Feature image: The Morning Glory Art Fair takes place August 10-11 at Deer District’s Plaza at Fiserv Forum.
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Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Everyone has something they love and adore. It might be the drama of sunrises, the wonder of nighttime skies, the beauty of flora and fauna or the busyness of pollinators.
For those in search of some of their favorite things, the Morning Glory Art Fair is the summer event to visit. The fair is free and runs August 10-11, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., on the Plaza at Fiserv Forum, 1111 Vel R. Phillips Ave., in downtown Milwaukee.
“Whatever area of interest you have, come and explore the remarkable artwork that’s on display and available for purchase at Morning Glory,” says Kate Marotz, a potter in Marshfield who is president of Wisconsin Craft, the non-profit organization that hosts the annual event. “Since each of our artists offers dozens of items, it’s truly a treasure hunt to uncover the art that speaks to you.”
More than 130 talented artists and craftspeople were juried into this year’s Morning Glory Art Fair in 10 categories – ceramics, fiber arts, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting and drawing, photography and digital art, printmaking, sculpture and wood.
The following are just a sampling of the interesting “subjects” that can be found at Morning Glory.
Sunrises & Sunsets
Once every 24 hours, the sun rises and then sinks below the horizon. A number of artists feature this glowing star in their work.
- Kelli Greentree, an oil painter from South Milwaukee, Wis., created “Sunrise Over Lake Michigan.” (see image below).
- Derek Dammann, a photographer and digital artist from Cincinnati, focuses on dramatic landscape and nature scenes, including a sunset over the Red River Gorge in Kentucky.
- Ludmila Gancova, a fiber artist from Middleton, Wis., fashions beautiful skyscapes that are layered with ribbons of color.
Skies Above
Depending on the time of day and weather conditions, the sky above can change color and tone almost instantaly. A number of artists feature this vast space in their work.
- Josh Merrill, a photographer and digital artist from Downers Grove, Ill., created “Badwater Star Trails,” a long-exposure night photograph in Death Valley National Park’s Badwater Basin Salt Flats – the lowest point in North America (see image below).
- Jamie Heiden from Holmen, Wis., delivers “little fairytales every day.” Her piece, “Twenty, Give or Take,” depicts a flock of Canadian geese migrating across a cloud-speckled sky in her signature fairytale style.
- Rachel Christopoulos, an acrylic painter from New Glarus, Wis., used saturated colors and heavy brushwork to make “Galaxy Skies in Door County.”
Towering Trees
Trees come in all shapes and sizes and are hardworking plants that are critical to the vitality of the Earth and humans. A number of artists feature trees in their work.
- Artist Jill Stevens Jensen from Cambridge, Wis., uses wood to create shapes and patterns that capture nature’s landscapes, including winter trees (see image below).
- Ceramic artist Linda Lindner from Waukesha, Wis., makes handmade tiles, many of which depict the grace and beauty of trees.
- Fiber artist Anna Winette from Chillicothe, Ill., depicts a grove of birch trees from hand-dyed fluffy wool that she felts.
Important Pollinators
Pollinators fly, swoop and hover to fulfill their role in the ecosystem. A number of artists feature birds, butterflies, dragonflies, moths and other pollinators in their work.
- Jeans Wells, a ceramicist from Brown Deer, Wis., has a series of plates, bowls and mugs decorated with dragonflies, which many people don’t realize are pollinators (see image below).
- Jennifer Alexander, a ceramicist from Waukesha, fashions individual tiles and tile boxes, including hand-built boxes that feature bees, butterflies and dragonflies.
- Hannah Gebhart, a paper artist from Des Moines, Iowa, creates block prints that include “Help Me, Mothman. You’re My Only Hope.”
Animals & Creatures
Since artists aren’t bound by reality, they can construct all sorts of real animals and imagined creatures.
- McKenna Kornowski, a mixed media artist from Oconto, Wis., is known for her textural pieces that feature all sorts of wildlife, including bears, Highland cows and foxes (see image below).
- Nick Bossenbroek, a wildlife photographer from Silver Cliff, Wis., realistically captures the beauty of nature around the state, including fowl of all types – osprey, owls, yellow-headed black birds, great blue herons and other birds.
- Holly Foss, an acrylic painter from Minneapolis, uses vibrant colors to create whimsical and uplifting pieces that feature elephants, whales, owls and more.
Flora
Flowers and plants represent beauty and the renewal of life. A number of artists feature flora in their work.
- Annette Gordon, a glass artist from Paola, Kans., upcycles antique and vintage glass into floral pieces (see image below).
- Deena Schuppe, a ceramic artist from Washburn, Wis., crafts vases with a single leaf carved into the surface, as well as handmade plates, mugs, ramen bowls and more.
- Dori Patrick, a mixed media artist from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, works with acrylic paints that she mixes with all sorts of mediums – fabric scraps, wood, canvas, clay and other elements – to produce floral artwork that’s colorful, joyful and exuberant.
The Morning Glory Art Fair is hosted by Wisconsin Craft, one of the oldest fine craft organizations in the country.
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 organization also offers an online directory so buyers can easily purchase signature items from 85 artists.
For more information on the Morning Glory Art Fair, visit MorningGloryArtFair.com. To become a Morning Glory volunteer, please complete the form at the bottom of the home page.
For more information on Wisconsin Craft, visit wisconsincraft.org. For details on the MKE Studio Tour visit mkestudiotour.org.
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About Wisconsin Craft
Wisconsin Craft traces its roots to 1916 when the Wisconsin Society of Applied Arts was established. In fact, Wisconsin Craft is the second oldest craft organization in the country after the Boston-based Society of Arts and Crafts. Over the years, the organization evolved and in 2021 formally changed its name to Wisconsin Craft after nearly 40 years as the Wisconsin Designer Crafts Council. The name change allowed Wisconsin Craft to apply for and secure its 501c3 status. For more information, visit wisconsincraft.org.
About Deer District
Deer District is Milwaukee’s newest neighborhood and is redefining the city’s downtown. Anchored by the world-class Fiserv Forum, a preeminent sports and entertainment venue and home to the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, the 30-acre Deer District is Milwaukee’s premier location for people to live, work and play, and is a hub for the city’s vibrant future. A year-round destination, Deer District features a myriad of dining and entertainment options in addition to Fiserv Forum including The MECCA Sports Bar & Grill, The Cluckery, The Beer Garden, Good City Brewing, Punch Bowl Social, Drink Wisconsinbly, Fat Tuesday and Insomnia Cookies. Deer District also features a large plaza which serves as an ideal setting to enjoy live music, festivals, outdoor movies, fitness classes and other events. Additionally, Deer District includes GATHER at Deer District, the Bucks’ state-of-the-art training center, the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Sports Science Center, and the 550 Ultra Lofts apartment building, which are both located directly across from Fiserv Forum. Future developments for Deer District include The Trade Milwaukee, a 200-plus room Marriott Autograph Collection hotel, two FPC Live operated music venues, additional high-end apartments, and further commercial, office space, real estate and entertainment opportunities. For more information on Deer District, visit DeerDistrict.com.