Late Notice—Great Event!

“Recycled/Upcycled—A Green Exhibit”

West Allis, Wisconsin, May, 2016 – Inspiration Studios is proud to announce a collaborative “green” exhibit by various West Allis and Milwaukee artists. “Recycled/Upcycled” adorns the gallery walls at Inspiration Studios, 1500 S. 73^rd Street, now through June 12.  An artist reception with six participating artists will take place Sunday, May 22, 6-9pm.  Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

Milwaukee urban assemblage artist, Thom J. Ertl returns to Inspiration Studios with a series of “Thommie Squares.”  Each of the 12″ assembled pieces draws on everyday materials, turning the mundane into modern folk art. His eye for making fantastic treasures will be evident to the viewer.

West Allis resident Karen Boehme describes herself as a mixed-media artist who assembles materials and scraps, such as metal, paper, wood, and glass that she has collected over the years.  Boehm explains, “Each one-of-a-kind piece is built with a lot of thought, a bit of humor, and hope that it carries a very personal message of inspiration about the lives we each live.”

Milwaukee east side photographer, Philo Kassner, created a one-of-a-kind sculpture made of spoons, wires, and other discarded metal objects.  It is called “Swatty the Fly” and its whimsical nature will bring a smile to any observer.

Continuing her commitment to a greener environment, West Allis artist Ronni Shmauz provides old windows and screens, with newly painted images and inspirational messages.  “I love painting on many different types of surfaces, including canvases, screens and gourds. My favorite surface, however, is antique windows. The wooden frames have a distressed beauty that can only be created through time. Saving this beauty from the landfill is definitely an added bonus.”  Gourds have been painted and adorned with feathers, creating something new and extraordinary from what was once ordinary.

Edna Lasada is a good friend of Shmauz.  Her contribution to the exhibit is a series of beautifully and carefully handmade greeting cards, created from recycled paper products.  Most of the cards are reminiscent of origami, with the details and inspirational phrases to match.  This is Edna’s first exhibit ever!

Rounding out the recycled exhibit is a series of miniatures—small paintings created on scraps of wood—by founder of Inspiration Studios, Erico Ortiz.  “This was a fun exhibit to put together.  People were excited about the possibility and very willing to stress the importance of creating art with objects that would otherwise be considered trash.”

An artist reception for “Recycled/Upcycled” will be held Sunday, May 22, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. The gallery will also be open for public viewing during evening events on May 25-26-27 and during June theatre productions, as well as through private appointments with the artists.

Additional information about the artists and photo samples of their art are available at the Inspiration Studios website:  www.inspirationstudiosgallery.com