ART THAT INSPIRES. PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT.
At the Miller Art Museum, our programming and events bring art to life—creating space for inspiration, connection, and community. Whether you're attending an artist talk, celebrating a new exhibition, joining us for a gallery tour or artist talk, a curatorial lecture, or a special member or volunteer gathering, you’ll find meaningful experiences that invite dialogue, spark inspiration, and celebrates the power of the visual arts to connect.
LATE MUSEUM HOURS
Mondays | 5 - 7 pm
Don't let your busy schedule get in the way of being inspired! We're open late every Monday evening until 7 pm for you to browse our exhibitions. The museum is free and open to the public. Click here to learn more and to plan your visit!
AUGUST 2025
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Opening Reception
Friday, August 1 | 5 - 7 pm
Location: Miller Art Museum, First‑Floor Galleries
Join us on Friday, August 1, 2025, from 5 – 7 pm to celebrate the opening of a new exhibition! Sequestered Shadows is a poignant solo exhibition by Milwaukee-based emerging artist Kimberly Burnett, featuring 35 richly layered oil paintings that explore memory, isolation, and the emotional resonance of domestic space. Burnett’s introspective works—often centered around solitary figures in intimate interiors—portray moments of stillness and subtle motion, exploring the tension between personal identity and domestic expectations. Her works transform everyday spaces into quiet stages of psychological complexity—places to hide, to watch, to endure. Each canvas hums with the weight of the unseen and the unspoken—doorways cracked open, windows offering unreachable light, and figures tethered to their surroundings by duty and longing. A self-taught contemporary artist and illustrator residing in Milwaukee, WI, Kimberly Burnett is known for her style of “fractured realism.” The artist's love of the Old Masters is revealed in her work, as is strong classical influence and the beauty of nature. Light refreshments will be served and live music will be provided by Craig Schultz. The event is free and open to the public.
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Opening Celebration & Meet the Artist
Friday, August 8 | 6 - 8 pm
Location: Dome House
Join us on Friday, August 8 at the Dome House for the Opening Celebration and Meet the Artist event launching the Miller Art Museum’s 2025 Dome House Al & Mickey Quinlan Artist Residency. The evening introduces Douglas Pendleton, a Detroit-based painter whose richly layered work merges classical influences with sharp cultural critique. Visitors will have the opportunity to hear directly from Pendleton about his plans for the residency, including plein air studies inspired by the local landscape and the development of large-scale figurative paintings. This free public event offers an engaging introduction to both the artist and the celebrated residency program, now entering its fifth year of fostering dialogue, experimentation, and creative growth in Door County. Attendees are advised to park on the west side of South Cave Point Drive and avoid blocking driveways. The event is free and open to the public.
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What Can We Learn About Being Human from Life Online
Thursday, August 14 | 10:30 am - Noon
Location: Miller Art Museum hosted by Write On, Door County in collaboration with the Door County Library
For much of history, humans have grappled with questions of meaning and belonging within institutions like churches and civic groups. Today, more and more people are leaving religious and other communal institutions and moving their search for connection and significance to digital space. Especially after years of social distancing and online learning, the work of being human—exploring life’s big questions, finding a sense of identity and context, and connecting with others—increasingly happens on the internet. How is this changing our understanding of who we are, and can we find real community online? Join author, podcaster, and professor Chris Stedman for a conversation with Joan Shiels about his book IRL, what it means to be “real” in the age of Instagram of TikTok, and what we can learn from the novel ways of being and belonging that are emerging online. Joan Shiels has been a popular speaker, teacher and group leader in Door County for the last 25 years. Her topics vary from internet to inter-religious dialogue, but she is first and foremost a scholar of religions. ALL religions Chris Stedman is a writer, podcaster, and professor who teaches in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, MN. He is the author of the books IRL, Faitheist, and the forthcoming Nothing in Particular, as well as the writer and host of Unread, named one of the best podcasts of 2021 by the Guardian, Vulture, HuffPost and others. Chris is the founder of Good Judy Productions, a podcast studio based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The studio’s first series, which has received funding support from the Minnesota State Arts Board and Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, is currently in production and will be distributed by iHeartPodcasts. In addition to his books and podcasts, Chris has written for outlets including the Atlantic, Pitchfork, BuzzFeed, VICE, the Washington Post, and others. In 2025, he served as Visiting Scholar at Northwestern University, Scholar-in-Residence at Susquehanna University, and Research Fellow at Augsburg University. The event is free and open to the public.
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Mastering the Masters: A Hands-On Study with Douglas Pendleton
Friday, August 15 | 4 pm
Location: Dome House
Join 2025 Dome House Artist in Residence Douglas Pendleton in an exploratory workshop on copying historical artworks using oil paint or preferred drawing materials. This session provides a hands-on opportunity to study masterful compositions and techniques while receiving individual guidance from the artist. Attendees are advised to park on the west side of South Cave Point Drive and avoid blocking driveways. The event is free and open to the public.
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Jodie DeSalvo in Concert
Monday, August 18 | 7 pm
Location: Miller Art Museum
Concert pianist Jodie DeSalvo presents an engaging program titled Bach to Broadway, culminating in a performance of the iconic Rhapsody in Blue. Renowned for her expressive interpretations and magnetic stage presence, DeSalvo will deliver a program that seamlessly blends technical brilliance with emotional depth. The performance will be held in the museum’s main gallery on its Mason & Hamlin grand piano. Admission is free; a freewill offering will be collected during intermission.
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Objects in Focus: Still Life Painting from Observation
Wednesday, August 20 | 3 pm
Location: Dome House
Experience the meditative practice of painting from observation. Pendleton will offer a demonstration followed by instruction and one-on-one mentorship as participants explore still life composition and color in the relaxed, unique setting of the Dome House. Attendees are advised to park on the west side of South Cave Point Drive and avoid blocking driveways. The event is free and open to the public.
Art/Speaks
Friday, August 22 | 11 am
Location: Miller Art Museum, First‑Floor Galleries
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.
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Dialogue with the Director
Monday, August 25 | 5 - 6 pm
Location: Miller Art Museum, First‑Floor Galleries
Join us for Dialogue with the Director, a monthly forum offering updates including facility developments, initiatives, and upcoming programming. As the Miller Art Museum prepares for an exciting transition to a new location by 2029, these sessions will serve as a platform to discuss these developments, address inquiries from the community, and ensure everyone has access to accurate and up-to-date information about plans throughout the transition. We look forward to your participation and keeping you informed! The sessions will take place on the fourth Monday of each month from 5 - 6 pm at the museum unless otherwise noted.
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Building the Scene: Advanced Still Life with the Artist in Residence
Wednesday, August 27 | 3 pm
Location: Dome House
A continuation of the previous program, this open session builds on the fundamentals of still life painting with further instruction and personalized feedback from Pendleton. Beginners and experienced painters alike are welcome. Attendees are advised to park on the west side of South Cave Point Drive and avoid blocking driveways. The event is free and open to the public.
