For “Wis-Con-Sin: Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, J. Shimon & J. Lindemann, Charles Van Schaick,” the Portrait Society Gallery has assembled approximately 75 photographs from four Wisconsin artists that date from the 1880s to the present. The exhibition opens with a reception from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, June 12 and is on display until Aug. 30.
Born in Marinette, Von Bruenchenhein (1910-1983) spent 40 years in a small Milwaukee home making so-called “outsider” art that is astounding for its individuality and diversity. There were proto-psychedelic oil paintings that reveal a fixation on apocalypse at the dawn of the atomic age. There were ceramic crowns. But this exhibition collects a selection of photographs featuring his beloved wife, Marie, many of which are elegant to the point of being scandalous by 1940s standards.
As town photographer of Black River Falls for more than 60 years, Charles Van Schaick (1852-1946) immortalized the faces of small-town folk and the scenes of small-town life. The Van Schaick collection was introduced to a wider public in the 1973 book Wisconsin Death Trip, and a 1999 book-based film.
Appleton-based photographers J. Shimon and J. Lindemann, collaborators since 1983, preserve the ageless character of rural Wisconsin towns through the use of antiquarian cameras and printing techniques, though the post-industrial settings and modern fashion mark the photos as documents of contemporary life.
“Willie G. Davidson: Artist, Designer, Leader, Legend”
The Harley-Davidson Museum
400 W. Canal St.
As the son of a former Harley-Davidson president and the grandson of the company’s co-founder, Willie G. Davidson was born motorcycle royalty. During his tenure as chief styling officer he cemented this reputation by cultivating Harley-Davidson’s custom motorcycle culture. In the Harley-Davidson Museum’s summer exhibition, “Willie G. Davidson: Artist, Designer, Leader, Legend,” opening June 13, a collection of rare motorcycle memorabilia, watercolor paintings and other personal artifacts from Willie’s collection tell not only his life story but also the development of Harley-Davidson’s modern image.
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Riverwest’s 39th Annual Locust Street Festival of Music and Art
East Locust St. between Humboldt St. and Holton St.
You can fit an astounding amount of stuff in the six blocks between Humboldt and Holton. To be specific: six outdoor music stages, more than 30 local bands, countless artists, merchants, food vendors, an assortment of activities for the kids and even a drum circle (it is Riverwest, after all). More than 15,000 people are expected to fill what space remains on Sunday, June 14, from 11:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. The festivities begin with the starter pistol for the Riverwest Beer Run/Walk, a 1.8-mile journey with four beer stops along the way for good measure. Indulgence aside, this year’s beneficiary is COA Youth and Family Centers, which have provided resources for low-income Milwaukee families since 1906.
