Press Releases & Media Coverage

Download press releases from our current and recent public art experiences.

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Press History

Why Rebrand?

Black Box Fund has rebranded to JOY ENGINE to better capture the group’s mission to celebrate, promote and expand access

2022 Mary L. Nohl Fund Fellowships For Individual Artists Awarded

Five recipients of the Mary L. Nohl Fund Fellowships for Individual Artists have been selected from a field of 165

Arts@Large’s ‘Music Under the Stars’ and ‘Jazz Rocks’ Programs are Here

Join local Jazz Guitarist Don Linke as he brings together some of Milwaukee’s finest musicians for evenings of original compositions,

Media Coverage

Click a section to see media coverage

2022 Press

Doug McDonald, President & Co-founder of JOY ENGINE | Shepherd Express

Joy Engine Community Challenge

Joy Engine Announces 2022 Community Challenge Grant Winners

Joy Engine Community Challenge Press Release

2021 Press Summary

Shepherd Express | Eminetra | Urban Milwaukee | Milwaukee Record | DNR | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | CoPA | CBS 58 – WDJT Milwaukee Milwaukee Mom | A wealth of nature | Outdoors Weekly | Discover Homeo Town – Express news | Fox 6 | Three Magazine | Milwaukee Magazine | Mayor Tom Barret | Stay Happenings

Sculpture Milwaukee 2020 Artists & Artworks

Urban Milwaukee

My Art Bag #1

Shepherd Express | WISN | WISN 02 | WISN 03 | WISN 04 | FOX 6 | FOX6 02 | FOX6 03 | FOX6 04 | CBS58 | CBS58 02 | TMJ4

My Art Bag #2

Urban Milwaukee | Shepherd Express | Community Journal

Jazz at Noon

Shepherd Express | On Milwaukee

Amanda Browder Sculture

On Milwaukee | TMJ4 | TMJ4 02

Under the Moon Lunar Fest

Urban Milwaukee

Artist Luke Jerram Brings A Lunar Experience To Milwaukees Historic Third Ward

Moon To Rise Over Third Ward

● OnMilwaukee

● Radio Milwaukee

5-Things To Do This Weekend

● Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Milwaukee Festival Celebrates Apollo 11 Landing Huge Moon Replica

Here are the talkers

A few more things to do with your kids

Things you should doing Milwaukee Weekend

What’s going on in Milwaukee

What’s with the huge moon floating in the Third Ward?

There’s a huge 23-foot replica of Earth’s moon hanging in Milwaukee’s Third Ward right now

● Milwaukee Business Journal

Moon hangs over Catalano Square

● Milwaukee Magazine

This Work of Public Art Is Actually Made of Trash

What’s the Giant Moon in the Third Ward?=

● WITI-TV FOX 6

23-foot replica of the moon to be on display in Milwaukee’s Third Ward

● WDJT-TV CBS 58

23-foot replica of the moon to be suspended in Third Ward’s Catalano Square

23-foot replica of the moon to be suspended in Third Ward’s Catalano Square

● WISN-TV ABC 12

New Milwaukee festival coming to Third Ward

Moon replica on display in Milwaukee

● WTMJ-TV NBC 4

Giant 23-foot replica of the moon to hang above Catalano Square

● WUWM-FM

Thursday on Lake Effect: Astronaut Wendy Lawrence

The Journey To Mars: Former NASA Astronaut Discusses Progress & The Unknown

● Wisconsin Public Radio

Wisconsin Weekend: Under One Moon Lunar Festival

Lunar Festival In Milwaukee This Weekend Features Giant Moon Replica

Get Ready for Unforgettable Public Art Events in Milwaukee.

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Our last - but certainly not least - Community Cha

Our last - but certainly not least - Community Challenge winner is @out_there_series, an organization that creates intimate, outdoor music performances in the Riverwest, Washington Park, and South Side neighborhoods. 🎉

This series was born from friends and community music organizers, Elise McArdle and John Larkin. The pair recognized that there is an amazing amount of musical talent in Milwaukee, although unfortunately much of this goes unnoticed. The local festivals often book larger, well-known local musicians who can boost attendance at alcohol-laden events.

The Out There Series creates thoughtful outdoor shows in harmony with their natural environment, free from alcohol. The events bring joy from the harmony of art with nature and a focus on deep listening to the performers, including musicians and poets.

More joy in our community? Music to our ears! 🎶
–
We cannot wait to see all six of our Community Challenge winners’ projects come to life. Follow along for updates and to share in the joy!

📷 @out_there_series

Next up for our Community Challenge winners is @go

Next up for our Community Challenge winners is @gothicmilwaukee. 🎉

This historical attraction is led by author and creator of the Walking Milwaukee self-guided tour, Anna Lardinois. Anna is a writer who lives on the East Side and is interested in bringing the past alive while creating a new, entertaining way for Milwaukeeans to explore their neighborhood.

A history and architecture-based program will be created, complete with a GPS-based audio walking tour of the lower East Side. The walk will be available online for those who wish to access it that way.

Anna feels that those who learn more about their neighborhood will feel more connected and joyful with increased pride in the place they call home.

This project is sure to help you explore our community - with joy as the destination! 📍

📷 @gothicmilwaukee

We’re back with more of our Community Challenge

We’re back with more of our Community Challenge Grant winners!

Our next winner is @riverwestradio104.1 whose mission is to provide a community platform for education, advocacy, and creativity through podcasting and radio. 🎉

Riverwest Radio has partnered with their business neighbor, @thedailybirdmke, to reclaim their shared alley, an often-overlooked space. It will be developed into the Alleyway Studio to host music, poetry, art, radio, comedy, round-table discussions, educational programming and more!

The use of banners, tapestries, lighting and thoughtfully-constructed seating will bring a fresh new sense of communal space to the heart of Riverwest. All of the events that occur in The Alleyway Studio will be broadcast on 104.1 FM, live-streamed and archived online.

Tune in for (radio) waves of joy! 🎙️

📷 @riverwestradio104.1

Summer may be coming to a close but Milwaukee art

Summer may be coming to a close but Milwaukee art events are still in full swing! Here are our recommendations for this weekend:

🎨 Saturday, September 24 and Sunday, September 25
Doors Open Milwaukee is back! Get exclusive, behind the scenes access to over 100 of your favorite places and spaces in our city. This year’s line-up includes many art-focused locations including @20tonstudios @artsatlarge @bayviewprintingco @charlesallisartmuseum @grohmannmuseum @haggertymuseum @jewishmuseummilwaukee @lyndensculpturegarden @marn_arts @milwaukeeart @davidbarnettgallery @vargallery @wiconservatoryofmusic and more. Visit historicmilwaukee.org for a complete list.
@historicmilwaukee @doorsopenmilwaukee

🎨 Saturday, September 24 | 4-8 PM
Check out the Occasional Artists Show at North Point Lighthouse featuring original artwork from five artists, who will be on-site at the event.

🎨 Saturday, September 24 | 5-7 PM
Join @dreamlabmke for a Poetry Slam presented by @emjayjawn featuring cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

🎨 Sunday, September 25 | 12-5 PM
Support local black-owned businesses at the @mkeblackinc Black-Owned Marketplace in the @deerdistrict Beer Garden! Enjoy art, crafts, fashion, food trucks, and more.

📷 @milwaukeeart

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