Year: 2017

Milwaukee Art Museum Campus Extended

Milwaukee Art Museum Campus Extended
O’Donnell Park, garage, and buildings added to Museum holdings,
unburdening the County of $28.8 mil in obligations


Milwaukee, Wis. – Dec. 18, 2017 – The Milwaukee Art Museum is pleased to announce that the acquisition of O’Donnell Park parking structure and pavilion, as well as the buildings the Museum occupies, will be finalized December 19, 2017. The transaction was approved by the Board of the County of Milwaukee in March of 2016.

The Museum is assuming full responsibility for the operations, capital maintenance and repair for the O’Donnell park, garage, and pavilion; the Kahler building, as well as the portion of the Saarinen building occupied by the Museum, relieving the County of $28.8 million in current and future obligations. The County retains ownership of the land.

“This transaction truly allows the Museum to control its destiny,” said Dr. Marcelle Polednik, Donna and Donald Baumgartner Director, Milwaukee Art Museum. “Immediately, we’re able to ensure that our campus is maintained, accessible to the public, and remains directly connected to downtown. With this strategic acquisition, we also open up possibilities for the future, envisioning how we can facilitate more activities, programs, and opportunities for inspiring community engagement.“

The Museum has added a facilities manager to its staff focused on the additional responsibility for these properties. Interstate Parking has been awarded the contract to operate public parking at both O’Donnell and the underground structure within the Calatrava-designed Quadracci Pavilion.

“Our immediate priority is providing safe, convenient parking for all the attractions here at the lakefront,” said Jane Wochos, COFO, Milwaukee Art Museum. “We are grateful to everyone that has worked to find a solution that puts the needs of the community first while relieving the County of its large-scale maintenance obligations.”

All proceeds from parking fees will go towards a capital reserve fund dedicated to repair and maintenance of the structures. Maintenance for the Quadracci Pavilion, famously designed by Santiago Calatrava, will continue to come from the Museum’s general facilities budget.

About the Milwaukee Art Museum
Home to a rich collection of more than 30,000 works of art, the Milwaukee Art Museum is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Its campus includes the Santiago Calatrava–designed Quadracci Pavilion, annually showcasing three feature exhibitions, the Eero Saarinen–designed Milwaukee County War Memorial Center and David Kahler‒designed addition. The Museum recently reopened its Collection Galleries, debuting nearly 2,500 world-class works of art within dramatically transformed galleries and a new lakefront addition. This reimagined space also allows for the presentation of additional changing exhibitions.

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Fact Sheet:
– This is a no-cash transaction.
– The Milwaukee Art Museum is taking on $28.8 million of current and future maintenance and repair obligations in exchange for control of the buildings and park.
– O’Donnell Park includes the structures and public recreational areas between East Michigan Street, North Lincoln Memorial Drive, North Prospect Avenue, and East Mason Street.
– No dramatic landscaping changes or additional structures are planned in the immediate future for O’Donnell Park. The Museum’s near-term priorities are providing functional, safe, readily available parking and recreation areas for the community.
– Cleaning and minor repairs will begin immediately, with plans for updated parking equipment and signage expected to be installed in the next three months.
– Under the terms of the agreement, the War Memorial also gains ownership of the sections of the Saarinen Building that it occupies.
– The Milwaukee Art Museum will become the leaseholder for Coast (Zilli Hospitality Group) and Betty Brinn Children’s Museum. No immediate change in occupancy for the spaces are planned.
– The current lease for Betty Brinn Children’s Museum gives them the option to extend through 2033.
– Negotiations are underway with Zilli Hospitality Group for the space currently occupied by Coast restaurant.
– There are no plans for increases in parking costs in the near future.
– There is no current plan for fundraising or use of endowment funds by the Museum to support the parking structure, park, or pavilion.
– The Milwaukee Art Museum is a private, 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, with 65 percent of its current expenses covered by donations, sponsorships, memberships, and Museum admissions fees.
– The Milwaukee Art Museum currently receives $1.1 million in funding annually from the County through 2023, expected to lower to $500,000 per year through 2033.
– The details of this transaction were addressed in Milwaukee County Board Resolution 15-260.

Jaime Hayon: Technicolor brings vibrant colors and whimsical objects to the Museum

Jaime Hayon: Technicolor brings vibrant colors and whimsical objects to the Milwaukee Art Museum 

-This fun, family-friendly exhibition will include an interactive play piece- 

 

Milwaukee, Wis. – December 6, 2017 – The Milwaukee Art Museum is delighted to bring a broad collection of works by the Spanish artist-designer Jaime Hayon, from large tapestries to vibrant reimagined animalsincluding a brand new collection of glass sculpture. His exuberance is on full display in this exhibition, which allows visitors to escape into his vibrant world that merges art, decoration and design. Jaime Hayon: Technicolor will be on view from December 8, 2017 to March 25, 2018 in the Bradley Family Gallery.

Exploring his dreams and the depths of his imagination to conceive of his whimsical objects, Hayon has emerged at the forefront of an energetic new wave in contemporary design in the past ten years.

Hayon was born in Madrid in 1974. After studying industrial design in Madrid and Paris, he joined Fabrica—the Benetton-funded design and communication academy in Italy—in 1997 where he directed the design department until 2003. Hayon set up his own studio practice in the year 2000 and has dedicated himself fully to his personal projects from 2003 onward. Today he is considered one of the most acclaimed creators in the world.

2015.6 Hayon (1)Hayon embraces his imagination and does not shy away from using different materials and exploring new mediums—including sculpture, textiles, ceramics, furniture, playscapes and glass. The exhibition will feature sketches, drawings and maquettes of Hayon’s work. Sketching is part of the artist-designer’s daily routine. “Sketching is a progression of my mind, a way of connecting thoughts. It’s a precious liberty with no limitations, only the edges of paper. Now we have technology, but without the freedom of sketching, there is no passion.” Within his practice, Hayon also believes in the power of storytelling. He has said, “The story doesn’t have to be based on reality; it can be a complete fantasy as long as people can recognize themselves in it.”

Highlights of the exhibition include Hayon’s immersive installation Technicolor, commissioned by the High Museum of Art in Atlanta; the Green Chicken rocking chair (or “crazy dream object,” according to Hayon); an interactive sculpture; and his new work Afrikando, a series of glass vessels the Milwaukee Art Museum commissioned for this exhibition. Afrikando is inspired by the aesthetics of primitivism as well as Hayon’s playful visual vocabulary of bright colors, bulbous forms and geometric ornamentation seen in his other works.

“I am really excited to bring the exuberant work of Jaime Hayon to the Milwaukee community,” said Monica Obniski, Demmer Curator of 20th and 21st Century Design.“His practice highlights a bright, playful, imaginary world that is positive and full of joy—something that I believe we need a bit more of today, especially in our contemporary climate. Hayon has also designed a new work of art that will be debuted in the exhibition. The “family”—according to Hayon—of glass vessels called Afrikando, is a recent acquisition commissioned for the Milwaukee Art Museum, thanks to the generosity of local glass collectors. I hope that visitors will delight in the colorful optimism of Hayon’s work.”

Organized by: High Museum of Art, Atlanta
Supporting Sponsors: Layden Family Foundation and Milwaukee Art Museum’s Garden Club
Education Sponsor: Suzy B. Ettinger Foundation

Supporting events

Gallery Talk
Tuesday, January 16, 1:30 p.m.
With Monica Obniski, Demmer Curator of 20th and 21st Century Design

MIAD Creativity Series: Jaime Hayon
Tuesday, February 13, 6 p.m.
Mark your calendars for this in-depth presentation by the artist-designer at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. For more information, please visit: https://www.miad.edu/get-involved/for-friends-and-donors/development-events/creativity-series. The event is free and open to the public.

Artist Gallery Talk
Wednesday, February 14, 2 p.m.
With Jaime Hayon

Gallery Talk
Tuesday, March 20, 1:30 p.m.
With Hannah Pivo, curatorial assistant

Kids Get in Free Every Day at the Milwaukee Art Museum, Thanks to Kohl’s

Kids Get in Free Every Day at the Milwaukee Art Museum, Thanks to Kohl’s

-Kohl’s support also includes daily art activities for families, complementing the popular Kohl’s Art Generation program-

 Milwaukee, Wis. – November 8, 2017 – The Milwaukee Art Museum is proud to announce Kohl’s is expanding its support for kids at the Museum by underwriting free admission for all kids ages 12 and under, as well as adding daily hands-on activities to the Museum’s offerings.

Beginning on November 1, the hands-on Kohl’s Art Generation Studio at the Milwaukee Art Museum will be open every day the Museum is open—from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (until 7 p.m. on Thursdays)—extending the opportunity for families to make art together. The Kohl’s Art Generation Studio offers a different theme and projects each month inspired by the Museum’s Collection and special exhibitions.

The theme for the month of November, Follow the Line, takes inspiration from the Museum’s exhibition Degas to Picasso: Creating Modernism in France. Families will sketch figures, use a printing press, and experiment with chalk pastels, charcoal and watercolors.

“The Kohl’s Art Generation Open Studio has always been a family favorite,” said Emily Sullivan, the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Director of Youth and Family Programs. “It’s a great way to learn about art and it’s fun for both kids and grownups. And now, thanks to Kohl’s, they can make art together every day.”

The Kohl’s Art Generation Studio is part of the popular Kohl’s Art Generation program at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Since 2008, Kohl’s has partnered with the Museum to provide creative, hands-on art experiences to families at the Museum, as well as throughout the community with Kohl’s Color Wheels.

The Kohl’s Art Generation program, free with Museum admission, is geared towards families with kids 12 and under and includes:

  • Kids get in free!
    Museum admission is free for kids 12 and under every day the Museum is open (when accompanied by an adult; open to visitors from any location, excludes school tours)
  • Kohl’s Art Generation Studio
    Families can drop by and make art inspired by the Museum’s Collection and special exhibitions. There’s a new theme every month, and the projects are always changing.
  • Kohl’s Art Generation Family Touch Tours
    Families can explore the Museum through games and videos, and take an art selfie! Tours are available to check out at the Museum, or the app is available for free from the App Store and Google Play Store.
  • Story Time in the Galleries
    Every Saturday, for our younger visitors, families can hear a story that relates to a work of art in the Museum, and then make a drawing inspired by what they’ve seen and heard. Stories in November include When Pigasso Met Mootise, I Don’t Draw, I COLOR!, DRAW! and The Quilt.
  • Kohl’s Art Generation Family Sundays
    Five times per year, the entire Museum turns into an art studio with hands-on activities, performances, visiting artists, family tours and more. The next event, Deck the Walls, is on December 3.
  • Kohl’s Art Generation Lab: Haitian Art
    Families can immerse themselves in the art and culture of Haiti, learning about the importance of community, family and more through music, photography and a variety of hands-on activities. Open during Museum hours.
  • Kohl’s Color Wheels
    The Museum’s off-site studio program visits schools and festivals to provide hands-on art activities in the community throughout the year, inspired by the Museum’s Collection and special exhibitions. Upcoming events include the Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market at The Domes on November 11 and Holiday Folk Fair at the State Fair Park Expo Center on November 17-19.

