A Review of Distressed Structures
by Carolyn Umfress
‘Distressed Structures – The Weathering of Ecology’ at the Jazz Gallery
Five local artists reveal the juxtaposition between man and nature
by CAROLYN UMFRESS
As civilization has progressed over the years, many may challenge the idea of whether or not the development mankind has retroactively destroyed the nature it was born into. Can one even exist without the other? Difficult as that answer may be, patrons can illustrate a better understanding through ‘Distressed Structures – The Weathering of Ecology’.
Presented by the Riverwest Artists’ Association, and held at the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts, ‘Distressed’ attempts to probe and question man’s relationship with their surroundings and their role as a participant. Nathaniel Stern, Melanie Ariens, Matthew Warren Lee, Eddee Daniel, and Corbett Toomsen are all local artists that explore a collection of topics that ultimately scrutinize how humans engage in nature and find meaning in the definition of ‘ecology.’ Patrons may ask what underlying theme surges through the variation of artwork, as they observe the Great Lakes hand sewn in yarn or admire paintings depicting humanity’s altruistic impact on the environment. They should look no further beyond the idea that there is beauty in juxtaposing all that man and nature encompass within their surroundings.
Some of the most impressive work on display are the underwater images from ‘The Giverny Series’ by Nathaniel Stern, a Fulbright grantee and professor at UWM. Using a desktop scanner, laptop and custom-made battery pack, Stern archives the inaccessibility of a landscape not native to man, and renders it nearly tactile to the human experience. The concept of introducing technology foreign and, presumably, functionally incompatible, to a sphere so different from humanity makes one wonder what effect this has on a relationship between the two varying entities? It is seemingly safe to say that Stern knows what this relationship looks like as both artist and participant.
Similarly, the prints of educator and multi-disciplinary artist, Corbett Toomsen, display a clever, almost playful imagery of the American West by recreating what the viewer thinks they know to be true. Using a variety of mixed media, Toomsen literally builds fictitious photographs that one would swear was extracted from memory because the nostalgia feels so real. It isn’t until one notices the tiny image of a cursor in one of the prints that they start to question what ‘place’ means to them.
'Distressed Structures’ highlights both the incidental coexistence of man and environment, as well as his position as an auxiliary within nature. The gallery continues through February 15 at the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts at 926 E. Center Street. Gallery hours are Tuesdays from 6-9PM and Saturdays from 12-5PM.
by CAROLYN UMFRESS
As civilization has progressed over the years, many may challenge the idea of whether or not the development mankind has retroactively destroyed the nature it was born into. Can one even exist without the other? Difficult as that answer may be, patrons can illustrate a better understanding through ‘Distressed Structures – The Weathering of Ecology’.
Presented by the Riverwest Artists’ Association, and held at the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts, ‘Distressed’ attempts to probe and question man’s relationship with their surroundings and their role as a participant. Nathaniel Stern, Melanie Ariens, Matthew Warren Lee, Eddee Daniel, and Corbett Toomsen are all local artists that explore a collection of topics that ultimately scrutinize how humans engage in nature and find meaning in the definition of ‘ecology.’ Patrons may ask what underlying theme surges through the variation of artwork, as they observe the Great Lakes hand sewn in yarn or admire paintings depicting humanity’s altruistic impact on the environment. They should look no further beyond the idea that there is beauty in juxtaposing all that man and nature encompass within their surroundings.
Some of the most impressive work on display are the underwater images from ‘The Giverny Series’ by Nathaniel Stern, a Fulbright grantee and professor at UWM. Using a desktop scanner, laptop and custom-made battery pack, Stern archives the inaccessibility of a landscape not native to man, and renders it nearly tactile to the human experience. The concept of introducing technology foreign and, presumably, functionally incompatible, to a sphere so different from humanity makes one wonder what effect this has on a relationship between the two varying entities? It is seemingly safe to say that Stern knows what this relationship looks like as both artist and participant.
