Act/React

The Milwaukee Art Museum currently has a show titled "Act/React" that is "interactive installation art" with work by Janet Cardiff, Brian Knep, Liz Phillips, Daniel Rozin, Scott Snibbe and Camille Utterback.. What a great show! Not only is it fun to interact with the pieces oneself but it is wonderful to watch others do the same. The day we were there (it's best seen with at least one other person) we watched a young boy, maybe 6 or 7 years old, interact with Camille Utterback's pieces. While mother sat on a bench and watched, he spent at least 20 minutes moving in front of the pieces fascinated with how they changed colors, lines, etc. Other than just being fun, this type of art challenges one's brain to to figure out how the installation pieces were created. Or maybe the fun is not knowing just appreciating the experience.

This show was curated by George Fifield, director of Boston Cyberarts, Inc., in conjunction with Joseph D. Ketner II, who was, at the time, Chief Curator at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Having had the good fortune to meet and spend some time with George, I can tell you that he is absolutely delightful. He's bright, charming, funny and talented. Joe is a good friend as is his wife, Patty, so I can tell you that he is the best!! He's a special person with so much to offer and we miss him. (Sadly, our museum lost Joe when he decided to move back to Boston. The saddest part is that Joe was bringing life and a new energy to MAM and, in my estimation....and others, the board will greatly regret having let him get away!)

I hope that you will go to the site (www.mam.org) to see the video on the Act/React show.