New Visions Gallery
Since 1975, New Visions Gallery has provided opportunities to experience the visual arts through exhibits, permanent collections, the Gallery Shop and educational offerings.
Located in the Marshfield Clinic lobby at 1000 Oak Avenue in Marshfield, New Visions is able to expose a wide cross section of the central Wisconsin community and beyond to the visual arts and has grown to be the area’s art connection.
“The audience served represents a diverse sampling of the general public ranging from people who have never visited an art museum to people who have come specifically for that experience,” said Bobbie Erwin, Gallery Director, who added that over 20,000 people a year view exhibits.
Along with the formal exhibit area, thousands of visitors also enjoy collection installations with interpretive labels that are installed throughout the Clinic building. With art scientifically proven to help reduce stress and anxiety, this is something that benefits patients and workers alike.
“New Visions maintains and interprets a fine collection of contemporary original art, Japanese prints, fine art posters, Haitian paintings, Australian Aboriginal art and West African sculpture and masks,” said Erwin.
Much of the collection is a gift of Robert and Barbara Bromberg, with museum quality works from other donors also considered. In addition, New Visions maintains, exhibits and interprets a permanent collection that was donated jointly to New Visions Gallery and Marshfield Clinic in the estate of Robert & Barbara Bromberg.
“The collection and traveling exhibitions have brought the art of other cultures to our central Wisconsin audience enhancing understanding and appreciation of a variety cultures, ideas, and diverse ways of seeing, believing and doing,” said Erwin.
The first exhibition was a traveling collection on loan from the Smithsonian Institution entitled: The American Artist and Water Reclamation. Included were sixty-five works by forty painters commissioned by the Department of the Interior in 1968.
The gallery has seen hundreds of different art pieces pass through in the decades that have followed.
“Exhibits change every 6-8 weeks and feature a variety of art forms including national traveling exhibitions, significant works on loan from private and public collections, and quality regional art,” said Erwin.
Lectures, demonstrations, workshops, and opportunities to meet and discuss their work with artists are available through the Gallery.
“ A popular feature of many opening celebrations is a Hands-On-Art activity area where children and adults can experience using art materials,” said Erwin. “New Visions serves the art life of the community by offering opportunities for direct experience with original works of art and providing a forum for the exchange of ideas about art.”
A non-profit gallery, New Visions depends on the generosity of the community to continue providing excellent art at no charge.
“We are grateful that gallery and office space as well as a financial contribution is donated each year by the Marshfield Clinic,” said Erwin. “However, over 80% of the funding for operations is obtained through individual, corporate and foundation donations (Art Partners program), an annual fundraising auction (Fun d’Arts), project grants, and earned income through our gallery shop.”
The current exhibit features Marshfield Clinic Historical Artifacts, to help celebrate Marshfield Clinic’s 100th year of enriching lives. There will be an open house on Wednesday, June 15 from 4:00-6:00pm.
