Friday and Saturday will host the 20-year-old tradition of Gallery Night and Day, a celebration of local art open to artists and admirers alike.,”Do your weekend plans involve nude women on Mason Street or jewelry designers on Prospect Avenue? How about free gallery admission, music, wine and snacks? If not, you should head to Gallery Night and Day.

Friday and Saturday will host the 20-year-old tradition of Gallery Night and Day, a celebration of local art open to artists and admirers alike. The event happens four times a year and will take place in 57 venues across Milwaukee, in areas such as Walker's Point and the Historic Third Ward. The venues are open to the public, meaning there will be no charge for admission.

"The really great thing about Gallery Night is the chance to get friends together and go to a bunch of different galleries without worrying about cost to get in," said Laurel Turner of the Charles Allis Art Museum, 1801 N. Prospect Ave. "You can find something that strikes you, hear music, drink wine. And you have the opportunity to buy some art."

The Charles Allis Art Museum will showcase the work of Milwaukee artist H.S. Moynihan during Gallery Night and Day.

Different forms of art will appear at this weekend's event. First time participant Miss Ruby Boutique, 522 N. Water St., will showcase the jewelry of Wisconsin crafters: Betty Christian, Sarah DeAngelo and Stacy Kassulke.

"It's a fun night out on the town," said Erin Thull of Miss Ruby Boutique. "All the stores and galleries are open and offer snacks and treats. It's a cool thing to see so many people come out, hang out, check out art and shopping."

The activities of Gallery Night and Day hold a certain appeal for college students and young people.

"College students are always looking for an event that's fun and free," said Ruth Lawson executive assistant at the Historic Third Ward Association, 219 N. Milwaukee St. "It also gives them exposure to the art world and to the city."

According to Lawson, the diversity of the venues and their collections are poised to appeal to different audiences. She said even though one can expect to visit galleries affiliated with the Milwaukee Art Dealers Association (MADA), a nonprofit organization of artistic forums, any vendor can apply to participate in Gallery Night.

While Gallery Night and Day is an event often associated with the Third Ward, different areas of the city will participate.

"The Third Ward has the highest concentration of galleries in the city," Lawson said. "But some are on the outskirts, like Mercy Hill Gallery (2625 S. Greeley St.) and Danceworks, Inc. (1661 N. Water St.)"

Changes in creative themes as well as venue location set one Gallery Night and Day apart from another, Lawson said.

"The difference depends on what artwork is being shown in a gallery on that specific night," Lawson said. "The DeLind (Gallery of Fine Art, 400 E. Mason St.) is showcasing a collection of nudes this time, and they will draw a different crowd than their last show."

According to Lawson, Gallery Night and Day patrons have different patterns of venue hopping.

"Some people pick certain shows they want to see," she said. "Others will gallery hop in a certain concentration of galleries."

For more information on Gallery Night, go to the Historic Third Ward's Web site.

“