Similarly, the prints of educator and multi-disciplinary artist, Corbett Toomsen, display a clever, almost playful imagery of the American West by recreating what the viewer thinks they know to be true. Using a variety of mixed media, Toomsen literally builds fictitious photographs that one would swear was extracted from memory because the nostalgia feels so real. It isn’t until one notices the tiny image of a cursor in one of the prints that they start to question what ‘place’ means to them.
'Distressed Structures’ highlights both the incidental coexistence of man and environment, as well as his position as an auxiliary within nature. The gallery continues through February 15 at the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts at 926 E. Center Street. Gallery hours are Tuesdays from 6-9PM and Saturdays from 12-5PM.
OUR ART PROJECTS AT CHILDREN'S OUTING ASSOCIATION'S
SKYLINE MUSIC EVENT
Milwaukee Zine Week
We start out November with ZINE WEEK and the Milwaukee Zine Fest Pop-up Art Exhibit. Opening on Sunday, November 2 from 7 -9 pm. Artwork is still being accepted. please send work to Milwaukee Zine Fest Art Exhibit, 705 E. Center St. #1, Milwaukee, WI 53212 or it can be delivered on Sunday, November 2 between 10am and 2pm to the Jazz Gallery, 926 East Center St. Everyone is welcome. Kids Zine Day - Thursday, November 6 there will be an zine make n' take session and youth zine readings featuring KJ Prodigy. Come make zines, bring your zines, and/or share them with the group from 5-7 pm at Jazz Gallery Zine Reading - The MZF reading that will be happening on Friday, November 7th from 7-9 in the Jazz Gallery. Read your work or someone else's. Invite your friends! On Saturday November 8, while Zine fest is going on at the Falcon Bowl we will have woodcut and letter press demonstrations and workshops going on in the gallery from 12 till 3 pm. Finally, to bid adieu to ZINEFEST we'll be re-rolling the Zinester potluck brunch on Sunday, November 9th. Join us that morning for coffee and whatever you want to bring as we decompress, socialize, and take down the show, 11am in the Gallery.
2014 Bayshore Chalk Festival
In August we sponsor a hands on arts demo at the Bayshore Chalk Festival taught by various member artists.
Application for the Chalk Festival
If I Had A Hammer
June 21 despite thunderstorms and pouring rain The Riverwest Artists Association held a community building carpentry workshop for parents/ guardians and children. All those who braved the weather built their own Free Little Libraries to be proudly displayed in their yards and community gardens.
All the wood for the project was donated by the Koller Family, the prefabricating of the kits and design was donated by Felisha Wild of Our Daily Salt, and the hardware was generously donated by Eli Bliffert of Bliffert Lumber. Carpenters who donated their skills onsite were Mark Lawson, Erico Ortiz, Jonathan Gorton and Felisha Wild. Other helpers included a mission group from Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Minnesota.
The brainchild of Dr. Theresa Anne Kenney, Associate Professor Concordia University and board member of the Riverwest Artist Association (RAA), the community building - carpentry workshop, "If I Had A Hammer" is intended to nurture confidence, curiosity and creativity all the while advancing the cause of literacy throughout central city neighborhoods." If I had a Hammer " is part of an ongoing series of community programming sponsored by the Riverwest Artists Association.
You can find a free library soon in front of the Jazz Gallery where you can donate or take a free book.
All the wood for the project was donated by the Koller Family, the prefabricating of the kits and design was donated by Felisha Wild of Our Daily Salt, and the hardware was generously donated by Eli Bliffert of Bliffert Lumber. Carpenters who donated their skills onsite were Mark Lawson, Erico Ortiz, Jonathan Gorton and Felisha Wild. Other helpers included a mission group from Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Minnesota.
The brainchild of Dr. Theresa Anne Kenney, Associate Professor Concordia University and board member of the Riverwest Artist Association (RAA), the community building - carpentry workshop, "If I Had A Hammer" is intended to nurture confidence, curiosity and creativity all the while advancing the cause of literacy throughout central city neighborhoods." If I had a Hammer " is part of an ongoing series of community programming sponsored by the Riverwest Artists Association.
