest of honor, her submission having won Best in Show over 450 other pieces.

“Not only getting the ribbon, but apparently Best of Show is supposed to positively reflect the youth of this state,” said Hase. “That was a really feel-good moment.”

Hase’s piece, Morning Recovery, rendered using colored pencils and white gel pen, began as a photograph of her breakfast at Era Cafe, located in Rib Mountain.

Later, Hase decided to use the picture as a reference for a project in her junior year art class.

“I started it as a junior and I ended up not finishing it in time for the deadline for the actual project itself, but I still put forth a lot of effort, a lot of hard work towards it,” she said.

After setting the piece aside for about a year, Hase picked it up again for class she took during her senior year.

“There was still a part of me that really wanted to finish it, so there was that push from me,” said Hase.

“Senior year, I was in an art studio class, which gave me a lot of freedom for the projects I chose,” she continued. Her main requirement was that her projects had to fit the theme of the ‘concentration’ she’d chosen: ‘bittersweet.’

“In the literal sense [of the word ‘bittersweet’], it took me so long and I think there was a lot of perseverance, and I was able to see the outcome of the entire project being completed.”

After Morning Recovery was finished, Hase was searching for art shows she could submit to when she stumbled across the State Fair’s Young People’s Art Exhibit. With encouragement from her family and help from her boyfriend, Hase sent off the piece to Milwaukee and crossed her fingers that it would arrive on time.

“This was, like, the first thing I’ve submitted myself,” said Hase. “It was very rewarding.”

Months later, she checked the fair’s results online, sifting through four or five pages of winners across multiple mediums in a process Hase described as “nerve-wracking” before finally finding her name.

“It was rewarding seeing my work stand out among the other mediums,” she said.

Hase was awarded a $110 cash prize and four tickets and parking passes for free admission to the fair, where she was also invited to be a featured guest artist.

“I had never been to the State Fair, so my first time being there and kind of being a center point was a lot to handle,” Hase recalled. She spent her time doodling, fielding questions about the medium and how long her process took her and meeting other artists.

“That was the most awesome part about it, is kinda getting my skills shown out,” said Hase. “It just felt really good.”

At the end of the month, Hase will be leaving Wausau to study urban planning at UW-Milwaukee.

“I’m very excited for the city and the opportunities that are gonna come to me,” said Hase, explaining that urban planning is a field in which her “design roots will flourish.”

Still, she plans to continue honing her skills as an artist however she can, experimenting with different techniques and styles and seeing the different ways in which she can grow.

“Through Wausau West, I was able to do that very well, especially within that last year. I was kind of able to do something new each time,” said Hase. “I plan to continue this art journey and kinda see where it takes me. Hopefully I can get [my name and my work] out there.”

She’s interested in doing commissions as well, although not exclusively.

“I really like doing commissions and making something special for people,” she explained, “but if you’re an artist, you also really want to make things for yourself.”

Hase’s work can be found on Instagram at artbyaddyson.