Now in its 4th year, SWAN Day Milwaukee is celebrating the power and diversity of women’s creativity with “Water: Reflection, Ritual & Resource”, an art exhibit at the Urban Ecology Center. SWAN Day MKE exhibitions explore themes of women’s artistic & spiritual connections to nature, and how these roots nourish one’s work, activism, and daily living.
Over one-hundred women-identified artists of all ages, disciplines and levels of artistic experience residing in Milwaukee and surrounding areas have been invited to participate in an informal, non-juried celebration and exhibition. SWAN Day MKE participants reflect on the topic of water and create a piece that expresses their thoughts, relationship, experience, or practice related to water and how it connects us to place, people, ritual, and ancestry.
Jamie Bilgo Bruchman, the lead organizer of SWAN Day MKE says, “The response to this year’s theme has been outstanding, and we are delighted once again to welcome dozens of new artists from a diverse range of artistic backgrounds, ages, cultures, and mediums.” Women from all over the greater Milwaukee area are coming together for what promises to be an amazing celebration.
The exhibition runs from March 23rd to June 1st. There is also an opening reception on Saturday, March 23rd from noon to 3pm. For more information, connect with SWAN Day MKE on Facebook.
Selection of Artist Profiles from SWAN Day MKE 2019:
Rozalia Hernandez-Singh, known as Aya, started drawing from a young age. Her work includes indoor and outdoor murals in the Milwaukee area and she has worked as a professional caricaturist for over 20 years in the Wisconsin and Illinois area. She is also illustrator for the book, "I am a girl of color," with author Deanna Singh. Learn more at www.artsbyaya.com.
Brianna Joy Seipel is an artist and designer whose work celebrates stories of dynamic women and the landscapes that inspire us. You can find her on Instagram.
Nova Czarnecki is a Milwaukee-based figurative oil painter and muralist. Learn more at www.novaczarnecki.com.
Rosy Petri is a quilter, print-maker, chef, artist, and owner of Paradise Home. She is also the recent recipient of the Pfister Artist in Residence. You can find Rosy on Etsy, Instagram, and at www.thisisparadisehome.com.
Whitney Salgado is an artist and illustrator. A graduate from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Whitney is a 27 year-old digital artist studying and living in Wisconsin. She enjoys exploring color and is inspired by nature, dreams, and surrealism. While she prefers working digitally, she is also practiced in traditional media and picks up acrylics from time to time. Find her work at www.whitneysalgado.com.
Tara Monnink is a papermaker, printmaker, and photographer. She is also a RedLine Milwaukee Artist in Residence. You can find Tara on Instagram.
Liala Amin’s artwork is an interpretation of spiritual experiences and an exploration of religious symbols. Her ultimate goal is to share the importance of the arts, keep art education accessible, and create welcoming spaces where all are free to express themselves. Liala also serves as the Community Outreach Coordinator for SWAN Day MKE 2019. Find Liala on Instagram and at Creative Mornings Milwaukee.
Stacy Lee Ollmann is a Milwaukee artist working primarily in mixed media sculpture and alcohol ink. She lives and works a short walk from the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. You can learn more about her work at www.stacyleeollmann.com.
Megan Johnson is a mixed media artist living in West Bend, WI. By layering vintage paper ephemera with paint, various drawing media and found objects she tells evocative stories which speak to universal experiences as well as personal memories. You can find Megan’s work on Instagram and at www.meganwoodardjohnson.com.
