Antigo, WI — Antigo Visual Arts (AVA), a local nonprofit arts organization, successfully concluded its first-ever Downtown Art Scavenger Hunt and Silent Auction, a community-wide celebration of local creativity that ran from June 1 through August 14 in partnership with 33 downtown Antigo businesses.
The event featured 33 original artworks inspired by Wisconsin’s birds, animals, and native flowers. Each piece was created by a local artist and displayed in or on a participating business, turning downtown Antigo into a vibrant open-air gallery. Works ranged from traditional paintings to carvings, mosaics, and nearly three-dimensional designs, engaging both residents and visitors in a summer-long cultural exploration.
The event was conceived and orchestrated by Marie Benes, a board member of Antigo Visual Arts, who coordinated with artists and business owners to bring the vision to life.
A total of 76 community members completed the scavenger hunt by locating and identifying all the pieces. Cash prizes were awarded to the top participants, with Chloe Hitz receiving $250 for first place, Dustine Holup and Adriana Oakland each receiving $100 for second place, and Diane Barske winning $50 for third.
Public voting for favorite artworks was also part of the event, with every artist receiving votes—highlighting the exceptional talent on display. The top-voted artist was Vicki Eldridge, whose painting of a snail displayed at Tree Solutions earned her a $250 award. Madison Taylor received $100 for her raccoon eating popcorn painting at Palace Theater, Logan Ruelle received $100 for his floating otter piece at Mosaic Massage, and Linda Robinson received $50 for her owl family painting at the Professional Building.
At the conclusion of the scavenger hunt, AVA hosted a silent auction on August 16 for the pieces that artists agreed to make available for sale. Though weather delays and rain hampered the event slightly, the auction still generated modest sales and community support, providing revenue for several local artists and giving attendees the opportunity to take home original works of art.
“As artists, Andrew and I enjoyed being able to share our talents with the community. As a business, we loved seeing so many different works of art being showcased and interacting with customers who may not have been as familiar with our offerings,” said Angela Wildman, local artist and owner of Wildman Arts, one of the participating businesses.
Antigo Visual Arts extends special thanks to all the businesses and artists who helped make this community celebration possible:
Participating Businesses and Artists
Lakeside Market – Jean Adams (Bluejay)
Mosaic Massage – Logan Ruelle (Floating Otter)
Bula Chiropractic – Sabriel Dahlke-Messer (Robin in Tall Green Grass)
Farmer’s Home Restaurant – Nancy Leder (Farm Animals – Cow)
Tree Solutions – Vicki Eldridge (Snail)
Wildman’s Art – Angela Wildman (Butterflies)
BB Jacks – Karen Now-Stimac (Flower with Swallowtail Butterfly)
Stanley Brown Family Dentistry – Michael Hagerty (Badger Brushing Teeth)
Professional Building – Linda Robinson (Owl Family)
B. U. Nutrition – Carol McDougal (Sunflower with Bee)
Neves Furniture – Tonya Hardin (3 Bears Family)
5th Avenue Restaurant – Nancy Leder (Red Robin)
Chocolate Creations by Kylie – Evie Trabant-Mckenna (Flowers)
Salon 731 – Beatie Gmeiner (Skunk in Dress)
Koss Wealth Advisors – Lireal Dahlke-Messer (Nature in Woods)
Clermont Printing – Nancy Leder (Beaver)
Antigo Public Library – Andrew Wildman (Wood Violet)
Blessed Fig – Brian Ponshock (Bunny Reading to Kids)
Christian’s Upscale Resale – Jackelyn Dahlke-Messer (Large White Bird)
ChocadoodleDoo – Patricia Packard (Cardinal on Snowy Branch)
SK Accounting & Tax Service – Camille Converse-Smith (Owl with Top Hat)
Flowers From The Heart – Camille Converse-Smith (Flowers From the Heart Sign)
Trex Hermanos Mexican Grocery – Gloria Pagel (Chickadees)
Palace Theater – Madison Taylor (Raccoon Eating Theater Popcorn)
Harper’s Mercantile Co. – Danna Gabriel (Hummingbird with Flowers – Mosaic)
Banquet On A Bun – Tyler Reynolds (Owl)
Winter Law Offices – Mary Hayes (Canoe on a Lake)
Pallet Pickers – Joanne March (Flowers with Butterfly)
M C Creations – Joanne March (Flowers)
Pampered Paws – Brian Ponshock (Dog Grooming Another Dog)
Pavek’s Antigo Bakery – Beatie Gmeiner (Bear Eating Donut)
Man Cave – Stacy Marmes & Anita Fischer (Robin on a Branch)
With enthusiastic community feedback and strong participation, Antigo Visual Arts plans to make the Downtown Art Scavenger Hunt an annual tradition, aiming to expand in scope and impact in 2026. The organization looks forward to continuing to connect the public with local art and fostering creative engagement throughout the Antigo area.