Past Exhibitions

Through July 2015

What lessons can be learned from the demise of the passenger pigeon? Project Passenger Pigeon, a nationwide educational initiative marking the 100th anniversary of the species’ extinction, inspired the Woodson exhibition Legacy Lost & Saved: Extinct and Endangered Birds of North America. Comprising works from the collection and loans, including two Owen Gromme passenger pigeon paintings and sculpture by Todd McGrain, Legacy Lost & Saved features other artists’ portrayals of species such as the great auk and ivory-billed woodpecker. Related programs consider how a brighter future can be shaped by the past.

Through July 2015

Owen J. Gromme’s lifelong commitment to the restoration of the Horicon Marsh – a vast wetland just west of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he grew up – began in the 1920s. Among the largest freshwater cattail marshes in the nation, Horicon sustains an abundance of wildlife and attracts thousands of migratory ducks and geese annually. Artworks depicting waterfowl by Gromme and others, including Frank Benson, Don Henson, Jim Morgan, Sherrie York, and Andrea Rich, comprise The Great Marsh.

February 28 – May 31, 2015

This spring, an exciting guitar exhibition comprises dozens of iconic stringed instruments – enlivened by a performance series, hands-on Sound Lab, luthier’s studio, guitar collectors’ stories, and more.

As the guitar’s ancestors evolved over centuries from the earliest ouds and lutes, guitar makers experimented with shapes, materials, and accessories, seeking the perfect blend of beauty and sound. A relentless redesign push, seeking a fresh aesthetic and sound, continues to fuel creative synergy and musical innovation. Consider the cultural significance of the guitar. Just as American guitar designers of the 1960s departed radically from the iconic hourglass shape, street-corner guitarists led the protest movement that challenged the status quo. Medieval to Metal, a touring exhibition of the National Guitar Museum, comprises design illustrations, guitars, and photographs of performers, bringing sound to life.

Online, public voting Saturday, February 28 – Sunday, March 8

Opening reception Thursday, March 26, 5-7 pm

Exhibition on view Thursday, March 26 through Sunday, May 31

Wausau-area high school students participated in a six-month photography project, including workshops and conducting their own photo shoots to explore the question “what makes Wausau a great place to live?”

Colorful and imaginative artwork of north central Wisconsin students in grades 5-8 is featured in the 38th annual Student Art Exhibition, March 7 through April 4, at the Woodson Art Museum in Wausau. The 2015 Student Art Exhibition offers a window into what students can imagine. For the students whose artwork is selected by their art teachers, this is a coveted opportunity for their creations to be displayed at the Woodson Art Museum in celebration of Youth Art Month. The geographical region covered reaches from Manitowish Waters to Wisconsin Rapids. Art teachers are encouraged to submit student works for the exhibition. To celebrate Youth Art Month and the students’ artistic endeavors, attend the Student Art Reception, Saturday, March 7, Noon- 2pm.

Through February 2015
 
Featuring an array of mediums, sizes, and styles from realistic portraits to loosely sketched figures and abstract shapes and forms, these works created over a span of sixty years further the Woodson Art Museum’s Collections Goal: to set the standard for art of the avian world. With a watchful eye on the art market, the Museum has added to the collection twentieth-century works by Jim Dine, Milton Avery, Charley Harper, David Bates, Joseph Stella, and Neil Welliver.

Through February 2015

Often, typical birdwatching experiences involve treks into quiet or obscure areas, high-powered binoculars, and patience. As an alternative to slogging through shallow waters, swatting mosquitos, and braving cold or rainy weather, the Woodson Art Museum’s collection offers the best indoor birdwatching to be found. Birdwatching: Selections from the Collection includes historic works by Jessie Arms Botke, Rubens Peale, and Percival L. Rosseau.

November 22, 2014 – February 22, 2015

From Steve McCurry’s unforgettable Afghan girl to Nick Nichols’ iconic image of Jane Goodall and chimpanzee to Thomas Abercrombie’s never-before-seen view of Mecca, see some of National Geographic magazine’s most compelling photographs from its more-than-120-year history.