Milwaukee Artbeat showcase April 3

Five local artists will be in the spotlight at the kickoff Milwaukee Artbeat showcase 8pm, April 3 at the Loft in The Hide House, 2625 S. Greeley St. The program is produced by Annie B., who will co-host the showcase with local freestyle rapper Nick Ramsey.

The kickoff show features singer/songwriter Jennifer Dekorah Lee (jenniferleelive.com); visual artist Patricia Obletz (oilsbyobletz.com); Sarah Horvat (sarahhorvat.com), graphite, ink, and oil; spoken word and dance artist Michelle Hatfield (myspace.com/movemefree); and filmmaker/musician Dena Aronson (myspace.com/denaaronsonvideo). Each artist will be featured for approximately 20 minutes, performing and discussing their inspiration, craft, and personal history. The whole live show will last approximately two hours, with video being recorded for posting on YouTube.

Other artists will display work in the lobby: Sandra Tews, stained glass; Jesse Engelbrecht, fine arts; Felix Bofil, collage art; Kevin Stoeveken, metal and wood sculpture; Greg Schoeneck, visual art.

Artbeat is the brainchild of Annette Bzdawka, who goes by Annie B., a Milwaukee native singer/songwriter with television production experience who left the city in 1992, living in Reno, Nev., Los Angeles, and Austin, Texas before returning home to Milwaukee in late 2007. She now lives in Bay View. While on the road for a year after leaving Los Angeles, she brainstormed a TV show, “Annie B.’s Highway,” which would feature local artists she encountered in her travels. She said this proved too much work for one person, but the idea led to Artbeat, which will feature talent in Milwaukee, whose rich art community she called a “best kept secret.”

Her goal is to promote deserving artists, understand their stories, and inspire audiences to be creative. “It’s designed as a networking and collaborative resource for artists of all types, as well as an opportunity for artists to show their work in a way which allows for an in-depth exploration of art and artist,” according to Artbeat’s mission statement. Artbeat has applied for nonprofit status.

For more information, to be added to the guest list, or for links to the YouTube spots contact Annie B. at producer@milwaukeeartbeat.com. Doors open at 7pm, seating begins at 7:30pm, and the April 3 show begins at 8pm. An $8 donation covers one free glass of wine and appetizers. Annie B. said future Artbeat showcases will hopefully be every other month starting in July, September, and November.

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