For more information, visit mam.org/artgeneration.

 

Holiday Happenings at the Milwaukee Art Museum

Special holiday events include cooking class, Museum Store Sunday holiday shopping event, free live music in Windhover Hall and much, much more

Milwaukee, Wis. – October 24, 2017 – The Milwaukee Art Museum is known in Milwaukee as a great destination to take in exhibitions from world-renowned artists as well as a gathering place for friends and family with activities and cafés. But it’s also a great place to visit during the holidays.

The Milwaukee Art Museum offers a variety of events for visitors of all ages. With a Holiday Cooking Class, holiday shopping events in the Museum Store, as well as free live music in Windhover Hall throughout December, the Milwaukee Art Museum has something for everyone.

Here’s the schedule of events and exhibitions for the season:

Holiday Happenings

Yoga @ the Museum
Saturday, November 11, 8:15–9:30 a.m.
Reserve your spot today with a view of Lake Michigan and get in some yoga before the big Thanksgiving dinner! Pre-register with a $15 donation (pre-registration closes at 5pm the Friday before). Your donation also includes same-day admission into the Museum. All proceeds benefit the Milwaukee Art Museum and omTown Yogis. Walk-ins welcome while there is room available. Come early! Doors open at 7:45a.m. This class is open to all levels. Please bring your own mat. Parking is available in the Museum’s underground garage for $5.

Museum Store

Member Holiday Shopping Party
Wednesday, November 15, 5–8 p.m.

Shop the Museum Store during this Members-only, private after-hours event. Local artist James Steeno will debut (and sign) this year’s exclusive ornament. Enjoy live music, complimentary wine and appetizers, free gift wrapping, 20% off purchases and free parking in the Museum’s heated, underground garage. RSVP to katie.nelson@mam.org or 414-224-3875.

Museum Store Sunday
Sunday, November 26, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Receive a special gift for your patronage on this international day highlighting the unique offerings of museum stores. Check out the vendor trunk shows, enjoy live music, and, Members, enjoy 20% off (double your usual discount). After shopping, visitors can stroll through the Collection or the exhibitions Degas to Picasso: Creating Modernism in France and Anthony Hernandez. All purchases support Museum exhibitions and programming.

 Kohl’s Art Generation Family Sundays: Deck the Walls
Sunday, December 3, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Create drawings, prints and paintings inspired by the holiday season and the work of master artists in the Degas to Picasso: Creating Modernism in France exhibition. Learn a few words en français, enjoy French tunes performed by the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music’s Suzuki ensemble, and more! More information: https://mam.org/artgeneration/

Live Music
Enjoy the sounds of the season in Windhover Hall. Check the website calendar for updates.
Saturday, November 18, 12:15–1 p.m., Aperi Animam
Saturday, December 2, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Master Singers of Milwaukee
Saturday, December 9, 12:15–1:15 p.m., Bruce Anthony Holiday Concert
Saturday, December 10, 1 pm–2 p.m., Pius XI Madrigal Ensemble
Saturday, December 16, 1–2 p.m., Northshore Suzuki Strings Annual Holiday Concert
Sunday, December 17, 1–2 p.m., Barcel Brioso Holiday Concert
Thursday, December 21, 6:30–7:30 p.m., Slavoče: Slavic-language voice, piano
Saturday, December 23, 1–2:00 p.m., Cream City Brass Quintet

NYE Celebration!
Sunday, December 31
Ring in the New Year with an evening of fine dining and dancing at the Museum. A specially crafted holiday dinner with live entertainment will be our way of welcoming 2018! Details and tickets will be made available at Eventbrite.com.

Special Holiday Hours

Sunday, December 24
10 a.m.–3 p.m.

 Tuesday, December 26
10 a.m.–5 p.m.

 New Year’s Eve
10 a.m.–5 p.m.

 New Year’s Day
10 a.m.–5 p.m.

 

Exhibitions on view at Milwaukee Art Museum:

Anthony Hernandez
Now–January 1, 2018
This first retrospective on the major American photographer Anthony Hernandez (b. 1947) features approximately 160 photographs—many never shown before—from the artist’s more than forty-five-year career. Whether focusing on the human figure, the landscape, or abstract details, the Los Angeles native has captured in both black and white and color the desolate allure and sprawling expanses of his hometown.

Degas to Picasso: Creating Modernism in France
November 4, 2017–January 28, 2018
Paris became the center of modern art beginning in the nineteenth century. Artists from around the world, including Delacroix, Manet, Cézanne, Cassatt, Van Gogh, Chagall, and Picasso, gathered in its studios, galleries, salons, and museums. They moved away from traditional subjects and styles and, through experimentation, actively charted a course toward abstract art. Degas to Picasso: Creating Modernism in France tells the story of modern art as it evolved during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, through 150 works representing transformative movements such as Impressionism and Cubism. This exhibition focuses especially on drawings, shown alongside important paintings, sculptures and prints, to highlight the crucial role that process and materials played in the experimentation and development of modern art.

Jaime Hayon: Technicolor
December 8, 2017–March 25, 2018
In the past ten years, Jaime Hayon (b. 1974) has emerged as an artist-designer at the forefront of an energetic new wave in contemporary design. Colorful and whimsical figures emerge from the depths of Hayon’s imagination and, in some cases, his dreams, becoming sculptures, ceramics, textiles and playground equipment. Jaime Hayon: Technicolor allows visitors to enter the Spanish artist-designer’s vibrant world and find inspiration in his embrace of imagination.

Designing Paris: The Posters of Jules Chéret
December 15, 2017–April 29, 2018
Designing Paris: The Posters of Jules Chéret opens in December with colorful, inventive posters advertising Paris’s many entertainment venues, products, department stores and more in the late nineteenth century and made their maker, the French artist Jules Chéret (1836–1932), famous. His work in color lithography, which was previously used for commercial printing, transformed printmaking into a medium that artists today still see as rich for experimentation.  This exhibition features highlights from a gift of nearly six hundred Chéret posters to the Museum from local collectors Susee and James Wiechmann.

 

Milwaukee Art Museum celebrates Día de los Muertos during Kohl’s Art Generation Family Sundays

2016-10-16 Dia de los Muertos (80)2016-10-16 Dia de los Muertos (120) (1)2016-10-16 Dia de los Muertos (7)

Milwaukee, Wis. – Sept. 27, 2017 – On Sunday, October 15, families are invited to visit the Milwaukee Art Museum for Kohl’s Art Generation Family Sundays: Día de los Muertos. This celebration of the traditional Mexican holiday is one of the Museum’s most popular annual family activities.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Museum, visitors of all ages will learn about the culture and tradition of Día de los Muertos, exploring symbols of the holiday—monarch butterflies, sugar skulls, marigolds, and more—through a variety of hands-on art activities.

The Milwaukee-Based Dance Academy of Mexico of Marina Croft will present Mexican folkloric dance in traditional costumes, and there will also be a performance by Latino Arts Mariachi Juvenil. Families will learn from local artists, as well as honor a loved one by adding their name to the community ofrenda, or altar.

Walker’s Point Center for the Arts and Día de los Muertos Parade Project Milwaukee will take part. Student art from ALBA Elementary School, Bruce-Guadalupe Community School and Pierce Elementary School will also be on display.

Activities will continue with Kohl’s Color Wheels, the Museum’s offsite studio program, at the 8th Annual Día de los Muertos Festival on Saturday, October 28th in Walker Square Park.

Día de los Muertos is celebrated throughout Mexico, in particular, the Central and South regions, and by people of Mexican ancestry living in other places, especially the United States. This two-day holiday (Nov 1–2) brings family and friends together to honor loved ones who have passed on.

Kohl’s Art Generation Family Sundays are free with Museum admission, and kids 12 and under are free every day the Museum is open thanks to Kohl’s Cares.

About Family Sundays
Families can experience art together at Kohl’s Art Generation Family Sundays, the Museum’s special event—with hands-on art activities, performances, tours, and more—that happens only five times a year. For additional information, visit mam.org/artgeneration.

 

 

An Update on Pricing at the Milwaukee Art Museum Taking Effect November 1

An Update on Pricing at the Milwaukee Art Museum Taking Effect November 1

Beginning November 1, 2017, prices for admission to the Milwaukee Art Museum are changing.

Updated Pricing

Museum Admission:
General admission for visitors ages 13–64: $19
Seniors 65+ and students with ID: $17
Membership:
Family and Dual membership (includes admission for two adults): $95 per year
Art Advocate membership (includes admission for four adults): $200 per year
Special Events:
MAM After Dark: $12 advanced tickets, $14 general admission, free for Members
Art in Bloom: $17 advanced tickets, $20 general admission, $18 students and seniors, $5 for Members
Lakefront Festival of Art: $14 advanced tickets, $19 general admission, $17 students and seniors, $10 for Members
Group Tours:
Adult group tours: $14 per person (plus a docent fee of $25 for every 15 guests)
Children ages 12 and under will remain free every day the Museum is open, thanks to the generous support of Kohl’s Cares.

Supporting the 2014 Expansion of the Visitor Experience
The rates for admission and membership have remained the same since 2013 while, in the last four years, the Museum has expanded to include three exhibition galleries and, within its completely renovated  Collection Galleries, additional gallery and community gathering spaces.

This expansion has offered visitors more to see, do, and enjoy at the Museum, in line with a world-class museum experience—at prices lower than institutions similar in size or scope in the region.

Adding square footage, activities, and more art on view—while improving the visitor experience—has directly increased the necessary costs for facilities, maintenance, art preservation, and in-gallery staff.

These price changes for admission and membership are expected to help offset increases in the cost of operations and maintenance. The Museum will continue to work with sponsors, partners, and grant-making organizations to support the exhibitions and educational programming.

