The Miller Art Museum in downtown Sturgeon Bay debuts its two final exhibitions of 2023, Newfangled: Modernism in the Permanent Collection and the Wildlife Biennial XXI, both opening to the public on November 4, 2023. An opening reception, free and open to the public, is scheduled for Friday, November 3 from 5:30 – 7:00pm. Light refreshments will be served and music will be provided by Craig Schultz. The exhibition will be on view through December 30, 2023.
Newfangled, presented in the museum’s first-floor main galleries, includes 34 works from the museum’s permanent collection that illustrate the modern art period and defines particular characteristics and influences.
1. Czebotar, The Rage of Rain, oil, c.1945. 2. Burkert, Gameboard, serigraph, 1969. 3. Bohrod, Cityscape, oil, c.1940.
The modern art period, enduring between the 18th and 20th centuries, was marked by the gargantuan effects of the Age of Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, and two world wars. This combination of revolutionary social changes served as a catalyst, prompting artists to reject traditional values in search of innovation. Modernism looked to the future with newfangled individualism, imagining an idealized society with a belief in universal truths.
In this exhibition, curated works from the museum’s collection will exemplify a variety of artistic philosophies defining modern art such as Formalism, Abstraction, and Rationalism. The exhibit will also interpret photography’s early impact as a new technology. These works will also establish how major social changes between the 18th and 20th centuries, such as industrialization, urbanization, and individualism, influenced artists and invigorated visual culture. Further, it also marks the specific end of the modern art period and the rise of postmodernism and contemporary art, and some of the ways that modernism continues to influence society today.
“We are so fortunate to have a permanent collection that is so rich in possibilities and can be curated to provide learning opportunities with exhibitions like Newfangled,” says Helen del Guidice, curator of exhibitions and collections at the Miller Art Museum. “This exhibition will include educational text that connects artmaking to its time and the world around it while offering perspective on how modern art influenced visual culture.”
Concurrently on view on the Ruth Morton Mezzanine, visitors can see the Wildlife Biennial XXI, encompassing a collection of 24 works by four Wisconsin artists: Randall Dettmann (Algoma, WI), Jan Comstock (Baileys Harbor, WI), Kristin Gjerdset (West Allis, WI) and Suzanne Rose (Sturgeon Bay, WI). All artists offer varying perspectives on the topic of wildlife.
1. Randall Dettmann, Help!, acrylic. 2. Suzanne Rose, timber wolf, digital photograph, 2010. 3. Kristin Gjerdset, Insects Ice Blue, watercolor and gouache.
Dettmann’s paintings in acrylic are empathetic and remorseful depictions of the natural world, which interrogate man’s poor stewardship that harms the creatures we share space with. Kristin Gjerdset, working in watercolor, acrylic, and gouache, presents microenvironments highlighting interactions between tiny creatures within a habitat. Comstock’s work includes realist oil paintings depicting animals in proximity, from the fox resting in a snowbank to ladybugs basking in the sunlight on a window sill. Four large-scale photographic portraits of taxidermy from the Wild Miscellany series by Suzanne Rose provide an intimate, face-to-face viewing of large animals; the photographs are 2023 acquisitions to the Miller Art Museum’s permanent collection.
Newfangled: Modernism in the Permanent Collection and the Wildlife Biennial XXI will be on view in downtown Sturgeon Bay through December 30, 2023. The museum will be closed December 25-26 for the Christmas holiday.
The Wildlife Biennial XXI is presented by exhibit sponsors Jack and Sue Anderson, The Cordon Family Foundation, and Barb and Mike Madden. Newfangled is presented with support from Miller Art Museum sustaining members with additional grant and in-kind support from Third Avenue Playworks and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The museum is located within the Door County Library at 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay. Hours are Monday 10 am - 7 pm and Tuesday through Saturday 10 am – 5 pm. Closed Sunday. Admission is free; an elevator is available to access galleries on the Ruth Morton Miller Mezzanine. For more information about the exhibits or the museum, call (920) 746-0707 or visit www.millerartmuseum.org. Find the museum on Instagram at @MillerArtMuseum or Facebook at Miller Art Museum.
Exhibition Related Programming:
Member Preview Tour
Friday, November 3 | 4 – 5:00pm
Miller Art Museum | 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
Join Curator of Exhibitions Helen del Guidice for an intimate guided tour prior to the exhibit opening to the public. Free with paid membership.
