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 offers a selection of original artwork - fiber art, photography, wood turning and pottery - created by over 20 artists and fine crafts people. A list of exhibiting artists and a sample of their work can be found at Artists for 2007. A variety of handmade fiber articles, yarns and roving for handspinning and felting are always on display and available for purchase. Much 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 one of her two Lendrum spinning wheels, 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.
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.
