Perhaps the most recognized—and unprecedented—area of focus for the Arts Center is the promotion and study of artist-built environments. This unique field of artmaking involves individuals significantly transforming their personal surroundings into an exceptional, multifaceted work of art. Embodying the maker’s life experience, these environments are often created without formal plans and are made of readily available materials. As such, every artist-built environment is different; however, they share a role as a visual record and an intimate manifestation of our history. Currently, the Arts Center cares for components from thirty artist-built environments and is the steward for two sites in Wisconsin, Mary Nohl’s house in Fox Point and the James Tellen Woodland Sculpture Garden in Black River.

For THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED anniversary series, the Arts Center staff diverted from traditional modes of exhibition making. Because the category of art environments intersects with so many contemporary art realms—performance, architecture, identity, site-specificity—an interdisciplinary, collaborative model was initiated to incite new and dynamic perspectives. Thought leaders from a variety of disciplines and artists from wide-ranging media and backgrounds were invited to share their responses to the work of fifteen artist-environment builders. The result is previously unexplored avenues into understanding these singular works of art.

Above all, this spirit of openness reminds us of the power of our founding principle—that art is for everyone to appreciate.