Visual Art

A Seasoned Theme

the art of Christmas at the Galaudet Gallery

Zack Katz, photos by Andrea Paulseth |

YOU’LL JUST HAVE TO WING IT. Galaudet Gallery, 618 S. Farwell St., currently features a Christmas art show, as well as other items, such as replica Tiffany lamps.
YOU’LL JUST HAVE TO WING IT. Galaudet Gallery, 618 S. Farwell St., currently features a Christmas art show, as well as other items, such as replica Tiffany lamps.

Since mid-summer, siblings Vicki and Mike Milewski have been busy transitioning from a big-city Chicago art scene to the quieter Chippewa Valley environment. The duo are ambitious proprietors, sellers, and creators stationed at their Galaudet Gallery in downtown Eau Claire.

The gallery, 618 S. Farwell St., is currently midway through a Christmas Art Show and Sale, which Vicki Milewski says she hopes to continue annually in the future. “We’re foreseeing that we’ll be continuing this show for another four or five years,” She said. “Going forward, we hope we’ll be able to feature more local artists.”

With the exception of Vicki Milewski’s work, which is on display in her studio, the show hosts 17 other artists in the gallery’s turret room. In a clockwise progression, prints are hung chronologically – with works ranging from the Middle Ages to modernity.

“We wanted to start the show with a story, and the story begins with Mary,” she said.

Equal parts exhibition and sale, Vicki Milewski said she and her brother strove to price the Christmas-themed prints generally inexpensively.

“We wanted to make the art reasonable. you should put up pieces of art as decorations,” She said. “It’s a new idea.”

In addition to Milewski’s originals and a themed show, the Galaudet Gallery features a mixture of media, such as replica Tiffany lamps. The Gallery also houses a gift shop with vintage Christmas cards, decorations and clothing and a host of other creative odds and ends. Beyond the current show, visitors can find nature photography on canvas from an artist living above the gallery.

The current exhibition, “Christmas Around the World,” runs until Jan. 5. Beginning Jan. 10, enjoy “Winter Retreat Part 2,” featuring work from one of the Gallery’s recurring artists, John James Audubon. For more on previous and upcoming shows, visit galaudetgallery.yolasite.com for artist information and essays written by the Milewskis.