The John Michael Kohler Art Preserve opened in June 2021. Part of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center which is located in downtown Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the arts preserve encompasses three floors, 37,000 square feet of gallery space, and is located just outside of downtown on 38 acres.
The concept for this Kohler art preserve began as an idea back in the 1970s when Ruth DeYoung Kohler visited Fred Smith’s property in Phillips, Wisconsin. She was fascinated at how Mr. Smith had created a whole environment around the concrete sculptures he made on his property. By the way, you can still visit the property now known as the Wisconsin Concrete Park, and view his concrete art today. This sparked an idea to create an experimental space that houses more than 35 artists environments from the massive collection acquired through the years by the art center so they are on permanent display for everyone to enjoy. It is an ode to the arts centers philosophy that significant art can be created by anyone and anywhere. Walking through the various environments, you can almost take a deep dive into the mind of the artist.
The preserve also serves as the storage facility for the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and visitors are invited to learn more about the collection.
I recently got my first glimpse inside the John Michael Kohler Arts Preserve. It was nearly closing time and 45 minutes is not nearly enough time to immerse yourself into each area. Lucky for me, I live less than 30 minutes away and can come back anytime. I sincerely recommend stopping here. Even if you are not that interested in classic art, these artist environments are exceptionally fascinating. This art is created with materials easily accessible to the artist. Concrete, bones, bottle caps, and popsicle sticks. It’s amazing that materials like these produce such wonderfully imaginative results.
Here is a look into some of the artist environments at the John Michael Kohler Art Preserve
Other artists environments include:
- Mary Nohl
- James Tellen
- Tom Every
- and Kenny Hill among others
The John Michael Kohler Art Preserve will give you pause to think about art and how it not only encompasses painting and other traditional art, but also the quirky and unique created by those artists that sometimes didn’t consider themselves artists. Just creators making things they loved with whatever they could find and filling their world with those creations.
The John Michael Kohler Art Preserve is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 am – 5:00pm, Thursdays from 10:00am – 8:00pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00am – 4:00pm
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