Black Cat Alley

Black Cat Alley[1] is an arts destination in a one-block alleyway in Milwaukee, Wisconsin known for its street art mural installations. It is located behind the historic Oriental Theatre (Milwaukee) and includes both temporary and semi-permanent installations by a variety of artists and art groups. Each year, as many as 20,000 visitors pass through the alley.

Artist Byada Meredith paints a mural in Black Cat Alley, 2018

About

The East Side BID, owner of the Black Cat Alley, holds special events periodically in Black Cat Alley such as "Black Cat After Dark," [2] as well as other activations such as yoga classes, mural tours, "AlleyWayz" (a concert series in partnership with WYMS 88.9 Radio Milwaukee), vendor markets, and more.

Artists whose works have been included in the alley include MTO, Koctel[3], Daisy Gertel [4], Jeff Redmon, Tia Richardson[5], Brandon Minga, David Najib Kasir, Bunnie Reiss, Janson Rapisarda ("CERA"), Jeremy Novy, Thomas "Detour" Evans[6] and Bigshot Robot.

History

Although the alley had been a local spot for graffiti writers in Milwaukee for many decades, Black Cat Alley was officially launched in 2016[7] when local artists Stacey Williams-Ng [8] and Tim Decker successfully proposed the concept to private property owners and neighborhood groups.[9]


Black Cat Alley is located on Milwaukee's East Side in what was previously an unused, privately-owned alleyway. The alley, located behind the Oriental Theatre (Milwaukee) and other commercial destinations, had a reputation for crime and other unsavory activity for over 40 years[10]. From 2014-16, Stacey Williams-Ng and Tim Decker worked with the East Side BID and the various property owners to create a plan for what is now known as Black Cat Alley, a place that has since become one of Milwaukee's top ten tourist destinations, according to data provided by Visit Mke[11].

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gollark: Really, every time you do this sort of thing it vindicates my belief that you're Macron and bad, LyricLy.
gollark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYOhCd7Ki8A
gollark: And yet:
gollark: This is easy. Just insert the complement of your set of beliefs.

References
  1. https://blackcatmke.com/
  2. "Black Cat After Dark". Milwaukee: Shepherd Express. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  3. Snyder, Molly (5 August 2019). "Spanish artist paints new East Side mural". Milwaukee: OnMilwaukee. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  4. Matz, Lee (20 April 2018). "Artists Announced for New Black Cat Alley Murals". Milwaukee: Milwaukee Independent. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  5. Kubik, Rachel (8 June 2018). "Milwaukee Bucket List: Black Cat Alley's Top 5 Murals". Milwaukee: OnMilwaukee. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  6. Snyder, Molly (14 July 2020). "The Muralist Behind the Mural: Thomas Evans AKA Detour". Milwaukee: OnMilwaukee.
  7. Wild, Matt (18 September 2016). "Inside Black Cat Alley: The East Side's New Street Art Destination". Milwaukee Record. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  8. Bloodgood, Erin (30 April 2019). "Stacey Williams-Ng: Finding Opportunities for Local Artists". Shepherd Express. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  9. Anderson, Scott (12 July 2019). "Meet the Artists of Milwaukee's 'Black Cat Alley'". Patch.com. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  10. Silver, Maayan (2 September 2016). "Milwaukee's Urban Art Scene Expands With 'Black Cat Alley'". WUWM Milwaukee's NPR. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  11. https://www.visitmilwaukee.org/plan-a-visit/guides/things-to-do/free-art/
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