Paul Rhymer, Life in the Fast Lane, 2018, bronze

Overnight trip - Wausau, WI

Join us as we travel up to Wausau, Wisconsin, to the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum to view the 2023 Birds in Art Exhibit. The 48th annual exhibition celebrates avian wonders through fresh interpretations in over one hundred original paintings, sculptures, and graphics created in the last three years. We have an option to attend a guest artist talk at 5:30 on Thursday with Robert Martin. Robert Martin portrays the rural Midwest through work, which is sometimes simultaneously autobiographical and mythological. Through subjects such as landscapes, wildlife, and portraiture, Martin explores queer themes, identities, and storylines. Learn more about Birds in Art artist and Appleton-based painter Robert Martin during an artist talk where they will discuss their inspirations, processes, family histories, and connection to avian art. The museum will be open until 7:30 p.m.

Along our four-hour driving route to Wausau, we will make additional stops for birding to include Horicon National Wildlife Refuge and other locations such as Madison Audubon’s Goose Pond Sanctuary for Snow & Greater White-fronted geese, Sheboygan’s Indian Mound Park for Great Tits, Sheboygan North Point Park for Harlequin Ducks and Port Washington Coal Harbor park for ducks & pipits. In case of poor weather, we may make an additional art stop at the Kohler Art Preserve, an experimental space designed to house the Arts Center’s collection of over thirty-five artist-built environments. The exact route will be determined a few days before the field trip based on weather forecasts and eBird reports.

Individuals will pay directly all of their own expenses, but we will plan to stay at the Jefferson Street Inn in Wausau ($153 per room at the time of this post. Reserve through Booking.com for lowest rate) and make reservations for dinner at Tine & Cellar (about $25 – 30/person). We encourage individuals to carpool and will help facilitate.

Note that all museums and birding stops are free with no entry fees. All stops will have walks that will be short and less than half mile in length.
Please contact the trip leaders, Charlotte Pavelka at cpavelka4@gmail.com or Donna Kenski at dmkenski@gmail.com, for a more detailed itinerary or for other questions.