Ornament Trail features MIAD alumni, faculty, students
For decades, Milwaukee has hosted an annual Holiday Lights Festival. To commemorate the festival’s 25th anniversary, Milwaukee Downtown will also host the new Ornament Trail this year. Five Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) alumni and one instructor, who teamed up with both students and alumni, produced giant ornaments for the event.
The Ornament Trail stretches across Wisconsin Avenue and Water Street and includes work by 15 artists with ties to Milwaukee. On view until January 6, 2024, visitors can follow along with the free Ornament Trail Activity Guide, which includes activities for kids and coupons for businesses along the route.
Dwennimmen Brad Anthony Bernard
Brad Anthony Bernard, “Dwennimmen.” Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Downtown.
Winter Reflections Josephine Rice
Josephine Rice, “Winter Reflections.” Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Downtown.
Brad Anthony Bernard ’93 (Painting), associate professor in Fine Art + New Studio Practice, worked with Lindsey Greene ’23 (Fine Art), Shelbey Smith ’26 and Grace Gasser (Marquette University) to create “Dwennimmen.” Inspired by the West African Andinkra symbol, “Dwennimmen,” or “Ram’s Horns,” symbolizes humility and strength—a life principle that Bernard finds “important to embody during the holiday season.” Visitors can view “Dwennimmen” outside of MIAD’s Gallery at The Ave, the college’s new offsite gallery and consignment space.
An additional five alumni independently created ornaments for the exhibition. Nova Czarnecki ’81 (Painting), CERA (Janson Rapisarda) ’12 (Printmaking), John Kowalczyk ’10 (Painting), Monique Machut ’18 (Illustration) and Josephine Rice ’10 (Interior Architecture and Design) and all contributed artwork to the project.
Czarnecki works as an artist and local muralist and contributed Botticelli-inspired “The Four Graces” to the Ornament Trail, echoing his “Primavera” goddesses Joy, Light and Bloom. Czarnecki added the goddess Time to the mix as well. “I hope that anyone who passes by these ornaments feels the love that was put into them,” she says. “How cool that the city of Milwaukee and businesses here are willing to support and fund a project like this!”
Machut thought about the prompt provided by the organizers—what does the holiday season mean to you?—and created “Merry in Pink,” a new and welcome challenge when it came to painting in 3D. “I wanted my ornament to include subtle nods to what I enjoy about winter in Milwaukee: the arts (Nutcracker), the Bucks (Small Deer/Buck) and the community of giving during the season (present),” she explains. “I hope it gives a reason for people to travel downtown during the winter … the art will brighten up the sidewalks with so many wonderful designs! I’m very excited to take a walk down Wisconsin now that they’re installed.”
Faced with the same prompt, Rice considered another direction in her work. “‘Winter Reflections’ is an acknowledgment of the holidays being a hard time for many,” she says. “It’s a lovely season of togetherness and cheer but can also be painful with reminiscing about the past.” Rice also invites Milwaukee residents to explore the Ornament Trail: “[It] is a great activity for everyone to get outside and explore the gallery of art. Adding pops of color to Milwaukee this cold time of year is extra special!”
View a CBS58 interview with Bernard, explore the full list of participating artists and locations and learn more about MIAD Gallery at The Ave!
News
MIAD Pre-College 2024 sees record-breaking enrollment
The Summer Pre-College program at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) returned with record-breaking enrollment in 2024.
MIAD instructor selected to produce work for Farm/Art DTour
Matthew Vivirito, adjunct instructor at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), is one of eight artists and artist teams selected to create site-responsive art for Wormfarm Institute’s annual Farm/Art DTour.
Lubar Innovation Center concepts for Harley-Davidson Museum
Two students from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) worked together to concept and develop fresh ideas for the Harley-Davidson Museum on a recent project through the Lubar Innovation Center.
MIAD alum named designated artist for ABCD gala event
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) alum and employee Cheryl Klein ’98 (Drawing) was selected as the designated artist for the After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) 25th anniversary gala on June 15, 2024.
Illustration and Animation faculty publishes book
Associate Professor Adam Osgood, who teaches Illustration and Animation courses at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), will publish Motion Illustration: How to Use Animation Techniques to Make Illustrations Move through Bloomsbury in August 2024.