SITE SUSPICIOUS

We all traverse the urban fabric of Milwaukee, but each of us has private stories in shared places and public spaces. Whether our experiences are historic fact, personal memories, urban myths, rumors or outright fictions, the commonly overlooked material – street corners, buildings, alleys, sidewalks and cultural icons of common concrete, stone and flora – reveal little to the less observant.

“…the human condition is characterized by a feedback loop between human activity and our material surroundings… “ – Tevor Paglen

In Site Suspicious, a group of young artists has unearthed a past rich with unanswered questions about what we see in front of us everyday. The works presented ask for a detective’s eye. How does the past coexist with the present? Join us on this two part journey – an exhibition of small artworks inspired by well known and lesser known places in Milwaukee at BOONE & CROCKETT, and a Pecha Kucha performance of our research findings into heretofore untold Milwaukee stories at HOTEL FOSTER.

Allen Bradley Clock Tower – Jeff Brennan, Travis Hale & Kyle Seis

Recently our landmark lost the title as the world’s largest four-sided clock to one erected in Dubai. Was more lost than just the competition for prestige?

Blue Dress Park – Jake Platt & Phillip Johnson

What is this strange, empty triangular space of concrete at the north end of the Holton Street Bridge? Why is it the scene of celebration?

The Italian Third Ward – Elaina Johann & Michelle Zealy

As we know it today, the Third Ward is a hip contemporary scene bustling with culture. But it’s Italian past is much darker and more complex.

Dairy Industry – Chia Chang & Rachel Evans

Wisconsin has been hailed as the dairy state. In Milwaukee before FDA regulations were enacted, Gridley was the biggest. What went wrong?

Northpoint Water Tower –  Joelle Swanson & Mikayla Husting

This icon isn’t really a water tower. Why are we not allowed inside? What’s the story?

Kenilworth Building, UWM – Lauren Mattes & Stephanie Kovach

The year was 1973. What mysterious research were UWM Biology students conducting in the basement? What has been unearthed by new construction?

Milwaukee’s Great Fire – Sheena Hang & Kate Kinser

In 1892 a fire of epic proportions leveled Milwaukee’s Third Ward. Its cause is still a mystery. What evidence has been kept secret all these years?

Jones Island – Maeve Jackson & Dakota Whitehurst

Milwaukee’s current industrial port was once home to a vibrant Kaschubian fishing village, an island of shanties with its own mayor. What is the real story about happened?

Evangelical Church of the Ascension – Erin Krembs & Madeline Frank

In the shadow of the Allen Bradley Clock Tower stands a tiny church with a sordid past. Is that past really in the past?

The answers are out there….                                                  

attend the PECHA KUCHA

November 8 – 7:00pm           

HOTEL FOSTER

2028 East North Avenue

Milwaukee, WI

Doors Open

During Doors Open Milwaukee I went to the Basilica of St. Josephat, the Broadway Theatre, and Blue Dress Park. Broadway Theatre was my first stop, as it’s located right next to MIAD and I had always wondered about the innards of the building, passing it so many times and glancing in the windows on my way to the parking lot every day. When I finally went in I was surprised by the height of the dome in the opera style theatre and the tromp l’oeil effect of the ceiling painting. The Basilica of St. Josephat operated in a similar way, although in a much grander scale. The mathematical sublimity of the space was baffling, and I walked in at just the right time to sit down in a pew and get regaled with the full history of the building. The one thing that stuck out to me about the speech was that most of the “marble” in the building was actually just stone painted to look like marble, as it was cheaper at the time of its fabrication to fake it and not buy the real thing. 

