James May Gallery: Grand Opening: New Beginnings: featuring new work from Brian Frink (MN), Kassandra Palmer (WI), and Jill Birschbach (IL).

Milwaukee, WI — Grand Opening of James May Gallery at the new eastside location.

Kendra Bulgrin is proud to announce the reopening of James May Gallery on Milwaukee’s east side on March 10.  A Grand Opening is scheduled for that evening at the gallery’s new location at 2201 N. Farwell Ave. nue in Milwaukee.

James May Gallery started in Algoma, WI in 2014, showing contemporary art, and craft from emerging/under-represented, and established artists from across the country. JMG quickly gained a following in NE Wisconsin and beyond for their knowledgeable, yet friendly atmosphere and the desire to help discerning clients, as well as first-time collectors grow or start their art collection. The gallery will continue to offer similar programming and atmosphere as it settles into the new location.

JMG made the difficult decision to move from Algoma, WI to Dousman, WI in the winter of 2020 due to their children’s complicated health issues. The gallery has continued to curate exhibitions online, until the perfect location on the eastside came up this January.

Curator, Kendra Bulgrin has run the gallery over the last 9 years both online and in –person. Bulgrin graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2005 with a BFA, with an emphasis in painting, and a minor in Japanese Cultural Studies. Bulgrin completed her MFA in interdisciplinary arts at Memphis College of Art in 2007. She has a unique perspective as both an artist and gallery owner, having grown up in south eastern Wisconsin in a blue-collar family. She is able to easily connect with artists, clients, and students. Bulgrin remains active in the studio while running James May Gallery and the new space will feature a side studio where you can visit and see her at work.

The Grand Opening Exhibition – New Beginnings – highlights not only the fresh start for the gallery but will also feature new work from three long-time artists of the gallery- Brian Frink, Kassandra Palmer, and Jill Birschbach. The gallery will also have a handful of functional ceramic artists as well as art jewelry on view. The opening is free, refreshments will be provided, and the artists will be in attendance!

Brian Frink (painting/ Mankato, MN) will be exhibiting his “Oddly-Shaped” paintings made exclusively for JMG.

“An important idea behind my Oddly Shaped Paintings is how my body relates to the shape. Art making, for me, is very much a process, oriented activity. As such my physical relationship to the surface I am painting on becomes important. A traditional square or rectangle communicates something to me that informs the eventual painting. Creating on an “odd shape” tosses this fundamental relationship into a place of tenuous uncertainty.  Thus, I create new and unexpected spaces and compositions.” — Frink

Jill Birschbach (ceramics/ Chicago, IL) will be exhibiting her large-scale ceramic sculptures and sculptural lamps.

“The surfaces of my ceramic work are imperfect and often appear to be dripping, cracking or corroding. I use found industrial textures pressed into the clay coupled with special glazes to amplify the idea of the object worn down by time.”—Birschbach

Kassandra Palmer (painting/ Madison, WI) will be exhibiting her more intimate, symbolic paintings.

“Working from memory and imagination, I combine symbolic forms to create landscapes, portraits, and abstractions that point toward psychological and metaphysical themes.

In my most recent body of work, I have drawn conceptual inspiration from my background in physics and from my experience of being a new mother in an era of pandemic. Imagery of butterflies, profiles in silhouette, moons, homes, trees and wood grain focus on themes of interiority and metamorphosis.” —Palmer

The gallery will continue to offer art consulting for both private homes and businesses and are always willing to help with an art install or design need.

JMG is excited to be a part of Milwaukee!

More Information:
www.jamesmaygallery.com
Find exhibitions and artwork for purchase online:
https://www.artsy.net/partner/james-may-gallery

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.