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It’s not a crime for an artist to work in a gallery, but it can be an advantage, and even an eye-opening or work-altering experience.

clairesmith1The newest exhibition at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) is an exhibition featuring MIAD alumni who worked as MIAD gallery staff members when they were students. It explores how behind-the-scenes knowledge of galleries and exhibit presentation has influenced their work.

Inside Job, on view in the Brooks Stevens Gallery July 20 – September 30, 2017 hosts an Opening Reception during Summer Gallery Night in the Historic Third Ward on Friday, July 21, 5 – 9 p.m.

“By working in the gallery, artists become more aware of the viewer’s experience and how that can be crafted,” says Mark Lawson, MIAD’s Director of Galleries.

As a result, these gallery workers can use that awareness to their advantage and create more innovative work as artists.

Viewers of the Inside Job exhibit will see varied work from alumni Kathryn E. Martin ’01 (Sculpture), Keith Nelson ’00 (Painting), Danielle Rosen ’11 (Integrated Studio Arts), Colin Dickson ’08 (Sculpture), Claire Smith ’12 (Sculpture), Kristina Rolander ’01 (Printmaking) and Melissa Dorn-Richards ’96 (Sculpture).

kathrynemartin1“The work is so diverse that anyone can find something of interest,” says Lawson.

Co-curated by Kathryn E. Martin and Keith Nelson, Inside Job is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free gallery tours are available at miad.edu/gallerytours.

Gallery Night & Day is a quarterly, world-class event featuring an evening of gallery hopping and art viewing beginning Friday, July 21 and continuing during the day on Saturday, July 22. This summer’s event showcases 44 venues throughout downtown Milwaukee, including the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design.

Image 1: Floating Fruity by Claire Smith

Image 2: kathryn e. martin