By Heather Leszczewicz Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Jan 26, 2006 at 5:20 AM

Marquette University's Haggerty Museum of Art is bringing a little bit of jazz to the city. "Bob Thompson: Meteor in a Black Hat," the museums newest exhibition and the first of 2006, is set to open Thursday, Jan. 26.

"(Bob Thompson) is an important artist of national and international representation," says Haggerty Museum Director Curtis Carter. "He's also representing a particular interest of the museum -- showing American and diverse artists is part of our program. We are commitment to culturally diverse artists."

Thompson is an important figure in African American art, especially in expressionism.

The Haggerty's exhibition will be featuring 26 of Thompson's paintings, primarily from later in his career, including some of his religious paintings. However, the exhibition only shows a very small sampling of his work, which actually totals over a thousand paintings. The number of artworks is amazing for a short career -- Thompson died before reaching his 30s.

In the late '50s through the '60s, Thompson found a muse in jazz, specifically in the New York jazz scene. He was known to frequent jazz clubs and have the music influence his art.

The Jan. 26 opening will include a talk by Stanley Crouch -- a New York Daily News columnist, novelist, essayist, critic and television commentator -- about Thompson's artwork as it relates to jazz followed by a reception.

"Stanley was brought (for the event) because he's a leading authority on the artist, he's familiar with the art and the connection to jazz," Carter says. " He's a logical choice for speaking. He's written about it and understands the connection to the world. We're very enthusiastic."

In honor of Thompson's love of jazz, the Haggerty is also presenting "John Schneider's JAZZ: A Milwaukee History" in mid-February. "JAZZ" will tell the story of Milwaukee's Bronzeville neighborhood, the once-flourishing African American entertainment district between Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and 7th Street along North Ave.

The Haggerty Museum will also be transforming one of its galleries into a replica of a Bronzeville jazz club.

"We will be hosting a performance by Milwaukee jazz and theater artists who will sing, dance, play the music and we will set up the gallery with tables, cabaret style," Carter says. "Visitors will sit as if they were at a cabaret and enjoy as if they were patrons."

There will be four performances of "JAZZ" featuring award-winning performers Berkley Fudge, Adekola Adedapo and Robin Pluer. The group will be telling stories about Milwaukee's history of involvement with jazz along with playing the music.

"Bob Thompson: Meteor in a Black Hat" opens Jan. 26 and runs through April 17. Stanley Crouch's talk begins at 6 p.m., followed by a reception at 7 p.m. "JAZZ" runs Feb. 16-19. The exhibit is free and the "JAZZ" performances are $10 for students, $20 for general admission.

The Haggerty Museum of Art is located at North 13th St. and West Clybourn Ave. on the Marquette University campus. The museum's Web site is marquette.edu/haggerty.

Heather Leszczewicz Special to OnMilwaukee.com

Originally from Des Plaines, Ill., Heather moved to Milwaukee to earn a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University. With a tongue-twisting last name like Leszczewicz, it's best to go into a career where people don't need to say your name often.

However, she's still sticking to some of her Illinoisan ways (she won't reform when it comes to things like pop, water fountain or ATM), though she's grown to enjoy her time in the Brew City.

Although her journalism career is still budding, Heather has had the chance for some once-in-a-lifetime interviews with celebrities like actor Vince Vaughn and actress Charlize Theron, director Cameron Crowe and singers Ben Kweller and Isaac Hanson of '90s brother boy band Hanson. 

Heather's a self-proclaimed workaholic but loves her entertainment. She's a real television and movie fanatic, book nerd, music junkie, coffee addict and pop culture aficionado.