AVA holds regional arts program

ANTIGO — The Antigo Visual Arts held its 2024 Spring Wisconsin Regional Arts Program Exhibit reception Saturday at the Langlade County Historical Museum.

The evening featured a poetry presentation by veteran Eric DeHart, who added a special touch to the event. Poetry often serves as a powerful tool for processing and healing from trauma and proved to be another healing artform tied to the art group’s mission of envisioning an arts-based community partnership in which every citizen has opportunities to explore, experience, and develop an appreciation for the arts in order to maximize their potential.

Deb Lund, the exhibit juror, commented on the reception, saying, “It was a well put-together event with a lot of support from both the local art group and the community at large, which is crucial for the arts.”

She also noted, “Overall, I felt the art showed a great variety in medium and genre compared to the norm.”

AWARDS

Viewer’s Choice: Reflections by Billie Jean Herman

Artist’s Choice: Forest Story by Vicki Eldridge

Honorable Mentions: Southern Iceland by Craig Pilecky, Under The Sea by Amanda Lifke, Medicine Bear by Jamie Musolff, Prairie Susan by Jean Adams, Lonesome Birch by Audrey Wild, Sea Gallery by Emilee Lund

WRAP State Awards

First Place: Forest Story by Vicki Eldridge

Second Place: Winter’s Dawn by Joanne March

Third Place: My Defender by Linda Robinson

Honorable Mentions: House Sparrow by Miira Allen, Bubblefish Show Off by Nancy Leder, A Quiet Afternoon by Beatie Gmeiner, Shattered Unity by Danna Gabriel

WRAP is sponsored by the Association of Wisconsin Artists (AWA). AWA is a nonprofit all-volunteer organization whose mission is to inspire, educate, and support Wisconsin artists and their communities. Their mission is realized through exhibits, education, and recognition throughout the state of Wisconsin with regional exhibitions and are proud to be the only organization of this kind in the nation. AVA proudly collaborates with AWA yearly to host a WRAP exhibit at their gallery and also hosts a WRAP-Teen exhibit at the Antigo Public Library for artists aged 13-19. For more information email: ava@antigovisualarts.org.