The University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee’s Peck School Of The Arts is too often overlooked. And their theater and dance productions are incredible and rewarding performances. So here’s a heads up for their next Mainstage production. So if you are a Shakespeare fan or want a chance to see local live very accessible theater at an affordable price, this is a great opportunity.
An epic tale of shipwreck and devastating loss, love and redemption across the Ancient Mediterranean. One of William Shakespeare’s later plays, Pericles is ultimately a story of the triumph of the human spirit, exploring themes that dominate headlines today: the Middle East, refugees, perilous sea crossings and sex trafficking. It offers spectacular grace and one of the most beautiful reunions this master of the theatrical stage ever wrote.
Pericles is being directed by Bill Watson and will run from November 6, 2024 through November 10, 2024, on the UWM campus on the Mainstage in their Fine Arts Complex.
For more information (including a link to the campus map) and to order tickets, click here!!
The Emile Mathis Gallery at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee opens the 2024/2025 season with a celebration of a generous gift of 20th Century Art from Henry and Blanche Rosenberg. The show is curated by gallery director Leigh M. W. Mahlik and encompasses the entire span of the Rosenberg’s collection. Primarily anchored in prints or other works on paper, Mahlik has also included a number of paintings and small table top scaled sculptures.
Visiting this show is incredibly rewarding. Most of the major European artists of the period are represented. And the work is certainly museum quality but the scale is a more personal size and invites you to spend some time getting familiar with it. Something that isn’t always available when viewing work of epic proportion. When I visited a second time, part of my intent was to take photos of work that spoke to me that I wanted to post with the article and hoped that they would speak to you. Unfortunately I got carried away and will have to make choices now so that I don’t overwhelm you with visuals. After all, I do want you to visit the gallery.
But the Rosenberg’s clearly had an eye for design. Although these works aren’t necessarily well known they are clean and crisp in design, and exhibit the exquisite draftsmanship that these artists are known for. And color is also a focus of many of these works. But there are some abstract pieces here that stand out too. This is a captivating show. And the best part it is easily accessible and free to the public.
My initial intention here was to quote a bit from Leigh Mahlik’s wall text about the show. But rather than try to edit it and retype it, I am just going to post a photo of the introductory text here. As it mentions, the collection has been instrumental in the educational mission of UWM and the Art History Department (which I understand is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year). And with that in mind, Mahlik has also included short histories on the various ‘isms’ exhibited here…the show and the collection is certainly a delight!
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I urge you to take the time to visit the Emile Mathis Gallery and enjoy this marvelous show. The Mathis Gallery is on the ground floor of Mitchell Hall which is on the corner of Downer Avenue and Kenwood Boulevard. The gallery is in the southwest corner of Mitchell but there is clear signage on the first floor at the entrances pointing you in the right direction. The Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 4 PM and admission is free.
This is a very exciting and challenging show and I apologize for taking so long to post about it. What The Folk? is a show of American Art Objects selected from the UWM Art Collections by curators Professor Kay Wells and Gallery Director Leigh Mahlik as well as students from Prof. Wells art history class on American Folk Art. The show is in the Emile H Mathis Gallery in Mitchell Hall and runs through May 9, 2024. The gallery is open from 10 AM to 4 PM next Monday through Thursday and admission is free and it is open to the public. If you want some additional background on the Mathis, check out my earlier post here.
The University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee is fortunate to have an extensive collection of objects that fall into the various categories that make up the broad arena of Folk Art. This particular show focuses on American art objects, but of course not all Folk Art is American.
What The Folk? presents us with objects in all media, from paintings to sculpture, from assemblages to collage, from paper silhouettes to tin cutout street scenes and table top dioramas. All in a panoply of color and style…and just a joy to behold. But it’s not just the visuals that inform here. There is a clear explanation of the sub-genres considered part of Folk Art written on the walls of the exhibit: Outsider Art; Americana; Visionary Art; Self Taught Art. So at this point I am going to stop writing and just show you a few of my favorites from the show!!
Unknown Artist: no date: Husband and Wife Silhouette
Unknown Artist: Untitled (Dia de los Muertos 1993
Josephus Farmer, Dixieland (Picking Cotton) 1980
Kacey Carneal, 100 Million Children Live In The Streets, 2016
Leroy Archuleta, Untitled, 1984
From Door County Wisconsin, Edward Zahn, untitled (Red Angel) 1997 and Randy Zahn untitled (Rooster and Bird Tree) and other two untitled pieces, all undated.
