UWM to host renowned legal analyst and jewelry collector Jill Wine-Banks for free public talk and opening reception

MILWAUKEE_The UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts and UWM Libraries Special Collections are thrilled to present a public talk by prominent legal analyst and former Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks. The event will take place on Oct. 24 followed by the opening reception for the exhibition “Jewelry Speaks: The Voice of the Jill Wine-Banks Pin Collection.” This unique event is free and open to the public.

Wine-Banks, who has become known not only for her legal expertise but also for the symbolic pins she wears on-air, will discuss the stories behind her famous jewelry pieces. The exhibition, curated by Erica A. Meier with Ana Hansa-Ogren and Max Yela, offers a rare opportunity to view these pieces up close and explore how jewelry can convey personal narratives, political statements, and cultural commentary. Also on view will be work by UWM Jewelry & Metalsmithing students, who have created pieces inspired by items from the collection. The exhibition runs through Dec. 2.

Wine-Banks rose to prominence as a prosecutor during Watergate when she cross-examined President Richard Nixon‘s secretary Rose Mary Woods about the infamous 18½-minute gap in the Watergate tapes. She was the first woman to serve as U.S. General Counsel of the Army (1977–80) under President Jimmy Carter.

• Date and time: Oct. 24 | 7-9 p.m.
• Location: UWM Golda Meir Library, Fourth Floor Special Collections and Conference Center, 2311 E. Hartford Ave, Milwaukee
• Admission: Registration is required. Event is free and open to the public. For more information and to register, go to arts.uwm.edu/jewelry-speaks.

The evening will kick off with Wine-Banks’ talk, where she will reflect on her extraordinary career, her role in historic legal moments, and how her jewelry has become an integral part of her personal and professional identity. The opening reception of the exhibition will follow, offering guests the chance to explore her curated collection.

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.