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10 • Exploring the Arts • News Graphic & Daily News • April 2023 By Grayson Sewell 262-306-5043 gsewell@conleynet.com WEST BEND — The Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA), 205 Veterans Ave., is celebrating the 10th anniversary of their current home, the "modernist Mothership" designed by HGA architect Jim Shields, this year with a birthday bash in April, 10 artist TENtalks leading up to the anniversary and an exhibition featuring up-and-coming artists, as they honor the past and get ready for the future of the Wisconsin art scene. MOWA's history MOWA was founded in 1961 by Mellita Hedwig Suder Pick, the niece of Wisconsin-German painter Carl von Marr whose work, which includes "The Flagellants" which won a gold medal at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, she wished to display to the public. "She really wanted to keep the works, she had all these works in her house, 100s of works by her famous uncle, and she wanted to start a museum," said MOWA Director and CEO Laurie Winters. "And, she did, and it was here in West Bend. The first museum was located on 6th Avenue, which is today [EPIC Creative]." According to Winters, MOWA is one of only a few art museums to have been founded by women. "You have names like MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) or the Whitney [Museum of American Art] founded by women," said Winters. "But, that was great east coast wealth. For an ordinary person, kind of a pioneering mentality to found an institution here in the midwest. Extraordinary. Plus, she was 72-years-old." At that point in time, MOWA was known as the Gallery of Wisconsin Art, and they were the second tenant of the 6th Avenue site, as it was also the first building that housed West Bend Mutual in 1938, according to Winters. "So, the first museum was in a colonial style brick building, basically corporate headquarters for an insurance company," said Winters. "And, where the museum remained for the next five decades." Initially, the museum was all about Carl von Marr, but slowly grew to include his contemporaries and eventually all Wisconsin artists, which led to the museum to dedicate itself to Wisconsin art in 2007. MOWA currently is weighted towards contemporary art, but still features several of von Marr's works alongside many celebrated Wisconsin artists in their permanent collection. Following their dedication to all Wisconsin art, MOWA continued to grow until they needed a new facility. 1 0 years at the "Mothership" MOWA opened their current location on April 6, 2013 to much fanfare. Winters joined MOWA in late-2012, and at that time they had seen 2,912 visitors. Since opening their "modernist Mothership" on Veterans Avenue they have seen exponential growth year over year, with over 225,000 people visiting MOWA in 2022. "We've had just phenomenal year after-year- growth," said Winters. "We also have two [satellite museums] in Milwaukee and a satellite in Madison at the Governor's Residence, where we do an annual exhibition. I think we've just become this vital hub of all things Wisconsin and the kind of center for the arts and culture of the state." According to Winters, what is happening at MOWA is special, as not many art museums in the United States are dedicated to regional art. Through that commitment they have not only increased their visitors and reach throughout Wisconsin since opening their current location, but they have been able to "With this 10th anniversary, because we really have become a different institution over the last 10 years, not only in terms of our audience and who we serve, and how we address all of our audiences throughout the state," said Winters, "we felt it was important to look forward." Birthday Bash MOWA will be holding their birthday bash celebration on April 8, 2023. "We've got a big public celebrations planned, a bunch of kids things and lots of music," said Winters. "I think we will have as many visitors as the big inaugural on April 6 of 2013." The event will start at 9:30 a.m. and feature a TENTalk at 2 p.m. with Jim Shields, who also designed the, Second Saturday and special activities throughout the day and a toast and celebration of the past and next 10 years from 3 to 4 p.m. However, the birthday bash is not the only event that MOWA has planned to celebrate their anniversary, as they currently have an exhibition, "Ten at Ten", celebrating 10 up-and-coming artists who are from or have spent time in Wisconsin, and will be holding TENTalks with artists and architects, including Shields, throughout the year, two of which have already occurred. "We're focussing most of our programming and 10 year celebration on this first half of the year," said MOWA Curator Anwar Floyd-Pruitt. "Especially coming out of the pandemic, we thought this is a good time to really make a statement about what kind of institution we want to be for the next 10 years," said Winters. "So, that's