Wausau, Wisconsin: The 26th annual Wausau’s Artrageous Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, September 12 – 13, offers fun for all ages during north central Wisconsin’s biggest art extravaganza, spanning both sides of the Wisconsin River.
The Wausau-area’s weekend favorite overflows with art throughout four locations – Art in the Park in Marathon Park, Festival of Arts downtown, the opening of Birds in Art at the Woodson Art Museum, and the Center of the Visual Arts in downtown Wausau.
The weekend art extravaganza offers distinct, complementary experiences, including the Birds in Art 40th-anniversary festivities and Artists in Action on Saturday morning at the Woodson Art Museum; artwork, music, and food at the Festival of Arts downtown; the MANimal – Creating Connections . . . the Artist’s Perspective exhibition at the CVA downtown; and an array of artisans’ handcrafted work at Art in the Park at Marathon Park. Children’s art activities, food, and entertainment abound. All events are admission free and are linked by complimentary, handicapped-accessible, shuttle bus service. For details about shuttle bus stops and weekend events, check the 2015 Wausau’s Artrageous Weekend brochure.
MARATHON PARK: Art in the Park brings together more than 120 exhibitors in the East Gate Hall and Historic Exhibition Building in Marathon Park on Stewart Avenue near 17th Avenue, on Wausau’s west side. Pottery, wearable art, paintings and photography are just a few of the many items for sale that attract visitors to this lively venue. A children’s art and craft area offers free activities. Assorted food and beverage selections are available for purchase from local non-profit groups and businesses; ATM available. Free admission. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
DOWNTOWN: Festival of Arts in downtown Wausau, on Third Street and the 400 Block, offers for purchase work by over 120 juried artists representing a variety of mediums. The festive browse-or-buy strolling is enhanced by live music on two stages, children’s art activities, entertainment on the Children’s Stage, a Young Collector Market, a scholarship silent auction to benefit area art students, and food stands operated by local non-profit organizations. Free admission. Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
DOWNTOWN: Center for Visual Arts, 427 North Fourth Street, features MANimal – Creating Connections . . . the Artist’s Perspective, artworks inspired by the relationships and connections between man and his or her non-human counterparts, is on view through Sept. 19. Visualizing Wausau – A Photographer’s Point of View also is on view in the Loft Gallery. Artwork in three CVA galleries and in the Gift Shop is available for purchase. Free admission. Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
EASTSIDE: Birds in Art opening weekend and 40th anniversary festivities at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum coincide with Wausau’s Artrageous Weekend. Early birds who visit the Museum on Saturday, September 12, 9 a.m.-Noon, can meet more than seventy Birds in Art artists who flock to the Museum from all over the world for the opening festivities. Seven Master Artists reflect and share memories using just seven images in seven minutes as they celebrate the exhibition’s 40th anniversary from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. See artists demonstrating various mediums during Artists in Action, 10:45 a.m.-Noon. Dozens of other Birds in Art artists will be in the galleries on Saturday morning to talk with visitors and to sign catalogues and posters. Celebrating this year’s milestone 40th-annual exhibition, a digital exhibition showcases 450 Birds in Art artworks acquired by the Museum since 1976. From the Archives chronicles the evolution of Birds in Art throughout four decades. Visitors are invited to add memories to paper birds that perch in a commemorative birch tree grove.
Browse galleries to see fresh artistic takes on birds by some of the world’s most talented artists in an array of mediums, portraying unexpected perspectives, amusing poses, and majestic bearing. This 40th-annual Birds in Art exhibition presents paintings, graphics, and sculptures created by 123 artists who bring a global perspective to their passion for birds. Always free admission. Special opening-weekend hours: Saturday, September 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, September 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Birds in Art remains on view through November 29.
Free, handicapped-accessible shuttle buses connecting all four locations run every 15-20 minutes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from designated locations: downtown at the SE corner of the 400 Block at Fourth and Jefferson streets and at Third and Franklin streets, at Marathon Park near East Gate Hall, and at the Woodson Art Museum on Twelfth Street.
For additional information contact the Festival of Arts at 715-842-1676, the Center for the Visual Arts at 715-842-4545, Art in the Park at 715-581-1484, the Woodson Art Museum at 715-845-7010, or visit https://www.lywam.org/wausaus-artrageous-weekend, http://www.wausaufoa.org/, http://www.cvawausau.org or http://www.wivalleyart.org/
