#whirlwindarttripwithkate · Travel - Wisconsin

Art trip

January 17, 2024January 17, 2024 Vicki6 Comments

Not quite an official #whirlwindarttripwithkate (one of those will be bubbling up again soon) — it was a trip, Kate was there, and there was art — Kate, Rusty & I took a little jaunt down to Sheboygan to visit the Art Preserve of the John Michael Kohler Art Center. We visited JMKAC last summer, too, and our first visit to the Art Preserve was in February 2021 (Beta version)… but this time I have photos.

The Art Preserve is a museum that focuses on artist-built environments as much as the work of the artists… and it’s also like a museum about museums. Racks, cabinets, shelves & drawers full of work that are normally behind closed doors are right out in the open. Storage space & exhibit space work together. It’s different… and cool.

It starts at the entrance… where you walk through this “forest of trees” to enter the building.

One of the current exhibits is Bea Fremderman and Grottoes.

This one was just…

…incredible. I could have looked at that for hours and still discover new things! (Click one of those gallery images to see/scroll through bigger.)

Bea Fremderman lives in NY (I think) but we have some pretty great grottoes here in Wisconsin, including The Dickeyville Grotto & Rudolph Grotto Gardens, along with many smaller ones. And then there’s “Fred Smith’s Rock Garden” — officially the Wisconsin Concrete Park & Rock Garden Tavern, which is now owned by the Kohler Foundation, and there are pieces from the park on display at the Art Preserve. We used to pass by that park whenever we took Hwy 13 to the cottage when I was a kid. It was fascinating… even the many times that we just drove by (Dad was always pretty focused on getting to where we were going).

Anyway, I was just delighted to spot this:

Those are just the perfect tap handles for the Fred Smith Bar!

Aren’t they just adorable?

I think we’ll have our own little homage to Fred Smith in the front yard next summer. Rusty was inspired to erect a “standing stone” out front last fall and, well, it looks like it’s awaiting the inscription for whoever lies below! I just chuckle when I think about what the neighbors might be thinking. Anyway, plans are to turn it into an art piece. Lord knows I have enough “material” to make it happen… and I have all the mastic & grout for the long overdue mosaic tables project.

Also of interest at the Art Preserve was an exhibit & model of Mary Nohl‘s property, some of which I’d previously seen at JMKAC.

I took almost this exact same photo then… fascinated by how interesting a collection can be. Scissors. Shovels. Drill bits. This is the tiniest section of a large wall that’s on display. Another thing that you could stand in front of for hours…

She also had some work that reminded me of Ruth Asawa’s (who was inspo for a #whirlwindarttripwithkate to St. Louis in 2018).

Speaking of collections.

I’m still in love with these button & pencil displays. It’s all in the HOW. Anything can be interesting if presented in an interesting way!

This is a very small part of a “staging of tableaux” from the home & studio of Ray Yoshida, an artist & teacher in Chicago, including his work as well as the work of others.

(Click one of those gallery images to see/scroll through bigger.)

There was SO MUCH MORE — from these artists/exhibits and several others that I haven’t even mentioned.

I had Airbnb guests here for a football game a couple of months ago. I always reach out to guests with suggestions for things to do around here, though I don’t usually think they’ll venture quite that far (about an hour away) on a weekend that’s already filled with activities, but they asked me specifically about JMKAC & The Art Preserve as it was on their list! I was happy to confirm that it was definitely worth their time. They were also into supper clubs, so visited a couple of those, too.

Have I mentioned that Ali is giving Airbnb a go with the apartment above the coffee shop? We have a regular dynasty happening over here!

The “dreamer” referred to above is Rusty, but we all do a lot of daydreaming. heh.

Travel - Wisconsin

21 in 21: Part 1

July 20, 2021 Vicki8 Comments

Rusty & I were in Madison for a couple of days. The main event was Ann & Brian's 20+1 wedding anniversary party on Sunday, which was originally a 20th celebration planned for last year.

Y'know, I usually stay at an Airbnb when we're out of town, but I found a great hotel only two blocks from the venue!

Turns out, it was a REALLY GREAT HOTEL! Hotel Indigo on E. Washington in Madison, much of it in the former Mautz Paint Factory… and they know how to run with a theme!

The reception counter held a wonderful display of artifacts — from office to advertising to mixing & painting.

Ann, Brian & their friend Emily met us for drinks & apps at Palette Bar & Grill in the hotel on Saturday night, which was also amazing in every way — great food & drinks, terrific service, and very reasonably priced.

Delightful, painterly decor at every turn.

