At the end of 2014 I was telling everyone I needed a space.  A new ceramic-shop in West Allis was opening up at the time and it would have been an amazing setup.  Unfortunately it would have been a long bike-ride from Riverwest.  At the same time, three friends from different social groups all told me about Var and this mysterious guy named Josh Hintz.  Eventually I called him and set up a studio visit.  There was one spot left.  I took it immediately.

When I began renting at Var, I started in a 16'x12' space shared with another artist.  It felt tiny, but it was more than I was able to get anywhere else.  The space was under $200 and included 24/7 access, wood shop, kitchenette, regular gallery exhibition opportunities, air conditioning, internet, free admission to events, and the electrical setup and technical maintenance for the kilns.  This was a phenomenal deal!   Again, I was earning little money at the time so this studio arrangement was impressive.  I never went to graduate school either, so having this opportunity seemed unbelievable.

I approached this opportunity very professionally.  I came into the studio nearly every day, kept quiet and did not listen to any music, recorded my hours in a log, and cleaned up when I was done (including washing the floors).  Eventually, though, I loosened up and became more amicable.  

The availability of other artists was a quality that made Var so worthwhile. Many artists were in a similar situation as me with a recently-earned BFA from U.W.M. or MIAD.  Being able to consult with them and hang out was supportive and helped grow my confidence.  It is important to note that while there were other artists working in the same building, we each had our own spaces.

I was also fortunate to be sharing a studio with a beatnik artist who had decades of knowledge and experience in the art and design field.  Even though I recognized his talent and expertise right away, there was a little tension at first.  We both had TONS of supplies and work in a tight space.  I also had dust!  In short time, however, we became best of friends.  And, I learned a lot from him that I would not have been able to gain on my own.  ​

By the time four years passed, I was renting a full-studio, operating under an LLC, self-published a book, developing a new portfolio, and working on commissions.  I was able to grow and challenge myself in a safe environment.  There were plenty of struggles and mistakes I made, pieces I threw out, hours wasted on a failure, but the support-structure at Var helped me overcome those hurdles and continue pursuing my bliss.

Now four years later I am moving out of Var and building my own studio.  This is a tremendous step forward that I am able to take because of the incubator-space-like-quality that Var is.  Any recent graduate from U.W.M. or MIAD would be at a a loss not taking into consideration Var as an option to pursue their art career.  Whether it is to connect with other artists, focus on a portfolio, enter more art exhibitions, have a site to conduct business, or whatever artsy thing you need, Var is an ideal community to give yourself the needed room to grow. 

Last but not least, in addition to all the amazing minds working on their art just steps away from each other, the guidance from owner Josh Hintz is invaluable.  

Now I have moved from Walker's Point and into a new Milwaukee neighborhood, Hawthorn Glen.  It is a tiny neighborhood mostly taken up by a nature-reserve owned by Milwaukee Public Schools.  To the north is Washington Heights.  As depicted, the studio is currently a 2.5 stall garage.  With the help of family (primarily my dad!) and friends, the garage will be transformed into a winter-proof, kiln-safe, ceramic studio this summer.  So yes, the garage door has got to go!

I cannot imagine the journey it would have been to get to this step without all the support from family, friends, and institutions such as UWM SACC, W.P.C.A., and Var (and many others!)   Now the magic is just beginning.  Certainly there will be obstacles, mistakes, and hurdles, but all the experience I have gained in shared studio spaces and renting from Var will make this possible.  

For regular updates on the transformation, please stayed tuned on my bimonthly newsletter.

​An hour is left before the sun sets.  The temperature is just warm enough to walk outside with a sweater and cap, but you can still see your breath.  The air is crisp.  Despite the heavy traffic after work hours, the timing could not be better for witnessing the Legacy Lofts.  On the southern elevation is the grand façade.  Ornamental textures struck by the sunlight produce bold shadows.  While the warehouse structure converted into an apartment-loft building may appear beautiful at all times, it is this time of day that it is "in the spotlight."

