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ART PRESERVATION
Kohler Foundation
is committed to the preservation of art environments, important collections,
as well as Wisconsin culture and heritage. In the past, Kohler Foundation’s
preservation efforts have been focused almost entirely in the state of Wisconsin,
however, the Foundation has recently committed to expanding its preservation
efforts nationwide. The Foundation has initiated and completed many major
restorations, among them: The Painted Forest at
Valton, Wisconsin, Wisconsin Concrete Park at Phillips,
Wisconsin, Mecikalski Stovewood Building at Jennings,
Wisconsin, Paul and Matilda Wegner Grotto at Cataract,
Wisconsin, Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden and Museum
at Cochrane, Wisconsin and, Nick Engelbert’s Grandview
in Hollandale, Wisconsin. Kohler Foundation's most recent site preservation
projects include a sculpture garden and small park created by James
A. Tellen, Sr., in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, as well as a sculpture
environment in Chauvin, Louisiana.
In addition,
the Kohler Foundation has conserved collections of works created by self-taught
artists, among them the C. M. Powell Dioramas, the Frank Oebser Sculptures,
the Nick Engelbert Painting Collection,
the Norman Pettingill Pen and Ink Drawing Collection, Rudy
Rotter art pieces, Mary Nohl jewelry,
drawings and stickman, Nek Chand’s
concrete and fabric sculptures, and Loy
Bowlin’s “Rhinestone Cowboy” house and objects.
Since the late
1970s, the preservation of folk architecture, art environments, and collections
by self-taught artists has been a major thrust of the Foundation. Collections
or sites are either acquired by or gifted to Kohler Foundation, the artwork
conserved, storage facilities or maintenance schedules and programming created,
and the work is then gifted to a county, municipality, or museum for the education
and enjoyment of the public. The Kohler Foundation works with the recipient
to ensure the success of the project for the future as well.
In some cases,
artists have transformed their homes and/or their yards into powerful and
unique works of art, some building chapels and grottos, others creating literally
hundreds of life-size or over-life-size sculptures and murals that cover entire
buildings. There have been instances in which, just in front of the wrecking
crew or the ravages of time, the Foundation has been able to save such precious
sites.
The Kohler Foundation’s preservation efforts are regarded at the forefront of the self-taught and outsider-art movements. Numerous Midwestern and national publications, including The New York Times, have cited the Kohler Foundation’s work in preservation and art. The Kohler Foundation has received many awards for its preservation work, including the Sally Hardy Eager Historic Preservation Achievement Award, which was awarded by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin in 1993. Most recently, Kohler Foundation was honored with a 2003 Governor's Award in Support of the Arts at a ceremony in Madison, WI.