Sources of Funding

The Milwaukee Art Museum is a private nonprofit, with 75 percent of its expenses covered by donations, sponsorships, memberships, and admissions fees. With over 140,000 paid admissions per year, the Museum expects an increase of around $250,000 as a result of the price changes.

The Board of Trustees and Museum staff work to keep the prices as stable as possible while ensuring the Museum has the resources to properly showcase, care for the artwork, as well as provide an excellent visitor experience. According to research conducted around pricing for nongovernmental institutions, these prices are in line with comparable organizations in the area and nationwide.

Children 12 and Under Are Free, Thanks to Kohl’s Cares
Kohl’s Cares has supported many of the Museum’s activities for children and families since 2008. The generous support of Kohl’s Cares now also supports the continuation of free admission for visitors ages 12 and under to the Museum every day.

In addition, beginning November 1, the Kohl’s Art Generation Studio will be open every day the Museum is open, allowing children and their families to make art during each visit to the Museum.

Admission 2013 pricing Update for 2017–18
General admission, visitors ages 13–64 $17 $19
Student admission (ID required) $15 $17
Seniors, ages 65+ $15 $17
Children, ages 12 and under Free admission every day, thanks to Kohl’s Cares
Admission on the first Thursday of the month Free for all ages on the first Thursday of the month, thanks to Meijer (excludes group tours)


Membership Cost Changes
With Members being offered more events, more to see, and exclusive access opportunities, the value of Museum membership has increased as well in the last four years. Our membership rates have not changed since 2013 and, even with this change, are lower than comparable institutions. Unlike admissions tickets, memberships are fully tax-deductible donations.

Family/Dual membership, the Museum’s most popular membership level, will be $95 per year and continues to provide free Museum admission for two adults, free tickets to MAM After Dark, access to preview celebrations for each of the three feature exhibitions, and much more.

Art Advocate membership, with its new price of $200 per year, now includes Museum admission for four adults, as well as access to a variety of additional exclusive events and discounts, on top of the perks of Family membership.

The membership rates at the Individual ($65/year) and Student ($35/year, ID required) levels will remain at 2013 prices throughout 2018.

The price of Family Access memberships will remain $20 per year. The Family Access membership offers the same benefits of a Family membership to anyone that participates in WIC (Wisconsin Infants and Children), FoodShare, BadgerCare, or Medicaid.

Membership level 2013 pricing per year Update for 2017–18, per year
Dual/Family membership $85/year $95/year
Art Advocate $175/year (included two adult admissions) $200/year (includes 4 adult admissions)
Family Access membership $20/year (requires proof of participation in WIC, FoodShare, BadgerCare, or Medicaid)


Cost Changes for Special Events
The cost of events for Members remains the same with every level of membership. The cost of general admission, tickets purchased in advance, and student and senior event tickets is changing in line with Museum admission prices

Event Previous pricing Update for 2018
MAM After Dark: advanced tickets $10 $12
MAM After Dark: general admission purchased at the door $12 $14
MAM After Dark: Members Free
Art in Bloom: advanced tickets $15 $17
Art in Bloom: general admission $17 $20
Art in Bloom: students and seniors (with ID) $15 $18
Art in Bloom: Members $5
Lakefront Festival of Art: advanced tickets $10 $14
Lakefront Festival of Art: general admission $17 $19
Lakefront Festival of Art: students and seniors (with ID) $15 $17
Lakefront Festival of Art: Members $10
Children 12 and under Free thanks to Kohl’s Cares


Tour Group Costs
While the price of adult group tours is changing to $14 per person, plus the docent fee, costs for docents ($25 per 15 people) and for school group tours ($5 per student, one free adult chaperone for every 12 students) will remain the same. All tours booked before November 1, 2017, will honor the 2013 pricing.

Group Tours 2013 pricing Update for 2017-2018
Adult group tours $12 per person + $25 docent fee for every 15 visitors $14 per person + $25 docent fee for every 15 visitors
School group tours $5 per student, one free adult chaperone per 12 students

Celebrate autumn with the Milwaukee Art Museum!

Celebrate autumn with the Milwaukee Art Museum!

-Featuring a special Beer Dinner, Kohl’s Art Generation Family Sundays: Día de Los Muertos event, Murder Mystery–themed MAM After Dark and  Wicked Works sinister artworks Member Tour-

Milwaukee, Wis. – September 20, 2017 – The Milwaukee Art Museum is offering visitors several unique events this year to celebrate the fall season and experience the Museum in fun, creative ways. Autumn is the perfect time to enjoy a specially curated menu paired with delicious craft beer, explore the cultural traditions of the Day of the Dead, attend a special Murder Mystery–themed MAM After Dark and discover spooky artworks on view throughout the Museum. As the weather turns cooler outside, the Milwaukee Art Museum is the perfect destination for engaging indoor activities for young and old alike. For more details on upcoming autumnal events, please read the listings below.

FEATURED AUTUMNAL EVENTS

 BEER DINNER FEATURING FLYING DOG BREWERY
Thursday, October 5, 2017, 5 p.m.
Café Calatrava
Reserve your seat for this not-to-be-missed five-course dinner, specially prepared by Sous Chef Jamie Nelson and Executive Chef Zak Groh. Each course will be paired with a selection from the award-winning Flying Dog Brewery. A cocktail reception is scheduled from 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. with dinner scheduled from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Cost: $90/$75 Member (tax + gratuity extra). Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/flying-dog-beer-dinner-tickets-37470484227.

KOHL’S ART GENERATION FAMILY SUNDAYS: DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS
Sunday, October 15, 2017, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Celebrate this cultural tradition with family and friends. Learn about Mexican folkloric dance, and explore traditional Day of the Dead symbols through hands-on art activities. Meet visiting artists, and contribute to the community ofrenda. Discover more about the Kohl’s Art Generation programs at https://mam.org/artgeneration/programs/. Free for Members or with Museum admission. Kids 12 and under are free for this event—and every day the Museum is open—thanks to Kohl’s Cares.

MAM AFTER DARK
Friday, October 20, 2017, 7–11 p.m.
Presented by Northwestern Mutual
MAM After Dark boasts not-to-be-missed art, music, food, and activities for people who put the “party” in “art.” This month’s theme is Murder Mystery, giving attendees the opportunity to experience a darker side to after dark. $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Free for Milwaukee Art Museum Members. For more information, go to: https://mam.org/afterdark/.

MEMBER TOUR: WICKED WORKS
Saturday, October 28, 2017, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Discover sinister, strange and just plain freaky artworks in the Museum’s Collection Galleries on this exclusive, Member-only tour! RSVP to membership@mam.org or at 414-224-3284.

ADDITIONAL OCTOBER MUSEUM EVENTS

GALLERY TALK: CAS ART AUCTION
Tuesday, October 11, 2017, 1:30 p.m.
Bradley Family Gallery
Learn more behind-the-scenes details about contemporary art and artists and the works included in the Contemporary Art Society Art Auction, in a relaxed social setting with Margaret Andera, curator of contemporary art and interim chief curator. Free for Members or with Museum admission. For more information on the Art Auction, go to: https://mam.org/theartauction.

CLOSING: FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT: BUILDINGS FOR THE PRAIRIE
Sunday, October 15, 2017, 5 p.m.
Bradley Family Gallery
In celebration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s 150th birthday, the Milwaukee Art Museum presents Frank Lloyd Wright: Buildings for the Prairie, featuring a selection of the famed architect’s designs from the Wasmuth Portfolio and examples of his furniture, stained glass and textiles. Named for its German publisher, the Wasmuth Portfolio is considered the most significant collection of Wright’s early work, showcasing the breadth and beauty of his output. The portfolio lends insight into the master’s early development and affords the opportunity to see the evolution of the Prairie School of architecture.

IN CONVERSATION: ANTHONY HERNANDEZ WITH CURATOR LISA SUTCLIFFE
Thursday, October 19, 2017, 6 p.m.
Lubar Auditorium
Join Curator of Photography and Media Arts Lisa Sutcliffe as she sits down with artist Anthony Hernandez to talk about his 45-year career in photography and his recurring engagement with Los Angeles. Free for Members or with Museum admission.

PLAY DATE WITH ART: ALL MIXED UP
Friday, October 20, 2017, 10 a.m.–noon
Windhover Hall
It’s never too early to learn to love art! Drop in and make art together, in this monthly program designed especially for our youngest visitors—ages five and under (with an adult). Stop by and sing along during Singing Time at 10:30 and 11:15 a.m. Free for Members or with Museum admission. Registration is not required. Sponsored by Four-Four and an anonymous donor.

 

Media Contact:
Cindy Moran, 414-224-3282
cindy.moran@mam.org

Works by masters of modern art including Manet, Degas, Van Gogh, Matisse, and Picasso come to the Museum November 4, 2017

Degas to Picasso: Creating Modernism in France

Milwaukee, Wis. – September 13, 2017 – This November, the Milwaukee Art Museum will tell the story of modern art’s development through 150 works by influential artists working in Paris during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures in the exhibition will lead Museum visitors chronologically through this dynamic transformation in the history of art. Degas to Picasso: Creating Modernism in France will be on view from November 4, 2017 to January 28, 2018.

42 Degas - Woman After Her Bath-cmykParis became the epicenter of modern art in the nineteenth century. Artists from around the world, including Eugène Delacroix, Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, Camille Pissarro, Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Fernand Léger, and Marc Chagall, gathered in its studios, galleries, salons, and museums. They moved away from traditional subjects and styles and, through experimentation and abstraction, charted a new course for art making. Degas to Picasso: Creating Modernism in France presents this evolution, including transformative movements such as Impressionism and Cubism. The exhibition focuses especially on works on paper, highlighting the different ways that modern artists used drawings and prints, and the important role played by these media in their artistic practices. Materials such as pastel, graphite, and ink, along with techniques including lithography and etching, provided artists with ways to think through and reinterpret themes that fascinated them. Visitors will be able to see the arc of modernism develop through these intimate and experimental works.

Degas to Picasso begins around 1800, with a group of masterpieces by artists such as Manet and Cézanne who challenged and reinterpreted the traditions of the French Academy during the nineteenth century. The art of Degas is represented in particular depth, revealing the important connections that existed between his experimentation in various media—including drawings, sculptures, and various printmaking techniques. The exhibition culminates with works by twentieth-century practitioners including Matisse, Léger, and especially Picasso. It features a substantial group of works spanning the entirety of Picasso’s career, from some of his earliest sketches to powerful drawings dating from the last years of his life, showcasing the artist’s revolutionary perspective and his reduction of recognizable subjects to geometric forms. Picasso’s cubist works in particular influenced a generation of artists, including Juan Gris, Jacques Villon, and Albert Gleizes, whose abstract paintings, prints, and drawings will lead visitors through a key moment in the history of modern art.

