Art City Mary Louise Schumacher

We all tell stories in our minds when we look at art, and artists have very little control over the ways their artworks are perceived. This seems especially true for art that exists in public spaces.

This week's episode looks at how one work of art could have such divergent — and potent — meanings for two artists, Reynaldo Hernandez, perhaps the city's most prolific muralist, and Eddie Villanueva, an accomplished artist who grew up near one of Hernandez' murals. The story is a reminder of the slippery nature of meaning in art.

Next up, we explore the work of Tyanna Buie, whose work is well known here after several prestigious group and solo shows, in a new way. Much of Buie's work is inspired by her childhood, a churning era of changing homes and schools. From blurry memories, Buie makes marks, often layered and indistinct in their way. We asked her to talk about the nature of her work while visiting some of the specific sites of her childhood.

If there are two people in Milwaukee you'd want to listen to for a little longer than the average, it's Anne Basting and Brad Lichtenstein. We give this interview a bit of room, since we cover a lot of ground, Homer, an original play, a film, the places we go to die and collaborating with those we love. To make up for lost time, Adam Carr puts Brad Fiore through the paces with the first ever Art City Asks lightening round. Finally, gallery owner Debra Brehmer and Kevin Miyazaki share some impressions of the Wisconsin Triennial. Settle in. Art City Radio is produced by Adam Carr.

Hello everyone. I'm excited to share the fourth episode of Art City Radio with you, our weekly podcast about culture in Milwaukee.

For this week's show, I share a story that I've had tucked away for weeks. I interviewed Miranda Levy, a local artist who had landed a spot on "Project Runway" this year. We talked before one of the first episodes of the fashion-fueled reality TV show.

I asked Miranda why some of her designs resembled her military uniform. That's when she told me a story -- of what propelled her into the U.S. Army, what the military gave to her, the suffering she endured at the hands of her male colleagues and the art projects that helped her reconstructed her identity.

It's a hard story but ultimately a hopeful one. Every time I thought about writing it up it didn't quite feel right in the context of the "Project Runway" season. Also, so much of the story resides in Miranda's voice, in the poise and eloquence with which she tells it. Now that we have this podcast, it seemed like the perfect way to share it.

She'll talk about the Veterans Book Project, a library of books written collaboratively with artist Monica Haller and veterans. Collectively, this archive represents a larger narrative about the impact of war and the nature of military service. Haller worked with the Milwaukee Art Museum to connect with local veterans.

Also this week, I ask Adam Carr to share some of his peeved impressions of "Station to Sation," the cross country, whistle-stop art happening that's got the whole art world buzzing right now. We saw it in Chicago this week. And the Art City contributors are on the phone with ideas for art to see this weekend, too.

Art City Radio: 30 Americans, Frosty Myers by Mary Louise Schumacher

This week we talk about our show's cancellation from the WMSE roster, Detroit, taqueria-infused ravings and fish. Adam Carr is the producer of Art City radio.

One our premiere episode of Art City, Jennifer Johung, Debra Brehmer and I talk about "art circles," thanks to an article released this week by the Shepherd Express and written and coordinated by James Carlson. Adam Carr talks to Fred Stonehouse, who recently curated a tattoo-inspired show for the Tory Folliard Gallery