Category: MIAD News & Events

Before the spring semester gets fully underway, check out these important dates that you and your student should know.

January 17 – Winter Gallery Night
“OSSUARY: A Project by Laurie Beth Clark” is on view during Winter Gallery Night in the Historic Third Ward from 5 – 9 p.m. Artists’ reception begins at 7 p.m.

January 20 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
No classes on this day.

January 27 – March 14 – New exhibitions on view
Two documentary exhibitions “Mrs. Lincoln, What Did You Think of the Play?” curated by Danny Volk and “New Deal Utopias” by Jason Reblando in the Brooks Stevens Gallery.

February 5 – MIAD Creativity Series
Titus Kaphar presents “Making Space for Black History: Amending the Landscape of American Art” on MIAD’s 4th Floor Raw Space at 6 p.m. Free tickets are required for this event. Learn more about this year’s Creativity Series.

February 26 – “OSSUARY: A Project by Laurie Beth Clark” Panel Discussion
A panel of artists and community members begins at 7 p.m. Learn more about the exhibit.

March 9 – Midterm reports available

March 9 – 13 – Spring Break
No classes.

April 2 – AH151 Field Trip
All first-year students enrolled in AH151 engage in an all-day field trip to Chicago.

April 3 – First-Year Juried Student Exhibition Opening Reception & Awards Ceremony
This exhibition represents the best of first-year students’ work. Outside jurors select students to receive awards. Award ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m.

April 15 – Senior Exhibition Preview Night
MIAD’s annual Senior Exhibition, Wisconsin’s largest exhibition of its kind, features more than 120 artists and designers representing all of MIAD’s Bachelor of Fine Arts majors and minors. The Preview Night, from 4 – 8 p.m., is the MIAD community’s chance to see the work before the exhibit opens to the general public.

April 17 – Senior Exhibition Opening & Gallery Night
The 2020 MIAD Senior Exhibition has its Opening Reception on Spring Gallery Night in the Historic Third Ward from 5 – 9 p.m.

May 1 – Last day of spring classes 

May 5 – Grades due 

May 9 – Graduation
Congratulations to our graduating seniors! MIAD’s commencement ceremony is held at the Pabst Theater, 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Read the graduation blog for more info.

Click the image above to get to know the folks who help support your student’s success, from the college president to student advisors. Plus, learn what each faculty or staff member does for students and what they would like you to know about them.

“I can see the big picture for students when the curriculum might not make sense. If [students] have a question I can help” – Leslie Fedorchuk

Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) is a nationally recognized honor society celebrating academic milestones. Students who demonstrate a 3.5 GPA during their first semester have the opportunity to join MIAD’s Alpha Lambda Delta chapter.

Benefits of ALD membership
Membership in Alpha Lambda Delta is the first step to awards and honors throughout their collegiate experience and beyond. Alpha Lambda Delta members are eligible to compete for undergraduate scholarships of $1,000 – $3,000 each, study abroad scholarships of $1,000 – $2,000 each, and graduate fellowships of $3,000 – $7,500 each.

What you can do
Consider reaching out to your student to confirm they have received an email from the Advising Office about ALD membership. Please encourage your student to take advantage of this opportunity to be part of a national community of scholars. An initiation ceremony will be held in Spring 2020 for new members. As a lifetime member of Alpha Lambda Delta, each member pays one-time dues of $45. 

For more information about ALD, contact aleacross@miad.edu or visit the national website at www.nationalald.org

**For students who are ALD members, we encourage them to join us Monday, January 20, 2020 at Lancaster Public School (4931 N 68th St, Milwaukee, WI 53219) from 8 a.m. – noon for a volunteer service opportunity**

The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) seeks comments from the public about the College in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its regional accrediting agency. The College will host a visit from the Higher Learning Commission November 10 – 12, 2019.

All comments must be received by October 10.

The Commission has accredited MIAD since 1987. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation.

The public is invited to submit substantive comments relating to the quality of the college or its academic programs. Comments must be in writing through the following link:

https://hlcommission.org/Student-Resources/third-party-comment.html

Comments may also be sent to:

Public Comment on MIAD
The Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604-1411

MIAD students have two opportunities throughout the school year to showcase and sell their work to a wide audience: at the Creative Fusion gala in May and at the MIAD Holiday Sale in December.

