Art has never been a solitary endeavor for Janelle Gramling.
Early in her career, the Milwaukee ceramicist, sculptor and designer co-ran an artist clothing cooperative called Fasten, where she worked closely alongside other local creatives. And up until 2020, she shared a private studio space with her then-husband, woodworker Matthew Gramling.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
The two of them often worked together on mixed-media pieces that blurred the line between fine art and functional household goods, such as beds and tabletops.
When she and Matthew decided to divorce in 2020, Gramling knew that she’d made the right decision. But the sting of losing a partner and creative collaborator still hurt. “It can be isolating,” she says, “being an artist and just working by yourself.”
Gramling could have packed up her art practice when she left the shared space. Instead, she decided to recommit to her first love – cooperative art-making – by starting a larger, more community-oriented studio in a new building – Bay View’s Lincoln Warehouse.
Tooth + Nail opened its doors to the public in February, and it’s part studio, part workshop and part exhibition hall.
“What I’m trying to make is a space where art is for everybody,” Gramling says. She wants Tooth + Nail to be open and accessible to creatives of all interests and skill levels. “Things that are maybe more conceptual, or have taken people master’s degrees to develop, belong alongside things made by people who are just hobbyists.”
What does that look like in practice?
It means that many of the classes offered are structured in a way that can appeal to beginners and expert makers alike. It also means that Tooth + Nail’s rotating exhibitions are free to the public, so Gramling can shine a spotlight on perhaps underappreciated local artists like “Lonesome” Bill Walker, who also works as a handyman and built equipment for the studio.
Tooth + Nail hosts a new exhibition roughly every three months. Gramling invites others to propose their own exhibition ideas, too.
And in September, Gramling began offering drop-in hours for ceramicists. “After a quick studio orientation, anyone from the community who has a basic understanding of ceramics can sign up to use the studio during three-hour blocks offered regularly on nights and weekends,” she says.
In short, Gramling wants everyone to feel welcome. “The space,” she says, “belongs to the community.”
Tooth + Nail is located in Bay View’s Lincoln Warehouse at 2018 S. First St. For more information about the studio, or its workshops and exhibitions, visit toothandnailmke.com.
Workshops Available Now
Tassel Making
NOV. 17, NOON-2 P.M. | $80
Gramling hosts this one-day workshop for all skill levels. Students will make a sculptural tassel from linen and wool and create decorative elements using wood, metal and clay.
Intro to Wheel Throwing
NOV. 25, 6-8 P.M. | $65
Want to throw clay on a potter’s wheel? Learn the basics at this one-night course. After the class, you’ll have one of your pieces glazed and fired to keep.
Ceramic Santa Cookie Plates
DEC. 4, 6-8 P.M. | FROM $55
Celebrate the holiday season by creating something that’s both fun and functional: a homemade cookie plate. Paint and carve a ceramic cookie plate at this family-friendly event, with guidance from Emily Schamburek, a local potter.
