ArtWalk

Welcome to our virtual ArtWalk of 2020, the 41st anniversary of this event. As with most public events during the COVID pandemic, ArtWalk, the oldest walking art tour in the state, is now online.

There would be no ArtWalk without art from our community of artists. This year, we bring you art through our annual Membership Exhibition, now on view at the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts from September 19 – November 7. We are open Saturdays from 12:00 to 5:00 PM or by appointment. Please contact us at info@jazzgallerycenterforarts.org to set up a showing (24 hours’ notice required). This exhibit can also be seen and artworks purchased on our website.

We have prepared a collection of ArtWalk photos, graphics, and commentary for your own remote walk through the decades.

We celebrate the countless volunteers and community participants that have made ArtWalk a Riverwest neighborhood tradition. ArtWalk has also demonstrated the power of art to help transform a neighborhood to be a healthy, active community as well as a haven for countless creative individuals and unique events.

Mark Lawson

President 1993-1996, 2018-current

The First ArtWalk: 1979

Riverwest, Artists, and ArtWalk : A Longer View

The area now known as Riverwest has a long tradition as home to artists. By the turn of the last century, as the panorama painters occupied the lower third street (now Martin Luther King Drive) area, other artists of lesser repute established studios in the upper third street area. As that area became a major shopping/business area, those artists and others made Riverwest their home.

While the studio tradition was reestablished (820 East Locust, one of Milwaukee’s first A&P supermarkets, and 2620 North Weil remain studios today), the demand for housing stock and greater profit on investments - resident landlords gave way to absentees - another transformation had begun: the conversion of storefronts to apartments.

My involvement in the Riverwest area began in the mid-sixties with apartments and studios. I purchased my current home and studio in 1975 for $4500. By 1978, I became convinced that by making the area more popular with artists as owner-occupied studio/residences, the decline of studio stock could be assuaged. It was with this intention that the first Art Walk was undertaken. As co-coordinator (with Jill Sebastian), the Milwaukee Art Center (Milwaukee Art Museum) was asked to sponsor this unique event. Artists were contacted by simply walking around and asking whether the abandoned-looking storefront was, in fact, an artist’s studio. Naturally, my initial proposal was met with skepticism and dismay. Nonetheless, with the assistance of Jane Brite and the Friends of Art, the first Art Walk took place in 1979. An immense success, that initial Art Walk generated attendance and income: it was, at that time, the most well-attended Art Center event other than the Lake Front Festival and the profit for the Friends of Art was used to buy Haitian Art as a donation to the MAC. No, the studio artists received no compensation although we were responsible for liability insurance costs associated with the event. Changes were made ensuring a more equitable distribution of costs and profits for the 1980 Art Walk.

Reduced attendance, weather factors and declining artist involvement signaled an end to the then biannual event in 1983 - the last of the pre-RAA Art Walks. That Walk, co-sponsored by ESHAC and the Milwaukee Art Museum, introduced film screenings and poetry readings as elements of the tour.

Ron Bitticks

President 1988-90 (founding President of RAA)

Other images from the First ArtWalk

Ron Bittick’s studio on 820 E Wright St.

ArtWalk flag by Patrick Beilman at 1979 N Bremen

Jill Sebastian outside studio 906 E Clarke

ArtWalk: 1988 and Beyond

In 1988, the Riverwest Community Development Commission petitioned veteran Riverwest artists to again reprise the Art Walk. The Riverwest Artist Association resulted from this modest beginning. The CDC and primarily Joan Zepecki, provided a meeting place and assistance in the founding of the organization. Businesses were solicited for sponsorship, ESHAC and Woodland Pattern provided non-profit umbrellas, and as the organization continued to grow a more permanent structure was formed.

My involvement as founding president was modest. My initial concerns were survival and establishment of non-profit status. The initial board-it was a working board, not one loaded with names for prestige: Joan Zepecki, Peggy Riverwest, Susan Alexander, John Balistreri, Cynthia Crigler, Lionel Minden, Dan Stauff deserve all the credit for the organization’s survival and continued success. It was their individual hard work, time and energy, in addition to their dreams, fantasies and visions that enabled RAA to continue today. It was a pleasure and honor to be associated with such selfless givers. My thanks to all with affection and respect.

Ron Bitticks

President 1988-90 (founding President of RAA)

ArtWalk: Maps

These maps give participants a menu of studios, galleries, homes, and shops featuring ArtWalk art. Over the years, Artwalk logos were designed by many artists. Many of the maps were designed by graphic designer Maureen Kane.

Marvin Hill and The ArtWalk Look

Over the years, logos for ArtWalk have been designed by many artists. None left a mark on the event as significant as Marvin Hill. His fun-filled, imaginative graphics defined the event for many years.