News

The 2025 Wisconsin Craft Members Biennial Exhibition is making waves not just within the arts community, but also in the digital press. With coverage from multiple media outlets, our exhibition at the Plymouth Arts Center is reaching a wider audience than ever before, highlighting the incredible talent of our members and the importance of craft in Wisconsin’s creative landscape.

Media Spotlights on the Biennial Exhibition

We’re thrilled to see the Biennial featured in several news articles, each showcasing different aspects of the exhibition and the artists involved:

CBS 58 highlighted the unique story of Joesph Thrasher, a martial artist-turned-woodworker, whose discipline in martial arts translates beautifully into his craft. This feature not only brings attention to the Biennial but also underscores the diverse backgrounds and artistic journeys of our members.

Watch CBS 58 New Segment

WHBL provided a broader look at the Biennial Exhibition in Plymouth, emphasizing the significance of Wisconsin Craft’s mission and the opportunity for members to showcase their finest work. This article reinforces the importance of exhibitions like ours in bringing handcrafted art to new audiences.

Read more about the exhibition here.

Door County Pulse featured John Whitney, a Baileys Harbor artist whose intricate metal sculptures are among the standout pieces in the Biennial. This article not only highlights Jim’s work but also connects the exhibition to the larger Wisconsin arts scene, demonstrating the reach and impact of our members across the state.

Check out the article here.

Why This Publicity Matters

This kind of media exposure is invaluable for Wisconsin Craft, our members, and the Plymouth Arts Center. It helps:

• Bring more visitors to the exhibition, giving artists greater exposure.
• Highlight the diversity of craft and the incredible talent in our organization.
• Strengthen Wisconsin Craft’s presence in the broader arts community.

With the Biennial running through April 24, 2025, we encourage everyone to visit the exhibition in person and continue spreading the word. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing even more highlights, behind-the-scenes moments, and featured works from our talented members.

Thank you to everyone who has helped promote this event, whether through press, social media, or word of mouth. This exhibition is a testament to the power of craft and community, and we’re honored to share it with you.

Wisconsin Craft is thrilled to announce our 2025 Signature Events, offering incredible opportunities for artists and the arts community. Whether you’re looking to exhibit your work, connect with fellow makers, or engage in professional development, this year’s lineup includes our biggest events yet.

Call for Artists – Apply Today!

50th Annual Morning Glory Art Fair

Dates: August 9-10, 2025
Location: Downtown Milwaukee, WI
Application Deadline: March 19, 2025 

The Morning Glory Art Fair celebrates 50 years as one of Wisconsin’s most prestigious fine craft fairs. Held in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, this juried event welcomes talented artists from across the region to exhibit and sell their work to thousands of visitors. Don’t miss this milestone event—apply now to be part of the legacy. 

Morning Glory Application Link

7th Annual MKE Studio Tour

Dates: October 4-5, 2025
Location: Artist Studios Throughout Milwaukee County
Application Deadline: April 8, 2025

The MKE Studio Tour offers a one-of-a-kind experience where artists open their creative spaces to the public, allowing visitors to see the artistic process firsthand. This self-guided tour is a fantastic way to connect with collectors, share your craft, and sell directly from your workspace. Join us for this unique opportunity to showcase your work in an intimate setting.

MKE Studio Tour Application Link

2025 Wisconsin Craft Members’ Biennial – Attend & Celebrate!

Opening Reception: March 7, 2025 from 5:30 - 7:30pm
Location: Plymouth Arts Center, Plymouth, WI

The Wisconsin Craft Members’ Biennial is a highlight of our programming, showcasing the incredible work of our artist members in a juried exhibition. Join us at the Opening Reception to celebrate our talented members, enjoy an evening of art, and connect with fellow creatives.

Additionally, we encourage all members and art supporters to attend our Annual Meeting during the exhibition—an opportunity to hear updates on Wisconsin Craft, network with peers, and help shape the future of our organization.

Biennial Opening Reception Information

Annual Member Meeting Information

*Art friends are encouraged, registration required. 

Wisconsin Craft Membership – Education & Programming

A Wisconsin Craft membership provides exclusive access to education and professional development opportunities throughout the year. Members enjoy:

• Workshops & Panel Discussions (sometimes free or at discounted rates)
• Marketing Opportunities – Instagram collaborations, newsletter promotions & more
• Artist Networking & Resources

Membership is the best way to stay connected and access benefits that support your creative career. If you haven’t renewed your membership yet, don’t miss out—join today!

Become A Member

2025 is shaping up to be an incredible year for Wisconsin Craft—whether you’re applying to exhibit, attending an event, or expanding your professional development, we look forward to seeing you there.

Showcase Runs March 7 – April 25 at Plymouth Arts Center 

Milwaukee (January 29, 2025) – Every other year, Wisconsin Craft, a nonprofit organization  dedicated to supporting Wisconsin artists by celebrating and promoting their craft, stages a  large-scale exhibit of work created by the state’s talented artists. In 2025, the organization’s  biennial exhibition will feature more than 70 pieces by 66 Wisconsin-based artists. 

