What is R.A.C.K?
Railroad Ave Community Kiln (RACK) is a membership-based, community ceramics and art space in Viroqua. We are queer and trans-owned, and our mission is to build radical, inclusive community through art and education.
The pottery studio offers wheel access, kiln firings, glazes, and regular classes with local potters. Beyond ceramics, RACK will be a space with workshops and equipment for zine making, dancing, and writing. We steward The Pansy Garden outside, a space for loitering and for all-ages, alcohol-free events.
founder bios
RACK, LLC was founded by Viroqua-area artists and land stewards Hawthorn McCracken, Murray Valentine, Rufus Jupiter, and Elena Bird.
Hawthorn Mccracken
(it/its, they if you’re lazy)
Born in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hawthorn is a freaky little critter who has always enjoyed playing in the mud, making art, and talking to plants. It moved to Wisconsin in 2008, dropped out of art school to learn about greenhouse growing, then came to the Driftless to find some new hollers to haunt. It’s been herding cats and queers in Vernon County since 2022, and dreaming of making a community-centered pottery space ever since.
Hawthorn is of Scots-Irish, English, and German descent. It is a member of the Wisconsin Farmers Union, and is the founder of Trans on the Land, a local organization for queer and trans folks of many stripes. You’ve probably seen it at the co-op buying too much cheese.
murray mueller
Murray Valentine (xe/xem/xyrs) is a diviner, artist, and zinemaker living in the Driftless since 2022.
Xe facilitates playful creative writing workshops and is the head scientist at the Zine Lab.
Murray believes in the healing arts of clay, flowers, and nonsense.
rufus jupiter
(they/ them) is a queer trans multidisciplinary artist whose practice includes creating social spaces, community organizing, site-specific performance, interdisciplinary collaborations, and visual imagery.
They are a founding member of WEdances Movement Collaborative, founder-owner of Lathyrus Flora floriculture project, co-curator of the Vernon County Queer Histories Project, longtime volunteer DJ (aka Titmouse) at WDRT Community Radio, and now serve as Garden Daddy for the Pansy Garden at R.A.C.K. Their favorite smell in the world is the sweet pea flower.
Elena Bird
Elena (they/them or she/her) is a temporarily retired farmer and a prolific tinned fish eater. They fell into farming due to a love of soils and remained in farming due to great potlucks. Propelled by potlucks, Elena learned ceramics to make vessels for friends to eat and drink from. “If you haven’t got something to put it in-- food will escape you.” -Ursula Le Guin
Elena lives, eats, writes, and grows things south of Viroqua.
Hazel
Hazel (she/ her) is the Pansy Garden’s co-steward and deer management specialist. She is a very friendly dog.
Her professional skills include bunny observation and fetch. In her spare time, Hazel enjoys squirrel tracking, treats, and receiving vigorous belly rubs.
