Creative MKE

In this episode of the podcast, Elisabeth speaks with Monica Miller, the Manager of MIAD’s new Gallery at the Ave, a new gallery and exhibition space dedicated to showcasing the work of MIAD alumni and students, located next to Third Street Market Hall. The space opens to the public on April 6, with an exhibition of work by MIAD alumni called From This Point Forward, which features works by artists who attended MIAD over the course of the last 5 decades, reaching all the way back to MIAD’s predecessor, the Layton School of Art. The art works range from functional design pieces, to photographs, to paintings, to prints and 3D works. Gallery at the Ave also features a section dedicated to craft, jewelry and other objects for sale on consignment. 

In the conversation, Miller speaks about her own trajectory shifting from a student at MIAD, to an arts professional reckoning with a need for engaging with audiences, while exploring business development in an arts context and engaging in work in service of the Milwaukee community within local arts organizations including MARN and INOVA before coming to work at MIAD.  

Throughout the conversation, Elisabeth and Monica discuss the unique resourcefulness and entrepreneurial spirit of the MIAD community— which has only been augmented over time, with the institution's infusion of strategic investments in new arts and media technologies through the Lubar Emerging Technology Center. Miller attributes this unique creative character to the continuity of the MIAD community’s orientation towards the wider creative community in Milwaukee. In her own experience, MIAD not only fostered a supportive, non-competitive environment but encouraged an engagement with the wider Milwaukee community. From Miller’s perspective, though the leadership and the generation of students have changed over time, the school maintains its hallmark “gritty” energy — and now offers even more robust technologies, resources, and channels for students to find professional opportunities than ever before. Some opportunities are even available for alumni, including use of laser printers other technology resources.  

In the conversation, they also discuss how MIAD contributes powerfully to Milwaukee’s creative economy in many ways— from employing creatives, to producing entrepreneurial thinkers, and giving creatives and students professional opportunities within the fields of art, marketing and more, and how the Gallery at the Ave represents a meaningful expansion of all these initiatives.  

Learn more about MIAD’s Gallery at the Ave (@miadgalleryattheave) and be sure to check out the inaugural exhibition which opens April 6.  

Monica Miller 

Lynden Sculpture Garden 

Wild Space Dance 

MARN 

Third Street Market Hall 

Lubar Emerging Technology Center 

Influential MIAD faculty from circa 2010: Will Pergl, Jill Sebastian 

Jenna Knapp 

Johnson Media Consulting  

In this episode, Elisabeth speaks with Imani Jalil, Program Director and Dance Director at Bembé Drum + Dance. Since 2015, Bembé has been giving school children and adults in the Milwaukee area opportunities for exploring Afro-Latino culture through music and dance traditions offered through artist residencies, workshops, school programming and events. Through their programming, people of all ages and backgrounds are invited to explore music – specifically percussion-- and dance, and to experience joy, be in community, and learn about the rich cultures that make up the Afro-Latino cultures, and the African Diaspora.  

Jalil reflects in the conversation about how the work of Bembé is a unique within the landscape of Milwaukee’s arts and culture, because of the blend of cultures that the organization teaches about: many languages, nations, religions and ethnic groups are represented within the Afro-Latino cultural lens. 

In addition to presenting workshops and events, Bembé brings resident artists into the Milwaukee community from outside the region to teach their craft, and to be immersed in the Milwaukee community in a kind of cultural teaching exchange which they call “Learning from the Masters”. In the conversation, Jalil shares about her own trajectory as a dancer and a dance student, and wonders about how the presence of an organization that represented her own mixed identity like Bembé might have been a very empowering form of representation to experience as a younger person on her own journey. 

Follow Bembé on Facebook and Instagram— and, purchase tickets for the Carnavale event on March 19! 

Cantos de las Américas 

MPS 

Escuela Verde 

Eden’s Crush 

Alberto “Beto” Torrens 

In this episode, Elisabeth interviews Mark Davis, the founder and artistic director of Milwaukee Jazz Institute. MJI is a local nonprofit organization which was founded in 2019, which has several adult and youth ensembles, regularly programs Jazz performances with touring and local acts, holds improv sessions, offers classes and workshops, and generally promotes the musical form of Jazz in the greater Milwaukee area. 