The 2025 Wisconsin Craft Biennial Members’ Exhibition will be on display at the Plymouth Arts  Center, 520 E. Mill St., Plymouth, March 7 – April 25. Located in historic downtown Plymouth,  the arts center is the leading arts destination in western Sheboygan County. Admission to the  Plymouth Arts Center and Wisconsin Craft exhibit is free but donations are gladly accepted. 

A wide range of media will be featured in the exhibition, including sculpture, ceramics, fiber,  jewelry, wood, metal, glass, mixed media, photography, printmaking and painting. To support  Wisconsin artists and their craft, most items are available for purchase through the Plymouth  Arts Center. 

“For more than a century, our organization has worked to promote crafts persons as artisans who  design and produce work of their own hands. Partnering with the Plymouth Arts Center gives us  the opportunity to expand our reach throughout the state and share our members’ work more  broadly in the east central region of Wisconsin,” says Kate Marotz, president of Wisconsin Craft.  “The biennial is a fantastic an opportunity for our members to showcase their most innovative  work in a juried gallery setting.” 

From Small Towns to Big Cities 

Artists often say art and artmaking can happen all sorts of ways and in all sorts of places.  

Case in point, artists juried into the 2025 biennial exhibition come from small communities like Adell (population 517) and Baileys Harbor (population 1,035) to larger areas like Madison, Oshkosh and Milwaukee. 

Many artists also have an interesting path to finding their career, having pursued other livelihoods before realizing art is their true calling and passion.  

As part of its focus on supporting artists, each year Wisconsin Craft presents two signature events  – Morning Glory Art Fair and MKE Studio Tour. The next biennial exhibition will be held in 2027.  

For more information, visit Wisconsincraft.org.  

About Wisconsin Craft

Wisconsin Craft’s rich history dates back to 1916 with the founding of the Wisconsin Society of  Applied Arts. Over the decades, the organization evolved, eventually adopting the name  Wisconsin Craft in 2021 after nearly 40 years as the Wisconsin Designer Crafts Council. Its diverse membership spans generations, with artists ranging from their early 20s to over 90  years old, working in a variety of media, including ceramics, fiber, enamel, glass, jewelry,  leather, metal, photography, wood, sculpture, handmade paper, painting and mixed media.  Dedicated to fostering creativity and craftsmanship, Wisconsin Craft's mission is to develop and  promote the art of craft and its makers, enriching the cultural fabric of Wisconsin communities  and beyond.

Written By: Monica Baer from Baer Carlson Communications

2025 Wisconsin Craft Member
Biennial Exhibition
March 7 - April 25, 2025
Gallery 10 North, Plymouth Art Center - Plymouth, WI

We are excited to announce our Spring Biennial Member Exhibition is scheduled at Gallery 110 North in Plymouth, WI in the Plymouth Art Center!

A Call for Art has opened and applications will be accepted from October 3, 2024 - January 3, 2025.

Time to start planning what you might want to submit to our Member Exhibition! 

Learn More

Local artists are gearing up to open their studios to the public this weekend. It’s called MKE STUDIO TOUR. Twenty-two studio locations will be open throughout Milwaukee County.

In today’s Steph Connects, Steph takes us to the studio of a local quilt artist. Rosy Petri - Tour Stop 6, gives us a little taste of her North Side studio and her creative process. Petri describes her artistry as multi-disciplinary. That quilting journey is where we begin our connection.

Watch Interview

Listen to Radar Hess of Audacy Radio and 99.1 The Mix, chat with Jean Wells and Kyle Hendrix, both artists participating in the MKE Studio Tour talk about what you can encounter on the upcoming MKE Studio Tour!

20 minute interview
Listen Now

MKE Studio Tour: https://mkestudiotour.com
Saturday, September 30th & Sunday, October 1st, 2023

MKE Studio Tour
September 30 & October 1 - 10 AM - 5 PM Both Days

Join us for the MKE Studio Tour, a unique and self-guided journey that celebrates creativity and craftsmanship in Milwaukee County! Discover 67 artists at 22 tour stops showcasing exquisite handcrafted items for sale. Invite a friend for this fun filled weekend where ou will get the chance to meet artists in a relaxed atmosphere. Take a break to enjoy your favorite lunch spot, and then continue the tour, immersing yourself in the creative process and forging meaningful connections with the artists.

Tour Map and more information available at:

 MKE Studio Tour

MORNING GLORY ART FAIR
RETURNS AUGUST 12-13

Wisconsin Craft Presents Event to Support

Independent Artists 

MILWAUKEE (June 7, 2023) -- Exquisite pottery, mesmerizing photography, intricate woodwork, dazzling necklaces, whimsical sculpture and other beautifully crafted pieces will once again appear in Deer District as part of the Morning Glory Art Fair. The 48^th annual event brings together talented artists from Wisconsin and eight other states, August 12-13, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., on thePlaza at Fiserv Forum, 1111 Vel R. Phillips Ave, Milwaukee. 

