Vote for your favorite: The Pfister Hotel Names Finalists for Artist-In-Residence Program

Home to more Victorian Art than any other hotel in the world, the historic Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee for the past two years has hosted an artist-in-residence program. A selection committee, consisting of members of the local art community, has announced the six finalists for the 2010—2011 term of the program. This year’s finalists are Shelby Keefe; Stephen P. Ohlrich; Jeremy Plunkett; Kate Pfeiffer; Anthony Suminski; and Jim Zwadlo.

“We’ve received an overwhelming number of applications for the program this year,” says Joe Kurth, general manager of The Pfister Hotel. “With great consideration, the selection committee has chosen six outstanding artists who remain in the running. Now it’s time for the public to help us decide who will be moving into The Pfister next spring.”

Public Voting Begins

Beginning today, members of the public will be able to log on to The Pfister’s Aritist In Residence voting page, to select the artist they’d like to see as the next Artist In Residence. Votes can also be cast via twitter (#ArtistInResidence) or by texting 22333 by responding with the name of the artist you’d like to cast your vote. Voting will end Feb. 14, 2011. The selection committee will announce the next artist-in-residence soon thereafter.

Take a look at this year’s finalists.

Anthony Suminski

Kate Pfeiffer

Stephen Ohlrich

James Zwadlo

Jeremy Plunkett

Shelby Keefe

January Gallery Night

Work by the six finalists will be displayed at Gallerie M, inside InterContinental Milwaukee, for January Gallery Night, Friday, Jan. 21, 2011, where the public will be able to vote via ballet box, in addition to the other methods.

The current Pfister artist in residence, Katie Musolff, will be hosting her final Gallery Night at The Pfister Hotel the same evening. In addition to her work, guests will be able to view a slideshow of images from the six finalists for next year’s program and invited to vote on their favorite.

The Pfister’s Artist-In-Residence Program

Entering its third year, The Pfister’s Artist-in-Residence program features a working art studio and gallery that is open to hotel guests and visitors. The program encourages the public to interact with the artist and witness the evolution of each piece first-hand. The artist chosen for the 2010—2011 term will move in to the studio space in April 2011, replacing Musolff.

The Pfister is already gaining a reputation for supporting great artists. Tonette Walker, the wife of Governor Scott Walker, recently commissioned the program’s first artist in residence, Reginald Baylor, to create a portrait of him, which was presented earlier this month at his inaugural dinner.

For more information on The Pfister’s Artist-In-Residence program, visit www.ThePfisterHotel.com/ArtistInResidence. The Pfister can also be found on Facebook and  Twitter.