Even though Milwaukee has been known as a Blues music hub, it also has a deep history with Jazz music. Davis ignited his love of Jazz through a mentorship with teacher Dave Hazeltine when he was a teen. After taking lessons with Dave, he was thrust into a live jam session at the Jazz Oasis — a now defunct Jazz club on Holton Ave in Milwaukee. 

MJI the organization is not only focused on building audiences and musical knowledge, but creating opportunities for Jazz musicians to explore interaction and performance with other players. Davis sees the benefits of this kind of practice, play and cultivation of deep listening – for everyone, not just professional musicians.  

Davis welcomes and invites the community to explore MJI’s performances throughout the community, explore the resources they offer, and support their mission.  

Milwaukee Jazz Institute 

David Hazeltine 

Gerald Cannon 

History of Jazz in Milwaukee 

Bar Centro 

Melvin Rhyne 

Manty Ellis, Milwaukee’s “Godfather of Jazz” 

Wes Montgomery 

Paul Silbergleit 

Elvin Jones 

Roy Hargrove 

SAINT Kate 

Peter Bernstein 

Larry Goldings 

Bill Stewart  

Matt Wilson  

Brian Lynch  

Camille Thurman 

Pasquale Grasso 

Sam’s Place Jazz Cafe 

Jeff Hamann

Dave Bixler 

Jazz Standards 

Find the Milwaukee Jazz Institute's list of Jazz-focused local venues, here! Please note that this list is not comprehensive, and does not include all venues that feature Jazz music.

Additional notes from MJI:

Local Jazz Festivals:

Milwaukee Jazz Institute Educational Jazz Festival

Milwaukee Jazz Vision Bay View Jazz Fest

Jazz in the Park

Jazz at the Vine

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Other Sources:

Jazz Unlimited

WMSE 91.7FM (Dr. Sushi’s Free Jazz BBQ -

Tuesdays 9AM-noon and Sunday Morning Jazz - Sundays 6-8AM)

Mike McAlister wasn’t a creative when he started playing around with early design software on a public library computer as a middle schooler. But he quickly found himself in the medium, and over time developed his own design practice — eventually becoming a full-fledged graphic designer, combining his love of computers with his creative inspiration to build website and templates and design elements for others to do so.  

After selling his successful company, McAlister started a new chapter in his professional life, developing the book and course “Lift Off,” which is a summary of his “trials and tribulations” in learning to market his own skills as a creative entrepreneur, and a distillation of the successful elements which have made up his “special sauce.”  

“Being a creative involves If you want to keep evolving your craft, evolution is part of that.” In the conversation, McAlister reflects on the open-minded and active way that many creatives approach all things— being naturally curious, looking for connections and opporutnities to synthesize information, experiences and relationships to keep a creative practice progressing.  

McAlister discusses how creatives are inherently problem solvers. His book and course are focused on helping creatives identify and hone in on what they are good at, and their audiences and potential audiences.

But the content of the book can also be boiled down to effective marketing tools and practices — things that can help not only help individuals to monetize what they are good at, but could be used as “an idea vehicle” to help generate more altruistic content — like social justice messaging — and help them to be more salient and successful.  

McAlister also reflects on the unique creative community found in Milwaukee — a place he chose as home about 15 years ago. He sees the DIY nature of it evolving into something more forward-looking. In a world where individual artists and makers are becoming more valued and their influence is everywhere, he speculates that Milwaukee may soon become known as a creative hub.

Learn more about Liftoff and about Mike.

Links:  

A Brief History of Design Software 

WordPress

Lemon Squeezy 

Podia 

Patreon 

Beth Eaton Pottery  

This episode features Maureen Ragalie and Darius Smith from gener8tor’s Milwaukee office. Gener8tor is a nationally-ranked venture capital firm and accelerator that brings together startup founders, investors, corporations, job seekers, universities, musicians and artists. Recently, they have teamed up with Sherman Phoenix, a marketplace and mixed used business space on Milwaukee’s northside in the Sherman Park neighborhood, to offer grants for Milwaukee visual artists.  

In the conversation, Ragalie and Smith discuss the scope of the program. Beginning with a user-friendly application process that is designed to attract artists who may not have much in the way of formal professional experience, but display talent and vision, as well as an appetite for developing "the business side” of their art practice.  

