For the Gazette
Submitted By Marianne Walker, RSM Art Show Chair

AMHERST JUNCTION —  The Rising Star Mill is celebrating it’s 150^th anniversary this year – 1868 to 2018 –  which means it’s a Sesquicentennial.

To add to the excitement, the Mill was added to the Wisconsin State Historical Register in August 2017, and is expecting the honor of being added to the National Historic Register this year.   It’s a year of celebration. To start this summer season’s slate of fundraising events, the 31st annual Rising Star Mill Art Show and Sale is once again scheduled for the Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 26 from 10 to 5 and Sunday, May 27 from 10 to 4.  The Mill is located in Nelsonville on Co. Hwy. Q;  Admission is free and it’s a family event.

With thirty-eight artists, this show will be bigger than ever. For the first time, artists will be located on the garden path and in the River Room by the Tomorrow River, as well as in the main rooms of the mill.

New to the show this year, Caryn Hurst from Custer, will introduce her fiber work and Wayne Reineking of Marathon will introduce lathe-turned wood pieces.   Swati Sreejith of Plover is a painter in acrylics, oils, watercolor and inks.  Elise Thornton, of Stevens Point, makes rustic baskets from willow and birch bark.    Lori Woldt of Rib Mountain specializes in jewelry she’s designed in hand forged copper, bronze, silver with glass beads.   Linda Durrant, a quilt artist from Scandinavia, will have her original-design queen size quilts, beaded wool purses, and smaller items.  Selene Bloedorn-Saeed of Waupaca is bringing her little milk goat, “Cream Puff”, and angora bunny, “Fergus McCloud”, to showcase her fiber production in yarns and hand-made goat’s milk lotions and soaps.  Bill McKee, founder of this show, is returning to the show, “planting” some of his unique sculptural totems in the garden along with other found wood assemblages.

Returning to the show this year are:  Troy Abey,  Jeanne Chase, Joe Clark, Bob Cline, Bud Eagon, Brenda Gingles, Susan Groshek, Marsha Haynes, Vincent Heig,  John McDonald and Margy Kettle,  Roxine Kabowski, Marge Krogwold, Gary Landowski, Jim McKnight, Ashley Megal, Mary Therese Murphy, John Morser,  Kathryn Negaard, Linda Packer, Robert Rosen, Karin Sieg, Sue Semrow, Mary Sipiorski, Sarajane Snyder, Toni Starr, Nancy Thorson, and David and Ann Wright.   There will be a wide range of mediums and something at this show for everyone.

The Feed Sack once again has BBQs and assorted snacks and beverages.  Colorful Rising Star Mill t-shirts and aprons as well as rag rugs made by Marge Krogwold on the antique loom are for sale.  Portage County Historical Society will be offering an array of books focused on the history of the area.

The Rising Star Mill is owned by the Portage County Historical Society, a non-profit organization, and all proceeds from booth rental fees, refreshment sales, and retail sales fund the annual maintenance expenses.  Thank you to Worzalla Printing who once again donated the glossy posters and cards to help promote the show in advertising.

See you at the Mill!