Executive Director Xela Garcia, selected artist Brian Huynh, juror Nina Ghandarzadeh and selected artist Jackie Berta at the opening reception of the Annual Members Show on Sept. 6th, 2024. (Courtesy of Oscar Quinto-Zamudio)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 20, 2024
Announcement of selected WPCA 2025 Featured Members
Annual Members Show
On view through October 11th, 2024
Milwaukee, WI — Walker’s Point Center for the Arts Announces 2025 Featured Members Cohort.
The Walker’s Point Center for the Arts (WPCA) is thrilled to unveil the 2025 Featured Members cohort, selected by esteemed juror Nina Ghanbarzadeh. This year’s distinguished artists include Jackie Berta, Brian Huynh, Andrea Skyberg and Brandom Terres-Sanchez. Each year, during WPCA’s Annual Members Show, a juror selects four exhibiting artists with outstanding work. These artists are then awarded a solo exhibition in our Featured Member Exhibition Gallery. Their exceptional works are showcased alongside 36 other talented member artists in the highly anticipated 2024 Annual Members Show. The selection process was conducted blindly – the selection juror determined her own criteria for selection and shared the following about each artists’ work:
- Jackie Berta’s sculpture “poignantly reflects the theme of gentrification in communities. It symbolizes how buildings, which serve as vessels holding the history and stories of the people and families who lived there, are demolished and replaced by modern, concrete structures.“
- Brian Huynh “masterfully manipulates photographs to the extent that they are no longer seen as precious objects.”
- Andrea Skyberg’s triptych prints and sculptures are “highly relevant to contemporary discussions about the female body, fertility, the celebration of life and, most importantly, freedom of choice.“
- Brandom Terres-Sanchez’s series “underscores the significance of culture and values, highlighting the enduring strength of family traditions and bonds.”
The Featured Member series will be kicked-off in January 2025 with Andrea Skyberg, followed by Jackie Berta (spring), Brandom Terres-Sanchez (summer), and Brian Huynh (fall).
Exhibiting artists in the 2024 Annual Members show include: Allison Alexander Westbrook IV, Andrea Skyberg, Brandom Terres-Sanchez, Brian Huynh, Charles F. Wickler, Christina DeSpears, Cyndi Bergloff, Daniel C. Boyer, Daron Wolf, Denise M. Schanz, Eleanor Turner, Eleanor Turner, Emmalynn Turner, Evelyn Winter, Fred Stein, Jacklyn Berta, Jenny Poetzel, Katrina Parra, Kristine Hinrichs, Mara Duckens, Mary Galinowski, Marz Ezeji, Melva Darrough, Michael Burmesch, Michael Flanagan, Michael Greer, Oscar Quinto-Zamudio, Pamela Anderson, Phil Fisher, Rick Santovec, Robert C Reynolds II, Roy Schmidt, Scot Dragan, Tayla Hart and The Skrauss.
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Walker’s Point Center for the Arts is a nonprofit organization in support of visual and performing arts and youth arts education. WPCA seeks to enhance the fellowship and vibrancy of Walker’s Point. We provide a welcoming, safe and diverse cultural environment for children, artists and the public in order to maintain an active community. The center fosters creativity in children through innovative teaching, in addition to encouraging public and community initiative through social development.
Contact Information
Xela Garcia
Executive Director
Walker’s Point Center for the Arts
414.672.2787
xela@wpca-milwaukee.org
2025
Selection Juror: Nina Ghanbarzadeh
Nina Ghanbarzadeh is a Wisconsin visual artist and an entrepreneur taking a universal approach to written language in her art. She emigrated from Tehran, Iran in 2001. Nina earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting, drawing and graphic design from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 2013 and completed a two-year Artist in Residency Program with Redline Milwaukee in 2015. In addition to participating in several group shows, Nina is the the winner of best in show in Wisconsin Biennial 2020. She received the Mary L. Nohl Suitcase Export Fund, Student Silver ADDY and Fredric R. Layton Foundations Scholarship awards.
Most recently, Nina launched ARTKee Educational Toys LLC, which produces SOFTwords, kits of basic shapes that allow children to explore the shapes as images as well as text. Nina draws inspiration for her educational toy business and her art from cultural differences and the limitations of language. She finds beauty in the abstract marks that make up the symbols for language and explores the possibility of peace, happiness and togetherness through the universal language of art.
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Past Selection Jurors + Featured Members
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2023-24
Selection Juror: Fatima Laster
Featured Members: Sydney (Lupe3000) Romero, Araceli Zuniga, Jovanny Hernandez Caballero, Emmanuel Guerra
2022 – 23
Selection Juror: CK Ledesma
Featured Members: Charles Wickler, Abigail Engstrand, Mi Salgado, Adam White
2021 – 22
Selection Juror: Kantara Souffrant
Featured Members: Jeanette Arellano, Jerry Styberg, Posy Knight, Stephanie Bartz
2020 – 21
Selection Juror: Ammar Nsoroma
Featured Members:Alexa Hollywood, Andrea Lira Landa, Yeyliz M Martinez, Roxane Mayeur
2019 – 20
Selection Juror: Jenie Gao
Featured Members:Mary Galinowski, Denise Schanz, Sheila Held, Cyndi Bergloff
2018 – 19
Selection Juror: Colin Matthes
Featured Members:Katheryn Corbin, Jeff Morin, Conhg Lopez, Madhavi Parekh
2017 – 18
Selection Juror: Della Wells
Featured Members:Jack Long, Kathy Jo House, Rodney Mustelier, Gary Warren Niebuhr
2016 – 17
Selection Juror: Mark Lawson
Featured Members:Amy Schmutte, David Powell, Benjamin Fairly, PJ Boylan
2015 – 16
Selection Juror: Josie Osborne
Featured Members:Adam James Stoner, Arcadia Katzenberger, Brad Krause, Brian Breider
2014 – 15
Selection Juror: Micheal Davidson
Featured Members:Nova Czarnecki, Kevin Giese, Gary John Gresl, Kevin Wrencher
2013 – 14
Selection Juror: Kat Kneevers
Featured Members:William Mueller, Paul Matzner, Leann Wooten, Joe Couture
2012 – 13
Selection Juror: Frank Juarez
Featured Members:Tiffany Knopow, Jean Sobon, Jessica Schafer, Chris Andrews
Annual Members Show
Annual Members Show
Opening September 6, 5pm-7pm
Each year during our Annual Member Show, a juror selects four exhibiting artists with outstanding work and award each a small scale solo exhibition in our Featured Member Exhibition Gallery. Each exhibition opens on Gallery night and runs for approximately 10 weeks. the series aims to give more local artists opportunity to showcase their work and have it be seen by more audience. Featured Member Exhibition (FME), which began in 2012, has been well received by audience and exhibiting artists alike. The jurors are given liberty to set their own guidelines as to how they choose the winners. Featured Member Exhibition alumni range from established to emerging artists and represent a broad stroke of style and medium.