Registration is now open for MIAD students (and alumni) to sell their work at the 2019 MIAD Holiday Sale, December 5 – 7, 2019. Students need to register by Friday, November 8, in order to sell their work.

Now in its ninth year, the MIAD Holiday Sale is a highly-publicized event that draws 1,000 art enthusiasts and visitors to campus.

Any student – from first-year to seniors – can participate by selling drawings, photographs, prints, paintings, furniture, design work, sculptures, jewelry, handmade gifts and cards, or other work. Artists/designers receive 70% of the sale price. A portion of the proceeds benefits MIAD student scholarships.

Visit miad.edu/holidaysale for more info.

The 2019 MIAD Holiday Sale is sponsored by:

More information about selling student work at Creative Fusion will be available in the spring semester.

Before the fall semester gets fully underway, check out these important dates that you and your student should know.

August 20-21 – New Student Move-In

August 20-24 – New Student Orientation
New students attend workshops to learn about MIAD and its resources, and participate in a studio experience with faculty and mentors, among other activities.

August 26 – Fall classes begin

August 27 – On-Campus Employment Information Session, 11:30 a.m.
MIAD Career Services provides information on how to obtain an on-campus job.

August 29 – Welcome Back Picnic, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Students enjoy food, activities and information booths on Erie Street in front of MIAD.

September 2 – Labor Day; no classes

September 4 – NSP Welcome Back BratFest and Faculty DJ Party Picnic, 11 a.m.
Students enjoy food, music and New Studio Practice activities to usher in the new school year.

September 18 – FYE Professional Portfolio Symposium, 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Professionals working in art and design share their portfolios with all first-year students.

September 19 – 4-Week Reports

October 1 – Majors Dialogue, 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Full-time faculty meet with first-year students to share what each academic area offers.

October 7-8 – Fall Break; no classes
There are no classes on these days. Your student can explore Milwaukee, like taking advantage of their free membership to the Milwaukee Art Museum.

October 17 – Midterms reports available
If your student is struggling, encourage them to reach out for help through tutoring, counseling and other academic support resources at MIAD.

October 25 – MIAD Creativity Series: Strange Fire Collective, 6 p.m.
Learn more about Strange Fire Collective’s visit.

November 6 – Majors Declaration for FYE Students, 11 a.m.

November 11-15 – Spring 2020 Registration

November 27-29 – Thanksgiving Break; no classes

December 5-7 – MIAD Holiday Sale
Students and alumni sell their one-of-a-kind art and design work. Learn more about how your student can participate.

December 13 – Last day of fall classes

While a student at MIAD, Ethan Keister ‘17 (Communication Design) was named a 2017 Student to Watch by Graphic Design USA. Ethan recently updated us on his post grad life.

What is your current job?

I’m currently an art director at Zizzo Group – an advertising agency that specializes in digital marketing. I do many tasks including branding, website design, and social media content creation. I like the variety of clients (from the YMCA to Milwaukee Film) and the fact I get to be creative on a daily basis.

What are some other things you’ve done since graduation?

After graduation, I had the chance to travel to the Indian Himalayas and do some design work over the summer. When I returned, I moved back to Milwaukee from western New York (where I’m from) and snagged the art director job at Zizzo. I’ve been there ever since, but have traveled to Ecuador, and back to India. I also freelance with Stock House Brewing Co. doing their branding and labels, and volunteer with Islands of Brilliance – a design mentorship program for children, teens and young adults on the autism spectrum.

How did MIAD prepare you for your career?

MIAD taught me how to teach myself. It taught me work ethic, and what it means to be professional in the hectic world of art and design. Presentation is important, and MIAD helped me refine my skills. I learned of an internship through MIAD [at Zizzo], which is where I currently work. Connection is key!

MIAD’s annual Senior Exhibition, Wisconsin’s largest exhibition of its kind, features artists and designers representing all of MIAD’s Bachelor of Fine Arts majors and minors.

This year, the exhibition showcases more than 130 artists and designers who have combined technology with their own creativity to solve problems and express themselves.