"What are you taking a picture of that building?" says a curious pedestrian.  "It's just a building.  What are you going to do with a picture of a building?  Why take a picture?" 
I calmly wait until the kind stranger is finished.  "At this time of day the sun strikes the building and creates these gorgeous shadows."
"Ah yeah.. I see that." says another pedestrian.  Intrigued, she asks, "Are you an Art student?"
"Actually I am an Art teacher!  Pictures are my side-gig."  
We laugh.
"That is so cool!" expresses the pedestrian.

This dialogue is just a snapshot of the wonderful interactions I experience on the street while documenting architectural terra cotta and faience in the Midwest.  While it's often preferrable to take pictures at times when there is little to no traffic, the interactions with other people on the busy streets can make the mission of my work all the more purposeful.  The people I met on the sidewalk perhaps had no idea that the building was worthy of a photograph.  Maybe they did know, but just wanted to discover what I was up too.  This happens to me a lot.  And I am always thrilled to present how meaningful these buildings are to our Milwaukee community. (or in any community!)

The Legacy Lofts in the former Bloomer Ice Cream Company warehouse building is just one the latest building projects in Milwaukee.  This one, however, is special because there is a new building integrated with the renovation of a historic one.  In Milwaukee, we are witnessing this at several sites.  The Bader Philanthropies Headquarters at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Fifth Street was also completed in 2018, renovating the old Green Bay Building.  Garfield Avenue School on Vel R. Phillips Avenue also was renovated and converted in apartments in 2018.  Immediately next to it was also the construction of the Griot Apartments and a new home for America's Black Holocaust Museum. Fatima Laster remodeled the Johnson-Goolsby Funeral Home into the Five Points Art Gallery last year.  Furthermore, the P. H. Gaubatz Building on Center Street and Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Drive was renovated in 2015.  And the Fortress, a former Mayer Boot Company Building, on West Pleasant Avenue is also currently being renovated. 

What is wonderful about all these sites is that the are all on the North Side, many are integrating historic structures with new ones, and they are respecting cultural institutions.  The North Side of Milwaukee is filled with architectural gems.  Many of these buildings are constructed with gorgeous craftsmanship and artistic details.  These trades do not exist in the capacity that they did when these sites were originally built.  It is important to recognize these places because they emphasize the value of these neighborhoods and the worthwhile investment in preserving them.  

The humble building at 700 East Kilbourn Avenue will soon meet its fate.  Its façade, simple and elegant, will unfortunately never resurface to the public eye.  Awaiting a new project, the Ascent, will soon replace this site with a 21-story timber framed residential tower.

There are many small details about this building that draw interest in its survival.  Originally known as the site for Irving Benesch Real Estate, it was designed by Martin Tullgren & Sons and built in 1926.  What is most striking on the exterior are the embellishments made of architectural terra cotta.  The glazes that cover these units are pulsichrome, and feature a mottled effect of various hues, including light green, peach, rose, cranberry red, and buff.  Even though the building is painted white, the layers of paint has slowly been peeling off.  This is one reason why it is strongly advised not to paint terra cotta.  Besides, the natural surface of fired terra cotta is handsome.

As depicted in the last four years, there has been no change at the site.  However, several of the base units on the structure have also been crumbling.  Much of this neglect has been recent.  A black-and-white photograph documenting the façade in a better condition (in 1946) can be see on the Milwaukee Public Library Digital Collections.

As a bicyclist, working in Walker's Point and living in Riverwest, I often use Van Buren Avenue as a route.  Therefore, I notice this building a lot.  I have observed the peeling of the paint.  I have wondered why does it appear vacant?  Why does it seem that nobody maintains the site or improve its curb appeal?  Such mystery has enticed me to wonder about the possibilities of what this space could become. 

​Now that the Ascent is coming, I guess the answer has been made.  Unfortunately, the new apartment project leaves no room to imagine a space that appropriates the old building into a new space.  I realize such a design challenge may be too clingy to the past.  Most concerning is that a small commercial building with historic charm will soon no longer be available to the potential business owner, eager to start a new operation.