Degas to Picasso will give Museum visitors the opportunity to experience modernism in the way that artists themselves did: not as a single style or an organized movement, but as a process of exploration that began in Paris and connected generations, from Delacroix to Degas and Cézanne to Picasso,” commented Britany Salsbury, the Museum’s associate curator of prints and drawings. “Both first-time and experienced Museum visitors will be impressed by the energy of the works and the artists’ creative negotiation of the limits of what art could be.”

Expands upon an exhibition by the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

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Presenting Sponsor: Milwaukee Art Museum’s Friends of Art

Supporting SponsorKatharine and Sanford Mallin

Supporting Events

Gallery Talks
Tues, 1:30 p.m.
Nov 14 with Nikki Otten, research assistant, prints and drawings
Dec 12 and Jan 23 with Britany Salsbury, associate curator of prints and drawings

30-Min. Express Talks
Meijer Free First Thursdays
Thurs, noon
Dec 7 and Jan 4

Member Drink & Think
Thurs, Nov 9, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Enjoy refreshments and socialize with other Members before getting an insider’s look at the exhibition with the curator. Included is one glass of wine or beer from the cash bar. This event is a benefit for Members at the Art Advocate level and above. RSVP at 414-224-3284 or membership@mam.org. Presenting sponsor: PNC

Lecture: “Traditional Painting Violated”: Picasso and the Art of Emulation
Thurs, Nov 16, 6:15 p.m.
Explore the work of Pablo Picasso and his relationship to traditions in European art, with Katie Hanson, PhD, assistant curator for European paintings at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and curator of that institution’s exhibition Pairing Picasso.

Out of the Vault: Works on Paper from Degas to Picasso
Thurs, Dec 14, 1:30 p.m.
Sign up for this special viewing of prints and drawings from the Museum’s collection related to Degas to Picasso, with Amanda Brown, collection manager of works on paper. Herzfeld Study Center. Space is limited. RSVP to studycenter@mam.org or call 414-224-3817.

Kohl’s Art Generation Open Studio: Follow the Line
Throughout November
Explore the rise of modernism. Inspired by the drawings in the exhibition Degas to Picasso: Creating Modernism in France, sketch a figure using gestural mark making, illustrate the many sides of an object on a single page, and express emotion with a single line. Transform your drawing into a print using an etching press. And, experiment with rich chalk pastels, rough charcoal, and transparent washes of watercolor.

An audio guide and free family guide accompany this exhibition.

 

Media Contact:
Cindy Moran, 414-224-3282
cindy.moran@mam.org

 

Image: Edgar Degas (1834–1917), After the Bath, Woman Drying Her Leg, 1900-1905. Charcoal, white chalk, and pastel on  paper, 24 5/8 × 20 1/4 inches (62.5 × 51.5 cm).

Milwaukee Art Museum to Sponsor 2017 Art & Artists Series at This Year’s Milwaukee Film Festival

 

Announcing the 2017 Art & Artists Series at This Year’s Milwaukee Film Festival

Milwaukee, Wis. – September 1, 2017 – The Milwaukee Art Museum is pleased to announce the lineup of films for the Art & Artists program as part of the 2017 Milwaukee Film Festival running September 28 – October 12. The program will feature six films from around the world.

“Milwaukee has an amazing arts culture, from the incredible theater scene to our world-class Milwaukee Art Museum, to our array of visual artists, writers, dancers and on and on. It’s one of the reasons I made Milwaukee my new home 15 years ago,” commented Kristopher Pollard, Milwaukee Film membership manager and the programmer for the Art & Artists series. “For Milwaukee Film’s Art and Artist program we want to make sure we provide films about a variety of mediums, perspectives, and stories from and about artists all over the world. I’m very excited to bring these six great films to Milwaukee for artists and art lovers, or simply those who appreciate powerful stories and incredible creativity.”

This is the third year that the Milwaukee Art Museum has sponsored the Art & Artists series of the festival. This year, the Museum has joined the Milwaukee Repertory Theater and Tap Milwaukee to promote and showcase this collection of films—documentary, biopics, and fictional narratives—highlighting a variety of art forms in addition to the art of film making. The complete Milwaukee Film Festival Program books can be picked up at the Milwaukee Art Museum Admissions desk beginning September 2.

“As a representative of the Museum, I can say we are incredibly honored to yet again sponsor this important series. The permanent collection at the Milwaukee Art Museum includes a number of works by both Paula Modersohn-Becker and Elizabeth Murray, with Elizabeth Murray’s painting Night Reach currently on view. So it’s particularly thrilling to get so much additional depth for these artists’ stories to Milwaukeeans,” said Amanda C. Peterson, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Milwaukee Art Museum. “And as a film lover and a Milwaukee Film member, I can’t wait to see this collection of thoughtfully curated movies about the arts and the creative process.”

2017 Milwaukee Film Festival Art & Artists Lineup

BRONX GOTHIC
(USA / 2017 / Director: Andrew Rossi )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9BcpgpDGFo
Okwui Okpokwasili’s stunning one-woman theater show, Bronx Gothic, is a piece of performance art that must be seen to be believed. Fusing song, dance, drama and comedy all in the service of telling the autobiographical tale of two young Black girls in 1980s New York, the effect achieved is nothing short of mesmeric. Filmed with breathtaking immediacy and intimacy, (much of the performance filmed as part of Milwaukee’s former Alverno Presents program), while also delving deep behind-the-scenes into the creative process, Bronx Gothic is art of the highest caliber.

PAA JOE & THE LION
(UK / 2016 / Director: Benjamin Wigley)
https://vimeo.com/217840565
Once upon a time in Ghana, Paa Joe’s business—bespoke “fantasy coffins,” meticulously crafted simulacra of mythic beasts—was booming, but that time appears long past. His son Jacob seeks to return the family business to its former glory, a plan that begins with an artist residency in the U.K. where they will craft their biggest and boldest coffin yet: a majestic lion. Paa Joe & The Lion is the heartwarming fish-out-of-water story about a father and son embracing life through art that celebrates death.

PAULA
(Germany / 2016 / Director: Christian Schwochow)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILFHnNQxn78
The versatile Carla Juri (so great in past MFF selections *Wetlands* and *Morris from America*) portrays Paula Becker, a provincial German woman who bucked societal trends in the early 1900s to pursue a career in art, embracing her wild emotions while crafting works that would later come to be recognized as exemplars of the Expressionist movement. An empowering period piece espousing feminist ideals in an era that was inhospitable to outspoken women, Paula is a long-overdue tribute to an artist well ahead of her time.

THE REHEARSAL
(New Zealand / 2016 / Director: Alison Maclean)
youtube.com/watch?v=u1fTzsb0OAk
Adapted from Booker Prize-winning author Eleanor Catton’s novel, The Rehearsal takes us behind the scenes deep into the process of a college theater class as first-year student Stanley struggles to get himself in the good graces of his pathologically driven teacher. Eventually he happens upon the perfect source material for their end-of-year performance, but performing it could cost him a blossoming romance as well as his standing in the theater department in this engrossing drama that provides genuine insight into the art of performance.

THROUGH THE REPELLENT FENCE
(USA / 2017 / Director: Sam Wainwright Douglas)
https://vimeo.com/194567462
Native American art collective Postcommodity have a bold notion: 28 inflatable spheres evenly distributed across a two-mile-long stretch of the U.S./Mexico border, laying bare the fiction that separates while celebrating the indigenous cultures that inhabited this land long before arbitrary lines were drawn between us. With the help of artists on both sides of the border, Postcommodity struggle to enact their vision and provide a necessary dose of positivity to counterbalance the negativity surrounding immigration and border relations currently plaguing our airwaves.

EVERYBODY KNOWS… ELIZABETH MURRAY
(Italy, USA / 2016 / Director: Kristi Zea)
https://vimeo.com/160830810
Elizabeth Murray was a true vanguard in the art world: a single mother who refused to sacrifice family for her thriving career, a creator whose colorful, playful paintings detonated the space between high and low art, becoming a pop art luminary and one of the few female artists given a career retrospective at the MoMA. Murray never stopped creating, even as she battled cancer and as the verite footage, interviews with art world luminaries and journal entries narrated by Meryl Streep all attest to, we’re richer for it.

About the Milwaukee Art Museum
Home to a rich collection of more than 30,000 works of art, the Milwaukee Art Museum is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Its campus includes the Santiago Calatrava–designed Quadracci Pavilion, annually showcasing three feature exhibitions, and the Eero Saarinen–designed Milwaukee County War Memorial Center and David Kahler‒designed addition. The Museum recently reopened its Collection Galleries, debuting nearly 2,500 world-class works of art within dramatically transformed galleries and a new lakefront addition. This reimagined space also allows for the presentation of additional changing exhibitions. For more information, please visit: mam.org.

About the 2017 Milwaukee Film Festival
The 2017 Milwaukee Film Festival, presented by Associated Bank, will take place September 28 – October 12 at the Landmark Oriental Theatre, Landmark Downer Theatre, Fox-Bay Cinema Grill, Times Cinema, and Avalon Theater. Discounted Festival Passes and ticket 6-Packs are now on sale at mkefilm.org/tickets.

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Media Contacts:

Milwaukee Art Museum
Cindy Moran, 414-224-3282
cindy.moran@mam.org

Milwaukee Film
Emily Foster, 414-755-1965 ext. 216
emily@mkefilm.org

Anthony Hernandez Photography Retrospective comes to the Milwaukee Art Museum this September

 

06. Rodeo Drive 3

Anthony Hernandez Photography Retrospective comes to the Milwaukee Art Museum this September

-Exhibition engages with contemporary social issues through photographs of Los Angeles-

 Milwaukee, Wis. – August 30, 2017 – The Milwaukee Art Museum will host the first retrospective of American photographer Anthony Hernandez, featuring over 150 photographs—many never shown before—from the artist’s more than 45-year career. Whether focusing on the human figure, the landscape or abstract details, the Los Angeles native has captured the desolate allure and sprawling expanses of his hometown in both black and white and color pictures.

The Milwaukee Art Museum presentation of the exhibition will debut Hernandez’s most recent series, Against LA. These photographs synthesize many of the themes present throughout Hernandez’s body of work, including the ways in which humans use the built environment, as well as demonstrate the artist’s longstanding interest in color, form and texture. Organized by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Anthony Hernandez will be on view at the Milwaukee Art Museum from September 15, 2017, to January 1, 2018, in the Herzfeld Center for Photography and Media Arts, a 10,000-square-foot exhibition space in the Museum’s renovated and expanded Collection Galleries.

