{image1} "It seems that Milwaukee has an inferiority complex," says Jen Funk, the newest member of Milwaukee's art scene team, Made in Milwaukee (MIM). "Generally, we hear from people that it's not as awesome as other cities, or doesn't have as much going on. We feel this is totally untrue."

According to Funk, Milwaukee has one of the most supportive art and music scenes in the Midwest, and the MIM team, started by Chuck Watson and Jeremy Techtmann, is determined to prove it.

When Watson and Techtmann decided to form MIM in 2004, they knew from the get go that it had to be all encompassing. Instead of focusing on one specific medium, it was created as a vehicle for local expression and creativity of all kinds.

The first Made in Milwaukee party happened in July 2004, the second last Halloween, and now, as a part of this summer's Gallery Night, the third will go down on Friday, July 29 at Onopa Brewing Co.

"Onopa has a great relationship with the community," says Funk. "It's a very supportive venue that allows for creative freedom for both music and art."

And if anything, this event cultivates creative freedom. "There are no requirements (to participate in MIM), other than living here." Instead of limiting it to a specific genre, they realized how cool it would be if all sorts of creative types got together to throw a kick-ass party while combating the lingering inferiority complex this city has when it comes to its art scene.

"We use the term 'artist" very loosely," she says. "To say that a fashion designer, for example, is not an artist excludes a whole community." In an effort to expand the boundaries for local artists, MIM provides innovators in any creative realm -- fashion, photography, graphic design, film, painting, music--a place to play, network, sell stuff and, most importantly, have a good time while doing it.

"As MIM's booking agent, I'm most interested in providing a better party," says Watson. "More to do, more to look at, and more to enjoy."

For Friday night's party, they've just about got all the art bases covered. Musically, Ill Groove Movement, Cash Bishop and the Rusty P's tackle the hip hop, De La Buena does the Latin soul, Clementine plays the indie rock and Buffalo brings the jazz.

Non-musical artists include live painting from the Tastes Like Chicken crew and MIM co-creator Techtmann, live video mixing by VJ Scwa and photography installments by Scott Lucey.

"There is a little something for everyone who comes out on Gallery Night, even for those who wouldn't normally frequent Onopa or the Riverwest neighborhood."

Music starts: 9 p.m.
Admission: $7
MIM Web site: removement.com/madeinmilwaukee.

Across town, the Milwaukee School of Engineering will host a retrospective exhibition of works by German artist Hans Dieter Tylle, including the 14x19-ft. sports-related painting called "The Spirit of MSOE Athletics."

The artist worked from archival photos of the athletes as well as live models in his studio in Germany to create the painting that figuratively interprets the perseverance, perspective and accomplishment of real athletes.

This piece, along with about 25 others, will be on display in the Kern Center, the university's new health and recreation center.

Traveling further south, the Third Ward's Fitness Together, 411 E. Menomonee St., presents "Milwaukee Summers: Black and White Photographs by Todd Groskopf." The 1979 graduate of Milwaukee Center for Photography and former owner of The Silver Paper Gallery captures Milwaukee in recreation. On display Friday, 5 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Gallery Night Web Site is historicthirdward.org/events.