Swing Bridge, Milwaukee River, 2011, by David Schalliol
Many of the industries that were the backbone of Milwaukee’s economy have fled, like the Pfister & Vogel Tannery, Blatz and Pabst breweries. And these spaces have converted into money magnets rather than moneymakers. The trade off – manufacturing had less regard for the environment and community, though retail and farming have less profit potential.
Working Legacies: The Death and (After) Life of Post-Industrial Milwaukee explores this evolution through photos and histories by David Schalliol and Michael Carriere. On display at the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Grohmann Museum, these photographs from former and current industrial facilities explore their present use in context and show the legacy of work in Milwaukee.
“The demise of a working Milwaukee has been greatly exaggerated,” says James Kieselburg, director of the Grohmann. “The technology and hard work is still there, but the businesses have changed.”
The artists use contemporary examples like the Falk Foundry, Growing Power, Sweet Water Organics, Port of Milwaukee and the former Tower Automotive and Pabst Brewery sites to foreshadow how sites can be reused. “Rather than building new, we are showing how people are reclaiming the old – otherwise we experience industrial wasteland,” says Kieselburg.
Schalliol, a visiting professor from the University of Chicago, and Carriere, an assistant professor in American and urban history at MSOE, worked collaboratively to capture the contemporary images and draft the accompanying text.
“They are pretty pictures, don’t get me wrong, but the goal of the exhibit is to teach,” Kieselburg says. “It’s a narrative and it’s very informative.” He hopes this exhibit will act as a catalyst for other industrial projects in the city.
Working Legacies runs through February 6th at the Grohmann Museum (1000 N. Broadway). The museum is open seven days a week and charges $5 admission for adults. Stop by Friday, January 20 for a gallery talk with Schalliol and Carriere, which is free and open to the public. For more information, click here.
One More Not To Miss
Tundra Challenge. Think you’re a true Sconnie? Then you’ve got what it takes to battle 15 obstacles designed by military experts stretching over 3.5 miles in tundra-like conditions? Give it a shot on Saturday, January 14 at Oconomowoc’s Olympia Resort (1350 Royale Mile Rd.).
This event is the first of its kind in the area. Hurry, pre-registration closes January 13, but day-of tickets starting at $75 are also available for races at noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. There is also an after party in which the proud victors can defrost. It’ll include DJs, food and drinks. For more information or to register, click here.
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