Then there was Blue Dress Park, a site that I had heard about from Paul Druecke but admittedly never actually visited until this day. The contrast was staggering to say the least. Here I found myself in a (ostensibly) totally useless space that had been reclaimed by an artist, after having visited grandiose places that were built specifically for a purpose that is culturally important. Yet, I was equally enchanted with the pseudo park as I had been with the huge domes of the buildings I had just been in. After being interviewed by Sara Daleiden about how I felt about the space, I felt strangely attracted to it. Although the human effort and aesthetics of both of my previously visited buildings were compelling, I felt that I could easily spend more of my time in this strange patch of concrete than in those large constructions. Something about the reclamation of a forgotten space was more romantic than the construction of a planned and executed space built for a specific function. 

3W3D

3 Ways 3 Days 

My three different modes of travel were walking, bussing, and driving. My method of recording the experience was by photography, as is a usual practice for me when I travel, especially on foot. I had no prefabricated notions of what or how to photograph when I set out out on each occasion, and yet each set of photographs from each excursion has its own unique aesthetic and conceptual criteria. It is important to note here that film, as opposed to a digital, was used, providing the most honest photos, as there was no opportunity to take many and edit, or to choose favorites. In short, there was no option for post processing and selectivity. 

Walking was the most familiar of all the forms of travel, as I often take walks in order to photograph, or conversely, photograph in order to take walks. The kinds of pictures that this generated are common to me: pictures of graffiti, garbage, objects that have been cast down, almost all inanimate things, places, and scenarios. This is the kind of photography I’m used to and what I consider to be normal. Only when bussing and driving with a camera in my hands did I realize the bias of these photos.

It seems that bussing I was totally attracted to reflections, refusing to take a photo of anything that wasn’t outside my window, not wanting to confront the other passengers but still looking for (in reflections) that which was situated on the other side of me, that I couldn’t turn to out of some form of social anxiety. The result is a collection of photos with a certain antisocial logic, that attempts to capture more than what was readily available to me. 

                                    

Driving was awkward. I have taken pictures while driving before, occasionally in the height of traffic, in order to pass time and cure boredom, but I had never intentionally set out to drive while taking photos. The result was something that I did not think was possible: I took many photos of people. Thinking about it now, it makes perfect sense. The perceived safety and disconnection from ones environment that one feels inside a car, especially when driving, lends itself to this sort of nonchalant voyeurism. By being in a car, and not walking out on the street with others, I had a  level of power that allowed me to photograph without worrying about consequences. 

Each way of traveling had its own feel and each, by way of its social and personal implications led to a different sort of of photograph, a different unconscious logic, a different record of the urban landscape. 

Chia Chang - Exhibition Location

Hot Water Wherehouse  
818 S Water Street, Milwaukee, WI

Available For Rental
*Weddings
*Promotional Events
*Fashion Shows
*Corporate Gatherings
*Birthdays
* And Much More!

Venue - Capacity: 292 (230 seats)
Available to host events Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Sunday.

F.A.Q
**Room rental includes: private facility, rental event time, one hour for setup, one hour for clean up.
**Rental fee also includes: on-site event manager, bartenders, security staff, access to 100 car parking lot, and cleaning services.
**Extended rental hours may be discussed, minimum rates apply, per hour rate at time of booking.
**There is a 100+ car parking lot that enables guests to park easily
**The 1500 squarefoot dancefloor, commercial grade Electrovoice® sound system, and 10' X 23' stage makes this the premier venue for any large scale event. There is an      elevated VIP area available for private bookings.

Site Suspicious Location - Mikayla & Joelle

Our site suspicious location is going to be the North Point Water Tower.

Exhibition Location - Jeff Brennan

Location #1:

Fortress Building, 100 E. Pleasant St., Milwaukee, WI 53212

The building is occupied for a wide range of uses. Office, artist and theatre, to name a few. Based on the experience I've had within, rent is inexpensive and the owner or manager allows tenants to define the space. Completely.

The theatre group that occupies one space is The Quasimondo.

-- Jeff Brennan

Exhibition Locations_elainajohann

The first place that I think would be really awesome to do our exhibition would be at the Milwaukee Art Museum. I know that it is possible to have worked displayed in the hallway like areas of the modern side of the building because other MIAD classes have had exhibitions in this space. 