If the glazed surface of the terra-cotta units was not out of the ordinary, perhaps it would not be so interesting.  However, it is the fact that the glazes are multi-colored pulsichrome that has given me the impression that this building is worth preserving.  The old idea that "demolitions of grand structures should only occur if the newer building is better and grander" is likely the approach the developers of the Ascent are taking.  Perhaps the renovation costs of the Benesch building are through the roof. At the very least, let it be that the polychromatic units are salvaged and reused in a dignified way (and not as garden ornaments). 

One worthwhile idea could be a display in the lobby of a few carefully selected artifacts from the façade.  These salvaged artifacts could serve as artwork in the new space as well as be symbols of the community and its local history.  Despite the fact that the building will be gone, such a feature would communicate to its tenants and visitors that Milwaukee is a place that values its architecture and its past.  It would also demonstrate that preservation in Milwaukee comes from a genuine place of love for the community.

Construction on this new building is slated for fall 2019.  It is intended to be 238 feet in height and be the tallest mass timber building in the Western hemisphere.  New Land Enterprises are the developer.  Korb + Associates are the architects.  Completion is expected in spring 2021.

Links to articles and notes on Benesch Building and the Ascent:
Old Milwaukee.net Building File
Tom Daykin article from Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Oct. 5, 2018
​​Jeramey Jannene article from Urban MKE, Oct. 6, 2018
Plan Development Submittal, Korb + Associates Architects
Official website for new building: ​https://www.ascentmke.com/

The historic commercial and business district at Five Points (where Keefe Avenue, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Port Washington Road, Atkinson Avenue, and Sixth Street meet) is drawing lots of interest.  A once bustling and active intersection for the neighborhood known as Williamsburg Heights, new enterprise is returning.

All the attention is due to newly renovated building at 3300 North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.  Originally the building was owner to Dr. H. P. Haushaulter.  In recent years it has stood vacant.  In 2016 Bader Philanthropies announced they were moving from the 233 North Water Street in the Historic Third Ward to the present location in 53212.  Denise Wooten of the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service expressed her gratitude for a major foundation to make its headquarters in an impoverished area of the city.  (Read Urban Milwaukee article here:  https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2016/12/04/op-ed-foundations-move-to-central-city-is-admirable/)   

The renovation has been complete for a few months now and the company is in full operation there.  The choice for Bader Philanthropies to renovate a historic building makes historians like me thrilled.  There are many properties with charm in this business district.  Due to lack of investment in this area, for better or worse, the buildings stand true to their original condition.  This new headquarters of Bader Philanthropies did not look so good before their arrived.  Surely, someone could have demolished the site to build a new structure.  Fortunately the building's foundation was in strong condition.  Besides, there are plenty of vacant properties nearby (although  sometimes it seems like developers are hungry for the demolitions). 

In this case, the building was preserved, and in an excellent way.  This building from 1927 is of interest to Tyjeski Terra Cotta Works because it features architectural terra cotta, likely from the Northwestern Terra Cotta Company.  Furthermore, the glazed surfaces are pulsichrome. 

​Below, in my attempt to be Camilo José Vergara, depicted is the progress of the building between December 2016 to October 2018.  In the first image, you can take note of the paneling covering the windows and doors, as well as the condition of the architectural terra cotta.  On the pilasters was stained red paint.  Metal spikes originally holding a metal signs were left to rust.  Overall, the terra cotta was solid - but its surface was stained and lacked maintenance.

Today, all the original architectural terra cotta remains in place.  And it has not looked this good for decades!   The general contractor, JCP Construction, and the architects Uihlein Wilson Architects deserve an applause.  It is better than I predicted when news came out in 2016.  This renovation shall be a celebrated example of how a historic building with architectural terra cotta can be transformed into a new, contemporary space.

Other recent works in this area have included the Heart & Hope Apartments in 2010 and sculptures by Marina Lee.  There are many historic buildings in this business district that could benefit from some investment.  Hopefully builders can see the value of these buildings and how they have shaped the communities that call this place of Milwaukee home.  All the while, there are vacant lots eager for new builds as well.  This grand intersection is right off the interstate, making its location even more convenient for businesses.  The diversity of properties is wide, hopefully, encouraging new businesses of different sizes to move to this area.  