Rusty has wielded a paintbrush or two (he used to help his grandpa) and he said there were some pretty great old brushes in that display. I love how the lighting makes it look like there's paint dripping from some of them. The "dripping" mirror was in our room.

Travel - Wisconsin · Weekending

Wandawega Weekending

August 3, 2020 Vicki12 Comments

Well, it was only a day trip, but it sure was cool. I tagged along on Kate's invitation from the owners to meet & tour Camp Wandawega in southern Wisconsin — not far from Lake Geneva and a little over two hours' drive from home.

Sorry… not sorry… there are going to be a lot of photos in this post!

Camp Wandawega has quite a history, from speakeasy and brothel to lakeside resort and church camp.

I first learned of Camp Wandawega and owners Tereasa & David because they're fellow Airbnb Superhosts (though in a league far-removed from mine!) and featured "how-to" Airbnb hosts… and their property is just plain AMAZING.

Tereasa, David & their daughter live in Chicago, but spend most weekends at Camp (and even more in this pandemic year). For the past 15 years, Camp Wandawega has been — and continues to be — their labor of love as it evolves and grows.

It's rustic…

It's cool…

It's peaceful…

It's adventure-y…

It's creative & crafty…

For real, that's the "Craft Cabin."

And don't think that I didn't think "Knitters' Summer Camp" about a million times while we toured the property!

It's an event venue (in normal times)…

Usually, there are a lot of weddings and corporate events.

It's also just a really cool place to hang out… small clusters of cabins, tents, and unique spaces. History is everywhere.

And they have their own line of Homer Laughlin diner china (among other things).

Serious plotz from this lover/collector of vintage china, especially Homer Laughlin!

It's too bad scheduling didn't work out for Kate to accept the invitation to stay overnight, but who knows what'll happen next…

Travel - Wisconsin

Twenty-three

July 23, 2020 Vicki11 Comments

Wow. It's really the 23rd of July already, isn't it?! What a crazy summer/year.

We had a great few days in Door County!

There was a whole lotta fun in the sun & surf. We stayed at a waterfront cottage near Bailey's Harbor and it was just about perfect.

The front yard was basically a sandbox with the beach beyond, so the kids were in heaven! We had a small campfire on the beach every night except one (because it was too windy) and ate lots of roasted (or not) marshmallows & s'mores. The day that was too windy for a fire was apparently perfect for para-/kite-surfing and sailboarding and it was a blast watching them go back and forth — some were cautious & just learning, others were much more experienced & the tricks were thrilling — often they'd be 15 or 20 feet in the air and we wondered… What if they just didn't come down?? They always did, of course, sometimes with a great big splash and/or without their board. It was very entertaining.

We were pretty hunkered down and only needed to venture out a few times — to pick up a pizza, find some firewood, grab more marshmallows & chocolate bars, visit the local yarn shop… y'know, the important stuff! I spotted Whit's Knits on the first drive down the main drag and knew that I'd have to stop by at some point… which I did on Saturday, and I found another pink yarn that I liked! The shop owner, Whitney, was very friendly and though the yarn selection is small, it was all very good, and there were a number of other crafty items from needle-felting to portable looms and even some crafts for kids.

I had plenty of projects along, of course! I had the blanket, both crochet projects, and I was even prepared with yarn & needles for Jün & Gin, but I actually sat down only once after everyone had gone to bed to do a little knitting… a few quiet moments in my room.

I'm back at the blanket since we returned and after I knit a couple of skies and do a little sewing, Row 4 will be done!

Getting close to the half-way mark!

I hope you've had a good week. I have a lot of catching up to do!!

Saturday-ish Sky · Travel - Wisconsin

Sk-eye Candy Friday (and more)

April 10, 2020 Vicki9 Comments

We did, indeed, head out on a little road trip yesterday. We drove about 1.5 hours N-NE — not far from where Annie used to live — to find the waterfall at Veterans Park. Oh, it was so worth it!!

There was a stairway down to the river and some paths along the shore.

And a really lovely foot bridge over the water!

I think we all had wet feet, but it was just all too tempting to explore! There was still a fair bit of snow on the ground in places, too.

We sat down to soak up the sun and listen to the water… next thing you know, I was having a little lie down on the rocks. That's when I took the first photo in this post.

And turned the camera around for this one. That big rock certainly wasn't warm, but it wasn't freezing cold, either. The coolness felt good and the sun felt good and it all just felt so good.

And then on the way home there was this:

Crazy spring weather!

I hope you all have a great weekend… there's a holiday or something, isn't there? Gah.