News

Cartoonist and illustrator Brian Ponshock is the Antigo Visual Arts Artist of the month for June. Growing up, Brian was, and still is, a big fan of the Peanuts comic strip, which inspired him to start creating his own cartoons. Today he illustrates Yaffle, a cartoon panel that he co-produces with Jeffrey Caulfield and can be seen on GoComics.com. A few years ago he was commissioned to paint the Veterans Mural you can see on the east side of the…

View the full newsletter for June 2026. Click on “Read More” to get the link.

On May 21, 2026, the City of Antigo Street Department installed newly painted art banners on the light poles along the north side of the 900 block of 5th Avenue in downtown Antigo. Photos of the installation are included with this release. The banners feature original artwork created by Mary Hayes and Kim Schoenrock of Antigo Visual Arts (AVA). An additional banner by Pat Packard is currently in progress and will be installed at a later date. This project was…

Antigo Visual Arts (AVA) and the Langlade County Humane Society have teamed up on a unique public art project now on display along Clermont Street in Antigo. Humane Society representative Terrie Colby approached AVA with the idea of recreating the Humane Society logo using recycled plastic bottle caps as part of AVA’s ongoing Plastic Bottle Cap Project. AVA artist Sharon Gibson took on the project, creating a detailed mosaic featuring the Humane Society’s cat and dog logo using recycled bottle…

View the full newsletter for May 2026. Click on “Read More” to get the link.

The WRAP-Teen Reception held on April 23, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Northcentral Technical College–Antigo Campus brought together students, families, educators, and community members to celebrate the creativity and talent of regional teen artists. The evening featured a presentation beginning at 6:30 PM, highlighting the Wisconsin Regional Art Program (WRAP) and its teen initiative. Danna Gabriel, regional coordinator for the Antigo exhibit, opened the program with an overview of WRAP and WRAP-Teen. The event was a collaborative…

Antigo Visual Arts (AVA), in collaboration with the Association of Wisconsin Artists (AWA), is proud to present the 2026 Antigo Regional WRAP-Teen Exhibition at Northcentral Technical College–Antigo Campus. The exhibit, located at 312 Forrest Avenue, was installed on the evening of April 10 by AVA representatives and will open to the public on Monday, April 13 during regular campus business hours. Exhibit viewing hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to…

View the full newsletter for April 2026. Click on “Read More” to get the link.

Antigo, WI — Antigo Visual Arts (AVA) recently welcomed the community to an opening reception for the Antigo Regional Wisconsin Regional Art Program (WRAP) Exhibit, held in collaboration with the Association of Wisconsin Artists. The exhibit is currently on display at the AVA Gallery, located within the Langlade County Historical Museum, and continues a long standing tradition of supporting and celebrating nonprofessional artists across the state. WRAP, established in 1940, is designed to encourage creative growth through noncompetitive exhibits, professional…

Visitors to the Antigo Public Library are being greeted by vibrant mosaics made entirely from recycled plastic bottle caps and small plastic toys. The artist behind these striking works is Beatie Gmeiner, a lifelong creative whose patience, precision, and eye for color have transformed discarded plastic into award winning art. Gmeiner began working with bottle caps in August 2021 as part of a collection project through Antigo Visual Arts. The inspiration traces back to nationally recognized artist Mary Ellen Croteau,…

View the full newsletter for March 2026. Click on “Read More” to get the link.

Antigo Visual Arts (AVA) is proud to spotlight founding member Karen Now-Stimac, an artist whose richly textured works celebrate the subtle beauty of the natural world. With artwork exhibited across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, Karen’s creative journey reflects both international reach and deep local roots. A member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and the Society of Experimental Artists, an international organization dedicated to innovation in visual art, Karen continues to expand her practice through exploration…