With a few corner-marts, a gas station, schools, apartments, a barbershop, a correctional institute, and now a non-profit philanthropy organization, the area could benefit from the development of restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, and retail.  The triangle park at the center of this intersection must really be activated to the neighborhood's advantage.  On the north end of the area, a few new apartment buildings might increase demand and safety to the area as well.

Local terra-cotta buildings also include  F. W. Woolworth 5 & 10 Cents store, an apartment building with Moravian tiles, and a mixed-use structure known as the Hollywood Building.

PAST ARTICLES ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HEADQUARTERS:
Tom Daykin and Bill Glauber, Journal Sentinel, August 3, 2016
Corrinne Hess, Biz Times, January 27, 2017
Bader Philanthropies, Press Release, UrbanMilwaukee, January 27, 2017
​Edgar Mendez, Urban Milwaukee, February 1, 2017
Lauren Anderson, Biz Times, May 8, 2017
​Daily Reporter, May 15, 2017
​Sean Ryan, Milwaukee Business Journal, March 5, 2018
Sean Ryan, Milwaukee Business Journal, September 2, 2018

On Third Street and West Wisconsin Avenue in 1959 was the "Robinson Store" building.  On its small store-building façade was architectural terra cotta manufactured by the American Terra Cotta and Ceramic Company (from Crystal Lake, Illinois).  At this time architectural terra cotta was not experiencing the level of production it had in the 1920s, but the remaining companies were managing their business - barely.  As for Milwaukee, this would be the last installation of such building material.

Since then, I have not been able to find any new installations.  This excludes preservation work such as the installation of new terra cotta by Gladding McBean on the City Hall (finished in December 2014) and others. 

However, now almost 60 years later, a new apartment building is being constructed with a product that works just like historic architectural terra cotta.  Known as The Contour,  it is located on the East Side of Milwaukee at 2214 North Prospect Avenue.  The architects are Rinka Chung Architecture, whose offices are downtown on Mason and Milwaukee Streets.  Let's give them an applause!  

The terra-cotta product is unlike anything that is seen with historical architectural terra cotta.  Traditionally units can be anywhere from four inches to over a foot deep.  This new product is different.  It is thin, longer, and lighter. It is known as "NeaCera terra-cotta cladding solutions."  It is manufactured in Germany, but distributed by Avenere Cladding from Baltimore, Maryland.  The architects had a preference for hiring as local as possible, but this product supported both their design needs and budget.

As described on their website, NeaCera is a "solid wall terra-cotta rainscreen."  They also note that they take the lead in the world for that product.  The specific item Rinka Chung Architecture uses is a "flat standard panel."  This panel is unlike traditional terra-cotta units or ashlar terra cotta that have a cellular, hollow design.  These five-feet panels are solid and thin.  All the while, they carry a low weight at under 50 pounds per panel, or about 7.5 pounds per square foot.  This must be extremely great for builders, as handling these units is much less cumbersome than units made decades ago.  

​The surface of the panels are "Gloss Black" and is the first time this finish has been used in North America.  That is the first time for this NeaCera product.  Amazingly, the black-glazed terra cotta is a motif that has strong heritage here, especially in the East Side.  Local and celebrated architect Herbert Tullgren was no stranger to this material and its creative potential.

Tullgren practiced under the name Martin Tullgren & Sons.  It was his father's company.  He worked alongside with his brother, Minard.  Unfortunately his brother passed in 1928.  He continued practicing architecture and designed many buildings with black-glazed terra cotta.  These surfaces were opaque, semi gloss, and smooth.  They can be found on the Viking Apartments (1931), the Milwaukee-Western Fuel Company Office Building (1933), the Hathaway Tower (1931), and the Armory Courts Building (1931).   While the Armory Courts Building is in Shorewood, the other three are only blocks from the Contour. 

Black-glazed terra cotta also commonly appeared at this time, and can be found on other buildings, including the Grand Warner Theater (1930), the Park Lane Apartments (1930), and the Annason Apartments (1930).  

