First Of Its Kind Partnership Formed Between East Side Senior Living Community And Art Museum

MILWAUKEE, WI (October 20, 2011) – Saint_John's On The Lake and the Museum of Wisconsin Art announced today the opening of the Museum of Wisconsin Art On The Lake, located at 1800 N. Prospect Avenue on Milwaukee’s east side. The satellite gallery of the Museum of Wisconsin Art is located in premier gallery space on the first floor of the east side senior living community’s recently opened expansion. As Milwaukee’s newest cultural venue it will exhibit Wisconsin’s finest historic and contemporary visual art. This is a first for the senior living industry as no other continuing care retirement community in the nation has a permanent museum run satellite gallery located within their community.

The 50 year old Museum of Wisconsin Art, founded in 1961 and located in West Bend, is the state’s primary venue for the exhibition of historic and contemporary Wisconsin art. Saint_John's On The Lake, a continuing care retirement community with 197 independent living residences, 17 assisted living apartments and 52 skilled nursing beds, was founded in 1868 and opened its expansion in July creating the opportunity for the satellite museum. The gallery space was specifically designed by the architects with extensive wall space, protective UV coating on the windows, special lighting and comfortable seating for viewing the art exhibits. The museum will not only be available for Saint_John's residents and their guests to enjoy but will also be open to the public. It will feature quarterly art installations with educational programs associated with each exhibit.

Tom Lidtke, Executive Director of the Museum of Wisconsin Art said “I am pleased we have formed this relationship with Saint_John's. The opening of the Museum of Wisconsin Art On The Lake allows us to better serve the region’s patrons and creators of Wisconsin art. Metropolitan Milwaukee residents will now have easy access to experience the great art featured at the Museum of Wisconsin Art’s main museum in West Bend.” Renee Anderson, President of Saint_John's On The Lake commented: “There is a natural synergy between our two organizations. Saint_John's has long been known for its commitment to the arts and many of our residents are supporters of the arts. As a non-profit we are committed to giving back to the community and providing space for Milwaukee’s newest cultural venue enabling more to enjoy the spectacular art is just one way we can accomplish that.”

The first exhibit is titled Soul Searching: Portraits from the Museum of Wisconsin Art. The public openings are scheduled for Friday, October 21st from 5 – 9 pm and Saturday, October 22nd from 10 am – 5 pm with a lecture on Tuesday, October 25th at 7:30 pm by the exhibition’s curator, Erika Patterson. The exhibit runs through Sunday, January 15, 2012 and can be viewed daily from 10 am – 5 pm.