For example:

• Clare O’Malley (Industrial Design) designed a more comfortable and attractive palliative care system, allowing cancer patients to live more independently away from the hospital.
• Tony Holz (Communication Design) created animated videos for a suicide prevention campaign for transgender and gender nonconforming youth.

The 2019 Senior Exhibition opens to the general public on April 19 and runs through May 11, 2019.

The Preview Night on Wednesday, April 17 is the MIAD community’s chance to see the work before the exhibit opens to the general public.

Learn more about the 2019 Senior Exhibition.

View in-progress photos.

MIAD has two nationally recognized museum galleries: the Brooks Stevens Gallery and the Frederick Layton Gallery. They are open to the public Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and admission is free. But did you know that MIAD has many other gallery spaces around campus showcasing student and alumni work?

Entryway Gallery

Location: Lobby, First Floor

Featured work: Various student work

Currently on view: Student projects from the “Soft Goods” course

NSP Alumni Gallery/Wallway Gallery

Location: First Floor

Featured work: Alumni fine arts work/student fine arts work

Currently on view: Work by Alisa Toninato ‘05, who owns American Skillet Co. and was featured on ABC News last year

Perspectives Gallery

Location: Room 299, Second Floor

Featured work: Alumni and other professional photography

Currently on view: “The Fallen Fawn” by Holly Andres, a photographer whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, TIME and Yahoo Style

Communication Design/Illustration Alumni Gallery

Location: Second Floor

Featured work: Alumni Communication Design and Illustration work

Currently on view: Work by Joan Varitek ‘07, who has illustrated for Mrs Wordsmith and companies such as Williams-Sonoma, Comedy Central and Hyatt Place Hotels

See the work in these galleries here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/miadcollege/albums/72157703881568312

As the semester progresses and graduation approaches, MIAD Registrar Jean Weimer counts down the top three things you and your senior student should know about graduation.

1. MIAD Commencement is Saturday, May 11, 2019, 11 a.m.
2. It takes place at the Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI
3. You can find up-to-date information with more details on the MIAD Graduation blog

Here are important dates for the spring semester for you and your student to know.

January 14 – Spring classes begin

January 18 – Winter Gallery Night
Two exhibitions are on view during Winter Gallery Night in the Historic Third Ward from 5 – 9 p.m. – Spectacular Vernacular and I Contain Multitudes.

January 19 – I Contain Multitudes: Opening Reception & Artists’ Discussion
Meet the 10 artists participating in “I Contain Multitudes” and view a documentary created about the making of this exhibition. “I Contain Multitudes” is generously supported in part by the Mary L. Nohl Fund of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

January 21 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
No classes on this day.

February 7 – Navigating Between Cultures: Artists’ Talk & Panel Discussion
As part of “I Contain Multitudes” exhibit programming, Fawzia Khan and Hend Al-Mansour lead a discussion on challenges of being part of two cultures simultaneously. “I Contain Multitudes” is generously supported in part by the Mary L. Nohl Fund of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

February 13 – MIAD Creativity Series
Michael DelGaudio ’01 (Communication Design) leads user experience teams for Android TV and Internet of Things at Google. He presents “Design++: Living at the Intersection of People and Technology” at 6 p.m.

February 27 – Talking Suitcases
As part of “I Contain Multitudes” programming, Susan Armington discusses her project to fill a suitcase with handmade objects that tell stories and help participants gain insights about themselves, touching on topics such as immigration, racism, grief, personal loss and life transition. “I Contain Multitudes” is generously supported in part by the Mary L. Nohl Fund of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

March 11 – Midterm reports available

March 11 – 15 – Spring Break
No classes

April 2 – First-Year Juried Student Exhibition
This exhibition, showcasing the best of first-year student work, opens on the second floor.

April 5 – First-Year Juried Student Exhibition Awards Reception
An outside juror selects students to receive awards. The ceremony takes place from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. on the second floor.

April 11 – ARTH151 Field Trip
All freshmen enrolled in ARTH151 engage in an all-day field trip to Chicago.

April 17 – Senior Exhibition Preview Night
MIAD’s annual Senior Exhibition, Wisconsin’s largest exhibition of its kinds, features more than 100 artists and designers representing all of MIAD’s Bachelor of Fine Arts majors and minors. The Preview Night, from 4 – 8 p.m., is the MIAD community’s chance to see the work before the exhibit opens to the general public.

