OWL May 2024 Calendar

Thursday May 2 (IN-PERSON)

Vince Bushell of Riverwest Currents: May 2024 Issue

Friday May 3 (IN-PERSON)

First-Friday Drum Circle

Tuesday May 7 (RADIO)

Walter Wilson speaks on Wisconsin National Organization of Minority Architects: WISCONOMA.com

Thursday May 9 (IN-PERSON)

Artist Ann Roetz: Doll-Making Demo

Friday May 10 (IN-PERSON)

DIY Creative: Bring your own project or use our materials

Tuesday May 14 (RADIO)

Karen Beaumont Presents: Tribute to Bach

Thursday May 16 (IN-PERSON)

Ruth Gibbons: Life & Leadership in the Salvation Army

Friday May 17 (IN-PERSON)

Spotlight on the Importance of Comedic Relief

Tuesday May 21 (RADIO)

"The A.M. Book Report," On Media Literacy for Disinformation

Thursday May 23 (IN-PERSON)

Short Films with a Focus on Cultural Oppression of Women

Friday May 24 (IN-PERSON)

Watercolor demo by artist, Tim Ladwig

Tuesday May 28 (RADIO)

Karen Beaumont Presents: The Peasant Astrologer

Thursday May 30 (IN-PERSON)

Artificial Intelligence Imagery: A Closer Look (Featuring Allison Alexander Westbrook IV)

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April 2024 Events at the Jazz Gallery

On Stage

April 6

Truth In The Mix + Emily Beisel/Bill Harris (Chicago). Singer songwriter/jazz/free improvisation. 6:30pm doors/7:00pm show. Cover fee: optional donation

April 7

Manty Ellis Jam Session. 12:00pm - 2:00pm. Free admission

April 12

Drew Wesely + TBD. Experimental/audio-visual performance. 7:00pm- 10:00pm. $10 cover

April 13

Night Cow + Pedro Gutierrez. Jazz/experimental. 7:00pm- 10:00pm. $10 cover

April 14

The Naima + Nurse Julie. Experimental/metal/post rock. 7:00pm- 10:00pm. $10 cover

April 19

The Latin Side of Pepper Adams and Ronnie Cuber. Jazz. TBD time and cover (see our website for more details as they’re updated).

April 23

Gían Pérez + TBD. Experimental/free improvisation. 6:30-9:30pm. $10 cover

April 27

Aden Stier Bell Ensemble + The Smudge + Battalion of Cloudships. Experimental/noise/performance art. 6:00pm- 9:30pm. $10 cover.

Free Improvisation Sessions - Every Saturday, 10 AM - noon

On View

February 24 - April 6

Main Gallery. Cities and Souls. A group exhibition featuring artists and poets reflecting on urbanism.

February 24 - April 6

Small Wall. Elisabeth Gasparka: Rainbow Rock. Paintings

April 13 - June 1

Main Gallery. Homage: Honoring Those Who Have Come Before. An exhibition that invites the viewer to remember, reflect and renew our hopes for the future.

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OWL April 2024 Calendar

Tuesday, April 2 (RADIO)

Karen Beaumont Presents: Annual Piano Recital

Thursday, April 4 (IN-PERSON)

Jeanie Dean Presents 2 Topics: The Muses, & The Irish Hunger Strike

Friday, April 5 (IN-PERSON)

First-Friday Drum Circle, PLUS Vince Bushell of Riverwest Currents: April 2024 Issue

Tuesday, April 9 (RADIO)

"All of Us" Research Program: Learn How our Biology, Lifestyle, and Environment Affect Health

Thursday, April 11 (IN-PERSON)

Marcia Hero Presents: Art-Journaling Workshop, #1

Friday, April 12 (IN-PERSON)

Milwaukee HUB's Gene Guszkowski: Re-Imagining Senior Centers

Tuesday, April 16 (RADIO)

"The A.M. Book Report," On Media Literacy for Disinformation

Thursday, April 18 (IN-PERSON)

Marcia Hero Presents: Art-Journaling Workshop, #2

Friday, April 19 (IN-PERSON)

Artist Talk for Current Exhibition at JGCA: "Homage"

Tuesday, April 23 (RADIO)

Karen Beaumont Presents: Cinquains of Adelaide Crapse

Thursday, April 25 (IN-PERSON)

Jean Kaldunski Presents: Spring Fling Sing-Along

Friday, April 26 (IN-PERSON)

DIY Creative: Bring your own project or use our material

Tuesday, April 30 (RADIO)

