This Thursday: Joy Engine’s First ArtBlaze
This Free Beachside Series of Art, Music, and Wonder Brings All-Ages Fun as the Waves Roll in and the Sun Goes Down
Image from JoyEngine.
MILWAUKEE – The beloved ArtBlaze series that made a real splash last summer is finally returning this Thursday, August 7th, at the newly revamped McKinley Beach. Thanks to the vision of Milwaukee’s public art nonprofit Joy Engine, this all-ages event will provide a curated set of music, dancers, vendors, art activities, performances, as well as delicious waterside s’mores. Bonus: thousands of selfies will be snapped in the presence of the “Threshold,” a new art experience by FuzzPop Workshop and UW-Milwaukee Architecture students. Watch 2024 ArtBlaze recap by Samer Ghani
The Full Line-Up:
4pm: Allison Mahal
5pm: MkeMe Crew
6pm: *aya
7pm: Danyc MKE
8:15 pm: Pulpa De Guayaba
Full line-up and schedule for all ArtBlaze events here
Milwaukee’s first chance to see FuzzPop Workshop’s latest art experience: Threshold
Photo from Joy Engine.
Inspired by the flow and movement of water, Threshold explores the boundary between human and environment, interior and exterior, reality and dream. Its scale and form remind us of our relationship to the vast, complex, and often invisible forces surrounding us. As architecture, Threshold creates a liminal space to explore, gather, and play.
During Spring 2025, FuzzPop Workshop joined Prof. Whitney Moon to lead a course on Pneumatic Architecture at the UWM School of Architecture & Urban Planning. FuzzPop led students through workshops on design and fabrication. Students developed concepts for pneumatic environments and immersive sculptures, and one design was selected as inspiration for what became Threshold.
Given the incredible lineup, parking may be difficult. Please plan ahead or consider an alternative means of transportation:
PARKING
Nearby Public Parking Lots
Nearby Street Parking
Street parking along Lincoln Memorial Drive.
BUS ROUTES
Stop ID 3644 – Prospect & North
Stop ID 3672 – Water Tower & North
Stop ID 4368 – Prospect & North
RIDE SHARE
Uber, Lyft, taxi, carpooling, and other ride-sharing services are great options for delivering you curbside to the event.
OTHER
Rent a Bublr Bike or hop on a dockless scooter for an easy, eco-friendly trip to Bradford Beach.
Bublr Bike nearby rental stations:
- Burns Commons – 1301 N. Prospect Ave
- Brady & Prospect – 1706 N. Prospect Ave
- Lafayette & Prospect – 1898 E. Lafayette Place
- Kenilworth Square – 2165 N. Prospect Ave
- North & Prospect – 2305 N. Prospect Ave
- North & Lake – 2380 E. North Ave
- Bradford Beach – 2021 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive
Dockless Scooters – Download the app and start riding:
Skip the roads and arrive entirely by boat
ArtBlaze’s achievements last year included:
- 5,000+ estimated total attendance
- 65+ entertainers, performers, and musicians booked across a wide variety of genres
- 600+ s’mores made and consumed by attendees
- 110 people practiced yoga together at the beach
- 1 monstrous 5’ x 12’ sand dragon sculpted by a master sand artist in collaboration with volunteers.
- 3 larger-than-life inflatable “Cosmopods” created by FuzzPop Workshop
ArtBlaze is made possible thanks to the support of Visit Milwaukee, Miller Coors, Gruber Law, Herb Kohl Philanthropies, Bader Philanthropies, Astor Street Foundation, The Kubala Washatko Architects, Robertson Ryan Insurance, Fund for Lake Michigan, Bosley-Green Foundation, Milwaukee Arts Board, WE Energies Foundation, Milwaukee County Parks, Milwaukee County Parks Foundation, Beach Ambassador, Milwaukee with Kids, Travel Wisconsin, Wisconsin Arts Board, Radio Milwaukee, Titos and the Roundhouse Beer Garden.
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.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Joy Engine
Full Line-Up for This Thursday’s ArtBlaze at McKinley Beach
Jul 21st, 2025 by Joy Engineoy Engine’s Free Beachside Series of Art, Music, Wonder is Back and Ready to (Silent) Disco
Joy Engine Announces the Return of ArtBlaze
Jun 24th, 2025 by Joy EngineMilwaukee’s Free Beachside Summer Series of Art, Music & Wonder
The Joy Engine Community Challenge will distribute $50,000 in grants to 7 Milwaukee art projects
Feb 4th, 2025 by Joy EngineThe third cycle of Joy Grants continues to fuel community connection and culture from all over the metro area
