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On View in Milwaukee

Jim Brozek

Honest Work

Past Exhibition

September 18—November 16

MOWA on the Lake inside Saint John's On The Lake

About the Exhibition

This exhibition is open to the public at MOWA on the Lake, located inside the retirement campus of Saint John’s On The Lake in downtown Milwaukee. Learn more

Opening Party | September 18 | 5:00–7:00

Artist Talk | September 18 | 6:00

From 1976–1985, Milwaukee-native Jim Brozek photographed workers harvesting crops in Wisconsin, ranching in New Mexico, and on the repair docks of bulk cargo boats at Milwaukee’s Jones Island. Working alongside the farmers, ranchers, and crew, Brozek gained an appreciation for a strong work ethic which gradually shaped his philosophy regarding the pursuit of craftsmanship.

Photographing as he labored gave an insider’s view of those in-between moments of respite as well as the quiet beauty of nature and the awesome power of massive machinery. Brozek’s personal connection to the work—both photographic and physical—reveals the essence of labor and the true nature of hard, honest work.

Image: Jim Brozek, Tight Squeeze, 1979–1985 (detail)