Event Calendar

Exhibition will be on display from January 9 – February 15, 2020.

“In the pursuit of sturgeon, we found ourselves standing on the ice in a landscape devoid of any visible horizon. The snow blew past in ribbons, and the wind burned any exposed skin. We moved the shack over the hole cut in the ice, and now, sheltered from the wind, we took our first look into the abyss below my feet.

The exhibition 20 Below explores the tradition and dedication to sturgeon spearing on Lake Winnebago. How vital this mysterious and ancient fish is to the way of life, and how critical this community is to the lake sturgeons’ sustainability. There is still much work ahead for those involved with ensuring the future of the fish in Lake Winnebago. There is a collective will, to ensure that future generations can continue to participate in a tradition, securing the lake sturgeons’ population for future generations. Thanks to the community’s respect and understanding of its history and its passion for protecting and conserving the fish there is hope that we could be witnessing a renaissance, a return to the heyday of lake sturgeon.”

Exhibition will be on display from January 9 – February 15, 2020.

Stories have existed long before recorded history, and the telling of stories has changed forms drastically throughout the ages. Although the methods have changed, the desire to tell and hear stories has remained unchanged, and still greatly impacts the way we look at life. From generation to generation, fishing stories have served as a source of fascination, humor and pride. Many of these stories have been retold and embellished upon to the point they become legendary. The work in this exhibition focuses on such legendary stories of the sturgeon. The stories on display have been gathered and reinterpreted by local artists through painting, drawing, printmaking, graphic media and sculpture. Each of these artists uses the power of the visual image to ignite imaginations, evoke emotions and capture universal cultural truths to form a connection with this celebrated ancient fish.

Exhibition will be on display from January 28, 2021 – March 13, 2021

What the Paper Reveals by Lora Vahlsing

An artist exchange talk will begin at 6 pm on Thursday, January 28 with a Q&A about her exhibition: What the Paper Reveals.

Lora is a local artist living in Wisconsin. We will meet with her in-person and for those who wish to participate virtual, you may via Microsoft Teams.

Reserve your spot: In-person or via Microsoft Teams.
A mask or face covering is required in the building.
If you choose to watch the Q&A talk at home, we will email you to connect with us on January 28.

Free admission and open to the public. Cash bar available.

Please RSVP HERE. 

As a visual artist, I create sensorial experiences that  invite contemplation. I use familiar materials and shapes, seeing them in new ways. In my current series What the Paper Reveals, the pieces are both open-ended and precise. My vision focuses on slow art, objects that need precision over a sustained period. My origins are in poetry, drawing, and movement. I invite viewers to re-conceive the world around them, referencing the natural world through intricate forms and light.

I sculpt paper because I enjoy the challenge of transforming a familiar material. Paper holds the recorded light of trees and I’m interested in this history, the origins of a material. I’m driven to discover and explore subjects of place, memory, and time. It’s an insistence of expressing personal narratives in their complexity: beauty and pain, light and shadow, private and public. I sculpt paper in two and three-dimensional forms to heighten spatial perception. My pieces are largely monochromatic because I’m drawn to the subtleties of shape; an often muted or limited color palette heightens visual sensitivity. 

The physicality of sewing by hand is essential, even if the stitches aren’t visible. I’m creating my own webs, intricate stitches barely perceptible from a distance. I’m fascinated with the texture of stitches, and how they hold materials together. The scarring is important, to memorialize places of healing and acknowledge their beauty.

A mask or face covering is required in the building. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

Galleries are free to view during normal business hours:

Monday: 10 – 5 pm

Tuesday: 10 – 5 pm

Wednesday: 10 – 5 pm

Thursday: 10 – 7 pm

Friday: 10 – 5 pm

Saturday: 10 – 3 pm

Closed on Sundays

The festival will be following CDC guidelines for Coronavirus prevention and will be taking steps to limit any possible spread at our outdoor events.  Attendees are asked to wear a face covering as well.

Sunday, February 14

11 – 2 pm

Join us for a Frozen movie showing during Sturgeon Spectacular on Saturday, February 11 @ 2:00 PM at THELMA! Invite your friends, enjoy special drinks, popcorn, and the company of others! Cash bar and snacks available for purchase. Open to all ages!

Date: Saturday, February 11
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Price/Tickets: FREE ADMISSION

REGISTER HERE