BreakthrU
Press Release

Art, architecture and manufacturing intersect with new Milwaukee sculpture

Madison-based Vendura Industries collaborates with architects and schools to produce ‘Wall-E’ sculpture on display at 3rd Street Market Hall in downtown Milwaukee

By - Apr 20th, 2023 02:52 pm

MILWAUKEE, WI – Sculpture Milwaukee will host a commissioning ceremony for the “Wall-E” sculpture submitted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) School of Architecture on Monday, April 24, at 10 a.m. at the 3rd Street Market Hall in downtown Milwaukee.

“Wall-E” is part of the larger “Dear Nature” exhibit, curated by Whitney Moon and Jennifer Johung. The exhibit features works from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, the UWM Peck School of the Arts and the UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning.

Students and faculty developed artwork in response to Sculpture Milwaukee’s 2022/23 exhibition “Nature Doesn’t Know 

About Us,” guest-curated by Ugo Rondinone, which explores multiple dimensions of human intersections with nature.

The 10 featured artworks include “Wall-E,” a piece by Milwaukee-based Ware Architecture and Madison-based Vendura Industries. “Wall-E” represents the product of a connection between Sculpture Milwaukee, three UWM schools and Vendura Industries.

Vendura is a solid-surface manufacturing company focused on improving lives by providing innovative solutions for the

mental and behavioral health industries. Vendura is owned by entrepreneur Jerry Jendusa, former co-founder of EMTEQ, executive producer and host of Milwaukee’s “Project Pitch It” television show and owner of BreakthrU, a Muskego-based network of companies that work together to make the world a better place and advocate for southeastern Wisconsin growth projects. Jendusa is a graduate and strong supporter of UWM and its Lubar Entrepreneurship Center, which serves as a resource and connection area for entrepreneurs, innovators and students.

“This sculpture is emblematic our companies’ commitments to improving the quality of life, the health care and the well-being of people and their pets,” Jendusa said.

“Vendura is passionate about improving the lives of others. Our collaboration with Sculpture Milwaukee and the UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning on the Wall-E project is a perfect example of bringing that passion to life. We are all trying to improve Milwaukee in our own way,” said Mark Ciepluch, president of Vendura.

“Dear Nature” will be on view at 3rd Street Market Hall through October 2023.

Who: Ellen Kullerstrand (Sculpture Milwaukee); Karl Wallick and Kyle  (Ware Architecture UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning); Mark Ciepluch (Vendura Industries); Jerry Jendusa (owner of BreakthrU and Vendura); Brian Thompson (president of the UWM Lubar Entrepreneurship Center); and UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning Dean Mo Zell.

Contact: Mark Ciepluch – 262-613-0225 (cell)

When: Monday, April 24, from 10 to 10:30 a.m.

Where: 3rd Street Market Hall, 275 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI

ABOUT SCULPTURE MILWAUKEE

Sculpture Milwaukee is a nonprofit organization transforming downtown Milwaukee’s cultural landscape every year

with an outdoor exhibition of world-renowned sculpture that serves as a catalyst for community engagement, economic

development, and creative placemaking.

ABOUT VENDURA INDUSTRIES
Vendura is a world-class solid surface manufacturer that believes in bringing design visions to life that not only protect but allow the healing journey to begin through a highly customizable solid surface solution for acute and behavioral health centers. Vendura designs, produces and installs high-quality microbial resistant solid surface products with top-notch customer service that keeps the patient in mind.

ABOUT BREAKTHRU

BreakthrU is a network of entrepreneurial businesses, diverse industries and niche experts, united by a single driving force: realizing potential together. BreakthrU believes in the freedom to dream and create what enables our employees to produce a pipeline of innovation that has real impact. The BreakthrU Family of Companies is uniting world changers, all with the core mission of improving the lives of people and pets. United. Unstoppable.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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