Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Registration Deadline is October 6
The Milwaukee Art Museum houses more than 34,000 artworks dating from antiquity to today, including American and European painting, sculpture, and decorative arts; conceptual and minimalist art; prints and drawings; photography and new media; modern and contemporary design as well as folk art. From its roots in Milwaukee’s first art gallery in 1888, the museum has grown to be Wisconsin’s largest art institution.
This year MAM is celebrating the 25 th anniversary of the Quadracci Pavilion which is defined by the Burke Brise Soleil, a moveable sunscreen with a 217-foot wingspan that unfolds and folds daily at noon. Our tour will start with viewing the opening and closing of those wings.
Following that, participants will experience two tours of the museum. A museum docent will lead an hour-long tour featuring highlights of the art collection.
Our second tour will allow participants to choose between a tour of the Shaker art exhibition with Alan Garfield or a self-guided audio tour of the museum. Alan Garfield will be leading a tour of "The Shakers: a World in the Making. Opening in late September, it is the first major traveling exhibition to place extraordinary Shaker objects alongside the contemporary artists and designers they continue to inspire. The exhibition brings together more than 150 historic objects and contemporary installations in a landmark exploration of design, ideas, and how we live. For those doing a self-guided tour of the museum, bring your headphones and mobile devices to access the free audio guides on mam.org/guide.
Upon arrival and after viewing the opening and closing of the wings we will break into two groups with a maximum of 15 in each group.
Group 1 12:15-1:00 Lunch and explore on your own
1:00-2:00 Highlights of the museum with a docent
2:00 - 2:15 Break
2:15-3:00 Shaker Exhibit with Alan Garfield or self-
guided tour
Group 2 12:15-1:00 Shaker Exhibit with Alan Garfield or self-
guided tour
1:00- 2:00 Lunch and explore on your own
2:00 - 3:00 Highlights of the museum with a docent
Professor Emeritus Alan Garfield was Chair of the Digital Art and Design Department at the University of Dubuque, in Dubuque, Iowa USA. His formal education is eclectic including earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa, a master’s degree from State University of New York-Binghamton, and completing post graduate work at Wadham College, Oxford. As an art historian, He now lives in Madison with his wife, Phyllis, and is actively engaged with the art scene in the city.
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Lunch
Lunch is on your own at the museum's Lakeshore Cafe and is not included in your registration fee.
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Miscellaneous
Cost: $75 per person and includes bus transportation, driver tip, and admission fees. If you want to pay by check, register for the event online and then send your check to: PLATO, ATTN: Milwaukee Art Museum Tour, 6209 Mineral Point Road #203, Madison, WI 53705.
Registration Policy: PLATO will refund an event fee if cancelled prior to the registration deadline of October 6. Refunds after the registration deadline are only processed if a wait-listed registrant can attend or there are extenuating circumstances. We encourage you to register early so we know if we have enough people to make the trip financially feasible.
Accessibility: On the bus, you must be able to climb steps to board and exit the bus. If you need assistance, we require that you bring a friend to give you a hand.
Non-Member Policy: Members must register their guests. Each PLATO member is entitled to bring one non-member guest per bus trip. Members may bring more than one guest near the registration deadline date if seats are available. Check with trip organizer.
PLATO Membership: PLATO membership is $60.00/year and all memberships renew on July 1.
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Bus and Travel Details
We will have a 56-passenger Van Galder/CoachUSA bus. Please arrive early at your boarding stop so you don’t miss the bus. When everyone is aboard and seated, we leave. Arrive early and we will all arrive at our destination on time to begin our adventure.
– Don’t be late. We can wait just 5 minutes at any one location.
- Our bus is equipped with WiFi and toilet facilities.
- Social Distancing will not be available on the bus.
Itinerary
Leave Madison
9:15 AM Bus arrives at Oakwood Village University Woods, 6205 Mineral Point Rd
9:30 AM Departs Oakwood Village University Woods
10:15 AM Departs East Towne (the old Sears parking lot - across from Culvers under Lamp Post 10)
Milwaukee
11:45 AM Arrives Milwaukee Art Museum
3:15 PM Departs Milwaukee Art Museum for Madison
Arrive Madison (Estimated)
4:45 PM East Towne Mall
5:30 PM Oakwood Village University Woods
For further information, contact trip organizer, Barb Drake, barbaradrake21@gmail.com or 608-535-2737.
