WYGWYC!

It’s about time: there hasn’t been a Cedar Block event since November of last year. Next Friday, August 15th, we return to the Milwaukee Art Museum with a program six months in the making, “What You Get When You Cross…”

(Use Facebook? Click here to view the event and RSVP!)

What do you get when you cross an elephant with a rhino? ‘ell if I know. And what do you get when you cross a metal sculptor with a figurative painter? Find out at MAM next Friday as 23 pairs of artists pay tribute to the wit and satire of Gilbert & George, subject of a major exhibition at the Museum, now through September 1st.

The Cedar Block event, however, is one night only, from 8PM-midnight. After four successful collaborations with us, the first since November’s “The Ramirez Box”, MAM once again opens its galleries to Milwaukee-area artists from diverse backgrounds, this time asking them to pair off in tribute to the process of Gilbert Prousch and George Passmore. Each duo was assigned a joke submitted by the public, as a trigger for a new piece, in recognition of Gilbert & George’s brilliant sense of humor, which aids in conveying their commentary on such serious subjects as religion, politics, and sexuality.

The following artists welcomed the challenge to work with another member of the community, taking a step outside of their own personal creative processes. These provocative pairings will have an original work on display on the 15th:

Katherine Biehl & Jenny Bohr
Luke Chappelle & Tom Stack
Monica Drake & Kelly Hillard
Max Estes & Ann-Sofi S Emilsen
Emily Gormican & Kevin Soens
Todd Graveline & Jan Graveline
Karin Haas & Katie Kraft
Sonji Hunt & Cassandra Leopold
Paul Kjelland & Joe Quinn
Little Friends of Printmaking
Luckystar Studio
Kristopher Pollard & Kat Berger
Mary Beth Ribarchek & Kristin Nelson
Cassandra Smith & Jessica Steeber
Soar Studios
Jenipher Sob & Allison Vallerga
Steve Somers & Adam McKee
Damian Strigens & Mark Waldoch
Eric Von Munz & Harvey Opgenorth
Mark Winter w/ Beth Bojarski
Milan Zori & Brent Gohde

In Windhover Hall, Mike Neuman will present his sequel to the legendary Baconizer (there’s a species of ‘za at Classic Slice named after the project, for crud’s sake!), as he teams with Toby_{(emphasis mine)} and Chris Sobotkiewicz to put attendees into a customized Gilbert & George environment. Joe Kirschling will make some of you lucky folks an instant celebrity, in tribute to G&G. And Mike Winkelmann of donebestdone will be providing visuals throughout the evening. All while DJs keep the party going along with a cash bar and free appetizers!

A film program in Lubar Auditorium will run twice during the evening, with works by Anna Helgeson & Bernadette Witzak, Travis Huss & Ryan Laing, and the aforementioned Mike Winkelmann running alongside MAM-produced shorts featuring Gilbert & George in Milwaukee.

And last, but not even close to least, the brilliant men of The Midnight Show will step out of their sold-out ComedySportz arena and into the world of art to answer the question, “What happens after the joke?” Yes, some of the funniest members of the funniest group in town perform live. Is it a treat, though? My friends, it is indeed a treat on par with a box of Drumsticks (vanilla with caramel filling) on a hot August day.

Oh, and the actual Gilbert & George exhibition will be open until 11PM to all who pay the $7 admission for the night ($5 for MAM members).

See you there!

And now, on to the long version: (click poster for bigger)

“The Ramirez Box”
Friday, November 30, 8PM-midnight
Milwaukee Art Museum
700 N Art Museum Dr
$5 members/$7 general public

This is the fourth collaboration between MAM and Cedar Block, happening in conjunction with the Martin Ramirez exhibition, now on display through January 13.

Cedar Block supplied each of thirty area artists with a box of rudimentary supplies, not unlike those to which Ramirez might have had access as a patient in psychiatric institutions. The boxes’ contents were all they were allowed to use when creating a new work of art. Ramirez made masterpieces. Did they? Find out Friday.

Mary Louise Schumacher, Art Critic for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, kindly stated on Sunday

“Every one-night art party that Cedar Block puts on at the Milwaukee Art Museum seems better than the last.”

We have every intention of following suit with this one. Things are shaping up very nicely.

Scheduled to participate:

With interactive projects by:
- donebestdone - Those guys from “Milwaukee Street Milwaukee”? They’re back, with a Ramirez Box performance, film, and exhibit.
- M. Neuman & M. Falk - They of “The Baconizer” unveil “The Ramirezone”.
- Paul V./ Toby C. [that’s me! emphasis mine] / David K. - Cedar Block Hall of Famers take you inside a Ramirez work.

DJ’s Tom Crawford (WMSE 91.7FM) & Von Munz will provide music from 8-11, at which point dbd will take the stage.

Free appetizers and a cash bar will be provided. The Martin Ramirez exhibition will be open until 10PM at no additional charge.
Thanks for reading.Bundled up,

Brent.

Brent Gohde
Director - Cedar Block
 cedarblock.com