Case Statement 

The Value of Regional Art

As we search for a deeper understanding of ourselves, it is—above all else—our history that defines our existence. When comparing ourselves to those who have come before us, it is not prose, poetry or song that can transport us back to our earliest days. The single, most important record of how we as individuals, as a society and as a species have transformed throughout the ages can only be found in our artwork.

While it is now possible to store books, music, and art on a computer, the only way to preserve our priceless works of art is to place them in a museum. Art museums not only ensure that our paintings, photographs and sculptures remain as beautiful as the day they were created, but they also give us the opportunity to enjoy these creations in a manner that cannot be reproduced in any other way.

While museums like the Guggenheim in New York, or the Louvre in Paris, contain breathless masterpieces, their exhibits are designed to appeal to the widest, cross section of the population. It is however, the expression of one’s own environment that inspires visual art. The immense cultural value of regional art naturally flows from this belief. It is therefore, only through regional art museums that we hear our story through the eyes of our artists.

Wisconsin Art and Museum of Wisconsin Art (MWA)

The richness of Wisconsin art is reflective of the richness of its landscapes and history - from the breathtaking lakes and rolling hills carved out by its massive glaciers, to the pastures, factories, and cities carved out by the early settlers and industrialists, to the modern day metropolis, research centers, and universities. With this historic and scenic background, it is no mystery why Wisconsin has provided such a rich source of inspiration for artists looking to showcase their talents.

As the only museum in the world dedicated to collecting and maintaining works of art from this region, the Museum of Wisconsin Art provides an insight to the human condition that is unavailable elsewhere. Noted Wisconsin historian John Gurda reinforces the importance of the MWA with his quote, “After decades of quiet but diligent collecting, West Bend has emerged as the undisputed capital of Wisconsin art. For anyone who wants to understand our state’s aesthetic heritage all roads lead to West Bend.”

Established in 1961, the Museum of Wisconsin Art has, over the past fifty years, transformed itself from a small community-based gallery to the principal museum in the state that focuses exclusively on the visual art history of Wisconsin. As a collecting institution, the MWA selects, gathers, preserves, analyzes and exhibits art that has been produced over 1000 years not only for posterity but for current and future generations to enjoy and study. MWA exhibitions honor the artists of the past through historically-focused shows, and demonstrate a very strong commitment to contemporary Wisconsin artists via solo and group exhibitions. Through these historic and contemporary exhibitions, the MWA is committed to exhibiting work by the numerous ethnic groups who call Wisconsin home: Native Americans, Europeanorigin groups, African Americans and Hmong. For connoisseurs or those with a general interest in art, we provide access, in person and through the internet, to our unparalleled archives of over 8000 files plus books and catalogs. This archive is unequalled anywhere.

The growth of the Museum of Wisconsin Art requires that a new structure replace the present building. The existing building was constructed in 1939, and its infrastructure cannot preserve art work properly over the long term. The current building has had four additions to its original structure and another modification could not address the significant failings of the current building’s capacity to store and showcase works of art.

In addition, more space is needed for galleries, adult and children’s art classrooms, storage, and archival space if the museum is to continue its pursuit of Wisconsin artists’ works.

As the Museum continues to build a national and international reputation as the pre-eminent institution for Wisconsin artists, the new facility will further its ability to fulfill its mission: To serve the public by collecting, conserving, documenting and exhibiting visual art that represents the state’s unique art history throughout the ages. The MWA promotes appreciation and creation of visual art through engaging programming and educational resources for all ages, thereby enriching the lives of Wisconsin citizens and other publics through the power of art. The improved physical plant and the increase in the size of the new building will add much needed exhibition and storage space and address the critical shortage for classroom facilities. The new facility also provides for a significantly larger lobby area and amenities space that will encourage more public use of the Museum through tours and special events.

Ultimately, the MWA is an essential institution for Wisconsin. It has willingly adopted the role of custodian of the state’s visual culture, it acknowledges the immense pride felt by residents towards the state, acts as a repository and archive for art and research materials for residents and those around the world, and, in its new building, a point of local and state-wide civic pride.

Without museums such as the MWA, significant contributions to the region’s heritage would be overlooked and missed. If the past is a predictor of the future – all voices must be heard – and it is only through museums such as the MWA that we can rest assured the whole story is told.