April 24 – MIAD Defines
All classes are canceled for this unique learning event. The entire college participates in a day of panels, gallery talks and events.

April 26 – Senior Exhibition Opening Reception & Gallery Night
The 2018 MIAD Senior Exhibition has its Opening Reception on Spring Gallery Night in the Historic Third Ward from 5 – 9 p.m.

May 1 – RPC Pecha Kucha presentations
Selected first-year students will present pecha kuchas they’ve created in their RPC classes. The presentations are from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

May 4 – Last day of spring classes

May 11 – Graduation ceremony
Congratulations to our graduating seniors! MIAD’s commencement ceremony is held at the Pabst Theater, 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Read the graduation blog for more info.

Before the fall semester gets fully underway, check out these important dates that you and your student should know.

August 22 – New Student Move-In

August 23-24 – New Student Orientation

New students will attend workshops to learn about MIAD and its resources and participate in a studio experience with faculty and mentors, among other activities.

August 25 – Returning Student Move-In

August 27 – Fall classes begin

August 30 – Welcome Back Picnic

Erie Street in front of MIAD is blocked off so students can enjoy food, activities and information booths.

September 3 – Labor Day; no classes

September 5 – NSP Welcome Back BratFest and Faculty DJ Party Picnic

Students enjoy food, music and New Studio Practice activities to usher in the new school year.

September 20 –  4-Week Reports

These are due for all first-year students.

October 1-4 – Majors/Minors Expo

During common time, full-time faculty representing all of the college’s majors meet with freshmen to impart a sense of what those majors offer

October 2 – Professional Portfolio Symposium

Professionals working in art and design fields share their portfolios with MIAD students. All freshmen participate; sophomores are invited to attend.

October 8-9 – Fall Break

There are no classes on these two days. Your student can explore Milwaukee, like taking advantage of their free membership to the Milwaukee Art Museum.

October 18 – Midterms

Midterm grade reports are due October 18. If your student is struggling, encourage him or her to reach out for help through tutoring, counseling and other academic support resources at MIAD.

November 8 – Major Declaration Day & Celebration

First-year students declare their majors with a celebration to follow!

November 14-15 – MIAD Creativity Series with LaToya Ruby Frazier

Learn more about visiting artist LaToya Ruby Frazier.

November 21-23 – Thanksgiving Break; no classes

November 29-December 1 – MIAD Holiday Sale

Students and alumni sell their one-of-a-kind art and design work. Learn more about how your student can participate.

December 14 – Last day of fall classes

Parents and family members,

The college is buzzing with excitement as we welcome our new and returning students to campus. As MIAD continues to grow, we remain focused on preparing students with the knowledge and skills they need to graduate and launch successful careers in art and design professions, adapt to a rapidly-changing world defined by emerging technologies and transform our community.

This fall there are many new and exciting opportunities for our students to nurture their passion and career aspirations. Here are a few highlights:

• Student/Alumni Mentoring Program – This new program pairs current freshman, sophomore and junior students with alumni to provide professional guidance and mentorship. The minimum commitment is a monthly meeting. To participate, students must apply by September 26, and they will be receiving more info soon.
• New academic minors – In the past couple of years we’ve added several new academic minors, including Arts Management, Digital Media Production (animation) and Furniture Design. This fall we launch a Sustainability minor.
• MIAD Creativity Series – On November 14, LaToya Ruby Frazier, an internationally renowned photographer whose work amplifies the voices of the vulnerable, and focuses on topics such as poverty, racism, health care inequality and environmental toxicity, delivers a public presentation, “Art as Transformation: Using Photography for Social Change.” She also will be on-campus working with students on November 15.

More great opportunities are in the works as we provide students with new ways to innovate, positively impact the world around us and pursue lives and work with meaning.

I encourage you to check back on this blog often for tips and advice on how you can best support your student this year. Also, be sure to sign up to receive our monthly Parent Communication Program emails to stay up-to-date.

Jeff Morin

MIAD President

P.S. If you haven’t already, check out our information for new students in Fall 2018 for information on supplies, new student orientation, new student registration and more.