As a largely self-taught photographer, Anthony Hernandez has brought a new perspective to the genre of street photography. His individual style springs from and is attuned to the particular aesthetic of his hometown, Los Angeles, a city famous both for the beauty of its natural setting and its miles of urban sprawl. For Hernandez, the city’s architecture and public spaces are subjects as well the setting for his pictures. Anthony Hernandez complements and updates the Museum’s ongoing engagement with Twentieth-century American street photography: Visitors may recall the 2010 exhibition Street Seen: The Psychological Gesture in American Photography, 1940–1959 and the more recent exhibitions Helen Levitt: In the Street and James Nares: In the City (2017).

“Anthony Hernandez offers the opportunity for Museum visitors to discover how this artist’s distinctive street photography evolved over time,” said Lisa Sutcliffe, curator of photography and media arts. “Hernandez’s photography captures the unvarnished everyday life—in both beautiful and personal moments, in the ways people interact with the city, and in the tiny landscapes they leave behind. We hope his body of work will spur conversations on homelessness, those who are marginalized, and how the life and design of a city includes or excludes the people who live there—many of the same issues that we face in our own community.”

Organized by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Sponsored by: Herzfeld Foundation and David C. & Sarajean Ruttenberg Arts Foundation

EXHIBITION-RELATED EVENTS

 IN CONVERSATION: ANTHONY HERNANDEZ WITH CURATOR LISA SUTCLIFFE
Thursday, October 19, 6 p.m.
Join Curator of Photography and Media Arts Lisa Sutcliffe as she sits down with artist Anthony Hernandez to talk about his career in photography and the recurring engagement with Los Angeles. Free for Members, free with admission.
Co-sponsored by: The Milwaukee Art Museum’s Photography Council and the Contemporary Art Society

GALLERY TALKS WITH CURATOR LISA SUTCLIFFE
Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m. October 10, November 28, December 5
Curator-led tours give extra insight into the exhibition. Free for Members, free with admission.

Image: Anthony Hernandez, Rodeo Drive #3, 1984, printed 2014. Courtesy of the artist. © Anthony Hernandez

SEPTEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MEIJER FREE FIRST THURSDAY
Thursday, September 7, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Admission to the Milwaukee Art Museum is free for individuals and families (excluding groups) on the first Thursday of each month, thanks to Meijer.

EX FABULA: POWER, DISSENT AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
Thurs, Sept 7, 6:15 p.m., 15-min. artwork talks: 5–6 p.m.
Experience the personal and the political in storytelling, through stories inspired by the nineteenth-century ceramics of David Drake and the work of Rashid Johnson and other artists of the African diaspora. Brief talks to familiarize guests with these works will be provided in the galleries in advance. This program is being held in conjunction with 200 Nights of Freedom, a citywide marking of the fiftieth anniversary of the “March on Milwaukee,” a walk in protest of housing segregation that began on August 28, 1967.
Co-sponsored by: The Chipstone Foundation

MAM AFTER DARK
Friday, September 15, 7–11 p.m.
Presented by Northwestern Mutual
Attracting Milwaukee’s young professionals and party people, MAM After Dark boasts not-to-be-missed art, music, food and activities. $10 in advance, $12 at the door and free for Milwaukee Art Museum Members. For more information, go to: mam.org/afterdark/

LECTURE: LEARNING FROM THE OLD MASTERS: THE FORENSIC ANALYSIS OF EASEL PAINTINGS
Thursday, September 28, 6:15 p.m.
How are panel paintings like the Museum’s Madonna and Child (ca. 1350) by Italian artist Nardo di Cione made? Welcome Brian Baade and Kristin deGhetaldi of the art conservation department at the University of Delaware, as they explain the painstaking technique of egg tempera painting.
Sponsored by: Milwaukee Art Museum’s Fine Arts Society

**Exhibition images available upon request

Media Contact:
Cindy Moran, 414-224-3282
cindy.moran@mam.org

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Milwaukee Art Museum Hires New Director of Marketing and Communications

Milwaukee Art Museum Hires New Director of Marketing and Communications

-Google branding expert Amanda C. Peterson announced as institution’s new marketing leader-

Milwaukee, Wis. – July 6, 2017 – The Milwaukee Art Museum is pleased to announce that
Amanda C. Peterson has been appointed its new director of marketing and communications. In
her position, Peterson will be responsible for creating broad-based awareness and engagement
of Museum activities as well as for setting the strategy and guiding all communications efforts.
She will also work with the Museum’s leadership team and creative director to develop a
comprehensive brand identity that will captivate and engage Museum audiences and deepen
community connections.

Peterson brings a wealth of branding expertise to this position, having recently worked at
Google as Head of Naming, where she led efforts to create new brands across Alphabet and
managed existing brands, including Google. She previously worked for Hewlett-Packard,
managing the brands in the tech firm’s portfolio, and for Logitech, leading marketing writing
and branding across all lines of business. As a consultant at Landor, Peterson worked on
hundreds of brands including YWCA, Frito-Lay, Beringer, Target, Microsoft, Energizer, Texas
Instruments, Anthem, Papyrus, J. Jill, Motorola, FedEx and Samsung, among many others. She
received her Master of Fine Arts in Advertising Design at the Academy of Art University in San
Francisco, CA, and received her Bachelor of Science in Advertising at the University of Illinois,
Urbana, IL.

“Not only does Amanda bring to us invaluable experience in brand architecture and positioning,
she is also an inspirational leader, creative thinker and communicator,” said Marcelle Polednik,
PhD, Donna and Donald Baumgartner director. “The entire team is eager to work with Amanda
to continue deepening and broadening the impact and engagement of the Milwaukee Art
Museum within our community, region and country.”
Peterson will begin her new position on July 10, 2017.

About the Milwaukee Art Museum
Home to a rich collection of more than 30,000 works of art, the Milwaukee Art Museum is
located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Its campus includes the Santiago Calatrava–designed
Quadracci Pavilion, annually showcasing three feature exhibitions, and the Eero
Saarinen–designed Milwaukee County War Memorial Center and David Kahler‒designed
addition. The Museum recently reopened its Collection Galleries, debuting nearly 2,500 world-
class works of art within dramatically transformed galleries and a new lakefront addition. This
reimagined space also allows for the presentation of additional changing exhibitions.

Museum to open first solo exhibition of works by contemporary Milwaukee artist in its history

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Museum to open first solo exhibition of works by contemporary Milwaukee artist in its history


Paul Druecke’s museum premiere of A SocialEvent Archive is historic for Milwaukee Art Museum

 Milwaukee, Wis. – May 2, 2017 – A Social Event Archive, opening at the Milwaukee Art Museum May 12, shows over 700 photographs collected during the span of a decade and is the first solo exhibition of a contemporary Milwaukee artist’s work at the Museum.

In 1997, Milwaukee artist Paul Druecke (b. 1964) began soliciting donations for contributing to his project, A Social Event Archive with the following guidelines:

One photo contribution per person. The photos should be no larger than 4×6″—b&w or color snapshots. The photos must document a social occasion, public or private, and can be current or historical. Inclusion of Title, Date, and Contributor’s name is encouraged. The photos are archived in the order received. The photos will not be returned. Submission indicates agreement to participate in all presentations of the Archive.

Ten years later, he had 731 pictures. In the Archive, “photographically arrested moments of life-flow are rescued from the pathetic, buried-in-a-shoebox, lost-in-the-attic fates customarily assigned them,” wrote artist David Robbins, whose interview with the artist appears in the exhibition catalogue. “Revived fragments of assorted life-narratives cross-reference each other, strike up conversations.” With this exhibition, a large portion of Druecke’s Archive is on view for the first time in a museum and, together with the catalogue, honors the twentieth anniversary of the project. Druecke’s Archive began in Milwaukee and includes many of the city’s residents and events, past and present; yet, its images could be from nearly any American city. It is, thus, able to speak to both the local and the broader, national communities—providing a snapshot of our collective social experiences.

“With A Social Event Archive, Paul Druecke sought to create a sociological typology that might capture how social interactions are collectively photographed, shared, and commemorated. The project predates Instagram and Facebook but predicted the blurring of private and public that such social media platforms allow,” said Lisa Sutcliffe, Curator of Photography and Media Arts. “Our performances for the camera—congregating, posing, and smiling—have since become practiced and conditioned by the knowledge of a wider audience. A Social Event Archive encapsulates an American past just before this dramatic cultural shift.”

A Social Event Archive is on view through August 13.

Images and a digital exhibition catalogue are available upon request. Authors for the catalogue include Curator of Photography and Media Arts Lisa Sutcliffe, Michelle Grabner, David Robbins and Lori Waxman.

A full listing of exhibition programs is below:

Gallery Talks
Tues, 1:30 p.m.
June 13, July 25 (with guest David Robbins), and Aug 1

With Lisa Sutcliffe, curator of photography and media arts

Member Drink & Think
Thurs, July 20, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Enjoy refreshments and socialize with other Members before getting an insider’s look at the exhibition with curator Lisa Sutcliffe. Included is one glass of wine or beer from the cash bar. This event is a benefit for Members at the Art Advocate level ($175) and above. RSVP at 414-224-3284 membership@mam.org.

In Conversation: Paul Druecke and Jen Delos Reyes
Thurs, July 27, 6 p.m.
Lubar Auditorium

Participate in a conversation about the social practice of art: art as a means to engage and build community. Jen Delos Reyes is a community arts organizer and associate director of the School of Art and Art History at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Stay afterward for Paul Druecke to sign your exhibition catalogue, available at the Museum Store.

Presenting Sponsor: David C. & Sarajean Ruttenberg Arts Foundation

Catalogue Sponsor: Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation

Program Sponsor: Milwaukee Art Museum’s Photography Council

Image: Paul Druecke, A Social Event Archive, 1997–2007. 1 of 731 chromogenic prints, dimensions variable. Courtesy the artist and The Green Gallery, Milwaukee. Copyright Paul Druecke.

About the Milwaukee Art Museum
Home to a rich collection of more than 30,000 works of art, the Milwaukee Art Museum is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Its campus includes the Santiago Calatrava–designed Quadracci Pavilion, annually showcasing three feature exhibitions, and the Eero Saarinen–designed Milwaukee County War Memorial Center and David Kahler‒designed addition. The Museum recently reopened its Collection Galleries, debuting nearly 2,500 world-class works of art within dramatically transformed galleries and a new lakefront addition. This reimagined space also allows for the presentation of additional changing exhibitions.

