Warehouse wraps Hearing Our Northwoods

The Warehouse Community Arts Center in downtown Eagle River has wrapped up their summer programming, “Hearing Our Northwoods”, which aimed to spur new ways of hearing, listening, and sharing stories with community and self through the arts. A public art exhibit, along with specialized classes related to the programming, saw hundreds of participants this summer. This special summer programming was funded in part with a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board.

Public art exhibit “Ergo Sum: A Crow a Day” displayed 365 small panels of mixed media work by artist Karen Bondarchuk, who created one piece a day for a whole year, as a way to signify the time her mother, diagnosed with dementia, could no longer seem to comprehend. It was on display at the Warehouse for six weeks and had over 400 people view the show, with many locals and visitors from as far away as Brooklyn, NY and Los Angeles, CA. An artist meet & greet and presentation had artist Bondarchuk, who currently lives in western Michigan, visit Eagle River to fully share her story.

Hearing Our Northwoods also had related arts education through a variety of classes. Bobby Bullet, a multiple Native American Music Award nominee, led both an adult and youth songwriting class, where students got to record their written music as they learned to write songs and stories that weave tradition. Kathy Holperin led a six-week journaling class, where students worked through 18 methods of creative writing and expression. And Mary Tyler, regular Warehouse teacher, had multiple stained glass classes where students picked their favorite sound of summer (a crackling campfire, etc) and depicted it through the art of stained glass. Thanks to all the teachers and students who shared their stories and made connections with our Northwoods.

The Warehouse would also like to thank the local businesses and persons who provided a week of sponsorship during the 18 weeks of summer. These weekly sponsorships brought free live music to the community during the Friday night LIVE!@ performances and other necessary funding to the Warehouse. Thank you to Eyes for your Interior, Roberts Marketing Alliance, Re/Max, SR Wood-Wind Ent Inc., Greg Trudeau, Select One Mortgage, Nicolet Bank, Northwoods Furniture, Salon & Spa, Molly and Woody Ahlborn, Eagle Waters Resort, Cindy and Bob Conlon, Boat Sport Marine, Peoples State Bank, Senoraske Soil Testing, Amerispec Home, Jensen Akins, and Larry George in memory of Meg. Thanks also to Eagle Car Wash for donating ice to the Inspiration Bar for the summer.