“Seeing OUR Northwoods” invites diverse community participation to collaborate in the art of seeing. Looking through the camera lenses of many photographers, community members can grow their ability to see in different ways.

Tom Pich, a National Endowment for the Arts and Smithsonian photographer, leads our central photography workshop. Presentations and engagement opportunities from five others include Ojibwe photographer Arnold Jack, local photographer/author Bob Kovar, local Astro-photographer Kate Reichl, Taylor Peltier, with Snapshot Wisconsin, a partnership that monitors wildlife year-round using a statewide network of trail cameras, and Traveling WI photographer Alex Simson.

Concurrently, our Northwoods Photo Club has arranged for a community art exhibit alongside this grant-funded multifaceted photography showcase. The Northwoods Photo Club devised five community-based categories: Wisconsin Wildlife, Northwoods Naturescapes, Northwoods Plants & Insects, Northwoods Recreation, and Iconic Northwoods. This community exhibition takes place amongst the professional collections. Highlighting amateur and professional levels offers community members a way into the conversation, reinforcing that there are many ways to see.

The project also offers opportunities to engage in "Forest Bathing, the Art of Noticing" with Cindy Conlon, and a guided excursion, "Walk, Notice, Breathe" by local naturalist/author John Bates, and Creating Art Inspired by WI SNAPSHOT.

Related programming includes taking photographs and videos with Warehouse Ipads, drawing, sketching, sculpting and painting what individuals notice in our Northwoods.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.