Welcome to Whitefish Bay Farm
Gallery, founded in 1982. The Gallery is housed in the farm's old
granary and machine shed. Much of the building's original character has
been retained, even though its functions have changed.
The Gallery is open from Memorial Day weekend until mid-October.
Hours are 12-5 daily (closed on Tuesdays). Special events are scheduled
during the season. For for a calendar of upcoming Gallery exhibits look
at Events. Throughout the season more
detailed discussions of individual shows and other activities related
to the Gallery will appear in the Ewe Turn Blog.
The Gallery offers for sale a
selection
of original artwork - fiber art,
photography, painting, wood turning, pottery and jewelry - created by
over 20
artists and
fine crafts people. A list of exhibiting artists and a sample of their
work can be found at our listing for Exhibiting
Artists. A
variety of handmade fiber articles, yarns and roving for handspinning
and felting are always on display and available for purchase. Most of
the fiber work is created by artists who reside in Door County,
Wisconsin and their work features fibers raised on their own farms.
In addition to displaying
artwork, the first floor of the Gallery (originally used as a machine
shed) is also the summer and fall studio space for the spinning,
weaving and other fiber related activities of owners Gretchen and Dick
Regnery. Dick is a weaver; Gretchen is a spinner, felter and knitter.
Together we create one-of-a-kind articles featuring wool from our flock
of white and naturally colored Corriedale sheep. Examples of artwork
created by Dick and Gretchen or by other artists using Whitefish Bay
Farm wool can be found on the Fiber Art page.
Fiber activities are usually taking place when the Gallery is open.
Dick may be weaving on his 60 inch Glimåkra countermarche loom.
Gretchen may be spinning or plying yarn on either her Watson or Lendrum
spinning wheels, spinning with a drop spindle, or perhaps carding wool
or dyeing yarn or fleece.
The second floor of the Gallery originally was used to store the grain
grown on the farm. It is now a dramatic exhibit space for the selected
artwork on display and for sale.
There are often art related activities taking place on the gallery
ground. Activities might include a class from the Peninsula Art School
painting on location, a dye pot working to produce beautiful fiber and
yarn, or a wet felting project in process of completion.
Hand Spindle Classes
New in 2010 are classes to learn to
spin with a hand spindle
(also known as "drop spindle"). Taught by Gretchen, each four
hour class (split into 2 two hour sessions) will permit the student an
opportunity to learn spinning basics and to create a skein of handspun
yarn. Students receive their own spindle , created for them by
Gretchen, a supply of roving from our Corriedale sheep and a packet of
written instructions. Classes are limited to five students. The cost is
$50.00 per student plus a $10.00 supply fee. See the Events page for the class schedule. Private
classes are also available by special appointment.
Before the Gallery exhibition season opens, the annual Door County
Shepherds' Market is held the Saturday and Sunday prior to the Memorial
Day weekend. It is a cooperative venture between the Gallery, the Door
County Sheep and Goat Raisers and the Arachne Spinners Guild. This
phenomenal event, northeast Wisconsin's oldest and best fiber festival,
draws visitors from throughout the country. Look at Shepherds' Market for complete details.
