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SWAN Day MKE 2018: “Women and Nature: Nourishing Our Roots,” an art exhibition at the Urban Ecology Center – Menomonee Valley.

Exhibition: Runs March 24th – May 31st, 2018
OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday, March 24th 11am-3pm
FREE & Open to the public

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” ― Audre Lorde

Over one-hundred women-identified artists of all ages, disciplines and levels of artistic experience residing in Milwaukee and surrounding areas were invited to participate in an informal, non-juried celebration and exhibition. Now in its third year, SWAN Day MKE participants move “beyond the swan,” exploring a broader theme of women’s artistic & spiritual connections to nature, and how these roots nourish one’s work, activism and daily living. The response to this year’s theme has been outstanding, and we are delighted to welcome dozens of new artists from a diverse range of artistic backgrounds, ages, cultures, and mediums. Women from Alverno College, Mount Mary University, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Escuela Verde Milwaukee, L.U.N.A collective, as well as individual practices around the Milwaukee area are coming together for what promises to be an amazing celebration of the diverse and beautiful community of women and arts here in Milwaukee.

New for 2018! We are so excited to be hosting our third year at a new venue: the Urban Ecology Center Menomonee Valley Branch. Each year SWAN Day MKE also supports a cause related to our theme, and this year we are inviting people to support our host, the Urban Ecology Center. An environmental community center with three locations in Milwaukee, the UEC works to connect people to nature right in their neighborhood. With your support, the UEC can connect even more folks in our communities to the nourishing power of nature displayed in the SWAN Day MKE exhibition and its arts programming as a whole.

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OPENING RECEPTION EVENTS:
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***FREE MINI MARKET 11am-3pm*** featuring items for sale by
Artery Ink CanelitaBrown Alice’s Garden Ceci Tejeda Caroline’s Raw Creations & August Sweets

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**11:45 AM – Opening Remarks – Jamie Bilgo Bruchman, SWAN Day MKE Organizer

**11:55am – Remarks from Glenna Holstein, Branch Manager of the Urban Ecology Center – Menomonee Valley

***12:00-12:15pm – Opening Libation with Venice Williams***
We will honor the work of women in the arts and the environment. Venice R. Williams self-identifies as a cultural and spiritual midwife, guiding people into “birthing” the goodness and talents that lie within. She has been the visionary behind many Milwaukee organizations, programs, and projects, and currently serves as the Executive Director of Alice’s Garden Urban Farm, and Minister for The Table: a first century style community in the twenty-first century. Venice strongly believes that everything we need to know about life may be learned from observing the natural world.

**12:15pm – Poetry Reading by Linetta Davis

**12:30pm – Remarks by artist group L.U.N.A. (Latinas Unidas en Las Artes) A Latinx artist collective that not only empowers/supports each other but also shares resources/opportunities. We will be discussing access of opportunities in gallery spaces in MKE and how collectively as a group we have more power in our numbers to show together, as well as the need of Latinx run gallery spaces.

**12:45PM & 2:30PM Dance Performance by Cyenthia Vijayakumar Mahesh. She is a trained Kathak (Indian classical dance) and Bollywood dancer who has been performing and teaching the artform. She has performed all over India and America in many platforms. Mrs. Vijayakumar has also conducted Bollywood and and choreographed many dance routines for various events. You may have seen Cyenthia perform at Danceworks, Inc. DanceLAB: Get It Out There this January!

**2:05pm Mount Mary University Student Art Therapy Association will speak about their group installation, “Becoming.”
Each paper swan is crafted from a unique artist’s work. This collaborative piece holds the stories of many journeys.

**2:15 – Storytelling by Monica Thomas, a dreamer and a maker, a poet, typospherian, and artist’s mom. She performs as a storyteller through Ex Fabula’s fellowship program)

**2:45pm Alexandra Jenkins of LimitlessExpansion will be offering a closing Blessing

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MORE ACTIVITIES!
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** 11am-12:45pm FREE Face Painting by Evolutionz Face & Body Art & FREE Coloring Table with Shami Lock, Healing Arts Facilitator: meetup.com/MkeAdultColoring

-1:00pm-2:45pm Caricature Portraits by Rozalia Hernandez-Singh, professional caricaturist for 20 years & illustrator of the book “I am a Girl of Color” Caricatures are a special price of $6 for a black and white, head and shoulders. (10-15 min). FREE Root chakra focus/meditation with Alexandra of LimitlessExpansion

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Follow SWAN Day MKE on Instagram SWAN Day MKE
Official Press Release:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ePpj7zCv1NGdvr7Z2JVvXXqW6NCaPMBcTatQcu2hyvM/edit?usp=sharing
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What is SWAN Day?
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SWAN Day/Support Women Artists Now Day is a growing worldwide movement that spotlights the contributions of diverse women artists. It is an annual event that is celebrated as part of Women’s History Month on the last Saturday of March and during the surrounding weeks. Whether their art involves a longing for cross-cultural understanding, a passion for social justice, or a sheer love of the arts, women are expressing solidarity with each other and sharing their visions with their communities through a wide range of SWAN Day events. Please visit http://www.womenarts.org for more info.

SWAN Day MKE 2018 is made possible with generous support from WomenArts – SWAN Day, Blick Art Materials, MOD GEN, Urban Ecology Center Caroline’s Raw Creations & numerous volunteers & donors.

Contact:
Jamie Bilgo Bruchman, Organizer
swandaymke@gmail.com
414-588-1393

Urban Ecology Center – Menomonee Valley
Glenna Holstein, Branch Manager
3700 W Pierce St
Milwaukee, WI 53215
(414) 431-2940 x401
Hours: Tues-Thurs 12-7, Fri 12-6, Sat 9-5, Closed Sun & Mon