Plum Blossom Initiative

Plum Blossom Initiative Plum Blossom Initiative (PBI) is a collaboration between Leah Kolb (Associate Curator at MMOCA) and Jason S. Yi (artist & director of Hawthorn Contemporary).

PBI recognizes the importance of supporting the professional development of emerging artists. This year we are continuing our professional development project, Bridge Work (BW). BW is a 9-month program that supports emerging artists by platforming a new body of work developed over the course of the program. Additionally, Bridge Work facilitates important networking opportunities, artist talks, and

studio visits as well as provides a studio space (in partnership with Var Gallery) and insight into the professional studio practicum.

A very special group from the Contemporary Art Society, led by senior curator Margaret Andera, had an exclusive visit wi...
03/27/2026

A very special group from the Contemporary Art Society, led by senior curator Margaret Andera, had an exclusive visit with artists at Var Studios at Hawthorn Contemporary. We visited studios of Bridge Work artists Madison Boeder and Madison Winters, and Var Studio artists Reagan Mulvey and Brian Schneider. Very thankful for this visit and experience!

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BW11 artists had a studio visit with Jason S. Yi, to show their most recent work. Their new work will be shown in Lexing...
03/07/2026

BW11 artists had a studio visit with Jason S. Yi, to show their most recent work. Their new work will be shown in Lexington, KY later this spring!

Huge congratulations to Chad Alexander Matha (BW10 artist) for a terrific solo exhibition at the Museum of Wisconsin Art...
12/06/2025

Huge congratulations to Chad Alexander Matha (BW10 artist) for a terrific solo exhibition at the Museum of Wisconsin Art /Downtown. PBI is very proud of his well deserved accomplishment! Go check it out!

Bridge Work 11 (BW11) Gallery Night opening reception at Var Gallery on 2nd Street. Come celebrate the BW11 cohort’s new...
10/14/2025

Bridge Work 11 (BW11) Gallery Night opening reception at Var Gallery on 2nd Street. Come celebrate the BW11 cohort’s new body of work since graduation and support the Milwaukee’s emerging artists. 6-9pm, October 17.

We're excited to share Bridge Work 09 alumni, Julia Bradfish will be the newest Saint Kate's Artist in
09/13/2025

We're excited to share Bridge Work 09 alumni, Julia Bradfish will be the newest Saint Kate's Artist in

This week, we visited BW11 artists in their studios! Lots of works in progress prepping for Fall Gallery Night!
08/30/2025

This week, we visited BW11 artists in their studios! Lots of works in progress prepping for Fall Gallery Night!

BW01 alumni Kayle Karbowski's () show "a scythe comes from the ground" tomorrow at Underscore ()! Opening reception is S...
08/22/2025

BW01 alumni Kayle Karbowski's () show "a scythe comes from the ground" tomorrow at Underscore ()! Opening reception is Saturday 8/23, 6:00pm-9:00pm! Be sure to check it out!

Tonight is Gallery Night! BW10 alumni Kaden Van De Loo has a solo exhibition "Hurry-Up Offense" opening tonight at Portr...
07/18/2025

Tonight is Gallery Night!

BW10 alumni Kaden Van De Loo has a solo exhibition "Hurry-Up Offense" opening tonight at Portrait Society Gallery from 5pm-8pm!
Hope to see you there!

As BW10 wraps up, we would like to take a moment to say we are proud to have worked with this year's artists and share t...
06/12/2025

As BW10 wraps up, we would like to take a moment to say we are proud to have worked with this year's artists and share their arist statements and next steps.

Featured today, we have Lillith Forsythe. ()

Lillith is a paper maker, sculptor, and a hired hand.
"My work gives form to the whimsical stream of consciousness that gets me through the workday through the ritual of labor. By day, I dream at the cash register or bus stop about strange creatures that live in outer space. I look at the sky and imagine what their world looks like. I scribble my ponderings on receipt paper for later. In the evenings, I bend over vats of water, stirring pulp and brushing felts with wire brushes. I draw on my bedroom walls by candlelight. There is a sense of urgency as I squeeze in any moments I can into the fleeting night. When my hands fly across screen printed pages and delicately pinch fresh paper, I reclaim “work” as something that fulfills me. In the hours between clocking out and clocking in, I have turned my strange daydreams into a body of work. My prints, drawings, and paper sculptures are artifacts of a more interesting reality, one that I conjure in the sleepless nights where my split knuckles and sore feet find their purpose."

Lillith recently finished a public art installation for Courage+. She also has an upcoming show in July, more details to be announced soon!

Looking forward to seeing what you'll create next Lillith!

What a beautiful weekend at the inaugural Door County Contemporary Art Fair in Fish Creek, WI. It was wonderful sharing ...
06/10/2025

What a beautiful weekend at the inaugural Door County Contemporary Art Fair in Fish Creek, WI. It was wonderful sharing information about the Plum Blossom Initiative and connecting with artists, collectors, curators, art writers, and art enthusiasts!

During this time, we were able to feature work by Bridge Work alum: Julia Bradfish (), Dominic Chambers (), Chad Alexander Matha (), and Lindsey Yeager ().

Special thanks to , , , , and !
Looking forward to next year already!

From June 5 to June 8 2025, Plum Blossom Initiative will be participating in the Door County Contemporary Art Fair at th...
06/06/2025

From June 5 to June 8 2025, Plum Blossom Initiative will be participating in the Door County Contemporary Art Fair at the Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek, Wisconsin.
Four Bridge Work alumni artists will be featured at the fair: Julia Bradfish (BW09), Dominic Chambers (BW02), Chad Alexander Matha (BW10), and Lindsey Yeager (BW07).
Hope to see you this weekend!

,

Plum Blossom Initiative is happy to announce our participation in the Door County Contemporary Art Fair at the Peninsula...
05/31/2025

Plum Blossom Initiative is happy to announce our participation in the Door County Contemporary Art Fair at the Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek, Wisconsin, from June 5 to June 8, 2025. Four Bridge Work alumni artists will be featured at the fair: Julia Bradfish (BW09), Dominic Chambers (BW02), Chad Alexander Matha (BW10), and Lindsey Yeager (BW07). Stay tuned for pics from the fair. Hope to see you there. ,

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139 E Kilbourn Ave
Milwaukee, WI
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