Page 9 - IPAMA Grand Opening Booklet

PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN WISCONSIN

Urban Heroes, Urban Wood

“Urban Heroes, Urban Wood is a group exhibition honoring Milwaukee’s most
influential black citizens. The works completed for “Urban Heroes, Urban Wood”

together share the story of Milwaukee’s Black Community through paintings and
photographs displayed on wood from Milwaukee ash trees. Some of the honored
subjects include Lloyd Barbee, Bernice Copeland-Lindsay, Ardie & Wilbur
Halyard, O.C. White and Annette Polly Williams. Artists be featured in the show:
Ken Brown, Cri-Edward Chapman, Alicia Christina, Marco Daniels, Darvell
Ecford, Nick Eff, Luther Hall, William Harrell, Bennie Higgins, Willie LaMar, Larry
Leake, Darron Reed, Bobby Sanford, Jr., Scott Terry, Edward Wade and Willie
Weaver-Bey.

“We are excited to share the stories of Milwaukee’s influential black leaders

painted by the members of the Fresh Perspective Art Collective, which evens
the playing field for black families by artfully engaging their husbands, fathers,
sons, brothers, boyfriends, and grandfathers,” Benson said. The paintings are
created ash wood panels that were cut and processed from urban trees that
once grew in the City of Milwaukee. They needed to be removed due to a
natural circumstance but live a second life as high-quality Wisconsin Urban
Wood lumber. The lumber was formed into substantial panels, ready to be hung
inside or outside. The exhibit is sponsored by the Wisconsin Black Historical
Society, Fresh Perspective Art Collective and Wisconsin Urban Wood.

Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum 2620 West Center Street Milwaukee, WI 53206 414.372.7677