Milwaukee Museum Changing Name to Celebrate Women and Nonbinary People in Art
Small Museum Tackles Major Gender Inequalities with New Exhibition
MILWAUKEE (Jan. 10, 2023) — The Charles Allis Art Museum on Milwaukee’s East Side is temporarily changing its name. From Jan. 26 through June 11th, 2023, the museum will be known as the Sarah Ball Allis Art Museum, honoring the Wisconsin socialite and art collector who gifted her home and vast art collection to Milwaukee upon her death.
The name change comes as part of its new, homonymous exhibition, crafted by Milwaukee-based artist and guest curator Kate Schaffer who collaborated with the museum to rename the institution for the exhibition.
Executive Director Jaymee Harvey Willms agrees. “Sarah and Charles built their art collection, home and legacy together. The Allis does not exist without Sarah. Her last will and testament spells out her dedication to the fabric of Milwaukee and leaves us with a directive: to educate, delight and inspire. However, she’s been left out of the story of this home and collection. We see and recognize patriarchal norms at work in this institution, and the critique of it is needed,” says Harvey Willms. “As an institution, we’ve been working to correct this, to bring Sarah and Charles to life for our community. We’re so excited for the exhibition, for people to really get to know and love Sarah the way we do.”
The “Sarah Ball Allis Art Museum” will feature additional audio and didactics dedicated to telling Sarah’s story. The exhibition imagines the museum’s collection as if Sarah were alive and collecting art today. It will feature contemporary works by regional and international women, femme and nonbinary artists — including Michelle Grabner, D. Denenge Duyst-Akpem, Vaughan Larsen and Molly Zuckerman-Hartung — alongside the museum’s permanent collection.
The Sarah Ball Allis Art Museum and exhibition opens Thursday, Jan. 26. The museum is celebrating with a free public opening featuring live music, hors d’oeuvres and opening remarks. A cash bar will be available.
More information regarding the opening and the exhibition can be found at charlesallis.org.
About Sarah Ball Allis Art Museum
Formerly known as the Charles Allis Art Museum, the Sarah Ball Allis Art Museum was the historic home of Wisconsin socialite Sarah Ball Allis and her husband, Charles Allis of the Allis-Chalmers Company. The Tudor-style mansion on Milwaukee’s East Side houses the Allis’ vast international art collection with works spanning from antiquity to the twentieth century. Sarah bequeathed the home and collection to Milwaukee to delight, educate and inspire the community. The museum continues to honor Sarah’s vision with community oriented programming and exhibitions. For more information regarding hours, admission and membership visit charlesallis.org.
About Charles Allis and Villa Terrace Art Museums Inc.
Charles Allis and Villa Terrace Museums Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving Milwaukee’s history and enriching the county through culture and the arts. CAVT supports and celebrates the public’s access to these two historic homes and their art collections by providing innovative and inspiring exhibitions and programming that encourages a better, stronger and more inclusive Milwaukee. CAVT Museums oversees the conservation and continued development of the museums through member and donor support. For information regarding membership, admission and events visit cavtmuseums.org.
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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