Opening Reception
Friday, November 3 | 5:30 - 7 pm
Miller Art Museum | 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
Celebrate the opening of the Newfangled: Modernism in the Permanent Collection and the Wildlife Biennial XXI and enjoy light refreshments and live music by Craig Schultz. This event is free and open to the public.
Art/Speaks
Friday, November 17 | 11am – Noon
Miller Art Museum | 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
Write On, Door County, in partnership with the Miller Art Museum, presents Art/Speaks, a free writing lab encouraging people to write in response to exhibited artworks. Led by poets Carrie and Peter Sherrill, the 60-minute writing activity is perfect for both beginning and advanced writers in any genre. Free; advance registration is not required.
Free Film Screening | Ridge & Swale
Monday, November 27 | 6:30pm
Miller Art Museum | 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
Ridge and Swale, a two-part documentary celebrating a legacy of conservation and community, tells the story of how the Door County community has worked and continues to work on preserving and maintaining its natural beauty and heritage. Produced by Peninsula Filmworks, the series is made possible by its sponsors: the Peninsula Pulse, Destination Door County, The Ridges Sanctuary, Door County Medical Center, and The Clearing.
On Friday, September 16, the Miller Art Museum in downtown Sturgeon Bay unveiled its 48th Juried Annual—a survey and celebration of contemporary work by Wisconsin visual artists—to a reception of more than 200 attendees. Eight regional visual artists were recognized during the awards ceremony for their works exuding excellence and originality and were experimental in nature. All total, $1,950 was presented to the following recipients:
Aaron Boyd (Milwaukee), awarded a $250 Juror’s Choice Award (Jinkins) for his work titled The Tadpoles.
Kimberly Burnett (Milwaukee), awarded a $200 Special Merit Award for her work titled The Rearrangement.
Bethann Moran Handzlik (Fort Atkinson), awarded a $200 Special Merit Award for her work titled A Mind of Winter.
Thomas Jordan (Sturgeon Bay), awarded a $200 Special Merit Award for his work titled Alone, But Not Alone.
Beth Schueffner (Neenah), awarded the Bonnie Hartmann Award for Outstanding Creativity, a $100 cash award, for her work titled Well, Here We Are.
Mary Ellen Sisulak (Ellison Bay), awarded the $500 Gerhard CF Miller Award of Excellence for her work titled Artifact.
Arlene Stanger (Baileys Harbor), awarded a $250 Juror’s Choice Award (Vadney) for her work titled Umbrella.
Ashley Wittling (Chippewa Falls), awarded a $250 Juror’s Choice Award (Ward) for her work titled Duality.
Arlene Stanger, Umbrella. Award winners Left to Right: Arlene Stanger, curator Helen del Guidice, and Beth Schueffner. Beth Schueffner, Well, Here We Are.
The 48th Juried Annual showcases 73 contemporary two-dimensional works by Wisconsin artists and marks the third year that artists from across the state were eligible to submit work. These distinctive works can be viewed throughout the entire museum in both the main galleries on the lower level as well as on the second floor Ruth Morton Miller Mezzanine.