Last weekend I parents came to visit me and we went on a walk in this area, by the Milwaukee Yacht Club in the area of Alterra on the Lake. Passed the google street view (the first image) to that place there the red arrow is pointing (the second image) is the place that I think could be an interesting place to hold the exhibition. It is a walking pear that is rather wide and has a great view of the city.

The last place is this building on corner of N Michigan Street and Water Street. I just think that this is a gorgeous building. 

Rachel Evans: Exhibition Sites

This first site is on 6th avenue, close to the Everest College.  I ride past it every morning on my way to school when I take the bus.  It's abandoned and has had a sale sign in the window for over a year now.  I'm not sure what the building used to be or what it even looks like on the inside.  I just always thought it would be a cool place to have a gallery just by the way it looks.  I'm unsure of the availability of the building, but it might be worth looking into.

Under the Katie Gingrass Gallery there used to be a mexican restaurant called Bajo.  It unfortunately went out of business, leaving the lower level of this building vacant.  I've been inside for gallery nights and they usually had a DJ and food and drinks and the atmosphere was great, everyone was having fun.  I haven't been here recently to see if anything has moved into the space, but it's a convenient location for most of us and it has the capability to draw in and hold a larger crowd.

Exhibition Sites

Cuvee

This is one place I found very interesting. The third floor is really nice and the open reception area they rent out believe. It looks great very tall ceilings nice light and beautiful floors. The space is wide open and has a lot of potential I think. Because it is already used to be rented for many events, it would be easy to rent but could be very expensive.

177 North Broadway  Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 225-9800

The second place I believe this class used last year. I visited and really liked the space. It was really cool and I liked the second level with separate rooms.

corner of Broadway and Buffalo 

Exhibition Site

This is an abandoned church building I saw on 2nd and scott st right next to the Allen-Bradley Clock Tower.  From google maps I think the photo was taken when it was still open, but it's boarded up and padlocked now.  It might be an interesting space to try to put an exhibition into.

Place for exhibition Madeline Frank

One place we could have it is Zeilder Union Square, I noticed it when Erin and I got lost on the way to the Historical Center. It is a good space, part of it is shielded from rain if needed. It is on W Michigan Street right across from the Courtyard Hotel so people that are not necessarily from the city will be able to view the work. It is smaller park, but then again we don't need a huge space and there is a good amount of foot traffic from what I saw. Also like I said before it's a park and who doesn't like going to the park.

Stephanie S. Kovach Exhibition Locations

 I believe that Oak Leaf Trail would be a good exhibition spot, as it is a trail can cajole follow the consecutive breadcrumbs of art.  Plus, this is public space and we wouldn't need permission to utilize it...correct?

 Bradford Beach is a place that attracts a wide audience.  Thus, an exhibition here would attract a lot of attention.

 Why not use Catalano Square?  It's right by MIAD...how convenient (for MIAD students, anyways)!

 Discovery World has a large open field that would be perfect for an art exhibition.  Just try avoid stepping in goose droppings. 

Klode Park is my FAVORITE park in Milwaukee. It has a combination of many different environments: cityscape, picnic area, and raw natural landscapes.  Public space is the way to go, I'm telling you!  A lot of people already go to these parks, so we will be guaranteed an audience. 

GPS Drawings- Stephanie S. Kovach

Joelle Swanson - Exhibition Locations

 The first place that stood out in my mind was this white building on the corner of Humboldt and Hamilton. It looks pretty abandoned, and like it could have possibly been an apartment? Or perhaps a store or restaurant. I'm not sure. I really like the building and that it's kind of in a random residential area. Next to it there are more abandoned store fronts that could also be a cool place to have the exhibition. I am fascinated by buildings like this because they come with a lot of character and an unknown history that's really intriguing to me.  The biggest issue, I think, would be space. They are pretty small buildings.