You can find a free library soon in front of the Jazz Gallery where you can donate or take a free book.
COA's Skyline Music Opening
Drum blanks were donated and RAA facilitated the decorating of them at COA's Skyline Music opening event July 9th.
The Riverwest Artists Association will be there every Tuesday night with an art activity booth. If I had a Hammer has sponsored the building of wooden drum kits and we are hoping that the kids will help us make a bunch of them July 9th to play with Del La Buena! Afterwards all the drums will be donated to COA. So come out and have some fun with us!
The Riverwest Artists Association will be there every Tuesday night with an art activity booth. If I had a Hammer has sponsored the building of wooden drum kits and we are hoping that the kids will help us make a bunch of them July 9th to play with Del La Buena! Afterwards all the drums will be donated to COA. So come out and have some fun with us!
Habeas Lounge Riverwest
Habeas Lounge at the Jazz GalleryHABEAS LOUNGE RIVERWEST at Jazz Gallery Center for The Arts
The inaugural project of the Riverwest Artist Association Residency (riverwestart.org), in partnership with MKELAX (www.mke-lax.org).
Sunday August 10th thru Sunday August 31st, 2014
Kicking off Sunday August 10th with a festive pot luck dinner from 4 - 6 PM.
Join us in this exploration of creativity in Riverwest and be part of HABEAS LOUNGE RIVERWEST @ Jazz Gallery Center for The Arts. Stop on by as Jazz Gallery becomes HABEAS LOUNGE -- a gathering place for explorations of the dynamic cultural life of Riverwest Milwaukee. Through the facilitation of Los Angeles based artist LindaPollack, HABEAS LOUNGE is taking the pulse of the neighborhood and providing programs to acknowledge and connect neighbors.
Scheduled programs for this temporary gathering space will include:
Daily Coffee Klatch, Weekdays, 10 AM - 12 noon.
Wednesday Night Theatre of The Liberated Workshops, 6 - 9 PM - with Michael Pettit.
Sunday Locavore Pot Lucks, Every Sunday, 4 - 6 PM.
Saturday Open House 12 - 5 + Talk back session with Linda Pollack about HABEAS LOUNGE and cultural exchange in Riverwest, August 30th, 2 PM.
Saturday Evening Urban Hikes, August 16th + 30th, 7 - 9 PM - with Linda Pollack in collaboration with MKELAX.
In addition to the regularly scheduled events, the Linda Pollack and the public will co-facilitate the ongoing development of numerous Cultural Documentation projects, including:
Neighborhood Documentary Film Project Interviews
The Jazz History Project -- with Chester Sheard + Manty Ellis, and other artists, tying in the history of Jazz Gallery, photography, silkscreening, audio mixes and more.
HABEAS LOUNGE takes its name from the Writ of Habeas Corpus, a law under the U.S. Constitution which requires a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or jury, safeguarding individual freedom against arbitrary state action. The term Habeas Corpus derives from Latin "HABEAS", meaning "to have", and "CORPUS", meaning "body". Literally the phrase means "you have the body". Hence, HABEAS LOUNGE -- "You have the Lounge".
At its core, the HABEAS LOUNGE is a center for the fine art of the public hang-out and a space to share experiences. Prior to Milwaukee's Riverwest, HABEAS LOUNGE has been installed in Santa Monica, Downtown Los Angeles, Midtown Manhattan, Lower Manhattan, Newark NJ, Patterson NJ, Gdansk, and Wroclaw Poland. For each iteration, Linda Pollack creates a site-specific environment and program addressing timely cultural and community issues.
The residency is made possible in part with support by the Mary L. Nohl Fund of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation (www.greatermilwaukeefoundation.org).
For additional information, contact the Riverwest Artists Association at or or by email: .