Participating artists include: Nadia Alkhun, New Berlin; Gail Ann Anderson, Sturgeon Bay; James Arnold, Arbor Vitae; Kimberly Bauer, Altoona; Maureen Blaney Flietner, Green Bay; Aaron Boyd, Milwaukee; Richard Brawner, Fish Creek; Janine Buechner, Sturgeon Bay; Kimberly Burnett,Milwaukee; Weeya Michelle Calif, Green Bay; Miguel Camacho, Milwaukee; Mike Chiaverina, Sturgeon Bay; Phyllis Deicher-Ladwig, Plymouth; Randall Dettmann, Algoma; Justin Fondrie, Milwaukee; Natalie Fortuna, Sheboygan; Tom Friese, Green Bay; Richard A Geudtner, Sturgeon Bay; Judith Golombowski, New Berlin; Beth Gullickson, Madison; Bethann Moran Handzlik, Fort Atkinson; Olivia Heckel, West Allis; Kim "Kimski" Heier, Wausau; Mitchel Heinrichs, Fish Creek; Jeanne Heuer, New Franken; Lynn Hobart, La Crosse; Susan Hoffmann, Baileys Harbor; Thomas Jordan, Sturgeon Bay; Joseph Kaftan, Sturgeon Bay; Lauretta Kelley, Jacksonport; Dale Knaak, Sheboygan; Kevin Knopp, Waupaca; Collette LaRue, Green Bay; Mitch Leavitt, Baileys Harbor; Caitlin Leline-Hatch, Dodgeville; Olivia Lorber, Shorewood; Stephanie Lord, Sturgeon Bay; Liz Maltman, Fish Creek; Christine Metropulos-Friedrich, Minocqua; Tania Nelson, Green Bay; Tracy Nickolaus, Shorewood; Maxine Nobbe, Oshkosh; Kandy Otto, Sturgeon Bay; Tanya Otto, Wausau; Jack Pachuta, Cedarburg; Leslie Paulus, Cedar Grove; Brian Pier, Sturgeon Bay; Brian Pirman, De Pere; Anne Raskopf, Oconomowoc; Susan Reynolds-Smith, Ephraim; Michelle Richeson, Neenah; Emily Roedl, Egg Harbor; Amy Ross, Kenosha; Selia Salzsieder, Madison; Dianne Saron, Egg Harbor; Laura Schneider, Mont Calvary; Beth Schueffner, Neenah; Claudia Scimeca, Sturgeon Bay; Timothy Seery, Sun Prairie; Mary Ellen Sisulak, Ellison Bay; Arlene Stanger, Baileys Harbor; Steven Stanger, Baileys Harbor; Caitilin Stolle, Brooklyn; Rosemary Stuart, Sturgeon Bay; Claire Tellstrom, Milwaukee; Leigh Townsend, Brussels; Sonia Vasquez, Manitowoc; Deborah Wage, Plover; Mark Weller, Waunakee; Ida Whitney, Baileys Harbor; Ashley Wittling, Chippewa Falls; Isaiah Young, Sheboygan; and Xiaohong Zhang, Fort Atkinson.
The 48th Juried Annual will be on public view through Monday, October 28, 2023. The exhibition and accompanying awards are made possible with support from DC Printing & Green Bay Blue, the Julia Van Roo Bresnahan Charitable Fund of the Door County Foundation, and the MMG Foundation. Generous grant support is also provided by the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts with in-kind support from Third Avenue PlayWorks.
Exhibition-related Programming
Nights at the Museum
Monday Nights in October
5 - 7:00pm
Miller Art Museum | 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
Enjoy evening access to the Miller Art Museum every Monday night until 7pm! Visitors can explore current exhibitions and leisurely browse and shop in the Museum Store. Bring a friend, make a date, or take a break; museum admission is always free.
Art/Speaks
Friday, September 29 | 11am – Noon
Miller Art Museum | 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
Write On, Door County, in partnership with the Miller Art Museum, presents Art/Speaks, a free writing lab encouraging people to write in response to exhibited artworks. Led by poets Carrie and Peter Sherrill, the
60-minute writing activity is perfect for both beginning and advanced writers in any genre. Free; advance registration is not required.
Exhibit Review with Craig Blietz
Thursday, October 26 | 10:30am – Noon
Miller Art Museum | 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
Every fall, the Miller Art Museum’s Juried Annual brings an opportunity for the community to witness the breadth of talent from visual artists across the state. Join Craig Blietz, celebrated Door County painter, who will examine and discuss the 48th Juried Annual. Guests are encouraged to engage and ask questions. The event is free and open to the public; however, registration is required. Please visit https://bit.ly/3Zrmk96 to register.
The Miller Art Museum in downtown Sturgeon Bay is pleased to announce the opening of its 48th Juried Annual on Friday, September 15, 2023. Eight award winners, including the recipient of the Gerhard CF Miller Award of Excellence, will be announced at a free public celebration, which will be held from 5:30 – 7pm. Light refreshments will be served and music will be provided by Craig Schultz and Mike Miller. The exhibition will be on view through October 28, 2023.
The Juried Annual, a nearly fifty-year tradition of the Miller Art Museum and a pillar of the annual exhibition calendar, has broadened in geographic scope in recent years to include representation by artists from across the state. The exhibit highlights the tremendous talent and exceptional work of both emerging and established artists across the region who contribute to the vibrant and robust arts landscape.
