Events (Vital's Picks)
A selection of the area's most interesting upcoming events.
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Nancy C. Unger @ UW-Milwaukee Bookstore
Wed, Sep 10, 2008 – Wed, Sep 10, 2008
Prize-winning historian and biographer Professor Nancy C. Unger celebrates in words and pictures the life of Wisconsin great Robert M. La Follette (1855-1925) and reveals why there is an increasing urgency that we understand and appreciate his progressive legacy. A signing of the new paperback edition of Fighting Bob La Follette: The Righteous Reformer will follow the presentation and discussion.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Bookstore / 2200 E Kenwood Blvd / Milwaukee WI 53211
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Women of the Book: Mirta Kupferminc and Shirah Rachel Apple @ Inova Gallery
Wed, Sep 10, 2008 – Wed, Sep 10, 2008
Books are seemingly simple objects, collections of printed or blank pages held together in one neat package. As new technology replaces some of our more organic routines, one wonders whether the book is becoming an archaic medium, whether it has the chops to stand up to the wave of the future. And yet for many, books – especially scripture and scriptural texts – are central to daily life. Women of the Book pairs two artists from opposite ends of the Western Hemisphere and explores the symbolism and power of books through the conduit of Jewish life and culture. Mirta Kupferminc is an internationally known printmaker from Argentina and Shirah Rachel Apple is a Milwaukee-based mixed-media and installation artist. The show focuses on Kupferminc’s elegantly made artist’s book Borges and the Kabbalah: Paths to the Word, which features original etchings and aquatints. Apple’s work is highly informed and inspired by books and words, and she is also creating site-specific installations that respond to Kupferminc’s etchings and bookwork. This is definitely a must-see exhibit, as UWM is the only current U.S. institution to house this work. 414-229-5070 or arts.uwm.edu/inova
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Le Cirque: 9th Annual Fundraiser for Alliance Francaise @ Charles Rollins Manville Mansion
Sun, Sep 07, 2008 – Thu, Aug 07, 2008
An evening of Cirque du Soleil-inspired fun awaits at the Alliance Francaise’s 9th annual fundraiser. The event takes place at the historic Charles Rollins Manville Mansion and features music from the world-famous circus, along with a selection of fine wines paired with cuisine from award-winning North Star Catering. The live auction includes a one-week stay at a private Italian villa overlooking Lake Como (which just happens to be across from George Clooney’s house – yowza!) or a week-long stay at a stately mansion in the beautiful English countryside. Scoring a ticket to this event will run you $125, but promises an evening nothing short of spectacular. 414-964-3855 or afmilwaukee.org
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Polish Arts Festival @ Alfons Gallery
Sun, Sep 07, 2008 – Sun, Oct 26, 2008
Alfons Gallery, located in the School Sisters of St. Francis St. Joseph Center, will host an exhibit entitled, Polish Arts Festival. The exhibit features mixed media art and opens September 7th and runs through October 26th. The opening festivities on September 7th from 1:00-4:00 p.m. include the Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble, demonstrations of egg painting and paper cuts, taste treats by Polanki – Polish Women’s Cultural Club, winners of the 2008 Chopin Youth Piano Competition, and tours of St. Joseph Chapel. St. Joseph Center is located at 1501 S. Layton Blvd. in Milwaukee. For information and hours, call (414) 385–5273. http://www.sssf.org/gallery
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Taste, Toast, Roast fundraiser @ Walker’s Point Center for the Arts
Sat, Sep 06, 2008 – Sat, Sep 06, 2008
Beer tasting by Sprecher Brewery, catering by Bunzel’s Meat Market & Catering, limited edition t-shirts designed by local artists, and music by DJ Aaron Edwards. Midway games such as the dunk tank will be played throughout the evening.The featured exhibition during Taste, Toast, Roast is Flesh.Metal.Ink - an exhibit glorifying the adornment of the human body, the effect of the psyche and pain. Curated by Luckystar Studio. Raffle prizes include a stay at the new Iron Horse Hotel on the KK river, tickets to the Harley-Davidson Museum, an autographed guitar signed by classic rock legends Cheap Trick, and many more to be announced. $5 or 3 for $12.
Tickets for Taste, Toast, Roast are $50, limited to the first 150, and can be purchased in advance or at the door while supplies are available. Limited edition artist designed t-shirts will be available for sale on WPCA’s website before and after the event while supplies last.
