(Sturgeon Bay, WI) – January 22, 2020 — The Miller Art Museum is excited to announce the opening of a pop-up exhibition in conjunction with the Door County Library’s 2021 NEA Big Read activities, which invited artists to interpret through visual art the novel Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. The installation, which offers a selection of personal interpretations of the futuristic novel and a local rendition of the Museum of Civilization featured in the book, is scheduled to open on the Ruth Morton Miller Mezzanine on Saturday, Jan. 30 and run through Monday, Feb. 15, 2021.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Sturgeon Bay, WI) - January 13, 2021—The Miller Art Museum in downtown Sturgeon Bay is set to unveil a new exhibition on January 16 that provides a 
platform for the exploration and discussion of abstract art. From Deep Within: Meditations of Wisconsin Abstractions features the work of regional artists Marjorie Mau of Green Bay, Cristian Andersson of Appleton, and Alyssa Krause of Milwaukee. The exhibition is featured on the Ruth Morton Miller Mezzanine alongside Winter’s Spring: An Ältere Garten by Leslie Iwai in the main galleries which, due to coronavirus circumstances,
has been extended; both will continue through February 26, 2021. “From Deep Within: Meditations of Wisconsin Abstractions” examines the meditations behind the work of the three artists, who present distinctly different painting styles. The goal is to expand the understanding of abstract art, according to Helen del Guidice, curator of the exhibit. The struggle to break free from what Kazimir Malevich, one of the pioneers of abstract art, once described as the “dead weight of reality,” has been going on since 1911 with the debut of Cossacks by Wassily Kandinsky, a painting which is widely viewed as the first official abstract work of art. With this in mind, del Guidice posed the question “What is it?”—perhaps the most frequently asked question about abstract art—to each artist.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM! (Sturgeon Bay, WI) – November 20, 2020 — The Miller Art Museum is pleased to partner with the Door County Library to offer a visual arts component for the 2021 NEA Big Read program, which will focus on the novel titled Station 11 by Emily St. John Mandel. The museum is seeking participation from the community to create works of art in response to the book that contemplates art in a post-pandemic America. Free copies of the books will be available starting on November 27 at all Door County Library branches (while supplies last), and also on Infosoup.org in regular print, large print, and audiobook, along with Overdrive/Libby (e-book). The Libraries are currently operating with restricted access so patrons are asked to call their local branch to schedule a pickup appointment. The free copies are made possible with support from the Door County Library Foundation and The Friends of Door County Libraries.
Station Eleven examines humanity’s struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. A desire for art and culture endures even among the direst of circumstances. In the novel, a Museum of Civilization serves as a fun collection of items for the young and nostalgic reminders of the past for the old. It is unofficially founded at the Severn City Airport when stranded airline passengers collect passports, electronics (cellphones, laptops), credit cards, newspapers, and other items rendered obsolete by civilization’s collapse after the Georgia flu outbreak. Survivors travel to the airport to trade or add items to the museum, reflect on the past, and educate children who were born after the pandemic. At one point the curator observes, “There seemed to be a limitless number of objects in the world that had no practical use but that people wanted to preserve.” (258) Thus, the museum serves its purpose by paying tribute to the pre-pandemic world, teaching children about humankind’s achievements and history, and offering survivors a haven for their nostalgia.
(Sturgeon Bay, WI) – November 11, 2020 – The Miller Art Museum in downtown Sturgeon Bay announced today that it will transition operations to an appointment-only model beginning on Thursday, November 12, 2020, in an effort to mitigate the spread of the surging coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Door County. The announcement came ahead of Governor Tony Evers announcement of Executive Order #94 yesterday and after the decision was made by the Door County Board of Supervisors to restrict access to County buildings and facilities in their Tuesday, November 10 meeting. The restrictions will be in place through the New Year or Thursday, December 31, 2020.
“With the spike in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks across the State and in our community here in Door County, these new restrictions put in place by the County are precautionary measures to ensure the safety of our community and to help mitigate the virus’ spread,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, executive director. “The cultural sector has been greatly affected by the onset and changing circumstances of COVID-19 and we will continue to work to the best of our ability to ensure access to the museum despite the restrictions.”
Visitors are encouraged to call the Miller Art Museum office at (920) 746-0707 to schedule an appointment for their visit. On view through Saturday, December 26 is Winter's Spring: An Ältere Garten by Leslie Iwai, which features nearly 30 works by Wisconsin installation artist Leslie Iwai and explores the connection between elders and youth with vibrant colors and sculptural creations, which unfold a joyful, metaphoric garden. To coincide with Winter’s Spring, the second floor Ruth Morton Mezzanine features botanical and aviary drawings and paintings from the permanent collection as an extension of Iwai’s garden. The museum will continue to provide programming virtually.
August 20, 2020 – The Miller Art Museum in downtown Sturgeon Bay is set to open a new exhibition on Saturday, August 29 featuring contemporary artwork by artists from the Northeast Wisconsin Lakeshore 
region, including Door County. The 45th Juried Annual—on display through October 19 in the main galleries of the museum—highlights work by 45 artists residing in Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Oconto, and Sheboygan counties. This year’s jury panel was comprised of industry professionals Tedd Lott, Artist, Designer (Grand Rapids, MI); Annemarie Sawkins, PhD., Independent Curator (Milwaukee, WI); and Elizabeth Wiza, Preservation Coordinator, Kohler Foundation, Inc. (Sheboygan, WI). Like any good juried exhibition, the 45th Juried Annual is about diversity and quality rather than theme. “Artwork representing a vast range of styles and techniques was selected, illustrating a wide range and mastery of medium,” says Curator of Exhibitions Helen del Guidice. “And, as is expected, the jury panel exhibited great respect and consideration to each submission and offered poignant, independent perspectives on the works.”