Leopold Center Art Discovery Day

Glasswork by Renee Miller Knight adds visual interest throughout the Leopold Center.

Aldo Leopold is most famous for his work A Sand County Almanac, based upon his experiences returning a degraded Sauk County farm back to health. His "Good Oak" essay begins : “There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace”. While Leopold could not have foreseen the extent to which our nation’s demographic shift might impact cultural values and individual health, he certainly understood that separation from the natural world impaired a person’s ability to think critically about his or her connection to land and reliance upon natural resources.

Steve Hackbarth created a series of 14 different door pushplates inspired by the diversity of the natural world.

Art has the unique ability to combat this loss of connection and facilitate a stronger connection between people and the land by the very nature of the process. Artists intimately connect with the techniques and the materials they use throughout the creation of their work, fostering deep understanding and respect. Meanwhile the artwork itself changes its audience’s perspective by slowing people down and challenging the way one views the world by creating an emotional connection. Ultimately art can serve as the lost link between the “spiritual danger” of not owning a farm and the land ethic.

Meeting hall chair by David Ogren, made from site-harvested maple and cherry.

With Leopold’s philosophy guiding the way, the Aldo Leopold Foundation set out to build its headquarters just a mile away from where the now famous Leopold Shack stands. Within the project, architects and engineers worked to create a sustainable building incorporating alternative technologies, design features that cut down on energy consumption, and use of local materials. This definition of “local” includes not only local materials but local craftspeople as well. A number of local artisans were enlisted as an integral component of the sustainable design.

Each artisan who has been involved with the Leopold Center and the Aldo Leopold Foundation has a unique connection to the Leopold legacy, land ethic, and their unique story to tell.

Event details:

On Saturday, November 8, 9:30am-4pm, the Aldo Leopold Foundation offers a day-long event focusing on projects that have been inspired by Leopold’s Land Ethic, many of which are incorporated into the Leopold Center. The event will feature presentations, demonstrations, interactive art, and some unstructured time allowing for one on one interaction between the artisans and the public. Each of the artisans have a unique connection to the Leopold legacy, a land ethic, and will offer insight into their craft throughout the day. Please join us for this free event. No registration required, just show up!

Nolen Wallenfang used site-harvested wood to craft countertops, doors, and cabinets throughout the building.

Schedule:
9:30am–11am: Meet the artisans, browse displays, and
ask one-on-one questions
11am–12pm: Artist Presentations
12pm–1pm: Browse displays and enjoy your bag lunch
1pm–2pm: Artist Presentations
2pm–4pm: Interactive Art Projects and Leopold Shack Open

Artists:

Alan Anderson (furniture maker)

Homer Daehn (wood carver)

Julia Gilmore (land artist)

Steve Hackbarth (blacksmith)

Renee Knight (glass artist)

Jill Metcoff (photographer)

David Ogren (furniture maker)

Todd Persche (water color artist)

Nolen Wallenfang (wood worker)

This event is sponsored by a grant from Sauk County Arts, Humanities and Historic Preservation. Thank you!