"Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience" has wrapped up its run at the Wisconsin Center and after being extended twice, the show, which ultimately ran for six months, drew more than 200,000 visitors.
The show opened July 9 and closed on Jan. 7.
According to the Wisconsin Center, the show was the highest-grossing event not only at the Wisconsin Center District, but also the best-selling run for the show itself.
“We couldn’t be more blown away with the public’s response to Beyond Van Gogh,” said Marty Brooks, WCD president and CEO.
“Not only did the exhibit welcome visitors to see an art experience like no other, but it gave locals a reason to connect with their convention center. The WCD staff demonstrated phenomenal customer service experiences to every patron, especially knowing that it was the first time out to a public event for many guests. It truly was the perfect residency at the perfect time.”
We got a peek at it just before it opened. You can read about that visit, plus see photos and video here.
“While we have received positive feedback to 'Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience' in other cities, none have matched the excitement and support from the Milwaukee community,” said Justin Paquin, co-producer of the show and director at Paquin Entertainment Group.
“Milwaukee is truly a vibrant destination, and the Wisconsin Center was a great partner to work with.”
The show is just one of a number of immersive exhibits featuring the work of Vincent Van Gogh. I recently saw another one in Chicago.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