Up to 20 artists will be selected by a panel of art world experts from outside of Milwaukee. The program will take place over seven weeks in-person and over Zoom beginning this spring, and will offer workshops, mentorships and resources to help individuals learn how to professionalize their artistic practices. The curriculum includes everything from marketing for artists, how to make a budget, learning about and how to decide if you should form an LLC— and even includes access to a therapist.  

Applications for the program are open to anyone in Milwaukee over the age of 18. Smith and Ragalie hope that the impact of this program and these investments ($7,000-$10,000 per artist) will be felt on both the individual and the community level, and that a positive effect will ripple out into the community, and help contribute to more vibrancy in the neighborhoods in which these artists live and work – and within Milwaukee as a whole. Another hope is to garner positive attention both within Milwaukee – and outside the region –for the artistry that is being created here—and to encourage future investment in the arts in Milwaukee and Wisconsin. Through this program, they also seek to show artists that they can continue to live and work in Milwaukee — and in doing so, encourage retention of our city’s creatives. 

The application is due February 26, and the first gener8tor x Sherman Phoenix accelerator cohort will begin on April 10.  

Follow gener8torart on Instagram. 

Sherman Phoenix Marketplace 

Social Impact investment 

Wisconsin ranks last in the nation for arts funding  

Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator Program 

VAR Gallery 

Thanks to Darius Smith for the sound file from Sherman Phoenix Marketplace.

This episode finds Elisabeth in conversation with Milwaukee filmmaker Chris James Thompson, of Good Credit Productions. Chris’s second full length feature film, We Are Not Ghouls, will be released February 28th on video on demand (Itunes, Roku).  

The film is about US Air Force JAG Attorney Yvonne Bradley, who volunteered to defend Binyam Mohamed, a man who was facing a death penalty case at Guantanamo Bay in 2005. Believing the detainees at Guantanamo were ‘the worst of the worst’ in the war on terror, Yvonne's world was turned upside down as she arrived in Cuba and began to untangle an unimaginable case. Spending the next 4 years battling to uncover the truth, Yvonne's is a captivating story of taking responsibility in the face of corruption at the highest levels of power, and the dangers of choosing to stand up for what you believe in. We Are Not Ghouls is based on the book ‘The Guantanamo Lawyers: Inside a Prison Outside the Law”, edited by Jonathan Hafetz & Mark P. Denbeaux, published by NYU Press. The film won the audience choice award at SXSW in 2022. 

Years ago, a chance discovery of American Movie at a Blockbuster in Eau Claire led to two revelations for Thompson: that you could make a movie in Wisconsin, and that you could study film in Wisconsin. The disovery inspired him to apply to and enroll at UWM’s Experimental Film Program. In the conversation, he reflects on why he has chosen to remain in Milwaukee since graduation; while cities like LA and NY have established commercial film industries, Thompson sees that such models make filmmakers into specialists and tradespeople. In Milwaukee, independent filmmakers have more freedom to pursue their own visions.  

Thompson has been working on We Are Not Ghouls for over nine years. After a Jordanian immigrant classmate of his was detained held in the Milwaukee jail, he was inspired to read the book in which Yvonne Bradley’s essay was published. Making the film gave him the opportunity to process what happened to his friend, and also gave Bradley a platform to tell her story.

During the conversation, Thompson opens up about the surprising meaning behind the title of the film. When asked what he hopes audiences take away from the film, he echoes a message that Yvonne Bradley shared with an audience at a screening: the hope that viewers can find a sense of empowerment to act as a hero within their own lives, in ways big and small, to help others. 

In his next phase, Thompson hopes to give back and help support emergent filmmakers make inroads to realizing their own ambitions and dreams. At the close of the show, in a podcast first, Thompson chooses to cede his imaginary arts leader power to and praise an invaluable local art champion.  

Follow Good Credit Productions and We Are Not Ghouls on Instagram. 

Style Wars 

American Movie 

UWM Experimental Film Program 

The Guantanamo Lawyers 

SXSW Audience Award 

Sean Paul  

Polly Morris 

This week on the pod, Elisabeth speaks with Debra Brehmer and Paul Salsieder from Portrait Society Gallery of Contemporary Art, who joined to speak about the forthcoming exhibition Art Against the Odds: Wisconsin Prison Art. The exhibition features works of art by over 60 incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals from Wisconsin.