 

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Milwaukee Art Museum celebrates 150th anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright’s birthday this summer

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Milwaukee Art Museum celebrates 150th anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright’s birthday this summer

Wasmuth Portfolio considered the most significant collection of architect’s early work-

Milwaukee, Wis. – This summer, the Milwaukee Art Museum joins prominent institutions across the country in celebrating the 150th anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright’s birthday. Frank Lloyd Wright: Buildings for the Prairie is on view July 28–October 15 and presents a selection of the renowned architect’s designs from the Wasmuth Portfolio alongside related pieces of his furniture, stained glass and textiles. The Wasmuth Portfolio is considered the most significant collection of Wright’s early work, showcasing the breadth and beauty of his output.

“We are honored to celebrate this American icon from Wisconsin,” said Brandon Ruud, Abert family curator of American art at the Milwaukee Art Museum. “The portfolio emerged at a critical moment for Wright, at a time when he was at a professional crossroads. It lends unique insight into his early development and the evolution of the Prairie School of architecture.”

 Widely recognized as one of the most prolific and well-known architects of the 20th century, Wright frequently published his architectural designs and theories in magazines and journals; the Wasmuth Portfolio is among the first of these complex, large-scale efforts. In the introduction to the collection, Wright described his inspiration for these “buildings for the prairie,” as the “gently rolling or level prairies of the Middle West.” The portfolio introduced the architect’s work to his European contemporaries and is largely credited with profoundly influencing the direction of 20th-century architecture. A digital component to the exhibition will allow visitors to explore in greater depth the illustrations and text of the Wasmuth Portfolio.

The exhibition also includes examples of furniture, stained-glass, and textiles from some of the master’s most early and iconic residential designs, including the Avery Coonley House, the Darwin D. Martin House, and his own Oak Park, Illinois home and studio.  Many on loan from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, these decorative arts complement drawings and studies from the Museum’s exceptional Wright and George Mann Niedecken Archives, also on view in the exhibition.

The exhibition will be on view in the Museum’s Bradley Family Gallery.

Catalogue and imaging support is provided by the Milwaukee Art Museum’s American Arts Society.

Gallery Talks
Tues, 1:30 p.m.
Aug 22 and Sept 26

Member Drink + Think
Thurs, Aug 10, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
With Brandon Ruud, Abert family curator of American art

About the Milwaukee Art Museum
Home to a rich collection of more than 30,000 works of art, the Milwaukee Art Museum is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Its campus includes the Santiago Calatrava–designed Quadracci Pavilion, annually showcasing three feature exhibitions, and the Eero Saarinen–designed Milwaukee County War Memorial Center and David Kahler‒designed addition. The Museum recently reopened its Collection Galleries, debuting nearly 2,500 world-class works of art within dramatically transformed galleries and a new lakefront addition. This reimagined space also allows for the presentation of additional changing exhibitions.

 

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Milwaukee Art Museum Shows Monumental Works by Chicago Native Rashid Johnson this Summer

Rashid Johnson: Hail We Now Sing Joy explores themes of escape and identity through new works and unique materials.

 

 Milwaukee, Wis. – April 12, 2017 – Hail We Now Sing Joy, on view at the Milwaukee Art Museum June 23September 17, shows new paintings and sculptures from Chicago-born artist Rashid Johnson. The exhibition features 14 large-scale works that will fill the Museum’s entire feature exhibition space. Using his signature materials of white ceramic tile, red oak flooring, shea butter, black soap, and wax, Johnson examines themes of race, history, yearning, anxiety, and escape and investigates the relationship between art, society, and personal identity.

“Rashid Johnson’s work is on everyone’s radar right now as he tackles contemporary issues, including the complexities of living as a black American, that are especially important in today’s political and cultural climate,” said Margaret Andera, the Museum’s curator of contemporary art. “Hail We Now Sing Joy gives visitors the unique opportunity to see a significant body of work from one of the current generation’s most celebrated artists.”

Antoine’s Organ, the largest of the artist’s architectural grid installations ever shown in the United States at over 10 feet tall, is the first work Museum visitors will encounter. The monumental lattice of black scaffolding is filled with signifying objects, including books, televisions showing Johnson’s older video work, live plants and mounds of shea butter, which fill the space with a pleasant and recognizable aroma. Within this environment inspired by the African diaspora is an upright piano that musicians will play at scheduled times throughout the exhibition’s run.

Three series comprise the rest of the exhibition, including Anxious Audience, large-scale panels of white ceramic tile covered—except for a few curiously empty spaces—with dozens of agitated faces scrawled in black soap and wax. In the new Falling Men series, inverted figures fall through the air; they recall the pixelated animations from video games that Johnson played as a youth and can be interpreted as flying heroes or as chalk outlines from crime scenes. Lastly, the Escape Collage paintings consist of large-scale vinyl images of lush tropical environments atop a modernist tile surface. For Johnson, when he was a child in Chicago, the image of a palm tree invited daydreams about success and manhood: “As a kid I remember thinking that if you could actually live in a place with palm trees, if you could get away from the city and the cold, that meant you’d definitely made it.” The collages are some of Johnson’s most complexly layered works and introduce an expanded palette to his practice.

Informing all of Johnson’s work, including the materials he uses, from shea butter and black soap to the books in Antoine’s Organ (Paul Beatty’s The Sellout, Deborah Dickerson’s The End of Blackness, and Richard Wright’s Native Son), is Afrocentrism and the artist’s own experience as a black man in America.

Johnson was represented in the 30 Americans exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum in 2013.A full list of exhibition-related programs is below.  More information is available at mam.org

President’s Circle Preview Party
Wed, June 21, 5:30–8:30 p.m.

Member Preview Celebration
Thurs, June 22, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Member-only access to the exhibition
1:30 and 5:30 p.m. | Performance Antoine Baldwin on Antoine’s Organ
6:15 p.m. | Lecture*With Rashid Johnson and Marcelle Polednik, PhD, Donna and Donald Baumgartner Director
Appetizers, cash bar, and live music beginning at 5 p.m.
Non-members may join the celebration at 5 p.m. for $25.
*Lecture is ticketed. Tickets are first come, first served, beginning at 10 a.m.

Gallery Talks
Tues, 1:30 p.m.
June 27, July 18, Aug 15, and Sept 12

With Margaret Andera, curator of contemporary art

30-Min. Express Talks
Meijer Free First Thursdays
Thurs, noon and 5:30 p.m.
July 6, Aug 3, and Sept 7

Performances: Antoine’s Organ
Thurs: 5–6 p.m.Fri, Sat: 12:15–1:15 p.m.
Featuring local musicians throughout the run of the exhibition

Book Salons
Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.
Join us for facilitated discussions on three books related to topics addressed in the exhibition.
RSVP to katie.nelson@mam.org or 414-224-3875. All books are available from the Museum Store.

July 22 | East End: Native Son by Richard Wright
Aug 19 | Quadracci Suite: The Sellout by Paul Beatty
Sept 16 | Quadracci Suite: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Panel Discussion: Art, Politics, and Activism
Thurs, Aug 3, 6:15 p.m.
Welcome Jamelle Bouie, political analyst for Slate Magazine; Marcus Doucette, host of the world music program Sound Travels on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee; Venice Williams, Milwaukee activist and founder and director of Alice’s Garden Urban Farm and Body and Soul Healing Arts Center; and Margaret Andera, curator of contemporary art, for a spirited discussion about the importance of literature, music, politics, and art.

Soulful Sunday: A Community Gathering
Sun, Aug 6, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Optional Brunch ($): 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Coffee + Dessert, East End: 3–5 p.m.
Everyone is invited to this joyful, soul-fueling event. Explore the exhibition, hear local church choirs and jazz and blues music groups fill the Museum, and relax with friends over brunch or afternoon coffee. Optional brunch is on the terrace: $65/$50 Member (includes tax + gratuity). $15 kids 7–12/Free kids 6 and under. Reserve your seat at cafe@mam.org or 414-224-3822.

Ex Fabula: Power, Dissent, and Youth Empowerment
Thurs, Sept 7, 6:15 p.m.15-min. artwork talks: 5–6 p.m.
Experience the personal and the political in storytelling, through stories inspired by the nineteenth-century ceramics of David Drake and the work of Rashid Johnson and other artists of the African diaspora. Brief talks to familiarize guests with these works will be provided in the galleries in advance. This program is being held in conjunction with 200 Nights of Freedom, a citywide marking of the fiftieth anniversary of the “March on Milwaukee,” a walk in protest of housing segregation that began on August 28, 1967.Cosponsored by: The Chipstone Foundation

Rashid Johnson: Hail We Now Sing Joy travels to the Milwaukee Art Museum from the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City.

Presenting Sponsor: 
Bader Philanthropies, Inc
Presenting Sponsor of Public Programs: Brico Fund 
Supporting Sponsors:
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Keith Mardak and Mary Vandenberg
Milwaukee Art Museum’s African American Art Alliance and Friends of Art
Steinway Piano Gallery
88Nine Radio Milwaukee

Image: Rashid Johnson, Antoine’s Organ, 2016. Black steel, grow lights, plants, wood, shea butter, books, monitors, rugs, and piano. Unique. Courtesy of the artist and Hauser & Wirth.

About the Milwaukee Art Museum
Home to a rich collection of more than 30,000 works of art, the Milwaukee Art Museum is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Its campus includes the Santiago Calatrava–designed Quadracci Pavilion, annually showcasing three feature exhibitions, and the Eero Saarinen–designed Milwaukee County War Memorial Center and David Kahler‒designed addition. The Museum recently reopened its Collection Galleries, debuting nearly 2,500 world-class works of art within dramatically transformed galleries and a new lakefront addition. This reimagined space also allows for the presentation of additional changing exhibitions.

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Media Contact:
Laura Simson, 414-224-3294
laura.simson@mam.org

 

Milwaukee Art Museum hires new executive chef

 

Zak Groh
Milwaukee Art Museum hires new executive chef

-Zak Groh to take over Museum’s culinary program-

Milwaukee, Wis. – April 12, 2017 – The Milwaukee Art Museum is excited to announce that Zak Groh has been appointed executive chef of its culinary program, including Café Calatrava and events. Groh comes to the Museum with 16 years of professional experience in the hospitality and restaurant industries.

