From: Mike <MikeGundlach@wi.rr.com>
PRESS RELEASE
The Milwaukee Sketch Club's 100-year anniversary.
The Milwaukee Sketch Club (MSC) is proud to announce its 100
year anniversary celebration this May.
It's hard to believe it's been 100 years!!
The Milwaukee Sketch Club formerly known as The Men’s
Milwaukee Sketch Club of Milwaukee and was formed in 1922 by Dudley Crafts
Watson - then director of the Milwaukee Art Institute. Impressed by the number
of men who were sketching for relaxation Mr. Watson figured they night have fun
doing it together. Unified by hobby, the members were and continue to be
dissimilar in about everything else. Historically the sketch club had 100
members. Today the club hovers around 40 members; however, both men and women
make up the membership.
Of note Winston Churchill (a reportedly famous amateur
artist) was an honorary member. In 1998 women were included and the name was
shortened to the Milwaukee Sketch Club.
“From my personal perspective this is a very special club.’
said Mike Gundlach. There is that magic
energy that occurs, and we feel it every Tuesday. Our models (portrait and
figure) feel it too and they let us know!
The music is “ohh” so nice and the two hours seem to fly by.
We have been through a lot due to the covid shutdown. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (who hosted the
club for a number of years) opened a food pantry and the club had to move.
However; “One door closes and another opens.”
Said Tom Piedt.
The Milwaukee Sketch Club’s new location is: “Find your light
Art School and Gallery, LLC – a beautiful facility at 3701 E. Layton Avenue
– owned by Madeline Glaspey. We have moved probably ten times over those 100
years, but it keeps going. It keeps
working.”
We meet Fall through Spring.
In the summer and other days off shoot groups meet for plein air and
other events, but Milwaukee Sketch Club is always the core.”
“I really love this group, because it helps me practice every
week, and they’re a great group of people, and we get to laugh a lot, and sketch
a lot, and in summer we get to go out and paint a lot.” said Kathy.
Elene said. “I really
like this Friday morning satellite group, because I'm inspired to draw, on my
own. It's something that I want to
do. This group is very friendly, and
encouraging so it's inspiring me to do what I want to do, and that's draw.”
Great camaraderie.
Helpful criticism. Excellent
support, for whatever I want to do.
Just a great bunch of people!”
Said Kent.
“I especially enjoy, the trips to the different parks, when
we were doing painting as a group. It's
a blast to paint as well as to see the way these other people will look at the
landscapes!” Said Gary Kenny.
“I've enjoyed going to the art groups, especially the plein
air groups, because artists are great people to be around, and we have a great
time, and nobody is being judgmental about how our art is turning out, everybody
just does their own thing, and has a great time.” Said Nilah.
“This is Charlie. I've
been with the Milwaukee Sketch Club for three years. One of those years was the time when
everybody had to stay at home, and happily now that we are at Find Your
Light! It's a nice venue there! Thank you for introduced me to this
group. I've enjoyed myself a lot.”
“I'm a newbie.”, and Christie said: “This is the most fun thing for me to do on
a Friday morning, and I don't mind getting up early. Everybody is so much fun, and incredibly
talented people. Everybody is giving me
some good tips, and pointers. I'm really
just enjoying this. It's just a fun
thing to do, with a bunch of fun people, and everybody is pretty funny,
too. There are some good jokes going
around.”
“I'm really happy to be part of the Friday morning spin-off
group, that meets for plein air. I love
going outside in the summer, and like being at Starbucks in the winter. I totally enjoy the Tuesday night group for
the option to do either figure drawing, or portrait drawing. It has increased my skills
tremendously.” Said Jan.
“This is Rudy, and I want to thank everybody here, at the
Milwaukee Sketch Club, because I've never really met any artist before. These people are so talented, and I'm
learning so much! I've been a new
member for about two months, and it's just been enjoyable. I've learned something every day. This has been great!”