The second place I thought of is on Water St. right by MIAD. I don't really have much to say about it other than I have always loved the side of the building and just wonder what's inside and if there would be space for an exhibition?? It look's like its up for lease and I have never seen any business signs on the doors or anything. It has really ugly awnings though. Just throwing it out there! If it wasn't gonna be winter I would say we could even do it in that parking lot. Then we could utilize that awesome wall.

gps drawing

Sheena Hang: Site Specific

I am very curious about the Third Ward. I just want to know how it came to be and why it was designed the way it was. Observing the architecture and how Broadway is the "cool" street to hang out and why it's SO expensive! I want to know everything!!!
Why is the Third Ward so different from the other wards and how that name possibly came to be? Why is it an art town and not a simple regular town? What was it before it became a busy sancturay?

I'm just very curios about the structure!

Lauren Mattes: Exhibition Locations

1950 N Bartlett Avenue

On the first day of class, Rachel and I walked past this building. We spent a few minutes inspecting it and taking pictures. There are vines and things growing inside the building. I also really liked the color scheme on the outside of the building. There really wasn't much else to see; the blinds are all down and it looks abandoned or unused.

1629 N Van Buren Street

I've walked past this building before but never knew what it was. It's kind of awkwardly placed between some houses, so I don't know if it's a small business. Again, the blinds are usually drawn. I guess I am also subconsciously drawn to places covered in ivy. This part of Van Buren isn't too lively until you hit Brady, so it could be cool to be in a partly secluded area not that far from where we met on the first day of class.

GPS DRAWING

Ethnic Restaurants

EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Wisconsin

Doors Open Milwaukee: Mikayla Husting

I ended up not making it to either day of Doors Open Milwaukee, but I did some research on the tours that were offered and found out that there is a "Haunted Third Ward" tour every Friday night that meets outside of the Public Market.

The tour lasted about one hour and the guide took us to several locations in the Third Ward and told ghost stories about those locations. My favorite story was about a girl (I believe her name was Kate or Katie) who worked in the Newhall Hotel (which no longer exists). Apparently the Newhall Hotel was on fire, a lot. It got to the point where the workers stopped telling the guests that the hotel was on fire because the fire was usually put out in a short period of time. Well, one night the fire got out of control. Guests were trapped in their rooms and were forced to jump out of the windows onto the sidewalk below. Katie risked her life to save the guests as she would help a group escape and run back into the hotel to try to save more people. After quite a few trips, Katie must have became exhausted and collapsed because she did not make it back out of the hotel. I guess I forgot what she is believed to haunt now... the guide told the story next to a parking garage that used to be where Katie's house was?

I was disappointed that the tour did not take us inside of any of the buildings, but the stories were still very interesting. I learned a lot about Milwaukee's history, even the non-ghost related history. The Third Ward was often referred to as the "Bloody Third" because there was a lot of violence (and a lynching) during the mid-1800s when thousands of Irish immigrated to Milwaukee during the potato famine. The tour guide told us that there were many more fires than just the major one that happened in October 1982. He said that it was possible that the Italian Mafia was behind the fires (ARSON?!) because after most of the Third Ward burned down, it was the Italians that moved in and rebuilt.

Another interesting ghost story is that members of the Italian Community Center often hear children playing in empty hallways. There used to be a school in that area, which the guide said could explain that activity. He also stated that the ICC was built over an area that used to be filled with railroad tracks, which many people died on (either on accident or on purpose). Something that made that story very eerie is that a block away from the ICC, there is a five to six foot section of railroad tracks still embedded in the ground.

I also learned that the "bull" symbol you can make with your hands (think Breakfast Club) originated in the Italian community as a way to protect oneself from the "evil eye". The symbol was meant to block bad energy from entering the body.

Here is a question for the MIAD students: Do you ever feel pressure on your body (specifically your chest) or an overwhelming feeling in the fourth floor gallery? The guide told us that a man had a heart attack there and students have reported experiencing that feeling.

