Art Ferris Wheel- Our 2025 Community Art Project!
*Arts on the Square poster image created by Davette Leonard
Being that this is the Waupaca Community Arts Boards 20th anniversary of becoming an official non-profit organization, with our history of community building, we want to celebrate that act of co-creating with our community, in a big way. A gigantic way.
In the spirit of the many community-created art projects we have accomplished over the years, our vision this year is a community/artist-created and led over-sized spectacular piece of public art, to be shared with all during the 19th Annual Arts on the Square, an “Art Ferris Wheel.”
A unique idea: Artists and community come together to create 8x10 foot painted “banners” that will be installed between the spokes of a real authentic Ferris Wheel that will be erected on the 2025 Arts on the Square festival grounds on August 15-16, 2025.
This is not a permanent installation like other community art projects we have made, but when the festival is over and the Ferris Wheel is taken down, we will have thirteen original banners that can be used to display as original oversized artwork. Our plan is to hang the art banners in our new Community Arts Hub building, which is the Waupaca Community Arts Board’s art and music school.
Having these pieces of art created by our local artists that we have worked with over the past 20 years and being able to then have them on display to be further enjoyed is a way that these artists can contribute to the creation of the new Arts Hub. It is an honor for WCAB to have these artists expend energy on behalf of this vision and speaks to the close relationship we have had with these artists over the years.
We are hoping that what will continue to grow is the sense that we are all in this together. The Art Ferris Wheel is a joyous way of enacting our collaborative process, that honors all of us who have been on this 20-year journey of building community through the arts.
Because we will have the banners at our new Arts Hub building, it brings our history of community art projects and collaboration into our new space, melding the sense of working together intentionally as we build on the vision of the Arts Hub as a community arts school and center, where everyone is welcome.
Artist-led Community Art Project—
The Art Ferris Wheel vision is intended to be a collaboration between local professional artists and community members. This project is being coordinated by artists, Michelle Sharp with assistance by Davette Leonard. Read more about each of these artists below!
Michelle Sharp (b. 1992) is an artist and adventurer born and raised in Tarkio, Missouri. Working primarily with photography and bookmaking media, she finds inspiration in the mundane, the acts of sharing and discovery, literature, and structured systems. Michelle received a BFA with honors from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design in 2015; her major was Photography with minors in Writing and Science. Michelle currently lives in the Fox Valley area of Wisconsin.
Michelle has shown work in various online exhibitions, such as Lenscratch and F-Stop Magazine, as well as Milwaukee galleries such as Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, The Portrait Society Gallery, and Gallerie M. Her photographs have been featured in the 2014 Best of College and High School Photography publication by Photographer’s Forum, and various independent publications. Michelle’s zines and other book works can be found in collections at the University of Milwaukee Special Collections Library and The Athens Zine Bibliotheque. Most recently, her work has been exhibited at The Art Garage in Green Bay, Arts Connective in De Pere, and through community art projects with The Building For Kids Children’s Museum.
Davette has been making a living as a working Artist since 1978. As an Artist she works in oil paint, pastel, watercolor, egg tempera, and acrylic. She sells her work in galleries, art shows, and by commission.
While living in Virginia, she taught children in schools, hosted adult workshops, and gave private art lessons. Davette loves art and sharing what she knows by teaching at the Arts HUB and the Central Sands Community High School here in her new home of Wisconsin!
Davette joined the Waupaca Community Arts Board a couple of years ago and we are delighted that she was willing to create the 2025 AOTS poster image. The image evokes every aspect of Arts on the Square and includes a rendering of the upcoming Art Ferris Wheel, this year's giant Community Art Project, in celebration of WCAB's 20th anniversary!
“…I have learned that what I have not drawn, I have not really seen…”
-Frederick Franck
A segment of my favorite quote— Davette Leonard
You can see examples of Davette’s art on the web.
Banner Artists and Workshop Opportunities—
Locally famous artists will create original artwork on some of the banners. These are artists who have been working and living in our area, who we have collaborated with our organization on previous projects. We have invited them to participate by contributing their own original paintings, painted directly on the banners.