“Bringing artists together to network and share the exhibition experience here in Door County is so important for the growth of the arts in our region,” says Helen del Guidice, curator. “Wisconsin has a strong and dynamic art history, and events like this contribute to the enrichment of that history. It is an exciting snapshot of who is up and coming, and who is still here, active and thriving.”
This year’s panel of jurors selected 73 works––from among 298 submissions––for inclusion in the exhibition. The panel was comprised of diverse perspectives from Robert David Jinkins, former Artist and Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Stout (Menomonie) and newly appointed Visiting Professor with the Ringling College of Art ad Design (Sarasota, FL); Gina Ward, Senior Marketing Specialist for Streamline Publishing, publisher of Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine and Plein Air Magazine (Sturgeon Bay); and Greg Vadney, Executive Director, Rahr-West Art Museum (Manitowoc).
Image credits: Joseph Kaftan, Emma's Tree, glass mosaic | Miguel Camacho, The Cyclists, acrylic | Janine Buechner, Plump on a Stump, printmaking
“Every year this process is full of surprises! It is a pleasure to see so much creativity and technical proficiency from participating artists. This year’s jurors did an outstanding job, carefully and respectfully considering each submission, and we thank all artist who submitted artwork for consideration.” del Guidice concluded.
A complete list of exhibiting artists include: Nadia AL Khun, Gail Ann Anderson, James Arnold, Kimberly Bauer, Maureen Blaney Flietner, Aaron Boyd, Richard Brawner, Janine Buechner, Kimberly Burnett, Weeya Michelle Calif, Miguel Camacho, Mike Chiaverina, Phyllis Deicher-Ladwig, Randall Dettmann, Justin Fondrie, Natalie Fortuna, Tom Friese, Richard A Geudtner, Judith Golombowski, Beth Gullickson, Bethann Moran Handzlik, Olivia Heckel, Kim "Kimski" Heier, Mitchel Heinrichs, Jeanne Heuer, Lynn Hobart, Susan Hoffmann, Thomas Jordan, Joseph Kaftan, Lauretta Kelley, Dale Knaak, Kevin Knopp, Collette LaRue, Mitch Leavitt, Caitlin Leline-Hatch, Olivia Lorber, Stephanie Lord, Liz Maltman, Christine Metropulos-Friedrich, Tania Nelson, Tracy Nickolaus, Maxine Nobbe, Kandy Otto, Tanya Otto, Jack Pachuta, Leslie Paulus, Brian Pier, Brian Pirman, Anne Raskopf, Susan Reynolds-Smith, Michelle Richeson, Emily Roedl, Amy Ross, Selia Salzsieder, Dianne Saron, Laura Schneider, Beth Schueffner, Claudia Scimeca, Timothy Seery, Mary Ellen Sisulak, Arlene Stanger, Steven Stanger, Caitilin Stolle, Rosemary Stuart, Claire Tellstrom, Leigh Townsend, Sonia Vasquez, Deborah Wage, Mark Weller, Ida Whitney, Ashley Wittling, Isaiah Young, and Xiaohong Zhang.
The exhibition will run through October 28, 2023.
Image credits: Dale Knaak, Hotline, oil | Mark Weller, Restless, digital photograpy | Brian Pirman, Grunge, analog collage
The exhibition has been supported by the following exhibition sponsors: MMG Foundation, Inc., Julia Van Roo Bresnahan Charitable Fund of the Door County Community Foundation, and DC Printing with additional grant and in-kind support from Third Avenue Playworks and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The museum is located within the Door County Library at 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay. Hours are Monday 10 am - 7 pm and Tuesday through Saturday 10 am – 5 pm. Closed Sunday. Admission is free; an elevator is available to access galleries on the Ruth Morton Miller Mezzanine. For more information about the exhibits or the museum, call (920) 746-0707 or visit www.millerartmuseum.org. Find the museum on Instagram at @MillerArtMuseum or Facebook at Miller Art Museum.
EXHIBITION PROGRAMMING
Member Preview Tour
Friday, September 15 | 4 – 5:00pm
Miller Art Museum | 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
Join Curator of Exhibitions Helen del Guidice for an intimate guided tour prior to the exhibit opening to the public. Free with membership.
Opening Reception
Friday, September 15 | 5:30 - 7 pm
Miller Art Museum | 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
Celebrate the opening of the 48th Juried Annual and enjoy light refreshments and live music by Craig Schultz and Mike Miller. This event is free and open to the public.