what this celebration is all about. Taking in the moment and enjoying that, and then looking ahead and charting a path for the future." "Ten at Ten" The "Ten at Ten" exhibition opened on Jan. 28, and will remain open through the birthday bash, with a closing date of April 9. "Our 'Ten at Ten' show features 10 up-and-coming artists, they're a combination of new and newly graduated artists," said Floyd Pruitt. "We definitely wanted to kick off our year with something that was celebratory and spoke to the youth of the institution." While MOWA is over 60 years old, its current home is just turning 10. "Our 60th anniversary was a couple years ago, where we focussed really on the history and the heritage," said Floyd-Pruitt. "We wanted to do something that was more forward looking. This show in particular features young artists that we think will have wonderful careers and be artists to watch in the future." "They should be on everybody's watchlist," said Winters. "So, that's exciting." According to Floyd-Pruitt, the artists are not just starting out on what should be great careers, but several are also doing great work to help others. "There are a lot of artists int he show that have started non-profit organizations," said Anwar-Pruitt. "The show has artists in there who care about this world, the future of this world, as well. So, we're looking to celebrate that." The exhibition also celebrates artists who have overcome obstacles and continue to do so, finding love and the excitement of pursuing a career, according to Floyd-Pruitt. The 10 featured artists include Claire Kellesvig, Nykoli Koslow, Meg Lionel Murphy, Guzzo Pinc, Pranav Sood, Brennen Steines, Gabrielle Tesfaye, Johanna Winters, Lindsey Yeager and Eduardo Zavala. TENTalks "One of the things that really distinguishes us as a museum is that you can come here most anytime, for an exhibition opening, for a talk or whatever, and you will meet living, important artists working today in the state," said Winters. The TENTalks will feature 10 Wisconsin artists and architects, two of which have spoken already this year, throughout 2023. "We have a few artists who are part of the TENTalks series who are also featured in our current and upcoming exhibitions," said Floyd-Pruitt. "Brennen Steines is one of the artists in our 'Ten at Ten'… Michelle Grabner is an artist who is featured in our next show, called 'Working on the Bias' and it's a fibers exhibition. So, Michelle will also be one of out TENTalks speakers, and we're excited to have her come in and discuss her art and art in general." Another big name who will be featured in the TENTalk series is Wisconsin Painter Tom Uttech, "In the summer we have Tom Uttech, one of Wisconsin's most celebrated painters, giving a TENTalk," said Floyd-Pruitt. "And, we have a wonderful collection of Uttech work. He is one of the most popular artists, so we're sure that is going to be a huge draw." The featured TENTalk artists include Jim Shields (April 8, 2 p.m.), Della Wells (May 20, 11 a.m.), Michelle Grabner (June 17, 11 a.m.), Tom Uttech (July 15, 11 a.m.), Jason Yi (Aug. 5, 11 a.m.), Fred Stonehouse (Sept. 23, 11 a.m.), Vaughan Larsen (Oct. 7, 11 a.m.) and Lon Michels (Nov. 18, 11 a.m.). Brennen Steines (Feb. 25) and David Lenz (March 18) have previously spoken at one of MOWA's TENTalks. The Next 10 years "One of the coolest parts about this museum is our garden and the outdoor space," said Floyd-Pruitt. "I know that in the next 10 years we are probably looking at adding more sculptures to the campus outdoors, and to create more ways for the community and visitors to the museum to engage with art both inside of the physical museum and outside." "The gardens are that first step outside, and thinking about it outside," said Winters. "And, how does MOWA spread throughout the state and what are our partnerships and affiliations. Those are the kind of things we are thinking about now, and how do we expand that through curatorial programs and educational programs." Winters added that they are also looking on how they can expand programs at their Milwaukee satellite campus, MOWA DTN in the Saint Kates Arts Hotel on Kilbourn Avenue, where they work with university-age students and younger audiences. "I think that's just part of our commitment to being throughout the state and serving all communities. I'm definitely interested in doing more of that," said Winters. "[MOWA] is always going to be the Mothership for us, but how we develop relationships and partnerships and how we end up in other people's neighborhoods as a museum and what that looks likes, I think are just incredible growth opportunities there." 'We've just become this vital hub of all things Wisconsin' MOWA celebrates 10 years in 'modernist Mothership', looks forward to the next 10 Photo courtesy of MOWA The hydrangeas in bloom outside of MOWA's "modernist mothership" location in West Bend on Veterans Avenue.

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