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This past weekend, Discover Wauwatosa hosted the second annual ART 64, a bracket-style live painting tournament. 64 artists from across the country came to The Village of Wauwatosa to compete.
After four rounds of competition, Onalaska-based artist and teacher Lori Ehlke received the most public votes and the $20,000 grand prize.
“To see the quality of work that is produced in each hour-long round of painting is just incredible,” says Beth Gleesing, City of Wauwatosa Tourism Specialist.
During the event, thousands of attendees both in-person and virtually cast their votes for their favorite artists to advance. Ehlke won by 108 votes in the final round with a 16-by-20-inch acrylic painting of a sailboat.
Upon winning, Ehlke stated that she took the reference photo while pregnant with her twins and that she “...knew it would make a great painting one day.”
“It was an honor to participate with the other artists in the event. I appreciated the diverse styles of artwork and thought the skill was amazing. I never thought that I would be named winner as the talent of the other artists was evident from round one,” says Ehlke.
“Although my four children are hoping to spend the money on candy, a swimming pool, a puppy, a guinea pig and more, I'm hoping to use some towards a sunroom studio,” Ehlke continues.
“I'm so grateful to all of the people who attended the event. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with the crowd and especially loved seeing so many families with children exposing their kids to art. As an art teacher, I love sharing my passion for art with future generations and believe that art is such an important part of children's growth and education.”
All of the works created during the event were available to purchase via a silent auction. Seventy percent of the proceeds will go back directly to the artists, 20 percent will go to the Wauwatosa Parks Improvement Fund, and 10 percent will go back to the planning of ART 64 in 2024.
All of the paintings created during the tournament, as well as a tournament bracket, are available to see here.
In addition to the live painting tournament, attendees enjoyed food and drinks from ART 64 major sponsors Buckatabon Tavern & Supper Club and Cafe Hollander, performances from local entertainers and shopping at local businesses.
To sign up for updates about ART 64 in 2024, click here.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
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