Mandel teams up with artists to create public studio

Milwaukee-based Mandel Group recently partnered with Plaid Tuba Holdings, LLC, an organization founded by artist Reginald Baylor to support creativity and art in the community to form the Mandel Creative Studio in the Historic Third Ward. The studio will occupy space at 120 N. Broadway St., on the corner of Broadway and Erie in the Marine Terminal Building.
“I had worked with Mandel earlier this year for their open house exhibition in a different location,” said Baylor. “Mandel thought it would be great to do something with this space and we thought it would be a perfect fit for Plaid Tuba to celebrate all types of creativity every genre and every discipline.”
Plaid Tuba and the Mandel Studio will be set up to highlight creative professionals from the surrounding area, said James Lohmiller, chief executive officer of Plaid Tuba.
“The space will become a highly visible working gallery and we hope to be able to help out creative professionals launch their careers,” Baylor said. “Mandel group is letting us use the space at no cost and it will function similarly to an Artist-in-Residence program.”
Plaid Tuba will serve as a creative professionals support service, assisting creative professionals with logistical needs and otherwise organizing marketing and promotion of the creative professionals’ work, Baylor said.
Baylor, a painter will be one of the first artists featured in the new studio and will be joined by leather craftsman Kenton Sorenson of Cottage Grove.
Devin Arch Design, Chris Hutton Photography and HollenWolff USA will also occupy space in the building.
According to Baylor, everyone will be officially moved in by early December, but Plaid Tuba is planning a launch party fundraising event on Friday, Oct. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will cost $25 at the door for food and drinks and all proceeds from the event will benefit St. Marcus School in Milwaukee. Ben True, professional artist will display some of his work, Baylor said.
Lohmiller plans to have ongoing exhibitions in the studio but also plans to host various events and fundraisers with sculpting, painting, music and food.
“We’re excited about being able to celebrate the works and talent of the creative professionals in our area,” Lohmiller said.
“Our main goal is to make the public and private sector more aware of how professional creative people really are,” Baylor said. “Plaid Tuba is an innovative new idea, but we will succeed because we are no longer living in an industrial age or even an information age. We will succeed because we are living in the inspiration age.”