Author: Lee Matz

John Ridley’s Milwaukee movie studio makes “NO” the new “Yes”

Oscar-winning filmmaker and Milwaukee native John Ridley announced the creation of NO STUDIOS, a hub for the creative arts in downtown Milwaukee, during a February 27 press conference at the Brewhouse Inn. Ridley, along with business partner Chris Abele, has purchased a 40,000 square foot building at 1037 West McKinley Avenue in the newly developed Pabst Brewery Complex. The building is currently undergoing extensive renovations in order to create a social space dedicated to the creation, curation, and presentation of art. NO STUDIOS is a for-profit venture that aims to become a sustainable model for bringing arts to the...

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Photo Essay: Milwaukeeans shine at annual address for State of the City

“Years from now, Milwaukee residents will look back at this time as a pivotal moment in which we established who we are and built the foundation for our future. Jobs are growing in industries that will thrive in the coming decades. We enjoy a quality of life here in which arts, entertainment, and athletics exist at the highest levels.” – Mayor Tom Barrett, City of Milwaukee Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett delivered his 2018 State of the City address on February 26 at the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons to a crowd of hundreds. The Mayor’s speech highlighted Milwaukee’s progress...

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TeddyLoid: Japanese musician talks music, manga, and Milwaukee

TeddyLoid started his career as DJ and sound producer for MIYAVI, a famous guitarist in Japan, joining his world tour at the age of only 18 years old. He has produced the official soundtrack (OST) for the GAINAX anime “Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt” with Taku Takahashi (M-Flo). In 2014 he produced the music for the short film “ME!ME!ME!” which was visualized by Hibiki Yoshizaki from Studio Khara and vocals sang by DAOKO. TeddyLoid remains popular with fans around the world from his work on other anime projects, and continues to collaborate with many of the big names in...

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Artwork of “Giving Gallery” highlights Northwestern Mutual’s philanthropic impact

Northwestern Mutual hosted a special preview of its year-long public exhibition “Giving Gallery: Community in Process” on February 9, as part of the 25th anniversary of its commitment to Milwaukee’s diverse communities. Through the power of visual arts, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation celebrated its two and a half decades of dedication to positive social change with the first-of-its-kind exhibit. More than 300 people attended the private showing, which included the artists and nonprofit groups involved in the awareness project. “We created an interactive art experience highlighting 25 of our nonprofit partners. Of the $320 million the Foundation has contributed,...

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A statue honoring Milwaukee’s Colored Civil War soldiers should be erected in Bronzeville

As Bronzeville watches America’s Black Holocaust Museum (ABHM) near completion this year in the Griot Building on North Avenue, an expensive but missing tribute should be included in the neighborhood to celebrate men of color from Milwaukee who fought to free their people, which was the original Civil Rights struggle known as the Civil War. In the aftermath of last year’s Confederate monument debate that divided the nation over issues of racism, lawmakers from South Carolina proposed a statue honoring Black Confederate soldiers. Except, there are no historical facts that they ever existed. The claim is a perpetuation of...

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Exhibit slam dunks a historic look at sports in Milwaukee

During a historic year for sports in Milwaukee, the Milwaukee County Historical Society unveiled its 2018 feature exhibition, “Back Yard to Big Leagues: Milwaukee’s Sports and Recreation History.” Exploring Milwaukee’s exciting and extensive sports and recreation history, the exhibit will be on display until April 27, with a smaller version through the summer. “With the Bucks coming up on their 50th anniversary and opening the new Arena, and both the Brewers and Admirals also approaching their 50th anniversaries, we decided to do a comprehensive look at sports and recreation,” said Ben Barbera, Curator at the Milwaukee County Historical Society....

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