Artists—
Tim Pucillo
Jim Lang
Tricia Price
Doris Weed
Michelle Sharp
Dort De Wild
Marsha Mueller
Brenda Wenburg
Susan Martin
Davette Leonard
Matt Lawniczak and his summer school art students
Select artists from this group will lead workshops where community members can sign up and work on an artist-designed banner. This is a chance for community members to choose an artist to work with, by signing up for the workshop of their choosing. The artist will design the banner, and workshop attendees will paint the design.
We want you to participate!
There are TWO ways to join in for this year’s community art project:
1. Artist-led Workshops— REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED HERE
2. Public Community Workshops— NO REGISTRATION NEEDED
Artist-led Workshops
We want you to join in! Help us paint these art banners with the artists themselves.
The Art Ferris Wheel workshops are all free.
These Workshops require registration to attend and participate.
Each workshop will have eight spaces for community members to be a part of this project.
Artist- led workshops are for individuals ages 8 and older.
Ages 8-12 will need to be accompanied by an adult.
The accompanying adult must also sign up and participate in the workshop due to limited space.
All workshops will be located at The Arts Hub— 720 Demarest Ave., Waupaca, WI 54981 (Upper Level)
Art Ferris Wheel Workshop Dates:
Sunday, June 29, 1 - 4 p.m. led by Michelle Sharp (WCAB themed art)
Monday, June 30, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. led by Dort De Wild & Marsha Mueller (Mandala theme)
Tuesday, July 15, 5 - 8 p.m. led by Michelle Sharp (History of Waterways in Waupaca theme)
Wednesday, July 23, 12 - 4 p.m. led by Dort De Wild & Marsha Mueller (Outdoor recreation theme)
Public Community Workshops
Summer Nights Concert Series- Family Art Projects
Professional artist, Davette Leonard will be leading the Family Art Project at the Summer Nights Concert Series events where banners will be created by the community. No sign-up is required for this opportunity. Original artwork based on our immigrant roots will be on the banners. It will be up to you to paint the art banners. All supplies for the project will be provided. Everyone is welcome to be a part of this free community project!
Family Art Project Dates:
Wednesday, June 25, 6 - 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 9, 6 - 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 30, 6 - 7 p.m.
ARTicipation Week
Join in the fun during ARTicipation week where art banners will be created by the community. No sign-up is required for this opportunity. It will be up to you to paint the art banners. All supplies for the project will be provided. Everyone is welcome to be a part of this free community art project!
ARTicipation Week Dates:
Sunday, August 10, 1 - 3 p.m. (Opening Day)
Monday, August 11, 3 - 5 p.m.
A total of thirteen banners will be created and attached to the Art Ferris Wheel so that once it is running, a spectator will be able to enjoy a “rotating gallery” of over-sized original artwork throughout the entire festival.
This piece honors some of our most active local artists with whom we have collaborated over the past 20 years, and also our community who have been the soul of our mission.
The Art Ferris Wheel stands as a vibrant symbol of community creativity, collaboration, and joy. More than just a ride, it brings people together through shared expression—each section of the Ferris wheel is transformed into a unique art installation crafted by local artists and community members. As it turns, it elevates not just its riders but the spirit of the neighborhood, serving as a reminder that when creativity and community meet, extraordinary things can happen. This project is not only a celebration of art in motion, but a testament to the power of collective imagination.
The Ferris wheel for Arts on the Square 2025 is being rented from Jake Fink of EARL'S RIDES INC.
The Art Ferris Wheel is made possible by a grant from the Waupaca Area Community Foundation Fund within the Waupaca Area Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.
Support funding for this project is from Bill Zimmerman, owner and operator of Office Outfitters and Dan Osman, owner and operator of Triple Q Storage.
Additional Ferris Wheel funds from Waupaca Retailers, including:
Back to the Vinyl
Farmers State Bank
The Grand National Lounge
Northern Home
Revival
Artist-led Workshop Sponsors:
Premier Bank
Turners Fresh Market
THANK YOU!