Danielle Rosen, a senior at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) majoring in Integrated Studio Arts, has been named the new curator of Gallerie M, an art space in the lobby of InterContinental Milwaukee hotel Downtown.
The appointment follows the creation of a new partnership between the hotel and the Third Ward art school. As part of the deal, MIAD can name a student to curate the space and InterContinental Milwaukee makes an annual donation to the MIAD Scholarship Fund.
Rosen, whose first exhibit, "Hyperbole," opens at Gallerie M this week, brings three years' experience working in two MIAD galleries.
"My curatorial goals for this particular space are to show a range of work that will be relevant to the broad audience who typically enter Gallerie M, but will still challenge viewers," says Rosen.
"I feel the works should be active in terms of how they engage viewers and foster dialogue, criticism, understanding and questioning -- not just function as expensive decorative items."
"Hyperbole" features works by Pedro Velez and Katie Brandt. An opening reception takes place Friday, Feb. 25, from 6 to 9 p.m., and will include complimentary champagne, light appetizers and a cash bar.
"We're excited to have Danielle join our team," says Tim Smith, general manager of InterContinental Milwaukee. "We offer many programs and events that support the local arts community and are thrilled to add MIAD as one of our partners in that effort."
Rosen's tenure at Gallerie M will likely be brief. She graduates in May and has applied to a number of graduate schools across the country.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