Throughout the conversation, Deb and Paul reflect on how these artists are making work “to survive,” and are doing so by drawing on inventiveness, without spaces that are in their control, reliable access to materials, and a myriad of other restrictions. And yet, the artists create work that are sometimes "joyous outpourings”. As Paul remarks, as in wider society, each artist in the exhibition comes to his practice with his own unique, skills, experience and motivations for creating. 

Ultimately, they hope that the show can be source of sparking dialogue about the issues with Wisconsin’s carceral system, mass incarceration and its after effects that often includes recidivism. They hope these conversations can translate into awareness and reform, and that the effect of seeing the show will be to humanize an otherwise invisible population, and give voice to the voiceless, and allow the artists to engage with the outside world in a positive way.   

Art Against the Odds opens at MIAD on January 16, with an opening celebration on January 19. There will be panel discussions held throughout the run of the show. Learn more at Artagainstheodds.org.  

Portrait Society Gallery, or follow PSG on Instagram.  

From artist Mario Rickett’s letter in the intro: 

“Life is like a pencil. Sometimes we want to erase our mistakes and draw things over again in our lives. But with that pencil... we can do and make beautiful and extraordinary things. And when we erase, we are learning—it's just up to us to keep going.”  

Feast of Crispian 

On the Wing 

House of Peace 

M Winston 

Outsider Art Fair 

Shannon Ross 

Jessica Wolfendale 

Bob Ross 

Rahr West Art Museum 

Neville Public Museum 

Intuit 

In this episode of the pod, Elisabeth speaks with Ashley Jordan, the Director of Arts & Cultural Programming, and Christopher Gilbert, Choreographer of the production of Black Nativity.

The conversation kicks off with Chris and Ashley sharing about their own upbringings, and how early transformative performance experiences empowered them to translate the momentum they felt on the stage, off the stage, and channel it into creativity and purpose in their lives. Throughout the conversation, they spoke about on how this production – an annual holiday traditional from Black Arts MKE – is a kind of touchstone for the mission and work of the organization, as a whole. They called out how important representation is for young Black people in Milwaukee, who, through this production – are giddy to see themselves in the faces and voices of local performers. Against a backdrop of ongoing racism and systemic injustice, the production of Black Nativity – “A gospel Christmas Music Experience” – is designed to feed both the Black community, while embracing the whole community; it's a production that is uplifting, is fueled by a diverse community, and is “unapologetically Black.” 

In our discussion, we touch on how Black Arts MKE contributes to the local economy in many ways including by employing artists and working with local business owners, creating and investing in new content including original productions, and inspiring youth through its programming to lean in to creative practices – something that builds confidence and skill.  

In the conversation, Chris hammers home how he sees the arts functioning in the “new abnormal." He encourages students — and audiences, to seek out experiences like Black Nativity that are designed with intention, with purpose — as he says to his students... “if you’re gonna leave the house... make it worth it.”    

Follow and support Black Arts MKE , and follow on Instagram.

Ashley S. Jordan

Christopher Gilbert and the Milwaukee Bucks Grand Dancers

Black Nativity by Langston Hughes  

Link to the Black Nativity digital playbill 

In this episode of the pod, Elisabeth speaks with Joey Turbo, co-owner of Promises Bar in Milwaukee. Turbo starts the conversation off by reflecting on his experience touring with his band Platinum Boys in Europe, and how the experience solidified for him a new standard of hospitality for touring bands, one that he wished to emulate. Turbo has been making music in bands since the age of 12. He moved to (and fell in love with) Milwaukee when he was 18, and went on to play in the Milwaukee band Platinum Boys, Catacombz, Peroxide, and Rio Turbo — a band that was formed years ago specifically to fill a gap in a bill, and to support another band touring through Milwaukee. Through his diverse experiences, Turbo feels he’s been supported, cared for and mentored by many in Milwaukee– and now he is looking to return the favor for the whole community through operating Promises.  