Woodland Pattern's Writers Group: Poetry Reading

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March 2024 Events at the Jazz Gallery

On Stage

March 1

Nummy + King of Salads. Experimental/performance art. 7:00pm- 10:00pm. $10 cover

March 3

Manty Ellis Jam Session. 12:00pm - 2:00pm. Free admission

March 9

Stephan Crump. Jazz. 7:30pm-10:00pm. $20 cover

March 15

Jon Ailabouni. Jazz. 8:00pm-10:00pm. $15 cover

March 17

Hanami + David Lord. Jazz/experimental. 7:00pm- 10:00pm. $15 cover

March 23

Jonah Parzen-Johnson + Rick Oilman/Eli Smith + TBD. Experimental/free improv. 7:00pm- 10:00pm. $10 cover

March 30

Kwal + TBA. Hip hop. 7:00pm- 10:00pm. Cover TBD

Free Improvisation Sessions - Every Saturday, 10 AM - noon

On View

February 24 - April 6

Main Gallery. Cities and Souls. A group exhibition featuring artists and poets reflecting on urbanism.

February 24 - April 6

Small Wall. Elisabeth Gasparka: Rainbow Rock. Paintings

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OWL March 2024 Calendar

Friday, March 1 (IN-PERSON)

"First Friday" Drum Circle with Dr. Colleen Galambos

Tuesday, March 5 (RADIO)

Karen Beaumont Presents: The Fifth Sharp Line (short story with music)

Thursday, March 7 (IN-PERSON)

Vince Bushell of Riverwest Currents: March 2024 Issue

Friday, March 8 (IN-PERSON)

Coffee-clutch, social gathering

Tuesday, March 12 (RADIO)

Interview with a Fellow Riverwest Radio Host

Thursday, March 14 (IN-PERSON)

Tie-Dye, Another Try! Bring your own item to dye, or dye one of our JGCA tee shirts

Friday, March 15 (IN-PERSON)

March Mid-Month "Me-Time: Self-Reflection and Goal-Setting

Tuesday, March 19 (RADIO)

"The A.M. Book Report," On Media Literacy for Disinformation

Thursday, March 21 (IN-PERSON)

Mari-Lynn Young: How to Help Save our Democracy

Friday, March 22 (IN-PERSON)

Artist Talk for current exhibition at JGCA: "Cities and Souls"

Tuesday, March 26 (RADIO)

Karen Beaumont Presents: Chinese Music and Poetry

Thursday, March 28 (IN-PERSON)

DIY Creative: Bring your own project or use our materials

Friday, March 29 (IN-PERSON)

Artist David DaSilva: Reduction Printmaking Demo

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January 2024 Events at the Jazz Gallery

On Stage

January 7

Manty Ellis Jam Session. 12:00pm - 2:00pm. Free admission

January 12

Memory Cafe: Open Poetry Mic. 7:00pm - 9:30pm. $5.00 cover

January 13

Nurse Julie + TBA. Indie/experimental. 7:00pm- 10:00pm. $10 cover

January 20

Heirloom. Manty Ellis Jazz Series. 7:00pm- 9:30pm. $15.00 cover

Free Improvisation Sessions - Every Saturday, 10 AM - noon

On View

January 13 - February 17

Main Gallery. Ink-credible. A group exhibition featuring a selection of Riverwest artists working in printmaking.

January 13 - February 17

Small Wall. Hunter Louis: Head Song. Solo exhibition. Digital Painting and Printmaking

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February 2024 Events at the Jazz Gallery

On Stage

February 4

Manty Ellis Jam Session. 12:00pm - 2:00pm. Free admission

February 17

Max Brown Sextet. Jazz. 7:00pm - 8:30pm. Free show

February 21

Brad Billmaier's Artificer Quartet. Avant-garde/jazz. 8:00pm doors/8:30pm show. $15 cover

February 23

Hiking Journal + Cowboy Neal + So Zuppy. 7:00pm - 10:00pm. $10 cover

February 24

Rachel Raven Sings and Tributes Sinead O'Connor. Folk/singer-songwriter. 7:30pm - 8:45pm. $12 cover

Free Improvisation Sessions - Every Saturday, 10 AM - noon

On View

January 13 - February 17

Main Gallery. Ink-credible. A group exhibition featuring a selection of Riverwest artists working in printmaking.

