Picture Presents

This week’s art calendar offers more than just exhibitions. There are a number of events this weekend where you can find original, locally-made creative works that might make interesting gifts for all of the people on your Christmas list.

Buying art for yourself is an inherently personal experience, so how do you select something for another person? One of the best ways to begin is simply to see as many things as possible, and consider the interests and tastes of person the you are buying for. If they already have art in their home, their aesthetic style can influence your choice — maybe they prefer edgy abstract art over a representational still lifes. However, this is a rule made to be broken. One of the best criteria to consider is that your chosen artwork connects to your intended recipient in either subject or style.

This weekend’s Christmas in the Ward offers venues where plenty of creative items can be found. Everything from photography to paintings and prints will be available, as well as other things such as t-shirts, hand-printed cards, and stuffed animals.

Christmas and Plaid Tuba – A Buying Experience 

The Marshall Building

207 E. Buffalo Street

Friday, 5 to 8pm

Saturday, 12 to 4pm

The numerous artists affiliated with Plaid Tuba will have art and gifts on sale. Participants include: Reginald Baylor Studio, Pamela Anderson, Melissa Dorn Richards, Brandon Minga, Heidi Witz, Jessica Z. Schafer, Sara  Bott, Chrystal Denise Gillon, Shanel Regier, and Kerry Rose Ramsden.

Last Minute Art Show 

Marshall Building

207 E. Buffalo Street

3rd Floor

Friday 6 to 10pm

Art, craft, soup, stuffed animals are available from: Cocoon Room, Daniel Fleming, Kari Caron, Jessica Kaminski, Jeanne Nikolai Olivieri, Plushzilla, Jeff Redmon, Becky Tesch, Too Much Metal For One Hand, Della Wells, Briana Prudhomme, Soup in a Jar, Michael Arms, and Art by Kelli.

2013 Student/Alumni Art & Design Sale 

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

273 E. Erie Street

Friday, 5 to 9pm

Saturday, noon to 5pm

The Fourth Floor Gallery and the East Gallery have been filled with hundreds of pieces showcasing the work of artists connected with MIAD.

EXHIBITION OPENINGS AND EVENTS 

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6

The Coalition of Photographic Arts 7th Annual Midwest Juried Photo Exhibition 

Walker’s Point Center for the Arts

839 S. 5th Street

Opening reception 5 to 9pm

Gallery talk by Karen Irvine at 7pm

Exhibition continues through January 18, 2014

The annual photographic survey offers a broad view of photographic pursuits from around the Midwest. Juror Karen Irvine, curator and associate direction of the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College, Chicago, will make the selections of award winners, to be announced at the exhibition opening. The exhibition typically includes a rich array of color and black-and-white photographic approaches and printing techniques.

Jason Rohlf: Navigational Aids 

Tory Folliard Gallery

233 N. Milwaukee Street

Artist reception Friday, 5 to 9pm

Artist gallery talk, Saturday, 2pm

Exhibition continues through December 28.

Time and place are allusions beneath the surface of Jason Rohlf’s abstract paintings. The surfaces are built up over time, though the new fresh paint may leave room for the old to seep through. How one finds their way along the surface and visually, into the deeper layers is something of a journey. As Rohlf puts it, “making navigational decisions is subjective to the individual” and “sometimes contradictory. “ His art works, he adds, “hope to reflect back the myriad choices we all are confronted with on a daily basis.”