'Milwaukee is a great city for artists': Arts board celebrates local creators

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Arts Board held its annual Artists of the Year program Tuesday.

Though it was a rainy night outside, creativity was shining bright inside the rotunda of Milwaukee City Hall.

"Our arts community is unique, and it makes the city of Milwaukee a very, very special place," Mayor Cavalier Johnson said.

The community gathered for the annual event highlighting artists and supporters of the arts.

"I also dedicate this award to all the artists whose art speaks truly to Milwaukee as a place and a people," Artist of the Year recipient Ben Tyjeski said.

Tyjeski, an artist that specializes in creating handmade art tiles, was one of the award winners honored by the Milwaukee Arts Board.

"Milwaukee is a great city for artists. Both in inspiration and support," he said during his acceptance speech.

The other 2023 Mildred L. Harpole Artist of the Year was Pauak Druecke. Druecke is an artist and writer whose "America Pastime" project was recently featured in The New York Times.

This year, the board introduced a new element into the nomination process.

"For the first time, we opened the process up for public nominations, which was very exciting," Milwaukee Arts Board Vice Chair Polly Morris said.

Also honored by the board were two individuals who have been friends of the arts.

"There is no monetary award with it, but it's a way to recognize people who have been historically supporting the arts here, sometimes under the radar," Morris explained.

The 2023 Friends of the Arts are Jenelle Elder-Green and Carl Bogner.

"Art is what makes the world beautiful," Elder-Green said. "Art is in the church. Art is in the library. Art is everywhere."

Each Artist of the Year is given a $1,500 cash award, with many Milwaukee Arts Board members donating the stipend they receive for serving on the board to help fund the prize.