January 13 - February 17

Small Wall. Hunter Louis: Head Song. Solo exhibition. Digital Painting and Printmaking

February 24 - April 6

Main Gallery. Cities and Souls. A group exhibition featuring artists and poets reflecting on urbanism. Opening Reception: Saturday, February 24, 3 - 5pm - Music by Donna Re'nee

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We ask for your financial support to keep our programming happening in 2024

A look back at this year at the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts

  • Presented over 80 music events

  • Hosted over 40 community meetings and events

  • Staged over a dozen visual art exhibitions

  • Hosted over 100 older adult program sessions

  • Provided the venue for over 100 lessons and workshops

  • Expanded the Saturday morning improvisational sessions

  • Began the Manty Ellis Jazz Series

  • Started the Les Paul Sound Engineering program

  • Initiated the Riverwest Jazzfest music festival

As a 90% volunteer operated nonprofit community arts organization, we rely on you to keep this momentum going in 2024.

In 2024 we plan to:

  • Improve our historic music venue

  • Produce a music series for new genres

  • Initiate an innovative emerging artist series

  • Expand our ambitious outreach program

We do all of this for you, our diverse and engaged community.

Many thanks from us to you, our audience, for the great year!

Support the Jazz Gallery!

Donate Now!

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JGCA Holiday Hours 2023-24

We will be closed to the public starting Saturday December 23rd 2023 through January 6th 2024. Note: the OWL program will still take place January 4th and 5th.

Over the first few weeks of the new year, we will be making some improvements to our venue-- thank you for your understanding! Check our website for updated hours of operation as we take advantage of the quiet post-holiday period to begin the first of several renovation projects for 2024.

We welcome all in the community to join us throughout the coming year to participate in art, music, and other community programming in our historic venue. Your attendance, participation, ideas and support are the reason we continue to evolve and grow. Cheers, and thank you!

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Support the JGCA this Giving Tuesday - November 28th

Help keep creativity and community programming alive at the Jazz Center Gallery for the Arts in Riverwest. We’re a venue where visual artists, musicians, and performers of all sorts share their creativity with a wide and diverse community audience. We often champion beginners, the experimental and fresh and genres with few venues to perform or show their work. We depend on community support to keep our doors open and our array of programs for all ages flourishing in a decidedly non-commercial atmosphere. Please consider making a donation this Giving Tuesday.

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This November at the Jazz Gallery

On Stage

November 3

Zarian Hep. Hip hop. 6:00 pm. Free admission

November 5

Unrehearsed MKE. Free improvisation. 7:00 pm doors/ 7:30 pm show. Free admission

November 8

Manty Ellis Jam Session. Free open jam session hosted by Manty Ellis and Jessie Montijo. 12:00 pm

November 11

Beauty Steps. Indie/experimental. Album release party for debut EP "Show Me Where". 7:00pm doors/ 7:30 pm show. Free admission

November 16

D. Janakey. Indie/folk. 7:00 pm. $10 cover

November 18

Emily Kuhn Quintet. Jazz. “Ghosts of Us" Album Release Tour. 7:00 pm. $15 cover

Free Improvisation Sessions - Every Saturday, 10 AM - noon

On View

November 4 - December 16

Main Gallery. High Fiber 2023. A group exhibition featuring fiber artists.

Opening reception: November 4, 3:00 - 5:00 pm.

November 4

Small Wall. Guntis Lauzums solo photography show closing reception. 3:00 - 5:00 pm.

November 11 - December 16

Small Wall. Tim Ladwig. Solo exhibition. Painting and Drawing

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Announcing the 1st annual Riverwest Jazzfest - Friday, September 29th, 2023

This fall, a new event is coming to Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood.

 Venues & Performances

New Orleans style marching band

from Jazz Gallery to Company Brewing

  • 5:30pm - with the Big Style Brass Band

Jazz Gallery

926 E. Center St.

  • 6:00 pm - Jazz Flux

  • 8:00 pm - The Erotic Adventures of the Static Chicken.

Bar Centro

804 E Center St.

  • 6:00 pm - Heirloom

  • 8:00 pm - Tael Estremera Quartet

Company Brewing

735 E Center St.

  • 9:30 pm - Eric Jacobson Quartet

  • 11:00 pm - Brian Lynch Quartet

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Calling all visual artists — Celebrate! JGCA Members Show 2023

Calling all visual artists of any level and experience!

We invite you to submit work to the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts — Celebrate! JGCA Members Show 2023

Each member (old or new) may submit one piece of visual art for this group exhibition. All media is accepted. Please keep the work 18” x 24” or smaller due to space constraints. Work must be install-ready. Annual Membership is required at the time of submission/drop off. Learn more about becoming a member today!

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