Door County Art League opens showcase gallery

Wednesday, May 21, two days before the grand opening of the Door County Art League Gallery, a straight line of white string was taped to the gallery’s almost bare walls while the floor was full. Brilliant floral prints leaned against the walls, paintings of sailboats gliding with the wind rested flat on the pale blue carpet, and carved figurines seemed to watch from a wooden table with no particular care or interest as seven or eight individuals stood in groups of twos and threes, gazing at the empty walls, the full floor, and the walls again.

“Chaos,” the gallery’s manager, Jane Delcarson, called the organized mess. “We lay them out, measure them, and try to put them up artistically.” A man in a white apron broke from his concentration and chuckled, repeating the key word, “artistically.”

So diverse were the pieces scattered about the floor and leaning against the wall, arranging them with any artistic sensibility seemed as challenging as creating the pieces themselves. They represent the multi-faceted community of Door County artists: potters, sculptors, jewelers, fiber-artists, silversmiths, woodworkers, painters, and photographers. All united by the Door County Art League (DCAL).

Organized in 1986, the DCAL began with 14 artists and has since grown to include almost 300 members. The only criteria: an interest in visual art. From beginners to professionals to individuals who simply enjoy art, Jeanne Whildin, President of the DCAL, declared that, “No one is not good enough to be an artist.” The purpose of the DCAL is to be “inclusive,” while “support[ing] all members in [their] growth and appreciation of art.”

Currently, the DCAL supports members in a variety of ways. Each month a newsletter is distributed containing profiles regarding local artists, listings of opportunities for exhibition spaces, sections dedicated to encouraging quotes (“To escape criticism – do nothing, say nothing, be nothing” – Elbert Hubbard) and art-related humor (Q: How many visitors to an art gallery does it take to change a light bulb? A: Two. One to do it and one to say “Huh! My four-year old could’ve done that!”).

The DCAL also holds meetings the fourth Monday of every month at the Gibraltar Fire Station. The meetings provide members with an opportunity to visit with one another, exchange ideas, and attend lectures about such things as a curator’s role in an art gallery and demonstrations regarding specific artistic methods, such as felting and pen turning.

As President of the DCAL, Whildin stated that her duty, along with the “wonderful” board of directors, is to “respond to the needs of members,” primarily “finding exhibition places.” The DCAL has and will continue to use a number of galleries throughout the Door County area to showcase their members’ work throughout the year, including Kimbell’s Barn in Baileys Harbor, Charlene’s Gallery Ten in Gills Rock, and Trattoria dal Santos restaurant in Sturgeon Bay. However, an exclusive space for the DCAL members is a “very exciting” addition.

“We always did surveys,” Whildin explained, “for as long as I have been here, the first request of members has always been to have our own space. Now, we can finally fulfill that request.”

The new gallery, made available by members Hank and Buttons Wolst, will be a summer and fall gallery, showcasing 38 members this season. “Anyone can exhibit,” stated Delcarson. However, the artists may not simply pass their pieces on to Delcarson with a thank you and wave good-bye. Everyone featured must adhere to a few restrictions and commitments.

Delcarson demonstrated the notorious 150 united inches rule by gesturing to a large abstract painting, “This is all the space they are allowed.” Other artists may showcase two, even three pieces, if they may be contained within 150 united inches. Also, artists must commit to tending the gallery once a month and working with a specific committee. Whether it be maintenance and set up, décor, hospitality or publicity, “Everyone helps out.”

Two more times this season, once in July and again in August, the gallery will be altered as the 38 artists bring in new works to replace the others. However, the gallery will do more than provide artists a chance to showcase their work. The space will allow artists an opportunity to demonstrate their specific craft and artistic abilities. Delcarson plans to hold artists demonstration at least once a week throughout the summer. Marjory Allingham, who creates Bauernmalerei pieces, will be the first artist to demonstrate her work on May 31.

Friday, May 23, 2008 marked the grand opening for the Door County Art League Gallery. A gala event, complete with wine and refreshments for the community and the artists, took place. The event celebrated the new space, the new opportunity, and the artists themselves. The walls were artistically arranged, the white string gone, and the floor full only of shuffling and still feet.

The Door County Art League Gallery, located in Top of the Hill Shops in Fish Creek is open Thursday through Monday from 10 am – 5 pm. For more information regarding the DCAL and becoming a member, visit http://www.doorcountyartleague.org.