There's an incredibly outdated saying that suggests that one man's trash is another man's treasure. Of course, today, we use "person" instead of "man," and what used to be junk is now "antique," but the essence of the adage still holds true.
In these green times, it makes sense to recycle unwanted items, and it's from this school of thought that the idea for Downtown's newest art gallery space, Milwaukee Street Gallery, 717 N. Milwaukee St., came to fruition earlier this month.
Milwaukee Street Gallery, owned by Barbi Blutstein and Jane Chernof, is a place where something old becomes something new again. Blutstein and Chernof offer a twist on buying and selling affordable artwork by consigning pieces from people looking to do a little décor downsizing.
It's like the vintage shop of the art world, where the patient shopper often stumbles across incredible finds.
"Our gallery adds a different focus to the Milwaukee art scene because the art comes primarily from private and corporate collections," says Chernof. "People who are moving or just have 'extra' art are looking for a location to sell (it.)"
The idea, Chernof says, is to match buyers with sellers who have inherited art or own work that no longer suits their personal tastes.
But this isn't some junky garage sale dressed up in an artful disguise. The spacious gallery is clean and organized and constantly refreshed with rotating displays of contemporary and vintage posters, traditional and modern paintings, prints, sculpture and reproductions from established artists.
"Our passion for collecting and selling art, combined with our commitment to unparalleled customer service, allows us to satisfy a niche in the area that has been left unfilled," says Blutstein, who has been an active part of the Milwaukee and Midwest art scenes for more than 25 years.
"We also can be a resource for interior designers, estate attorneys and financial planners who may have access to clients to want to sell or buy specific art pieces," adds Chernof.
Blutstein and Chernof are also available for client consulting, appraisals, framing and exhibition services. To formally introduce themselves to the community, the women are hosting monthly art events, the first of which is a holiday cookie exchange on Friday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 8. Come for the "bake and take" -- bake two dozen, take two dozen -- and stay for the opportunity to find art that can be new to you.
Milwaukee Street Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. or by appointment.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