​With this in mind, it is as if the architects from Rinka Chung are picking up where we left off when terra cotta was last common in Milwaukee's architecture.  The design of the building is contemporary, and the use of the terra cotta is pretty utilitarian.  Their choices of surface, all the while, make it relevant to the city and its beautiful history.  

Now... if Rinka Chung designs an apartment building terra-cotta panels of wolves, dragons, or eagles... I may lose myself!  However, seriously, this is an amazing event for the practice of architectural terra cotta in Milwaukee.  Thank you Rinka Chung Architecture!  

(ENDNOTE - I'd like to mention that Rinka Chung has used this terra-cotta cladding in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, however, with a "white" finish.  Stay tuned for future posts!)

The Journal Times acknowledged that its terra cotta and tile, “add a distinctive appearance to the bridge which spans the river in a graceful arch.”  Its distinctiveness truly is what makes it so extraordinary.  Its features would make even the most uninterested passerby stop for a glance.  In other words, if the bridge was not enhanced with terra cotta and tile, it would not be important or worth saving.

As one crosses its sidewalk or passes under its arch rowing in a kayak on the Root River, the terra cotta and tile ornament can be appreciated.  When carefully viewing the work, a charm erupts that is no different than a child captivated by a fictional story about magnificent beasts and warriors.  The artistic narrative of the bridge ignites the imagination in all of us. 
​
Furthermore, much ornament on buildings in the early Modern era aspired to express the ideals of America and what is American.  The clay ornament on this bridge is no exception.  Symbols were chosen, such as the eagles, bison, cow, and cornucopias, to express American values of independence, power, freedom, and abundance.  Note there are also schooners, plows, and bundles of wheat representing the importance of the lake and agriculture.  All the while, they are playful and fun (especially the grotesque dolphinesque figures). ​

Despite it being an enduring work of excellence and a symbol of Racine's values, the condition of the bridge demands repairs.  To what extent the actual state of the bridge cannot support its intended use is a subject to be further explored and investigated. (EDIT: bridge condition is POOR, according to bridgehunter.com - see comment below).  
 
The Sixth Street Bridge, much like Wingspread and the Racine Art Museum, forms the identities of the people living there.  It is not only a landmark or a symbol of the West Sixth Street community, but it is their understanding of what a bridge is, and how a bridge can look, a reference for using imagination to create one’s built-environment, and a part of their community heritage.  If this important structure were to be demolished, it would literally be demolishing their heritage and a part of the story of their neighborhood.

The proposed design provided by Ayers Associates (from 2016) aims to preserve units from the original bridge and reintroduce them into the new one.  These efforts, though, would be miraculous.  If the Boston Valley Terra Cotta Company could be hired to uninstall the units and reproduce them at their factory, perhaps then the city of Racine could achieve a new bridge with exact replicas of the original.  The originals then could be appropriated in a local park, or housed at Racine Art Museum, or both?  The design Ayers Associates planned, though, would exclude much of the original terra cotta and tile.  It would not be the same bridge, but a salvaged version of the original.  
​
Reshaping our environments is important, and necessary, for the inevitable growth of our cities.  However, some places are to be preserved with a treasure-like passion.  There are many factors to determine which sites they are, but perhaps the most powerful is the emotional. ​

Fortunately there are many voices, particularly from Preservation Racine, Inc., that stress the importance of this gem in Racine.  Any updates on the project and its progress would be appreciated.  Please email me at tyjeskib@gmail.com if you have more information to provide. Thank you.  
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Also, feel welcome to share the article and ask for permission if you would like to reuse the photographs. 

BY: Ben Tyjeski
August 17, 2018
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Further notes…
Not many bridges exist like this one around America.  Hope Memorial Bridge in Cleveland, Ohio, is another Art Deco bridge with sculptural features.  The winged “guardians of traffic” figures and the ornament are breathtaking.  This bridge, however, features cast-stone instead of terra cotta. 
Wisconsin has several bridges that were built with architectural terra cotta.  In Menasha there is the Tayco Street Bridge.  In Green Bay there is the Dousman Street Bridge Gatehouse.  In Milwaukee there is also the Arch Bridge in Lake Park from 1892.  All these bridges are gorgeous, but none of them compare to the integrity that the terra cotta expresses in form, surface, and symbolism as does the Racine arch bridge.