“We are delighted to welcome Chef Zak Groh to our team at the Milwaukee Art Museum,” said Jeff Cook, food and beverage director. “He brings an incredible wealth of experience that we know our visitors and Members will appreciate—and taste!—with each visit.”

Groh, who is a Milwaukee native, most recently worked as the owner and operator of Whisk Culinary, a boutique catering company servicing the aviation market in Milwaukee and Chicago. He has managed James Beard Award–winning restaurants and taught culinary arts, bringing a well-rounded and unique perspective to his new role as executive chef.

“I am looking forward to putting my skills to work at the Museum,” said Chef Groh. “I think food has to be fun and creative.  The Museum’s artwork and architecture will be a welcomed source of inspiration when imagining new dishes.”

Groh started at the Museum on April 10.  In the next several weeks, he will refresh the Museum’s menus, focusing on seasonality and visitor needs.

About the Milwaukee Art Museum
Home to a rich collection of more than 30,000 works of art, the Milwaukee Art Museum is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Its campus includes the Santiago Calatrava–designed Quadracci Pavilion, annually showcasing three feature exhibitions, and the Eero Saarinen–designed Milwaukee County War Memorial Center and David Kahler‒designed addition. The Museum recently reopened its Permanent Collection Galleries, debuting nearly 2,500 world-class works of art within dramatically transformed galleries and a new lakefront addition. This reimagined space also allows for the presentation of additional changing exhibitions.

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Media Contact:
Laura Simson, 414-224-3294
laura.simson@mam.org

Milwaukee Art Museum welcomes spring with annual Art in Bloom weekend

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Milwaukee Art Museum welcomes spring with annual Art in Bloom weekend

– The popular four-day event featuring floral art, a marketplace and fashion show returns

March 23–26 –

Milwaukee, Wis. – March 1, 2017 – The Milwaukee Art Museum is excited to again welcome spring with its popular annual Art in Bloom event, March 23–26. Presented by Educators Credit Union, Art in Bloom offers visitors a chance to see and take in the aromas of 40 art-inspired floral installations throughout the Museum. The displays are created by leading regional experts in gardening and floral and landscape design, and inspired by works from the Museum’s Collection.

Art in Bloom also features a floral fashion show, an artisan marketplace, a floral design competition, workshops, lectures and, new this year, High Tea. More than 10,000 guests visit the Museum each year for the four-day event.

“Art in Bloom is a beloved tradition and an extraordinary opportunity for Milwaukeeans to see art come to life through the amazing work of local floral designers,” said Marcelle Polednik, Ph.D., Donna and Donald Baumgartner director. “Visitors to this popular annual event are sure to leave the Museum feeling inspired and energized to embrace the new season.”

Special event ticket holders will see over-the-top gowns and accessories created entirely from flowers and foliage at Beauty in Bloom, the weekend’s popular after-hours floral fashion show, on Friday, March 24. This sell-out event, set in Windhover Hall, also includes the Art in Bloom Florist Awards, palate-pleasing appetizers and a cash bar.

The Iron Design Competition, presented by the Milwaukee Art Museum Garden Club, features three professional florists competing for the Iron Designer 2017 title on Saturday, March 25. In this timed competition, the participants receive the same materials and guidelines, but are challenged to incorporate their own inspiration and talents.

The weekend also features:

–Inspirational and informative presentations about design, flowers and food.

–Activities and workshops for all ages, including family activities in the Kohl’s Art Generation Studio and a book signing with award-winning author and illustrator Lois Ehlert.

–A marketplace featuring local vendors and artisans selling flowers, clothing, purses, jewelry, beauty products, garden accessories and more.

–Live music from local musicians, including the Milwaukee Guitar Quartet.

Presentations, lectures and workshops accommodate a wide range of interests, whether the participant be a foodie, gardener, or bride-to-be or is just looking for some creative inspiration. Program highlights include:

Farm to Table Presentation and Dinner – Thursday, March 23, 6–8 p.m. This presentation features an informative lecture about farm-to-table, a social movement that reconnects diners to the land and the origins of their food, followed by a three-course dinner sourced from Wisconsin producers.

Container Garden Hands-On Workshop – with Heidi Hornung – Friday, March 24, 2:30 p.m. Hornung, a Wisconsin native and European-inspired landscape architect, teaches participants how to create gardens inside crate containers as a versatile way to bring life to any space.

Grow Your Own Groceries – with Antoine Carter from Groundwork Milwaukee– Saturday, March 25, 11 a.m. Attendees learn how to save money and eat healthier by bringing farm to table to their own backyards. Topics include how to design, plant and sustain vegetable gardens, community plots, raised beds and other growing spaces.

Paper Flower Creation – with Kristin Joiner from 622 Press – Saturday, March 25, 11:30 a.m. Workshop participants learn to make stunning homemade blooms for a unique bouquet by cutting, forming and placing each petal and leaf by hand.

“We look forward to bringing such an activity-filled weekend to so many Milwaukee Art Museum visitors,” said Shannon Huot, senior vice president of marketing at Educators Credit Union. “There is no more beautiful, unique or refreshing way to welcome spring than Art in Bloom.”

Art in Bloom runs March 23–26. Hours are Thursday 10 a.m.–8 p.m. and Friday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tickets to Art in Bloom and related events can be purchased online at www.mam.org/bloom.

Art in Bloom is presented by Educators Credit Union, with additional support from S.J. Janis Company and media partner M Magazine.

About the Milwaukee Art Museum

Home to a rich collection of more than 30,000 works of art, the Milwaukee Art Museum is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Its campus includes the Santiago Calatrava–designed Quadracci Pavilion, annually showcasing three feature exhibitions, and the Eero Saarinen–designed Milwaukee County War Memorial Center and David Kahler‒designed addition. The Museum recently reopened its Collection Galleries, debuting nearly 2,500 world-class works of art within dramatically transformed galleries and a new lakefront addition. This reimagined space also allows for the presentation of additional changing exhibitions.

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Milwaukee Art Museum Exhibition Explores Breadth of Region’s Private Art Treasures, Many Never Seen Before

Milwaukee Collects celebrates our community’s love of art and art collecting 

Milwaukee, Wis. – Feb. 16, 2017 – The Milwaukee Art Museum’s Milwaukee Collects exhibition offers visitors a rare and unique glimpse into some of the city’s most interesting private art collections. On view March 10–May 21, the exhibition draws works from nearly 50 collections and includes more than 100 objects, bringing the community’s passion for collecting art into focus. Artworks in the exhibition span centuries, media and artistic styles, including early American paintings, contemporary sculpture, icons of modern photography, Impressionist canvases and hallmarks of Art Deco design.

Artists represented in Milwaukee Collects include Jules Chéret, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, John Sloan, Thomas Sully, Edward Weston and many others—names one is likely to encounter in the Museum’s Collection Galleries. Since the institution’s inception nearly 130 years ago, the Museum’s Collection, our region’s largest artistic asset, has been thoughtfully shaped by the symbiotic relationship between local private collectors and the Museum.

“The works of art at the Museum are a direct expression of our city’s culture, reflecting the interests of the people who reside here,” said Marcelle Polednik, Ph.D., Donna and Donald Baumgartner director. “As an institution, we’ve been wonderfully shaped by the collecting interests of the community, and that’s evident in what hangs on our walls and is stored in our vaults.”

This Milwaukee Art Museum-produced exhibition is a product of the entire curatorial team. Milwaukee Collects follows last year’s major renovation and reinstallation of the Collection Galleries. As the Museum’s new director, Polednik was inspired by the breadth and depth of Milwaukee’s shared collecting interests, which are evident in the exhibition, including decorative arts, German art, text-based art, and contemporary art with a focus on work by the Chicago Imagists.

“Milwaukee’s collectors have very carefully considered and built their collections based on their personal interests and unique artistic eye,” said Polednik. “While we inherently knew Milwaukee as an active collecting community, we were time and again pleasantly surprised by the deliberation and great care with which these collections were built.”

A robust lineup of public programs accompanying the exhibition helps convey the message that anyone can become a collector, and the importance of art collecting to a community. There are opportunities to hear from area collectors and to explore the significant ways in which private collections and collaborative efforts like support groups contribute to Milwaukee’s collecting practices. There are also offerings designed to inspire and educate the next generation of art aficionados.

Milwaukee Collects is a celebration of how art connects us to each other and our community,” said Polednik. “We hope this exhibition inspires future generations to continue Milwaukee’s long-standing tradition of collecting and sharing art with others.”

Exhibition Programming Highlights – Collecting Series

Conversation: Field Guide to the Art World

Saturday, March 11, 4 p.m.

Sarah Thornton, author of Seven Days in the Art World, discusses the art ecosystem by examining the relationships between collectors, dealers, curators and artists. Thornton was the chief writer on contemporary art for the Economist, and the Washington Post labeled her the “Jane Goodall of the art world.”

Lecture: Auction Houses 101

Thursday, April 13, 6:15 p.m.

With its splashy headlines, mysterious bidders and glamorous guest lists, the art auction is one of the most alluring and visible parts of the art market. There is language to be decoded and research to be done, but once demystified, bidding at an auction can be a fun and exciting way to collect art. Event is sponsored by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.

Panel Discussion: Inside Milwaukee Collects

Thursday, April 27, 6:15 p.m.

Four local collectors who lent works to the exhibition talk about how they got started and navigated the art world to build their distinctive collections.

Panel Discussion: Collecting on $10 a Day

Thursday, May 4, 6:15 p.m.

Panelists discuss how collecting art can fit most any budget, whether the collector is a teacher, an artist, or just starting out in their career.

For ticket information and program pricing, visit www.mam.org.

Exhibition Sponsorship

The exhibition is sponsored by the following Milwaukee Art Museum Support Groups: American Arts Society, Collectors’ Corner, Fine Arts Society, Friends of Art, Garden Club and Print Forum; with Supporting Sponsors: Sendik’s Food Markets, International Autos Group and Leslie Hindman Auctioneers; Media Partner: Clear Channel Outdoor.

About the Milwaukee Art Museum

Home to a rich collection of more than 30,000 works of art, the Milwaukee Art Museum is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Its campus includes the Santiago Calatrava–designed Quadracci Pavilion, annually showcasing three feature exhibitions, and the Eero Saarinen–designed Milwaukee County War Memorial Center and David Kahler‒designed addition. The Museum recently reopened its Collection Galleries, debuting nearly 2,500 world-class works of art within dramatically transformed galleries and a new lakefront addition. This reimagined space also allows for the presentation of additional changing exhibitions.

