Nestled in the heart of Shawano County, the Gresham area is also becoming the heart of the annual Miles of Art festival.
Four of the seven venues for this weekend’s event, now in its fifth year, are in the Gresham area. There are also two sites in Shawano and another in Wittenberg.
About 40 artists will participate in the celebration, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and is expected to draw about 1,000 people.
Miles of Art gives residents and visitors a chance to see artist studios that are generally closed to the public, and galleries get a chance to attract extra patrons to their exhibits. Some venues will include musical entertainment.
The drives between venues also feature artistry, both natural and man-made: the more than 300 barn quilts in the county, more than 60 smaller quilt squares in and around Gresham, and the Walls of Wittenberg mural project, not to mention the changing colors of the leaves.
Although some of the artists come from outside Shawano County, most of them are local residents. That might come as a surprise to people who see the area primarily as an agricultural hub.
“I think this is a beautiful part of the state,” said Curt Knoke, one of the event organizers. “You see a couple of farms in the distance and rolling hills. That attracts artists.”
Simon Levin, chairman of the Miles of Art committee and one of the host artists, said he was taken aback by how many people come out to see the artists. Although he had previously invited smaller groups to see his studio and kiln, he was surprised by the number of people eager to pull back the curtain and see how artists create.
“The Miles of Art tour itself was all of a sudden an official invitation,” Levin said. “A lot of the people we’ve known in the area who’d never come by felt really welcome. It was great because it connects us to the larger community, where we’re making the work.”
Levin believes Gresham, in particular, is trying to define itself as a haven for art.
“It’s a really beautiful place to live,” Levin said.
Knoke is uncertain why the Gresham area attracted greater interest for this year’s Miles of Art.
“We do seem to have more than our fair share of artists,” Knoke said.
However, Knoke is eager for visitors to see Gresham itself, touting the improvements made in the village with the aid of the Gresham Area Advancement Association. Flowers in giant pots in the downtown area and new banners are helping to transform the village.
“It’s strange … in a good way,” Knoke said. “Anything to improve ourselves.”
Levin hopes people who return to the tour will see some new things, along with old ideas that are evolving. For newcomers, it’ll be a lesson in how art is created, whether it is Levin with his pots, painters with their canvas or photographers with cameras.
Levin said few people are familiar with where the works of art they enjoy actually come from.
“The secret for us about promoting work isn’t to talk about how great we are or what we’ve done, but what we’re excited about,” Levin said. “That’s the great thing about an art tour. You’re going to see a more intimate sense of art and what the artist is doing.”
Knoke said Miles of Art is no longer relying on state tourism funding and has established an artist vendor fee to help cover expenses.
“Artists are pleased with the sales they’ve had, and some sell more than others,” Knoke said. “It’s just been a good celebration.”
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