Turbo reflects on the music scene in Milwaukee: where making music is truly about “the love of the game.” In his view, you don’t make music in Milwaukee to get rich — but that there’s something more authentic and real about the creativty here, in part because the stakes are so low. And because the music scene isn’t known outside of the city, people who come to Milwaukee and experience the quality of what goes on here are often blown away.

Through operating Promises, Turbo is trying to make it an affordable experience for customers, and offer a super accessible space for artists to perform and express themselves, work on their craft, and be fairly compensated for their sharing passion. But there’s not a particular goal—he's more invested in providing a flexible, continuous space of “happening.”  Turbo feels like it’s hard to define Promises because so many people have influenced him and contribute to the experience. Ultimately, he hopes that it’s a place where everyone can have fun.  

Turbo hopes that visitors to Promises will come out and find “future old friends, yourself, and a smile -- whether it’s on the face or in the heart.” He closes out the interview by stating that he wishes to pass a law (enforceable by each person, and community accountability) for all arts and culture players: that you can create awesomeness if you respect yourself, respect other people, and be cool. 

Follow Promises on Instagram @Promisesbar 

Email for booking inquiries: booking@[email protected] 

Joey Peterson and Casey Hughes 

Platinum Boys 

Catacombz 

Peroxide  

Rio Turbo 

Kelsy Kaufmann 

Eric Schultz 

Jeremy Prach  

Dive Bar 

Packers Bar 

Meow Wolf 

Matt Pappas, Milwaukee Icons, Etc. 

In this episode of Creative MKE, Elisabeth speaks with Cortney Heimerl, one of the co-founders and organizers of Hover Craft, Milwaukee’s Annual Handmade Holiday Shopping Event that is about to host its 13th iteration. Heimerl is an organizer with over 20 years of experience creating opportunities for artists, crafters, designers, and makers that focus on the idea that in-person sharing & collaboration make our communities stronger. After first convening her creative community connections through the formation of FASTEN – a collaborative of Milwaukee artists selling wearable art from the Beans N’ Barley parking lot, Heimerl went on to organize a makers’ market in Bay View, before launching Hover Craft. Heimerl is also a co-author of the book, and a producer of the documentary, “Handmade Nation.”  

Throughout the conversation, Heimerl reflects on the robust creative community that exists in the region and predates the surge in local makers’ markets. Craft fairs build community where craft traditions exist, and create opportunities for makers to learn from one another, pool resources, and make connections. And, shoppers get inspired by connecting directly with artists -- in Heimerl’s words, it's an “exchange of curiosity and enthusiasm,” unlike the more anonymous experience of buying handmade items online.  

Heimerl also sees craft fairs as micro business incubators, with each dollar that’s spent going towards the regional creative economy. Shoppers at Hover Craft are not only contributing to individual artists – supporting their livelihoods – but also allowing those artists to continue on their journeys and grow their businesses.  

Follow Hover Craft at @Hovercraftmke and follow Cortney at @CortneyHeimerl 

Reserve your timed tickets to Hover Craft on Dec 4!  

About the Organizers (from the Hover Craft Website): 

Vanessa Andrew 

Vanessa Andrew is a Milwaukee-based fiber artist, illustrator, community arts educator, and clothing designer.  She runs Madam Chino, a Brewer's Hill boutique that sells handmade and vintage clothing, and offers custom sewing and alterations.  Her approach to clothing and textiles raises awareness about conservation and child labor issues in consumer society. Vanessa is a co-founder of Hover Craft.   

Ashley Smith 

Ashley Smith is a small business owner and community organizer. She is the co-founder of Hover Craft, Girls Rock MKE, and One Trick Pony. She is also the owner of Alive and Fine vintage store that doubles as a pop-up gallery space. 

Cortney Heimerl 

Cortney Heimerl is a co-founder of Hover Craft. She is also an artist, crafter, and maker based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She gets excited by making new things and thinking about them. You can find her in her studio figuring out how to do something she has never done before and then, she moves on to the next thing she has never done before. Lately, you can find her conquering the art of ceramics at Yours Truly Studio. 

Show Notes: 

Laurie Marmen 

Peck School of the Arts 

Handmade Nation (the book) 

Handmade Nation (the documentary) 

Nick Cave at MCA Chicago  

Paloma Wilder BOND bracelet 

Aura Iris Photography 

Mushroom logs from Center Earth