Fall Gallery Night & Day

Milwaukee’s Gallery Night & Day of 2013 took place this Friday and Saturday, October 18 and 19. The Third Coast Daily team took to the streets and highlighted the diverse art communities within Milwaukee. We’ve got a full Flickr gallery below, but here are recaps from our favorite exhibitions:

THIRD WARD

Portrait Society Gallery in the Marshall Building | Photo: Sophia Steck

The Portrait Society Gallery’s exhibition focused on hair and its “connections to historical periods, cultural values, power structure, gender identities, and the random absurdities of civilization.” An image of the back of a woman’s head entitled Hair Study, by French photographer Felix Nadar (1820-1910), inspired Bogart’s journey to showcase young females as they search for identities. What she finds is that their hair inevitably becomes part of their life canvas. The exhibition runs until November 17. Companion exhibitions include Hair, by Demitra Copoulos, and Adornment, by Nicholas Grider.

EAST TOWN

David Barnett Gallery | Photo: Sophia Steck

The David Barnett Gallery is showcasing Robert Richter, an oil painter from Milwaukee whose work embodies an extraordinary color sensibility and unique use of materials. He first uses a Dremel tool to carve his drawing into the wood and then paints over the surface with oil paints. His style is similar to that of Milton Avery, Grand Wood and Henri Matisse. Richter also creates custom frames for each one of his works, which create a fully realized and designed piece.

Gallerie M at the Intercontinental Hotel | Photo: Angela Morgan

Gallerie M at Intercontinental Hotel is currently featuring the show La Creme de la Creme. This juried exhibition is produced by Today’s Artist Guild and includes paintings, photography and mixed media by over 20 local artists. The non-profit group T.A.G. is committed to helping sustain and promote the arts with the communities of the Greater Milwaukee area.

Photos of A Working Ranch on display at the Grohmann Museum | Photo: Angela Morgan

The Grohmann Museum at Milwaukee School of Engineering has a special exhibit featuring the photographs of Milwaukeean Jim Brozek entitled A Working Ranch. Jim worked on an American ranch during the 70’s and 80’s in New Mexico and spent much time documenting the lifestyle. The collection of striking photographs will be on display through December 13. There are four floors of artwork to explore and a rooftop garden with 18 bronze sculptures, and an impressive ceiling mural of history’s great thinkers. Bring your phone and headphones for a complimentary narrated tour of several pieces of artwork with attached QR codes for a more in-depth learning experience.

WALKERS POINT/SOUTH

Independence First Gallery | Photo: Isabel Dunkerley

Independence First featured 34 oil paintings by Jeff LaDow. LaDow is an inspiring, internationally recognized local artist with quadriplegia who paints using his mouth. His paintings display a wide variety of subjects with incredible detail. He has conducted lectures and mouth painting demonstrations all over the world, and his story is a testament to the healing power of art. Habitat for Humanity ReStore’s gallery featured artwork and furniture made from repurposed materials for sale with the proceeds benefitting Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity. Artist Daniel Fleming created several of the colorful pieces which were painted onto recycled surfaces such as wooden boxes.

DOWNTOWN

Once Upon A Time at MAM After Dark | Photo: Isabel Dunkerley

The Milwaukee Art Museum celebrated Gallery Night by hosting its monthly event, MAM After Dark, with a Once Upon A Time theme. Many guests got into the Halloween spirit by showing up in costume and The Scarring Party played throughout the evening. The recently opened feature exhibit of Thomas Sully was open for the evening, and runs through January 5.

Photos by Angela Morgan, Sophia Steck, and Isabel Dunkerley.