This Friday, WMSE's 4th annual Art & Music event moves online for the first time – and hopefully the last – this Friday, July 31.

Presented by Black Box Fund and MARN, the fundraising fun starts at 6 p.m. at wmse.org/artandmusic with a virtual experience of art, music and an auction.

Hosted by WMSE’s very own Tom Crawford, this event will showcase art from local and nationally famous artists, live performances by the Erotic Adventures of the Static Chicken and interviews with the artists and musicians. Plus, Great Lakes Distillery will share cocktail recipes and all attendees will get interesting info on some of Milwaukee’s greatest supporters of art.

"WMSE has always been the station to fully support Milwaukee area artists on so many levels," says Crawford. "The station has always been a place where the area's visual artists can count on the support of the station."

The virtual event centers around an auction featuring 200 album-sized, 12-by-12 boards and what would have been the event’s live painters’ art on 36-by-36 canvas. All of this artwork will be put up for auction throughout the event. Highlights of the artists’ virtual live painting will be showcased throughout as well.

All proceeds from this event will support WMSE and help the station continue the work it does to support the local arts community.

The Erotic Adventures of the Static Chicken, the featured band for every Art & Music event to date, will provide a live performance from the Brown Deer Conservatory. 

To watch this event, go to wmse.org/artandmusic or the WMSE Facebook page. 

"Despite its challenges and history, Milwaukee has one of the most vibrant, talented and creative communities in the country," says Crawford. "That's an ongoing constant no matter what's going on in the world. Creativity and the arts can be what sets your soul at ease," says Crawford.