By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Jun 12, 2017 at 9:02 AM

Beginning on Friday, June 16, the Jewish Museum Milwaukee, 1360 N. Prospect Ave., kicks off "Moments & Markers: An Adolph Rosenblatt Retrospective," which runs through Aug. 27.

The show highlights the compelling, hyperlocal work of the late Adolph Rosenblatt, including paintings, works on paper, bronze cast work and his instantly recognizable ceramic figures – often set in tableaux – and large-scale installations.

The late, longtime Milwaukee art critic James Auer called Rosenblatt’s work, "an expressionist salute to humankind at its most lovable and vulnerable ... his hand-painted figures and environments fairly explode with vitality and good-humored affection."

And much of the work was born out of Rosenblatt’s daily life on Milwaukee’s East Side, so it’s appropriate that the Jewish Museum Milwaukee has included a tour of the area as part of its programming for the show.

On Sunday, June 18, beginning at 10:30 a.m. you can join me as I host a group of folks on a walk around Farwell and North, where Rosenblatt’s beloved Oriental Pharmacy once stood.

We’ll start out in The Oriental Theater, getting a full-on tour from staff there, before heading down to visit Landmark Lanes, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year.

Next, I’ll walk you over to Black Cat Alley, where curator Stacey Williams-Ng will discuss the works in the alley and the genesis of Black Cat Alley itself.

Then, we’ll head over to Maryland Avenue Montessori School and I’ll give you a walk through the history of the site, which has been home to a school since the 1860s, and where the current building – the oldest part of which dates to 1887 – is getting a brand-new addition.

Finally, we’ll wrap up with a visit to Von Trier, where staffers will discuss the history of the tavern.

Complete details and ticket information are here.

Among the other programming to accompany "Monets & Markers" are:

An Opening Preview
Thursday, June 15, 7 p.m.
There will be diner-themed treats, brandy Old Fashioneds, a silent auction of works by locat artists, a presentation by art historian and writer Debra Brehmer and more.

2017 Summer Soulstice on East North Avenue
Saturday, June 24, noon
Find JMM’s booth at the 2017 Summer Soulstice Festival on East North Avenue to get some quick-dry clay sculptures or portrait drawings created by local artists Joe Boblick and Eriks Johnson.

A History of Milwaukee Neighborhoods with John Gurda
Wednesday, July 12, 7 p.m.
While neighborhoods change, traces of early Milwaukee settlements persist in the local landscape. Join historian and author John Gurda for a walk down memory lane through the streets of Milwaukee.

It Runs in the Family: Art and the Rosenblatts
Wednesday, Aug. 2, 7 p.m.
Adolph Rosenblatt, husband, father, artist and educator, inspired his entire family to pursue individual artistic visions. Join us for a diverse and stimulating panel discussion detailing the abundant artistic endeavors of the Rosenblatt family.

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.