Antigo, WI – Antigo Visual Arts hosted its Winter Art Reception on Thursday, January 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Langlade County Historical Society Museum. The evening was a wonderful celebration of creativity, connection, and community, bringing together artists, local businesses, and art supporters for an inspiring winter showcase.
AVA was honored to partner with two local businesses that sponsored art awards and personally selected the pieces that spoke to them. Their support plays a vital role in strengthening and sustaining the local arts community.
A special thank you goes to Johnson Electric Coil Company, Inc. for sponsoring four awards and to Schroeder’s Gifts for sponsoring one award. Their generosity helps ensure that local artists continue to thrive and share their talents.
Julie Berndt and her sister Jill Gehrman of Johnson Electric Coil Company, Inc. attended the reception and presented their sponsored awards in person. Julie shared how meaningful the experience was, noting the connection between their company and the artists.
“While we manufacture parts, we are still creating and still building,” Julie said. “That is what we have in common.”
She also reflected on the judging process, adding, “The artwork was very hard to pick. We could have awarded all of them.”
Johnson Electric Coil Company, Inc. Award Recipients:
- Al Benes received the Hands and Heart award for Heading South.
- Camille Converse Smith received the Creative Spirit award for Aurora.
- Hans Schmitt received the Art Has No Age award for 3 Birds.
- Danna Gabriel received the Continuing Expression award for Glass Garden.
The Schroeder’s Gifts Award was presented to Danna Gabriel for Nature’s Red Kiss. Although Erin Schroeder was unable to attend the reception, she shared her thoughts on the selected piece:
“I recognized the amount of time and creativity this piece took to create. It spoke spring and happiness to me. Our community is full of amazing artists. It’s wonderful to see it displayed and all of the hard work that went into each piece. Schroeder’s Gifts was happy to be part of this gallery exhibit. We love to support creativity and our community. Thank you, artists.”
Additional honors included:
- Viewer’s Choice Award: Vicki Eldridge for Kiwi Sabi
- Artist’s Choice Award: Al Benes for Tiger Trout
Door prize winners for the evening were Elsa Engen, Ted Leder, and Carol Philipps.
AVA extends sincere appreciation to the many individuals and organizations who contributed to the success of the evening, including the Langlade County Historical Society Museum, Julie Berndt and Jill Gehrman of Johnson Electric Coil Company, Inc., Erin Schroeder of Schroeder’s Gifts, the Remington Foundation, CoVantage Credit Union, BB Jack’s, and Sue Stanton from 5th Avenue Restaurant. Hors d’oeuvres were generously prepared by AVA artists, adding a special personal touch to the evening.
Each piece displayed during the reception reflected the incredible talent and passion within the AVA artist community. Events like these remind us how powerful community collaboration can be in building a vibrant and supportive creative culture.
Antigo Visual Arts invites individuals and businesses to consider sponsoring an award for an upcoming exhibit. Sponsorships provide a meaningful opportunity to demonstrate support for local artists and the continued growth of the arts within our community. For additional information regarding sponsorship opportunities, please contact Antigo Visual Arts at gallery@antigovisualarts.org.
