Contact: Paul Fladten Tel. 414/427-4207 Email: pfladten@discoveryworld.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Milwaukee Observatory Opens at Bradley Tech High School Discovery World and MPS Students Create Pop-Up Museum for the Public Milwaukee, WI: The Milwaukee Observatory, an inspiring neighborhood museum and Milwaukee History Experience created by Bradley Tech High School and Bay View High School students, will be open to the public on Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24. Located on the lawn of Bradley Tech High School, The Observatory inspires visitors and students to see Milwaukee in a bright new way that emphasizes the Walker’s Point neighborhood as a significant urban center and economic powerhouse. Produced by a motivated group of Bradley Tech students, the purpose of The Observatory is to amplify the public’s understanding of what it took to build a neighborhood in the 19th century. Working alongside Discovery World professionals as part of The Art and Archaeology of Me program, students explored the tools and methods of archaeology fused with design, digital media, and art. “It’s counterintuitive, maybe, but urban archaeology is almost more about the future of cities than the past,” said Odell Chalmers, a senior at Bradley Tech High School. “Once we started to explore Walker’s Point history at the street level, we were able to find patterns of growth and development. And we were able to use those patterns to start envisioning a bright future for Walker’s Point and Milwaukee. We think that Bradley Tech High School is going play a huge role in that future, and we’re excited to share our vision with the public.” What the students produced was a larger-than-life installation that covers nearly a quarter of an acre and reveals how artists, innovators, and immigrants created a new neighborhood that activated Milwaukee as a significant urban center and economic powerhouse. Described as a pop-up museum for the public, The Observatory provides a plethora of interactive experiences designed to celebrate the history as well as envision the future of the community if Bradley Tech High School became an incubator for a beautiful future. The program also motivates the public to see Milwaukee in a bright new way and discover something or someone significant to the history of Walker’s Point and beyond. Along with tours of the innovative art display, the students will offer a host of brand new experiences including a presentation of their recent excavation of a lost hotel, interactive dialogs with local Makers such as ornamental plaster expert Eugene Orlandini, musical organ grinder John Miller, and pennyfarthing bicyclist Richard Muza, as well as an interactive experience to envision how a partnership between the students, high school, and neighborhood would be a supercharger for the community. Additionally, the students will be on hand to record stories, scan old photographs and historical documents, snap photos of neighborhood residents, and document artifacts specific to Walker’s Point and Milwaukee.
“The Milwaukee Observatory is a celebration of neighborhood history, the students’ artwork and the pioneers, innovators, and game changers that built this city,” said Heidi Heistad, Lead Developer of Discovery World’s Art and Archaeology of Me program. “It’s a place where the students and Walker’s Point residents can bring forth neighborhood history together and look towards the future.” The Milwaukee Observatory will be open to the public on Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. The press is encouraged to join us on Friday, August 23. The Milwaukee Observatory is a partnership between Discovery World, Bradley Tech High School, and Bay View High School. The Observatory is sponsored by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation and the MPS Partnership for Humanities. For more information and a schedule of future dates please visit www.milwaukeeobservatory.com. About Discovery World: Discovery World is Milwaukee’s center for public innovation, which connects people with innovation and creativity. Discovery World offers enhanced experiences and customized programs in technology, the environment, design and freshwater. For more information visit www.discoveryworld.org. Discovery World Contacts: Heidi Heistad – Digital Media Producer – 414.765.8651 – hheistad@discoveryworld.org Steve Atwell – Development Director – 414.765.0069 – satwell@discoveryworld.org ### If you’d like more information about this topic, please call Paul Fladten at 414/427-4207 or email Paul at pfladten@discoveryworld.org.