Door County Arts: Link Gallery Presents “A Painted History of Fish Creek”

Growing up in Fish Creek in the 1950s, Andrea Kinsey Jauquet enjoyed a childhood of simplicity and singular delights. Long before condo developments and the rise of tourism, she relished lazy days on the water and open green spaces. In recreating her memories on canvas, Jauquet has painted a picture of “life in the village more than 50 years ago.”

A collection of 18 paintings in oil and acrylic created over a three-year period, “A Painted History of Fish Creek” is currently on exhibit in the Door Community Auditorium through the end of the month. Initiated under the auspices of a 2006 Peninsula Arts Association and Wisconsin Arts Board grant, the project was also supported by the Peninsula Art School.

Born and raised in Fish Creek, Jauquet’s Door County history is deeply-rooted in the peninsula’s soil. The names that appear on the branches of her family tree include many of the county’s prominent founding fathers and mothers.

Returning to her childhood village following retirement from a teaching career in Green Bay, Jauquet was stunned at what had become of her birthplace.

“A few years ago, Fish Creek gave rise to dramatic changes, succumbing to extreme pressure from development. There seemed no end in sight. To have the place of my birth and upbringing evolve in this way caused me great angst and sadness.

“Strange as it may seem, sadness was the catalyst that led me to create ‘A Painted History of Fish Creek,’” she explained. “What had begun as melancholy has turned into joy. Making each painting has brought forth its own story and memories. It has been a rich and rewarding endeavor and in a sense it has preserved Fish Creek.”

The Door Community Auditorium Link Gallery is open to the public during regular office hours Monday through Friday, 10 am – 3 pm; weekend show days, 11 am – 3 pm; and one hour prior to a performance. The Door Community Auditorium is located in Fish Creek, just north of the town center on Highway 42.