airport exhibitions

ArtStart and the Rhinelander/Oneida County Airport are partnering to bring art displays to enhance the airport waiting area, joining the trend among many airports to offer visual art to travelers.  Serving as a liaison between the airport and the artists, ArtStart will be coordinating five rotating exhibitions each year.    Photo: Works of artist Sandra Cashman

2026 Airport Exhibitions

Nicolet College Student Art Show

January 16 - April 10

The works presented in this exhibition are drawn from the creative practices of artists currently studying at Nicolet College.  Mediums include ceramics, oils, and watercolor.

2025 Airport Exhibitions

Lakeland Art League Exhibition

November 8 - January 12, 2026

The Lakeland Art League is an artist-led nonprofit dedicated to fostering and celebrating visual arts in the greater Lakeland areas of North Central Wisconsin. The organization hosts workshops, educational programs, and group exhibitions that support artists and engage the community in the creative process.

This airport exhibition features thirty original works that capture the beauty and character of the Northwoods - from serene winter scenes and vibrant fall landscapes to striking wildlife and floral pieces. A range of mediums is represented, highlighting the diverse talents and perspectives of the participating artists.

This exhibition, along with others presented throughout the year, reflects the ongoing partnership between the Rhinelander - Oneida County Airport and ArtStart, celebrating creativity and showcasing the rich artistic spirit of our region.

Out of the Wood: Wood Engravings by Tony Drehfal

August 14 - October 25

“Out of the Wood” includes highly detailed wood engravings of natural objects including plants gone to seed, tree roots, layers of leaves, and scenes from the forest floor inspired by Drehfal’s forays in nature. Tony explains, “Landscape and the minute details of the natural world serve as the primary inspiration of my wood engravings. Photography, drawing and engraving interweave in my creative process. I take photos often during hikes on woodland trails or from a canoe or kayak near my home in northern Wisconsin. Over time, recurring visual themes, accumulate; birch trees, decaying stumps, knots and bark textures, and reflections in woodland ephemeral pools. I then draw and expand a theme in my sketchbook, using photos as reference. There is a point when the photos are set aside and the process of drawing and wood engraving take on their own natural cadence towards a resulting print.”
Tony has been making wood engravings since taking an introductory class in 2002. In 2015 he took early retirement to make a career change, to focus on becoming a full-time wood engraver and printmaker. Drehfal is a member of the Wood Engravers’ Network (US) and the prestigious Society of Wood Engravers (UK) founded in 1920.
Tony used wood engraving to portray the intricate detail of the natural world that surrounds him. He observes and portrays nature’s growth and decay, inspired by its simultaneous symmetrical and chaotic structures. These themes and motifs often emerge in his wood engravings.

Photography: The Works of Ken Wiele

May 20 - August 9

Ken Wiele specializes in capturing the beauty of the Northwoods of Michigan and Wisconsin.  Hi images have been featured in Lake Superior Magazine and Michigan Audubon Magazine.  For Ken, spending time in the woods and on the lakes of the north is magical.  He loves sharing and telling stories with his photography - connecting with people who also love the woods and waters of the north.

The Works of Nate Wilson

March 6 - May 3

Artist: Nate Wilson

Nate Wilson lives with his family in the woods of northern Wisconsin and is nearly always making pictures or sculptures.  At Nicolet College he is the Fine Art Instructor and also leads art history focused study abroad trips.  He earned a master's degree from Laguna College and specializes in representational and figurative work.

Travel Posters

January 16 - March 1

Artist: Sharon Aiken Bruha

Sharon Aiken Bruha is an artist and retired art teacher.  She recently moved to the Rhinelander area with her husband.  Travel Posters is a series of colored pencil drawings featuring many domestic and international locations that the artists and her husband have traveled to.

 

2024 Airport Exhibitions

 

Lakeland Area Photo Club Exhibition

November 7 - January 11

Artists: Lakeland Area Photographic Club

The Lakeland Area Photographic Club started in 2017 in Minocqua, Wisconsin. The Club meets monthly and is made up of approximately 30 members who range in skill from beginner to advanced. Along with monthly meetings, the Club has photography outings, photography presentations and exhibits at area businesses and art venues. Club photographers specialize in wildlife/nature, landscapes, MACRO photography, portraits, still life, night sky photography and much more. Anyone interested in photography is encouraged to attend.

Oil Paintings

Artist: Sandy Cashman

August 15 - October 26th

"Moving to Northern Wisconsin has put me under a spell. I see a grove of birch trees, reflections from a kayak or even a simple a puddle in the road, and I am moved to paint. Here, more than anywhere else on earth.

I paint in oils with a limited color palette for harmony. I frequently let a complementary color “underpaint” of orange or red peek through in places to bring life and vibration to the colors. Ever inspired by the simple everyday beauty surrounding us, I choose subjects that touch my heart - or more accurately - they choose me! My goal is to share an appreciation for those magic moments that can easily escape us in our busy everyday lives."

Certain Blue

Artist: Debra Ketchum Jircik

May 16 - August 3

"I have a long history of working in hand papermaking.  For the past twelve years, I have ventured down the unexpected path of growing, researching, and learning to process indigo to dye paper and cloth.  I am captivated by the colors produced which vary from teals to aquas to blues of clear days and dark night skies.  I especially love that these blues speak to me of water.  Some pieces on exhibit include indigo studies. The others allude to my sensory encounters with a lake in Vilas County, where I've resided for over four decades, and to visual recollections of my childhood spent mere blocks away from Lake Michigan."

Debra Ketchum Jircik is a hand papermaker and incorporates indigo, natural dyes, earth pigments and stitching into her work.  She grows and processes indigo in the traditional Japanese way.     Debra lives outside of Eagle River on a small spring fed lake where she enjoys observing the seasonal changes and loves wild swimming.

Tree Drawings

Artist: Jaron Childs

March 7 - May 4

Jaron Childs is an artist and framer at Childs Frame Co. in Rhinelander.  His paintings and drawings have been exhibited in galleries and museums in the United States and Europe, including a solo exhibitions at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in 2014.  Lately he has been drawing trees.  Childs lives in the Town of King.

Waterways

Artist: Colleen Ansbaugh

January - March

In this exciting new exhibit, “Waterways”, features local visual artist Colleen Ansbaugh, through a collaboration with ArtStart, Inc. and the Oneida County Airport.  Colleen Ansbaugh is a mixed media artist primarily utilizing paint on canvas and other times finding interpretations with textiles. Her love of life in the northern woods is often expressed in landscapes, highlighting streams flowing through the forests. Bogs and marshes are also some of her favorite subjects to study.

Colleen Ansbaugh resides deep in the Nicolet Forest with her husband and two very spoiled dogs. Daily work in her studio overlooking Otter Lake, provides inspiration. Gazing out her studio window at the trees and vegetation commonly found throughout the Northern Wisconsin region, often find their way into Colleen’s art.   Photography and sketching are an integral part of the creative process forming the ground work for many of her compositions. Hiking and Jeep off roading, through logging trails, with a focus on natural color combinations are part of her regular routine. Taking note of light changes during the day and weather, Colleen Ansbaugh strives to capture the Up North scenery.