Well, not really.

But the Borg Ward, 823 W. National Ave., a new art and music venue, might change the landscape of Milwaukee art.,”Trekkers beware. The Borg, a species from Star Trek that assimilates those around them and uses a collective mind to achieve its goals, has come to transform the Milwaukee art scene.

Well, not really.

But the Borg Ward, 823 W. National Ave., a new art and music venue, might change the landscape of Milwaukee art.

The venue, run by a collection of artists with the common goal to showcase unknown talent, features an art gallery for local artists and a stage for smaller bands.

The art gallery, open Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., currently features tattoo-based paintings and sculptures from local tattoo artists. The venue also hosts bands on weekends such as indie rockers Saturday Looks Good To Me, who played in October.

"We want to be uplifting to the Milwaukee art scene," says Kyle Scheuer, who books most of the bands for the Borg Ward. "I think there are a lot of great things in Milwaukee, but there are just not a whole lot of good venues."

The Borg Ward consists of 30 to 40 volunteers, who collectively provide an all-ages venue where Milwaukeeans can gather and celebrate the arts.

"We're trying to be a catalyst for art and music while bringing people together," says Kevin Soens, who co-founded the Borg Ward with Ian Shaughnessy. After buying a funeral home in May, the two renovated the space with the help of others and converted it into an art/music venue.

The Borg Ward, a non-profit venue, grants free admission to its art gallery and asks for $5 donations at shows. Most of the proceeds is given to the bands.

"We're not trying to make a profit," says Scheuer, who also works for an Alterra Coffee Roasters shop and plays in the Milwaukee-based band The Kents. "We just want to keep sustaining the place and keep being able to put on cool shows."

The Borg Ward enables new artists to display pieces of work for the first time in a gallery, Scheuer says.

"They [tattoo artists] wouldn't normally have their stuff in a gallery," says Scheuer. "We just gave them a chance because they do art on the side. Even though you could say that their job is art, too."

The next art show, "Panels & Pages," begins Dec. 7 and features comic artists from the Milwaukee and Madison areas.

"We are collectively run, which makes us different," Soens says. "We aren't businessmen, which brings a much more honest vibe."

The venue is constantly looking to add new volunteers to its group collaboration.

"Ultimately, we are looking for a diverse population to participate in the Borg Ward," says Soens. "It's a place for people that want to get involved."

So watch out. The Borg Ward might assimilate you.

For more information about the Borg Ward, visit the Borg Ward's Myspace page.

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