For ticket information call Walker’s Point Center for the Arts at 414-672-2787. 911 W. National Ave Milwaukee, WI 53204
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Pierre Bensusan @ The UWM Peck School of the Arts
Sat, Sep 06, 2008 – Sat, Sep 06, 2008
The UWM Peck School of the Arts Guitar Series welcomes French finger-style guitarist Pierre Bensusan for his first concert in Milwaukee in 15 years. The series will present the internationally-acclaimed guitarist on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 7:30 pm in the Recital Hall, 2400 East Kenwood Boulevard, on the UWM campus. Tickets are $20 general/$12 students, seniors and for UWM alumni, faculty & staff; they are available from the Peck School of the Arts Box Office, 414-229-4308.Bensusan will also offer a series of finger-style guitar workshops open to the public on Friday, September 5 from 9 am-12 noon and from 2-5 pm; and on Saturday, September 6 from 10 am-1 pm. The workshops will address issues of musicianship, philosophy of music and approach to the guitar as well as technique and ear training. Sessions are $10 each for auditors and take place at Kenilworth Square East, 1925 E. Kenilworth Pl. Those interested in attending should contact John Stropes, head of the UWM Guitar Program, at (262) 994-8710.
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Kenneth Brown Ransley: A Female portraitist @ Portrait Society Gallery
Fri, Sep 05, 2008 – Fri, Sep 05, 2008
Little was known about the portfolio of paintings and drawings that Kathy Ippolite, owner of Riverview Antiques in Milwaukee, had found in her closet after her husband died. She Googled the artist’s name and found one reference to a K.B. Ransley on the Internet. Unsure whether KB was a male or female, an essay stated that a Mrs. K.B. Ransley had spent time in St. Augustine, Florida, at an art colony in the 1930s. But many of the portraits were signed Kenneth, indicating that the artist was a man.
Portrait Society Gallery discovered the portfolio at the antique center and was impressed by the quality of the work. Prior to every household owning a camera, people relied on portrait artists for family images. It was a skill still dignified enough to be taught at places like the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where, it turns out, Kenneth Brown Ransley had studied. When portraits are done from live sittings, they have a freshness and sense of the momentary that images rendered from photographs do not possess. This is the quality that distinguished the works in this portfolio.
This exhibition at Portrait Society Gallery features about 25 of Kenneth and her husband Frank’s portraits, dating from the 1930s to 1981. Both Kenneth and Frank studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. They spent their entire married life in Park Ridge, Ill., where Kenneth opened the city’s first movie theatre. Coincidentally, the actor Harrison Ford grew up on the same street as the Ransleys.
Portrait Society Gallery / 207 E Buffalo Street, Suite 526 / Marshall Building / Milwaukee, WI
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Identity Worn @ 801 Gallery
Fri, Sep 05, 2008 – Fri, Sep 05, 2008
A solo photography show featuring a work in progress by Riverwest photographer/film maker Joe Ventress will open at "801" at 6pm. The Gallery is located at 801 Center Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 715-252-1269. Joe Ventress is a Peck School of the Arts Graduate. His work in progress will be shown at 801 Gallery. The show will feature digital prints from this ongoing project.