The Morning Glory Art Fair is one of the area’s premier outdoor art events where 130 artists from near and far showcase their creations in 15 categories, including ceramics, digital art, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture, wood and more. Each artist is individually juried into the fair, based on a committee review of their portfolio. The stringent review process ensures the highest level of fine craft and art are presented at Morning Glory.  

Morning Glory is free and open to the public and is hosted by Wisconsin Craft, one of the oldest fine craft organizations in the country. 

“Art can truly lift the mind, body and soul,” says Jean Wells, president of Wisconsin Craft. “Our organization is dedicated to making art accessible to all and to supporting the professional artists who create the pieces that enrich our lives.”

As part of its focus on supporting artists, each year Wisconsin Craft presents two signature events – Morning Glory Art Fair and MKE Fine Craft Studio Tour. The organization also offers an online directory so buyers can easily purchase signature items from more than 75 artists.

Photo Caption: The Morning Glory Art Fair takes place August 12-13 at Deer District’s Plaza at Fiserv Forum.

For more information on the Morning Glory Art Fair, visit MorningGloryArtFair.com. To become a Morning Glory volunteer, please Click Here.

For more information on Wisconsin Craft, visit wisconsincraft.org. For details on the MKE Studio Tour visit mkestudiotour.org.

2023 WI Craft Member Biennial Exhibition: Regeneration

Join us on Friday, March 31 from 5 - 7 pm for the Opening Celebration at The Center for Visual Arts in Wausau, WI!

Members, we also invite you to join us at 4:00 PM for our Annual Membership Meeting.  Register Here to let us know if you can attend the meeting.

Social media workshops are also taking place from Noon - 3:30. You can still Register to Participate Here.

The Center for the Visual Arts (CVA) is one of the leading cultural institutions in Central Wisconsin, with four professional gallery spaces featuring eighteen exhibits annually, a reputable school of art and a juried gallery shop. The CVA was founded and incorporated in l982 by a group of community members and artists who wanted to promote creativity and enhance the education and appreciation of the visual arts in Wausau.  

WI Craft is excited to have this opportunity for our members to show their work to a wider audience in the Central and Northern regions of WI.  

The theme of “Regeneration” was chosen to highlight the regeneration of the oldest arts organization in the state as WI Craft. Additionally, the changes in our members’ personal and professional lives over the last several years have led to renewed sense of purpose and/or new directions in many of their individual art practices. Artists are encouraged to submit artwork that reflects ways in which they have regenerated their work or practices since our last Biennial in 2020.

Awards:  First, Second and Third Place cash awards will be announced at the opening, along with Honorable Mention awards chosen at the judge’s discretion.

WI Craft is happy to announce the selection of jurors for the 2023 Biennial Members Exhibition, “Regeneration”, to be held March 24 to May 27, 2023, at the Center for Visual Arts in Wausau, WI. We have also selected our Awards Judge.

2023 Exhibition Jurors:

Cynthia Hayes 

Cynthia Hayes, who served as the Awards Judge for the 2018 Biennial at the Plymouth Arts Center, earned a BFA from UW-Milwaukee and MFA from Michigan State University.  She has been a faculty member at the UWM Peck School of the Arts since 1988, teaching courses in drawing and figure drawing, as well as 2D, color theory and painting.  Cynthia has also studied the art and architecture of India through Oxford University and has traveled extensively in India, Bhutan and Thailand in recent years, creating a series of work based on her travels and studies. Cynthia's Facebook Page

Shana McCaw

Shana McCaw, the Awards Judge for the 2020 Biennial at the Plymouth Arts Center, is an artist-curator with over twenty years experience researching, teaching and working in the Milwaukee area.  In addition to her experience as the former Senior Curator at the Charles Allis and Villa Terrace Art Museums, Shana’s past projects include curating and directing the Northwestern Mutual Gallery at Cardinal Stritch University, assisting in the design and installation of five exhibitions in partnership with the Chipstone Foundation at the Milwaukee Art Museum and teaching 3-D design and sculpture a UW-Milwaukee, MIAD and Cardinal Stritch University. Shana has developed an internationally recognized art practice with her husband and collaborator, Brent Budsberg, McCaw/Budsberg Collabortions.  

As past Awards Judges, both our jurors are familiar with the wide range of diverse work being created by our members and we are looking forward to another outstanding selection of Fine Craft for the upcoming Biennial.

2023 Awards Juror:

Elaina Johann

Elaina Johann received a Master of Arts Management (2020) from Heinz College, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA and a Bachelor of Fine Art (2015) in Painting from Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in Milwaukee, WI. From 2015 to 2018, Elaina was one of eight members of After School Special, an artist collective that fostered community engagement through nontraditional art events and provided opportunities for under recognized, socially engaged young artists. Elaina resides in Wausau, WI where she works at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and makes artwork from her home studio. 

The artist application deadline is January 31, 2023.  You can view and download the complete prospectus at: https://wisconsincraft.org/2023-Biennial-Prospectus

Please direct any questions you might have regarding the Prospectus to:

Kathleen Eggert, Artist Coordinator, at eggertglassart@gmail.com

Sincerely,
The WI Craft Biennial Committee