Further Reading and Sources:
Racine West Sixth Street Over Root River Bridge Replacement, Ayers Associate
https://www.ayresassociates.com/project/racine-west-6th-street-bridge/

"Preservation urged in Sixth Street bridge replacement" The Journal Times, Racine, Wisconsin.  Cara Spoto.  January 27, 2016.
https://journaltimes.com/news/local/preservation-urged-in-sixth-street-bridge-replacement/article_d2196fa4-fa35-552a-943b-17dbcc722a9e.html

"Some Facts about the City's Handsomest Concrete Bridge" The Journal Times, Racine, Wisconsin.  December 3, 1928.  Page 13.

All across the urban glory of Milwaukee and its neighbors are brick buildings from the 1920s embellished with mosaics.  There are all kinds of tile designs, and among them, there are many made up of shards.  Trencadís, a Catalan term meaning "broken tile mosaics," was a style of design that appeared on many brick buildings here. "Pique assiette" and "bits and pieces" are other terms meaning the same thing.(1) 

The practice of trencadís occurred primarily between 1925 to 1931.  The buildings may not be like Gaudí's Casa Battló, but the mosaics they feature add color and beauty to otherwise plain facades.   While I have much exploring in the metropolis to do yet, I have located fifty buildings with this design (as of 7/9/2018).  Of all these buildings, I have only been able to find one newspaper article listing a company for the installation of these "bits and pieces" tiles.  ​​

The Palace Apartments, located at 2061 W Atkinson St, features two arch insets with these mosaics.  They are located inside balconets.  One of them has lost the tile shards, but the western one remains intact.  Once upon a time, I believe the space above the second-story windows in the center had trencadís as well. The architects were George Zagel & Bro.  The tile work was done by the Midwest Tile Art Company.(2)

The office and showroom of the Midwest Tile Art Company were located at 1624 W Fond Du Lac Ave (later 1646).  J. R. Kessenich was most likely the owner.  The company was a tile contractor.  They did not manufacture tiles.  However, there were times the newspapers indicated who they hired to produce tiles.(3) 

​Unfortunately, the building they operated in is now demolished.  There is very little published about this company in the Milwaukee Journal or the the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle.(4)  So far in my research, if their name is listed in an article for a new building, the tile work is for the interior.  

Pictured below are several more buildings with trecadís.  Are all these tile installations the work of the Midwest Tile Art Company?  That cannot be said.  With only one confirmed example, it is not enough to say.  There were many other companies in Milwaukee that installed tile too, and they all could have practiced trencadís.  Therefore, if anyone has information on the Midwest Tile Art Co., or information on this type of mosaic in Milwaukee, please respond in a comment.  You can also email me (tyjeskib@gmail.com).  

Sources:
(1) Jacobsen, Reham Aarti. Mosaics for the First Time. New York: Sterling Publishing, 2005, Page 18
(2) "Palace Apartments," Milwaukee Journal, March 23, 1930, Page 47
(3) "Model Rooms at Home Show," Milwaukee Journal, February 22, 1931, Page 43
(4) Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, September 3, 1926, Page 79

On Collinsville Avenue in East St. Louis is the historic Majestic Theatre.  Built in 1928, it now stands abandoned and derelict.  Its polychromatic glazed surface is enticing.  Additionally, the relief ornament is outstanding.  On the façade you will find many of the motifs also installed on the West Milwaukee High School and Hotel Shorecrest, especially that capital.  Initially I thought that this must be a Tullgren building near St. Louis.  Once I identified the architect, I found out that is was the Boller Brothers.  Due to this discovery, it just makes me wonder who had the imagination to design this peculiar motif?   
​
If somebody finds these gorgeous motifs on another façade, please let me know!  
​