Live from the Storefront Window

press release: On March 16, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum will open a new exhibit, “Wisconsin Was There: Sharing the Legacies of Printmakers Who Served in the Military.” Curator of Veteran Art Yvette Pino has organized the exhibit of works by more than 20 printmakers with ties to Wisconsin.

Interspersed with the museum exhibits are print works by Wisconsin veterans with a creative vision. Works range from the Civil War era-commissioned prints for Abraham Lincoln to contemporary work by post-9/11 veterans.

For the printmaker, especially those who served between the Civil War and World War II, their skillset in the visual arts was critical to military mission readiness. Trades such as engravers, lithographers, draftsman, and publishers were recruited for the war effort.

Artists see the world differently. In World War II that unique vision strengthened the Allied campaigns and changed how war was fought. The invention of the “Target Identification Unit” by Milwaukee-born Gerald Geerlings and a patented plane spotting technique by United States Navy cartographer Richard Florsheim aided Allied bombers in identifying the enemy and completing successful missions. Their contributions as civilian printmakers continued in classrooms and communities throughout the state and across the nation after their service.

Live from the Storefront Window - Friday, May 6 | 5-9pm

Featuring the temporary exhibit, “Wisconsin Was There: Sharing the Legacies of Printmakers Who Served in the Military” and the evening’s program will be our Live from the Storefront Window Series. Guest artist will create and discuss their artwork from the museum’s storefront windows. Passers-by can observe and are welcomed into the museum to tour the galleries and chat with the artist. This program will also feature a virtual component that is live and recorded.

SGCI Participation The Wisconsin Veterans Museum exhibit opens as a part of the SGC International (SGCI) hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, March 16-19. The SGCI annual conference brings together over 1,000 printmakers and arts professionals in all stages of their careers.

Event sponsored by The Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation with support for the Foundation from Generac Power Systems.