Arts & Entertainment - April 14, 2009
Whew, the council flip-flops and approves Zweig art
It was great to see the Common Council do a flip-flop this morning on Janet Zweig's flip-photo project for Wisconsin Avenue, getting what would have been a major Milwaukee flop back on the rails. At a morning committee hearing, aldermen were wowed by the turnout and by the messages received in advance of it from constituents.
Tags: janet zweig, michael murphy, nik kovac, robert bauman, mike brenner, james witkowiak, joe dudzik

Arts & Entertainment - April 2, 2009
Defecate on my lawn, la la la la laaaaa
He's the man you love to hate, Fonz fans, but Mike Brenner helped found Milwaukee Artists Resource Network, once ran what was one of the best galleries this city has seen in a long time, and is one of the few people willing to throw himself in front of the train for public art.
Tags: MARN, Mike Brenner, Bronze Fonz, Ald. Ald. Joe Dudzik, public art, Janet Zweig

Arts & Entertainment - June 12, 2008
Brenner resigns arts post, calls Milwaukee "intellectually bankrupt"
After 8 Years, Mike Brenner resigned as Executive Director of MIlwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN) last week. He's going out ripping Milwaukee.
Tags: Bronze Fonz, Mike Brenner, MARN, arts, Visit Milwaukee

Arts & Entertainment - March 5, 2008
Hotcakes closing early
Mike Brenner tells us that due to issues with the artist, he canceled the final show at Hotcakes Gallery and the space will close May 24 instead on in July as originally announced.
Tags: Hotcakes, MARN, Mike Brenner, Meredith Dittmar, Betsy Walton

Arts & Entertainment - Feb. 8, 2008
Hear angry messages from Bronze Fonz lovers
Bronze Fonz hater Mike Brenner received five angry messages -- including a death threat -- that you can now hear on his Web site.
Tags: Hotcakes Gallery, Mike Brenner, bronze Fonz, death threat, dahmer

Arts & Entertainment - Dec. 27, 2007
Amusing “Brenner vs. the Bronze Fonz” battle continues
Mike Brenner, who opposes the Fonz statue, is obtaining quotes for a "Bronze Brenner" statue.
Tags: Mike Brenner, Hotcake Gallery, Bronze Fonz, Fonz statue, Bronze Brenner

Arts & Entertainment - Dec. 4, 2007
Brenner puts his money where his mouth is
Hotcakes Galley will close for the month of December to protest "the spread of bad public art," said owner Mike Brenner in a statement on Tuesday.
Tags: Hotcakes, Mike Brenner, MARN, Fonzie, bronze fonz, Visit Milwaukee, David Gordon, MAM, Greg Euclide

Milwaukee Buzz - Dec. 2, 2007
Sunday Sound-off: Is “Happy Days” good or bad for Milwaukee’s image?
“Happy Days” will always be associated with Milwaukee. Gallery owner Mike Brenner and MAM director David Gordon say this isn't cool. What do you think?
Tags: Happy Days, Fonzie, Bronze Fonz, Mike Brenner, Hotcakes, Milwaukee's image, Jeffrey Dahmer, Harley Davidson, Laverne & Shirley, sausage

Milwaukee Buzz - Nov. 28, 2007
This guy will close his gallery, leave town if Fonz is bronzed
Some harsh words for the Fonz from a local gallery owner.
Tags: Bronze the Fonz, Fonzie, Visit Milwaukee, Mike Brenner, Hotcakes Gallery, MARN

Arts & Entertainment - Aug. 17, 2007
Two beautifully bloody days left with Annie Aube
In everyday life, blood and textiles are something you don't want to mix (and if you do, dab the spot with alcohol before putting it in the wash). In the case of the embroidery work of Annie Aube (pronounced "Oh Bee") the mix is devilishly desired.
Tags: annie aube, hotcakes gallery, mike brenner

Music - March 27, 2007
Crouton issues Bosetti's compelling "Her Name"
Alessandro Bosetti, born in Milan in 1973, is a composer, a saxophonist and a sound artist. As his latest disc -- or one of them -- “Her Name,” issued in a limited edition by Milwaukee’s Crouton Music, shows, he’s also fascinated by the spoken word.
Tags: Bosetti, Jon Mueller, Crouton, Hotcakes Gallery, Mike Brenner, Her Name, avant-garde

Arts & Entertainment - Jan. 15, 2007
Mad Hot Ballroom hits Milwaukee Public Schools
In 2005, "Mad Hot Ballroom" tangoed into theaters. The movie followed three New York Schools participating in a school-wide ballroom competition, now the dancing craze is hitting Milwaukee.
Tags: mad hot ballroom, amy sewell, turner ballroom, mike brenner, 4th Street Forum, MPS

Arts & Entertainment - Aug. 1, 2001
The Degenerative Arts Weekend: Art & Debauchery
Well, you have all been waiting a year for one of Milwaukee’s most infamous art happenings to roll around again. The Degenerative Arts Weekend is a three-day festival of art, music, fashion, debauchery and side show antics. This over-the-top annual event, will fill your senses and blow your mind.
Tags: Degenerative Arts Weekend, Modjeska Theater, George Shepard, Thai Joe's, Mike Brenner, MARN, VAM, Milwaukee Artist Resource Network

Arts & Entertainment - July 28, 2001
More Murder at the Renaissance Faire: a great time!
"More Murder at the Renaissance Faire" is a full-length musical written and directed by one of its stars, Ken Morgan. It’s a satirical look at Milwaukee’s political scene, but don’t let that scare you off. It’s hilarious.
Tags: More Murder at the Renaissance Faire, Joyce Parker, Theater on KK, Ken Morgan, Bay View, Mike Brenner, MARN, Milwaukee Artist Resource Network, community theater

Arts & Entertainment - May 7, 2001
Milwaukeeans speak out about local arts scene
Once again we sent our own Mike Brenner out into the streets of downtown Milwaukee. This time Mike went on a quest to find out what Milwaukeeans thought about the art scene in the Cream City. Will we be known forever only for our wealth of beer and brats, or can our favorite little, big-city emerge as an internationally known mecca for the arts?
Tags: Mike Brenner, MARN, Milwaukee Artist Resource Network, Brooke Miroldi, Magpie Media, VAM, eCommandos