Art/Speaks
Friday, September 29 | 11am – Noon
Miller Art Museum | 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
Write On, Door County, in partnership with the Miller Art Museum, presents Art/Speaks, a free writing lab encouraging people to write in response to exhibited artworks. Led by poets Carrie and Peter Sherrill, the 60-minute writing activity is perfect for both beginning and advanced writers in any genre. Free; advance registration is not required.
Exhibit Review with Craig Blietz
Thursday, October 26 | 10:30am – Noon
Miller Art Museum | 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
Every fall, the Miller Art Museum’s Juried Annual brings an opportunity for the community to witness the breadth of talent from visual artists across the state. Join Craig Blietz, celebrated Door County painter, who will examine and discuss the 48th Juried Annual. The event is free and open to the public.
August 18, 2023—The Miller Art Museum in downtown Sturgeon Bay has announced it will host its fall fundraising event, Dinner á la Art, on Saturday, September 23 at the Donald and Carol Press Pavilion in Egg Harbor. The community is invited to attend this signature event celebrating the visual arts and the work of the Miller Art Museum. 
The event is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m., where guests will be warmly welcomed with champagne and the music of Harpist Tammy Kazmierczak. Following, the evening will include a farm-to-table seated dinner by Chives of Baileys Harbor, opportunities to connect with and engage and support visual artists, and a lively after-party featuring a curated selection of music from DJ David Watkins of Analog Entertainment and his extensive (and secret) record vault.
The sweeping views of the bay, outstanding sunsets, and modern event space of the Kress will provide the ideal backdrop to highlight the important work of Door County’s art museum. Additional highlights for the evening will include an online silent auction featuring work by a curated group of celebrated Wisconsin artists as well as experiences and products from notable Peninsula establishments, which debuts on Monday, September 11, and is set to run through midnight on Saturday, September 23, 2023. Silent auction items may be viewed in advance of the event using the link on the fundraising event page, accessible through millerartmuseum.org.
Each year, the Miller Art Museum hosts multiple events that help the organization present outstanding exhibitions and inspiring educational programs. Monies raised at this and other events provide integral funds for the museum and its expanding vision, supporting the future of visual art and culture in Door County and the greater Northeast Wisconsin region.
“We invite the community to join us for a fabulous evening of fun, exceptional food, and music with friends, neighbors, and patrons as we look to develop our expanded vision for the museum’s future,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, executive director. “We’re grateful for our exceptional Door County business community for enthusiastically supporting our fundraising needs.”
For more information, questions or to donate, contact the administrative offices at (920) 746-0707 or via email at . Tickets to Dinner á la Art are available now through September 12. To purchase tickets, visit https://bit.ly/millergives.
This event is being presented in partnership with financial support from the following sponsors: Avenue Art & Co. on 3rd, Healthy Way Market LLC, Artist’s Guild, The Murray Nemeckay Group/Baird, Cappaert Contemporary Gallery, Destination Door County, the Hislop Family Foundation, Peapod Marketing & PR Consulting, Nicolet National Bank, and The Seifert Family Fund.
Anyone not able to attend the event but interested in supporting the Miller Art Museum with a financial gift, sponsorship, or in-kind donation can do so using the Give Lively donation page on the museum’s website or by contacting the museum office at 920.746.0707 or .
August 4, 2023—In conjunction with its newest exhibition, Blind Spot––to pass among them, the Miller Art Museum is pleased to partner with Midwest fine art photographer Suzanne Rose in presenting two photography workshops titled small camera Big Print, scheduled for Thurs., August 17 and Fri., August 18, 2023. The workshops will take place at the Miller Art Museum, located at 107 S. 4th Avenue in downtown Sturgeon Bay, WI.
The August 17 workshop is a free opportunity for high school teens aged 14 – 18 years and is scheduled to run from 10am – 3pm; it will give teens the opportunity to work with and learn from a professional fine art photographer living and working in Sturgeon Bay.
In the workshop, Rose will share her complete 'Portable Mindset' of iPhoneography by revealing an effortless on-the-go photographic practice through an innovative workflow with a fine art approach. Lessons will be shared on how to make the perfect capture, reveal the art and craft of post-processing using a single comprehensive editing app, and print photographs that will rival pro cameras. In the workshop, participants can expect to print up to three high-quality images on 13” x 19” photographic paper worthy of a museum wall.