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Indian Summer Festival @ Henry Maier Festival Park
Fri, Sep 05, 2008 – Fri, Sep 05, 2008
Gosh, is it autumn already? Though it seems the summer flew right past us, you can still take advantage of these last few blissful days at Milwaukee’s own Indian Summer Festival. Sidle down to the lakefront for three days of fun in the sun at North America’s largest American Indian festival. This year’s theme honors our neighbors to the North, focusing on the indigenous peoples of Canada with tribal music and performances. The main attraction is, of course the Pow Wow, which takes place each day of the festival. This age-old tradition allows you to experience the richness of American Indian culture through tribal dances, songs and storytelling while members of different tribes compete for top honors in a variety of categories. Take a walk through the “Natural Path” area of the park to learn about traditional healing methods and herbal medicines used in Native American culture, plus see live demonstrations of practical and artistic skills like beadwork, basket weaving, pottery and bow and arrow making. If all that fails to entice, then we’ve got one word for you: frybread. Top it with honey and thank us later. indiansummer.org
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Oktoberfest @ The Bavarian Inn
Fri, Sep 05, 2008 – Thu, Aug 21, 2008
Germans take their beer very seriously. In fact, they cherish it. And they know their stuff – Germany has the world’s third-largest annual beer consumption rate per capita (behind the Czech Republic and Ireland). Since 1516, brewers have strictly followed the Reinheitsgetbot, a purity law that allows only the ingredients barley, water and hops to be used in the creation of beer. Though minor changes have since been made to the law, the quest for quality remains. Come to Oktoberfest and taste for yourself! This annual event, held at lovely Heidelberg Park, is three weekends of authentic German cuisine, dancing, singing and of course copious amounts of that refreshingly frothy brew. At last, an excuse to wear your lederhosen in public - not that you needed one. 414-604-1000 or bavarianinnmilw.com
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Milwaukee LGBT Film Festival @ Various Locations
Thu, Sep 04, 2008 – Sun, Sep 14, 2008
The Milwaukee LGBT Film Festival is finally legal: for 21 years, it has brought scores of brilliant documentaries, shorts and feature films made by and about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. The 11-day festival opens at Milwaukee’s dreamy Oriental Theatre with Tom Gustafson’s Were the World Mine, a magical film about Timothy, a young gay man trying to stay sane amidst the “heterodrudgery” of high school life. The film takes a whimsical turn when Timothy is cast as Puck in the school’s adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and conjures up a love potion that gives him the power to make the most of his world. Described as a mixture of “gay longing, antic comedic complications romantic fantasy and a certain John Waters naughtiness”, this film promises to be an intriguing, fantastical start to the rest of the festival. 414-229-4758 or www4.uwm.edu/psoa/lgbtfilm
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Blackbird Raum @ The Borg Ward
Wed, Sep 03, 2008 – Wed, Sep 03, 2008
Thrash bluegrass hardcore folk riot from California playing with local bands Danny Price and the Loose Change, and Jonathan Burks! 5$ cover.
Borg Ward Collective / 823 W National Ave / Milwaukee 53204
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Harley Davidson’s 105th Anniversary @ Milwaukee Lakefront
Thu, Aug 28, 2008 – Sun, Aug 31, 2008
Ready or not, Milwaukee: here they come. Hog riders will rumble into the city by the thousands for Harley Davidson's 105th anniversary festivities, not to mention the opening of the brand-spanking new Harley Museum. It seems like only yesterday when the 100th anniversary filled our days and nights with the sounds of squealing tires and cracking pipes, when the streets were filled with hardcore bikers and weekend enthusiasts eager to show off their American metal, all of it topped off with the most, uh, surprising finale concert of the new millennium. The 105th is sure to be just as exciting, boasting three days worth of bike shows, demos, parades and a bitchin' kick-off party. The cherry atop the weekend will be a live performance by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band right on Milwaukee's lakefront! Unfortunately, only ticket holders get to see the show live, but we think maybe, just maybe, if we get close enough we might be able to catch of few bars of "Badlands." harley-davidson.com.
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Physical Wiki Days @ Bucketworks
Sat, Aug 23, 2008 – Sun, Aug 24, 2008
On Saturday and Sunday, Bucketworks will be holding Physical Wiki Days to rebuild our space. We invite the Morning Blend to come see the extent of our damage and to watch as our community of volunteers and members comes together to install drywall, lay carpeting, and restore Bucketworks to its former glory. The idea of a wiki website is that it allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser. To rebuild our space, we're applying that idea to our facility--anyone can come down and lay down carpeting or help put up drywall in order to make our space usable again. We hope this process will create a sense of ownership and community that is so vital to the Bucketworks mission.
Bucketworks / 1340 N 6th Street / Milwaukee, WI 53212 / 414-305-1324
bucketworks.org
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Turn the Pages Slowly @ Haggerty Museum of Art
Fri, Aug 22, 2008 – Sun, Dec 07, 2008
This exhibition, drawn primarily from the Haggerty's permanent collection, features rare books and manuscripts from the 14th through the 20th centuries. Focusing on devotional texts, the exhibition includes a 19th century Koran, medieval Books of Hours, and antiphonals (choral books). Individual leaves from French, English and Italian breviaries, Bibles and Books of Hours are highlighted, as well. The exhibition also includes facsimiles of medieval Haggadot.
Haggarty Museum of Art / Marquette University / 13th & Clybourn Streets / 414-288-1669
http://www.mu.edu/haggerty