Milwaukee, Wis., July 1, 2013 – Former Artist in Residence at The Pfister® Hotel, which is owned and managed by Marcus® Hotels & Resorts, Timothy Westbrook, will be a contestant on this season of the popular cable television show “Project Runway,” which premieres July 18, 2013.
During his time as the hotel’s fourth Artist in Residence, from April 2012—April 2013, Westbrook awed guests with his innovative approach to fiber arts. Visitors watched as he took discarded materials, like cassette tape ribbon, umbrellas and hotel bed sheets, and transformed them into beautiful works of art. During his residency, he designed and created five Victorian Decorative Arts period style ball gowns, as well as many other wearable fashion pieces over the course of the year, including the fan favorite—a raincoat made from four Pfister Hotel umbrellas.
“Timothy’s limitless creativity and innovative use of unconventional materials is a perfect fit for the show,” said Cassy Scrima, area marketing manager for Marcus Hotels & Resorts. “During his time at The Pfister, we were continuously impressed by his creative vision. We wish him the best of luck on this exciting opportunity.”
Originally from upstate New York, Westbrook graduated from Syracuse University and in 2012 moved to Milwaukee for the Artist in Residence position.
The Pfister’s current Artist in Residence is Stephanie Barenz, a multi-media artist who primarily paints and draws on wood panels using a range of media, including acrylics, sumi ink and pencil.
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About The Pfister’s Artist-in-Residence Program
Entering its fifth year, The Pfister’s Artist-in-Residence program features a working art studio and gallery that is open to hotel guests and visitors. The program encourages the public to interact with the artist and witness the evolution of each piece first-hand.
Over the past few years, The Pfister has received national attention for its Artist-in-Residence program. Since 2009, the hotel has been a member of the Alliance of Artist Communities, www.artistcommunities.org, an international association of artists’ communities and residencies featuring a diverse field of more than 1,000 programs worldwide. In 2011, The Pfister’s residency program was highlighted at the organization’s annual international conference.
The program’s current artist is Stephanie Barenz (2013-2014), stephaniebarenz.com. Past artists include Timothy Westbrook (2012-2013), www.artsinmilwaukee.org/timothy-westbrook; Shelby Keefe (2011-2012), www.studioshelby.com; Katie Musolff (2010-2011), www.katiemusolff.com; and Reginald Baylor (2009-2010), www.reginaldbaylor.com.
About The Pfister Hotel
Built in 1893, The Pfister Hotel has been the premier downtown Milwaukee hotel for more than a century, and continues to celebrate a tradition of gracious service and impeccable style; 2013 will mark the hotel’s 120th year as an icon in Milwaukee. The Pfister Hotel was purchased in 1962 by Ben Marcus, who vowed to renovate the distinguished hotel to its original beauty. Significant renovations were completed and a new 23-story guest room tower was built. In fall 2012, The Marcus Corporation celebrated its 50th year of ownership of the property.
Home to the largest collection of Victorian art of any hotel in the world, The Pfister is a AAA Four Diamond property with membership in two of the industry’s leading organizations: Historic Hotels of America and Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. The Pfister Hotel is located at 424 E. Wisconsin Ave. in downtown Milwaukee. More information and updates on the hotel can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thePfisterHotel and on Twitter (@PfisterHotel).
About Marcus Hotels & Resorts
Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), owns and/or manages 20 hotels, resorts and other properties in 11 states. A force in the hospitality industry, Marcus Hotels & Resorts provides expertise in management, development and historical renovations. The company’s portfolio includes a wide variety of properties including city-center meeting hotels, upscale resorts and branded first-class hotels. For more information, please visit www.marcushotels.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter (@MarcusHotels).
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