Milwaukee, WI

In 2001, the Santiago Calatrava Quadracci Pavilion of the Milwaukee Art Museum drew attention to our fair city as a place where art really can and does happen. The city is also home to the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, and even UW-Milwaukee offers graduate programs in fine arts. But aside from the colleges and tech schools, what does Milwaukee offer as far as art classes for the average person?

Lots, if you look hard enough.

The Milwaukee Art Museum itself features a number of classes and lectures both on technique as well as art appreciation. Prices are not at all out of line for the calibur of class offered, and the offerings are unusual and interesting - definitely worth a periodic visit to the Museum’s website.

Artist and Display, the north side’s finest art supply store, features an ecclectic offering of classes, from staples like watercolor and colored pencil to the more unusual such as art clay silver crafting and versals. The prices vary wildly and may reach beyond the budget of students and retirees, but the unique subjects make them the only game in town for many of the featured classes. Artist and Display also offers a number of children’s art classes.

Greenfield News and Hobby on Layton offers a very practical selection of art classes on a regular basis, including airbrushing, watercolors, and calligraphy. The prices are more than reasonable, and there are even a number of free art classes such as model kit building, designed with kids in mind.

Michael’s Craft stores, which are located all over Milwaukee, typically feature some basic art and cake decorating classes at low costs. The classes vary by location, and schedules are available at the individual stores.

Occasionally, even the Classes section of the local Craigslist features some art-related gems. While that option is hit-or-miss, it is worth the occasional browse.

There are art classes in Milwaukee for every taste and every budget if you look hard enough.

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Mental & Emotional Health

On this morning’s Kramp & Adler radio show on FM102.1 there was some discussion about the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel cutting a deal with all of the local Starbucks coffee shops to make the JS and the Journal-Sentinel’s free weekly paper, MKE, the only papers available at Starbucks. It looks like they were about half right.

It began with some ads running in MKE proclaiming that they were the exclusive provider of free papers at Starbucks. Not surprisingly, the Shepherd Express caught wind of this and took care of business. From this week’s Shepherd Express:

“Based on limited space in our newspaper racks, Milwaukee-area Starbucks stores will continue to carry the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and MKE newspapers. Individual Starbucks stores will continue to have the option to carry Shepherd Express newspapers based on available space. The decision as to whether a particular Starbucks carries the Shepherd will be at the discretion of each individual store manager.”

Good for you, Shepherd Express. Let’s hope the store managers know that they can carry the Shep.

Apparently a similar situation has been brewing in Portland, Oregon with the Wilamette Week.

And to editorialize a bit: Hey, Milwaukee. We are home of Alterra and Stone Creek Coffee. Why on earth are you even going to Starbucks?

112 West Mineral Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204
(414) 382-0006

Located at the corner of South First Street and Mineral, the Fox Skylight Gallery of Antiques is easily one of Milwaukee’s most impressive antique stores. Featuring three stories of shopping, this former paint factory building holds some real treasures. Be sure you set aside a few hours for your visit - there is a lot to see here!

The lower level alone is worth the visit. Featuring an incredibly diverse selection of furniture and decor, there is truly something to match all tastes and styles. The highlights on my visit included two hand carved chairs and matching table from Thailand and a very kitchy red and white kitchen table with matching chairs. While prices varied wildly, there were some surprisingly good deals waiting for the right person. Watch for the red and yellow sale tags - there were lots of markdowns on this level.

The middle and upper floors feature less furniture and more home decor, vintage clothing and jewelry, military collectibles, glassware and other standard antique shop fare. The sheer amount of items on these two floors makes it difficult to see everything in just one walkthrough, and I found myself eager to return just one week after my first visit.

The consignment structure helps explain some of the very good bargains. Prices are reduced by 25% and then by 50% if they go unsold for a specified period of time. For that reason there are some great deals to be found, with a number of booths listing all items at 50% off.

There are a number of antique stores on First Street - enough to make a fun afternoon filled with antique shopping - but this one stands out from the crowd. With a friendly staff and reasonably good hours, Fox Skylight Gallery has become my favorite antique shop in the city.

Who needs Gucci, Versace, and toothpick-sized models? Milwaukee has a formidable fashion scene all its own, and its happening in living rooms, basements, and small workshops all over town.

One of the most exciting centers for Milwaukee’s D.I.Y. fashion movement is the Fasten Co-op Clothing Gallery. Established in 2003, Fasten has emerged from it’s humble beginnings at the Eastside Open Market, and into a storefront showcasing the works of nearly 50 local clothing designers, as well as artists, bands, and zines.

These are not beginner-level courses, and you won't be stuck making anything as mundane as a summer skirt or patchwork quilt. These classes are far more punk inspired, offering T-shirt reclamation, jean refitting, duct tape bags, and sweater dolls among other things.

Fasten Co-op Clothing Gallery
2224 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207