July 11, 2025 — The Miller Art Museum is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for the Door County community to help shape a meaningful addition to the museum’s permanent collection. As part of the Women and Water exhibition featuring the work of Wisconsin fiber artist Mary Burns, the museum invites the community to nominate a local woman water advocate or protector to be depicted in a newly commissioned woven portrait by the artist. This initiative is generously supported by a grant from the Women’s Fund of Door County, whose mission is to build, enrich, and nurture the lives of women and girls through collective wisdom and philanthropy.
Door County is a community defined by the waters that surround and sustain it—but those waters are vulnerable. The County’s fragile karst geology allows contaminants to pass quickly into aquifers, putting drinking water and the environment at risk. Local conservation leaders, many of them women, are working to protect these precious resources. The museum now seeks to honor one of these local changemakers through art.
“This portrait will serve not only as a tribute to the individual, but as a lasting symbol of the community’s commitment to environmental stewardship, women’s leadership, and the deep connection between land, water, and identity,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, Executive Director of the Miller Art Museum.
Visitors can nominate a woman water advocate by visiting the museum and engaging with the Women and Water exhibition, on display through Saturday, July 26. Nominations will be accepted through the exhibition’s close. The selected portrait will be woven by artist Mary Burns and will become part of the museum’s permanent collection, symbolizing the intersection of local environmentalism, feminine strength, and cultural heritage.
Mary Burns is a master weaver whose Women and Water exhibition features 29 woven portraits honoring women across 20 countries who are advancing water conservation and environmental justice. Her work blends traditional fiber art with powerful storytelling and has been shaped by Indigenous teachings and scientific collaboration. The exhibition is aimed at sparking conversation around water, conservation, and the women leading the charge.
By blending visual art with public participation, the museum hopes to foster greater awareness about Door County’s water challenges, honor the women addressing them, and inspire the next generation of advocates.
“Art has the power to engage hearts and minds—and when paired with community voice, it becomes a catalyst for change,” says Meissner-Gigstead.