By Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Feb 20, 2009 at 12:07 PM

Cedar Block is kicking it old-school tonight.

After five events highlighting more contemporary artists, Cedar Block is taking this collaboration with the Milwaukee Art Museum back to the 17th century to coincide with MAM's current exhibition on Dutch Master Jan Lievens.

Since 2006 Cedar Block brought you one-of-a-kind, uniquely Milwaukee experiences such as "The Ramirez Box," "Three Degrees of Francis Bacon," "Bruce Nauman 101" and most recently, "What You Get When You Cross..." But if you're still in the dark as to what Cedar Block is all about, it's probably best described as an innovative event-planning think tank for the art world.

So what does this mean for Lievens?

It means that his distinguished portraiture will be brought to life in a 21st century context in an exhibit called "Jan Lievens on a Jet Plane." More than 25 Milwaukee artists pay homage to Lievens' work with portraits of their own, which will be on display for tonight beginning at 8 p.m.

And, more importantly, what does this mean for you?

It means an evening of interactive art experiences in Windhover Hall, including "The Lievenator," which merges portraits of you with that of Lievens, a pinhole photo booth and more.

DJ's Von Munz and Tom Crawford (WMSE), spin music while you nosh on appetizers from Taylor's People's Park. Cash bars will serve throughout the evening and Air Cedar Block stewardesses will be on hand to distribute safety instructions / programs and answer questions.

Nice.

The Jan Lievens exhibition itself will be open until midnight to all. It's all free to MAM members (who also receive a drink voucher). The general public can get half off the $10 night-of admission price -- and a drink voucher -- by purchasing $5 tickets in advance at www.museumtix.com.

Now, please enjoy this introductory video: 

Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com

OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.

As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”