The image of the male nude has been captured in sculpture and other media from ancient Rome to Renaissance Florence to modern day New York City. Nevertheless, the female nude is more ubiquitous in the artistic canon, and the “male gaze” is a subject of social debate.

But an exhibit on display now at The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art 2025 Triennial turns that debate on its head. The work is called Strut, and features a live nude male model posing in various positions on a sculpted base. These performances will occur weekly throughout the summer. Strut is the creation of University of Wisconsin Associate Art Professor Christina A. West. West says on her website that her work

is informed by contemporary art criticism and social theory about the gaze as a way to call out dynamics and politics that complicate the act of looking. Broadly speaking, addressing the gaze allows me to reflect on my relationships to others and consider what those dynamics can reveal about how we understand ourselves and others.

West spoke with Monday Buzz guest host Nicholas Wootton to explain more about her work and what visitors to the exhibit can expect to see.

All photos courtesy of Christina A. West

Web posting by WORT Producer Nicholas Wootton

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More than twenty-three thousand people are incarcerated in Wisconsin prisons as of the end of April of this year. And according to the state’s Department of Corrections website, it offers “education, programming and treatment to persons in our care that enables them to be successful upon returning to the community.”

But a group advocating for reform in how the state’s prison system treats those it incarcerates claims that the Department of Corrections and the state government have fallen far short of this promise.

Ladies of SCI, a group of women with family members or friends in the state’s prison system, say that “Wisconsin crushes incarcerated people and their families with a very vindictive and punitive system. There is very little opportunity for rehabilitation.”

Those are the words of Rebecca Aubert, executive director of Ladies of SCI. She and other LSCI members make monthly visits to state lawmakers and advocates for reform in how Wisconsin treats its prison inmates. She explained to Monday Buzz guest host Nicholas Wootton why the need for reform is so great.

All photos courtesy Ladies of SCI website

Web posting by WORT producer Nicholas Wootton

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Memorial Day was created as a day for honoring the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. But Larry Orr explained to Monday Eight o’Clock Buzz guest host Nicholas Wootton that there is a better way to honor the fallen: work for peace.

Orr is a member of the Madison Veterans for Peace, a group of former US military personnel who advocate for peace and, according to the group’s website, share a commitment “To abolish war as an instrument of national policy.”

Madison Veterans for Peace will host a rally this Memorial Day at the Wisconsin Masonic Center. Larry Orr served in the United States Air Force in Turkey from 1964 to 1968.

Featured image courtesy Madison Veterans for Peace Facebook page

Web posting by WORT producer Nicholas Wootton

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In New Mexico, a state with one of the highest rates of police killings in the country, the governor plans on activating 60-70 national guard troops, starting this weekend. Hanna Homestead, Research Analyst for the National Priorities Project, talks about the further militarization of police in the article “New Mexico’s National Guard Initiative Highlights the Nation’s Skewed Priorities“, with a historical $1 trillion allocated in Trump’s “Beautiful Budget” — money which will line the pockets of pentagon military contractors.

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After 50+ years of partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities, Wisconsin Humanities lost federal funding on April 3, as a result of Trump and Musk’s chainsaw budget cuts. Director of Communications, Jessica Becker, talks about the program’s temporary hibernation, with goals to preserve what is needed to restart these important programs at a later date. Your contributions are very welcome for “The Next Chapter”. Read more at The Progressive Magazine.

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Did you know that May is National Wetlands Month? Established in 1991 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with partners in federal, state, tribal, local, and non-profit private sectors to educate Americans about the value of wetlands as a natural resource. But the Wisconsin Wetlands Association has been working even longer with landowners, native tribes, and community groups, nearly 50 years, to give Wisconsin one of the strongest wetlands protections in the U.S., according to Katie Bielfuss, Outreach Programs Director. Visit their site to see more, and how you can help.

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Filmmaker B.J. Hollars joins Thursday Buzz host Tony Castañeda to discuss his new film, When The Rubber Hits The Road, which delves into the closure of the Uniroyal tire plant in Eau Claire in June 1992 after 75 years of production.

The shutdown resulted in the loss of 1500 jobs, profoundly affecting the local economy and community. Hollars’ film examines the way both management and union folks tirelessly advocated for worker’s benefits and retraining programs after the transition, and how diverisifying helped people find their way forward.

The film will be shown at 7:00pm, Thursday, May 22 at the Barrymore. There will be a small cover charge at the door.

Photo courtesy of Mike Ramírez Mx on Pixabay.

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Nurses at Meriter Hospital are set to commence a 5 day strike starting Tuesday, May 27, 2025, following a breakdown in contract negotiations with hospital management.

Tony’s guest on this week’s Thursday 8 O’Clock buzz is one of those nurses, and Kelsey is here this morning to explain how current staffing ratios and stronger security are just a couple of the issues that have yet to be adequately addressed, despite negotiations that have been underway since January of this year.

Represented by SEIU Wisconsin, Meriter’s 950 nurses hope that you’ll get involved by joining the strike line (May 27-May 31 from 6:30am-6:30pm), and donating to the Strike Hardship Fund.

Photo courtesy of SEIU Wisconsin.

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The Madison Symphony Orchestra’s Up Close and Personal program seeks to get classical music in the ears of elementary school students and others who rarely get a chance to see live classical music.  On May 19, 2025, the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s Hunt Quartet joined Monday Buzz host Brian Standing for a live musical broadcast and interview from WORT’s famed record library studio.

Live sound engineering: Aaron Scholz and John Wilson

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On May 19, 1925, Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska.  After joining the Nation of Islam while in prison in 1946, Malcolm changed his name to Malcolm X and became one of the most renowned speakers in the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.  The Monday Buzz took a look back at Malcolm X’s legacy on what would have been his 100th birthday, with excerpts from two of his speeches:

Photo of Malcolm X (1964) by Marion S. Trikosko, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Audio courtesy Internet Archive (archive.org).

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