Note to Editors:

An exclusive exhibition press preview will be held Wednesday, March 8, at 10 a.m. Please RSVP to Katie Hall, khall@buzzmonkeyspr.com.

Image: Roy Lichtenstein. Red Lamps, 1990 (published 1991). Lithograph, woodcut, and screenprint on 4-ply Paper Technologies, Inc., Museum Board. 57 7/16 x 78 3/4 in. (145.9 x 200 cm). Collection of Bud and Sue Selig  © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein.

Milwaukee Art Museum Opens New Exhibitions to Engage Visitors this Winter

Milwaukee Art Museum Opens New Exhibitions to Engage Visitors this Winter

-From a contemporary site-specific installation, to photographs and videos of New York City street life, to icons from the Layton Art Collection, there’s an abundance of art to explore-

 Milwaukee, Wis. – Jan. 24, 2017 – The Milwaukee Art Museum is opening four new exhibitions in the coming weeks. From a text-based art installation on the walls of Windhover Hall, to New York City street life explored through photography and media arts, to the first exhibition in a new series focused on paintings from the Layton Art Collection, the Museum is offering a range of experiences this winter. Visitors have the opportunity to see and contemplate the work of a number of notable artists, including Lawrence Weiner, Helen Levitt, James Nares and Eastman Johnson.

Lawrence Weiner 

Currents 37: LAWRENCE WEINER: INHERENT INNATE TENSION, on view Jan. 20–April 2, marks the first time in the Museum’s history that the walls of Windhover Hall are being used to present a work of art. Weiner, one of the central figures in conceptual art, visited Milwaukee in 2013 to familiarize himself with the Museum and to choose a site for his work. He focused on the Santiago Calatrava–designed Windhover Hall and designed two installations for the Museum.

Weiner’s work reached public awareness in the 1960s and 70s, when art was taking on new forms. Weiner challenged traditional notions of the processes and materials that make up a work of art, using language to invent another way to present sculpture. Weiner’s book Statements, from 1968, is one of the key treatises of contemporary art. In it he describes the materials, processes and composition of sculpture in such a way that the text represents or becomes the sculpture itself. This, in turn, became the basis for Weiner’s work.

The Museum presents a variety of exhibitions, programs, and publications designed to introduce its visitors to the work of contemporary artists. Initiated in 1982, the Currents exhibition series brings significant work by living artists into the Museum. The exhibition is sponsored by the Museum’s Contemporary Art Society and William R. and Sandra G. Haack.

Helen Levitt and James Nares 

Helen Levitt: In the Street and James Nares: In the City explore New York City street life through multiple mediums and eras. The exhibitions are on view in the Museum’s popular Herzfeld Center for Photography and Media Arts Jan. 27–April 16. The related exhibitions explore and draw comparisons across time between lens-based media.

Brooklyn-born photographer Helen Levitt recorded the life of New York City’s sidewalks for more than five decades. She began photographing with a 35mm Leica camera in the mid-1930s, sometimes taking pictures surreptitiously with the aid of a right-angle lens. Roaming through the working-class neighborhoods of the city, Levitt became known for photographing children at play, who were absorbed in their own intrigues and mostly indifferent to her presence. Levitt’s photographs observe people of every age, race and class, without attempting to impose social commentary.

In the Street features more than 40 works, including early black-and-white prints, later color work, and a short film, also titled In the Street (1948). Unique to the Milwaukee Art Museum’s presentation is a slide show of Levitt’s color photographs and a selection of works from the Museum’s Collection.

Concurrently, the Herzfeld Center’s video spaces host James Nares: In the City. The contemporary artist James Nares, born in England, also draws inspiration from the streets of New York City. The two works on display, Pendulum (1976) and Street (2011), reveal the artist’s preoccupation with movement, rhythm and repetition. Pendulum, originally filmed with a Super 8 camera, follows the arc of a concrete sphere as it swings through the deserted streets of TriBeCa. Thirty years later, Nares captures vibrant city life in Street, a hypnotic high-definition video that plays in continuous slow motion, allowing the viewer to examine Nares’ subject caught, like Levitt’s, unaware.

Exhibitions and programming in the Herzfeld Center are generously supported by the Herzfeld Foundation. Additionally, Helen Levitt: In the Street is supported by Mrs. Robert O. Levitt, presenting sponsor, and organized by Telfair Museums, Savannah, Georgia. Additional support is provided by the David C. & Sarajean Ruttenberg Arts Foundation.

Eastman Johnson

Eastman Johnson and a Nation Divided, on view Feb. 10–May 21, inaugurates a new series of focus exhibitions that highlights the Layton Art Collection, one of Milwaukee’s seminal collections of American and European art formed by Frederick Layton in the late 19th century. The yearly exhibition will explore in depth a significant work from the Layton Art Collection, providing new insights and interpretations.

 The first exhibition in the series focuses on artist Eastman Johnson. When his painting Negro Life at the South debuted at New York’s National Academy of Design in 1859, critics hailed it as a masterpiece. It quickly became a touchstone for both abolitionists and proponents of slavery alike for its indictment of urban servitude on the one hand and its seemingly idyllic view of southern rural culture on the other. After the Civil War, Johnson returned with a vengeance in 1871 with The Old Stagecoach, a painting that critics hailed as the painter’s “latest and greatest” and that attracted “crowds of devotees” at the National Academy that same year. The Old Stagecoach garnered unanimous praise for its nostalgic look at the country’s national childhood; yet, it also contains subtle hints at post–Civil War anxieties. Eastman Johnson and a Nation Divided unites in conversation these two masterpieces as it explores Johnson’s critical reception and each painting’s historical and social context. The exhibition is sponsored by Layton Art Collection Inc.

For more information and related programs, visit www.mam.org.

About the Milwaukee Art Museum

Home to a rich collection of more than 30,000 works of art, the Milwaukee Art Museum is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Its campus includes the Santiago Calatrava–designed Quadracci Pavilion, annually showcasing three feature exhibitions, and the Eero Saarinen–designed Milwaukee County War Memorial Center and David Kahler‒designed addition. The Museum recently reopened its Collection Galleries, debuting nearly 2,500 world-class works of art within dramatically transformed galleries and a new lakefront addition. This reimagined space also allows for the presentation of additional changing exhibitions.

Media Contact:

Vicky Shokatz, 414-239-0407

vshokatz@buzzmonkeyspr.com

 

Milwaukee Art Museum Receives Historic Gift of More Than 500 Jules Chéret Works

Milwaukee Art Museum Receives Historic Gift of More Than 500 Jules Chéret Works

-Susee and James L. Wiechmann will also underwrite new prints and drawings curator-

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Milwaukee, Wis. – Jan. 13, 2017 – The Milwaukee Art Museum today announced the promised gift of an extensive collection of work by French graphic master Jules Chéret. This unparalleled group of more than 500 Chéret artworks, one of the largest and most comprehensive of its kind, has been generously promised by Milwaukeeans Susee and James Wiechmann. The gift encompasses the full range of Chéret’s innovative output from his bold, expressive posters advertising theatrical events, social gatherings and a myriad of products; to designs for book covers and menus; to intimate lithographic studies of his models. Often referred to as the “father of the modern poster,” Chéret inspired many other important artists of his time including Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Pierre Bonnard.

“Susee and I are thrilled to add our Jules Chéret poster collection to the Museum’s treasures where it can be shared by all,” said James Wiechmann. “These posters that lit up the streets of Paris in the late 1800s will now shine in the galleries of our Milwaukee Art Museum and those of other Museums as they are exhibited around the country.”

The Wiechmanns were lenders to the Museum’s popular 2012 exhibition, Posters of Paris: Toulouse-Lautrec and His Contemporaries, and from there began an important relationship with the institution. In addition to the promised gift of their Chéret collection, the Wiechmanns have underscored their commitment by underwriting a curatorial position. Thanks to their generosity Britany L. Salsbury will join the Museum in February as associate curator of prints and drawings.

Salsbury comes from the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design where she has been the Andrew W. Mellon curatorial fellow in the Prints, Drawings and Photographs department since 2015. During her tenure she worked on a major exhibition scheduled to open in June 2017 entitled Altered States: Etching in Late 19th Century Paris, which has an accompanying publication. She also developed a number of exhibitions including Inventing Impressionism (2016), and regularly instructed classes from RISD and Brown University on the history of works on paper in the museum’s print study room. Salsbury’s experience includes positions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Morgan Library & Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago.

As the associate curator of prints and drawings, Salsbury will oversee the Chéret gift, along with the Museum’s broad and diverse collection of works on paper. The Museum’s strengths in this area include German Expressionism, French printmaking from the 16th through the 19th centuries, as well as important collections such as the Landfall Press archive.

“We look forward to welcoming Britany as an integral part of the Museum’s curatorial team,” said Marcelle Polednik, Ph.D., Donna and Donald Baumgartner director. “In addition to managing our works on paper collection, her extensive experience makes her the perfect person to catalogue and develop a major exhibition based on the Chéret gift.”

Salsbury completed her Ph.D. at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York in 2015 with the dissertation The Print Portfolio and the Bourgeoisie in Fin-de-Siècle Paris. She also received an M.Phil. from the same institution in 2011, as well as an M.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a B.A. from Case Western Reserve University.

“I am excited and honored to join the Milwaukee Art Museum. I look forward to being part of the Museum’s exceptional team, and to exploring its impressive works on paper collection–especially at a moment when the Wiechmanns’ generous gift brings a renewed focus to the history of prints,” said Salsbury.

“The Milwaukee Art Museum is thrilled about this extraordinary gift. It raises our standing both nationally and internationally, and makes us an important center for the study of the art of the French poster. We are deeply honored to receive this significant gift to the Museum, and are incredibly grateful to Susee and James for their generosity both in terms of a major gift of art and for the crucial institutional support which will help bring the collection to life,” said Polednik.

Image: Jules Chéret, Les Girard, 1879 Lithograph, Promised Gift of James and Susee Wiechmann.

 

About the Milwaukee Art Museum

Home to a rich collection of more than 30,000 works of art, the Milwaukee Art Museum is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Its campus includes the Santiago Calatrava–designed Quadracci Pavilion, annually showcasing three feature exhibitions, and the Eero Saarinen–designed Milwaukee County War Memorial Center and David Kahler‒designed addition. The Museum recently reopened its Collection Galleries, debuting nearly 2,500 world-class works of art within dramatically transformed galleries and a new lakefront addition. This reimagined space also allows for the presentation of additional changing exhibitions.