There were some other interesting stories, including a UFO with recorded sightings on April 10, 1897, from Milwaukee all the way up to Sheboygan, a river serpent (which could have possibly been an escaped sea lion from the Chicago zoo), and Charles Pfister's ghost haunting visiting baseball teams. Even if none of the ghost stories were very exciting (can they really be when the tour is limited to a few blocks), I learned quite a lot about Milwaukee's history that I never knew before.

Exhibition Locations - Kyle Seis

Corner of Irving and Bartlett

This is one of my favorite buildings on the east side, and I've always wanted to get inside of it. It used to be a firehouse, but now seems to be used for storage(?).

http://www.city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/cityHPC/DesignatedReports/vticnf/Firehouse5.pdf


Milwaukee St under I94

I've read a little bit about ways to improve the connection between the Third Ward and Downtown, and think it might be cool to create our own temporary improvement. This could really take place anywhere between the Third Ward and Downtown under I94. I took a screen capture of this location because there's some wall space that could be used, and some pillars that could be used. My concern with this idea is that our exhibition will be happening in winter, which won't exactly be ideal for an outdoor event.

http://www.historicthirdward.org/bid/brightenthepassage.php

Corner of Vine and Hubbard

This is a building on the corner of Vine and Hubbard in Brewer's Hill that looks pretty interesting to me. I'm not sure what it looks like today because I found it through exploring on Google Maps. I love small corner buildings for some reason, though, so this stuck out to me. This could be a huge dud though, I'd have to check it out in person to figure out more.

GPD Drawing - Notes

We used the GPS tracking application to draw our path as we explored downtown and the lower east side to find various ethnic restaurants.We originally planned on using a phone to search for our future destinations, but we quickly found out that it wasn't necessary. Right away, we were able to find two Asian restaurants right across the street from the Milwaukee County Historical Society. After that, we spotted another restaurant a short distance away. In fact, pretty much the whole trip was that easy; we definitely underestimated the amount of ethnic restaurants that are in Milwaukee. If we were to think about the restaurants that we have been to in the past or have heard about from a friend, I'm sure we could have easily filled up the class time with just visiting those places. We also made sure to stop at a number of places that we hadn't noticed before, though, and some people made suggestions as to where we should go too.

At each location, we took a picture of the interior/exterior of the restaurant and then took some sort of souvenir or artifact. For the most part, this ended up being a take out menu or a business card. Some restaurants gladly gave us something to keep, while others refused. Towards the end of our journey, we talked about how the exterior of a building and surrounding space can determine what we think of the restaurant's quality. A good example of this is the Korean restaurant on Prospect (right across from Urban Outfitters). Every time I go past it, I always think that the restaurant must not be that great, simply because the walls look a bit dirty and the parking lot looks pretty worn down. To my surprise, the restaurant was packed when we visited.

We could have kept exploring for hours, as the amount of time we were given wasn't even enough time to cover a small part of downtown and part of the lower east side. Even on a smaller scale, the journey was very interesting and eye opening.

GPS Drawings - Kate Kinser

Our group first chose to drive for the GPS Drawing Project.  We started from the highway entrance off of Michigan, and headed East, toward Chicago.  Our initial idea was to exit at the first exit we saw, and then get back on the highway at the next sign we saw to the on-ramp.  Sometimes this took a while, and we would drive pretty far before seeing any signs to get back onto the highway.  We also began following things that interested us, like smoke from a burning building, or police cars blocking off roads because of an accident.  We also went to Bayshore to have lunch, and continued to let the application track us through the mall.  We drove for 2 hours, and traveled 31.3 miles, reaching a maximum speed of 77.4 mph.  I drove while the other members of the group documented the journey.  We went as far South as Morgandale, and as far North as Whitefish Bay.

Michelle Zealy- Exhibition Locations

Under the yellow bridge- on the hank araon state trail

Historical Building right next too joey Buenas

Kind of far away but very beautiful. they have a pavillion, open space and view of lake.