Wandawega Blog Archive

Meet our newest visiting Jr. Camp Counselor:@pendletonthehedgehog (AKA: Spike Jonze).Proud papa, @vote4peter of @piomiostudio .Also, new staff Tees by our local Elkhorn buddy @hansenscreenprinting Unfortunately, We couldnt find somebody to make a tee in Spikes size

June 8, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

One of our favorite people joined us for @solemnoathbeer @hiddenhandbeer re launch of camp beer. One of the most talented, prolific makers weve ever met. And a helluva nice guy to boot.good to have you back, @wade____hall

June 4, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Some recent moments from one of our creative campers : @prezpipe.our favorite campers are the ones who come out of the woodwork to introduce themselves – they have an incessant need to make things. Their stays with us in the artist cabin (the sycamore house) are fueled by friends who like to make cool shit & share it. Writers. Musicians. Painters. Sculptors. Weavers. Photographers. Film makers..Been working with @nathanbobey to help tell our story about Camp AIR (Artist in residence) program. (More on that coming soon) The more that we donate camp to artists, the more inspired they get. The more inspired we get. Its a virtuous cycle – and were leaning in.Good things are coming.

June 2, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Honored To be included in the 2024 Design 50A shout out to a few of our favorite from this years list (were humbled to be in their company)A testament to our goal of weaving community is this issue so many of this years Design 50 (and a few from the Hall of Fame) are already part of our little Wandawega creative cohort.It does our hearts good to see how the common bond of creative pursuits connects us all.In good company with friends :@dreamcaketestkitchen joined artist in residence as a special chef for our @theJaunt artist retreatKAREN HEROLD- create cohort (looking forward to hosting @studiokcreative for the 2nd year this summer )kellynaga : Camp AIR- Artist in residence @thestitchgawd : Camp AIR- Artist in residence @sirenbettydesign – many year returning camper!@sitedesigngroup Ernie Wong created landscape plan for us when weve hosted their creative retreats. Brian Vitale of @gensler_design we gave a talk to the team about partnership & creativity in and out of camp.Design 50 Hall of famers & friends:Jeanne Gang – The woman who built our forever home (Looking forward to hosting her team for the 10th annual @studiogang retreat this summer)@struggle_inc – Cody is a dear friend, neighbor & Camp AIR- Artist in residence@citiesindust Meghan Lorenz – hosted on elf our very first creative workshop at one of our Art CampsWe count ourselves as lucky to be the current caregivers of this national register place – and try every damn day to be better stewards.Weve been neck deep in rebuilding our old website (which we affectionately call the junk drawer)The new one will share our story with what we love to do most, and why we self-identify as community vs hotel Well be leading with Camp AIR (Artist in Residence), events, creative pursuits, preserving history, and the things that bring us together in a more meaningful way.Looking forward to sharing more soon.In the meantime, thank you @newcitymag for including us with so many we admire.

June 1, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

One of our littlest rooms with the biggest memories just popped up in a story in the new summer issue of @magnolia Journal THE BACKSTORY:In 1972, when David was 5 years old, David shared summers in this 10×10 foot bunkhouse room with his mom, dad, brother and uncle. At the time, Camp Wandawega was called Vandavega – run by the Catholic Church as a summer haven for Latvian refugees. Each family rented a room for $300 a year.THE HISTORY:Flash forward to 2004- it was the first room we sanded the floors in & restored to stay in. The dresser is original to the property (circa 1925)- it seemed only fitting to hang flags to commemorate what would be the beginning of decades of remedying.THE DETAILS:A decade later, this little $400 remodel room was shot for @MidwestLiving, appeared in @BetterHomesGardens- and now the new issue of Chip & Jos journal.HISTORY COMING FULL CIRCLE:The Author of this story (@austinsailsbury ) also wrote our history book American Getaway- 100 years of Saints and Sinners at Camp Wandawega – and its sibling podcast (Spotify & Apple)THE FEATURE EXCERPT:Since ancient times, flags have been used to send messages from atop castles and sailing ships and from chariots on the move. They say, This is where we come from. This is who we are. And because a flag is designed to move with the wind, it naturally connotes motion and action. Flags go places. They have adventures.Flags go off to see the world and come home to tell tales, weather-worn by storms and impossibly daring voyages.And while a flag is in one way a practical object, it can also be a beautiful work of creativity that embodies human ingenuity and craftsmanship. It can point to a meaningful moment or place in time: a beloved hometown, a personal history, a family hero. And when we give flags the spotlight in our homes, they leave a mark connecting us to the memories and places that make up who we are.Flags represent more than the sum of their parts.Fabrics and colors and shapes and symbols are carefully stitched together to say something, to mean something.Photo by Kevin j Miyazaki

May 30, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Now available in the camp storePapers & ashtraysEndless useful applications: Facial blotting papers The cleaning of glasses and camera lenses Emergency fuel for starting fires Absorption of moisture in wind instruments And more…Last shot: camp wandawega Circa 1950s – (in what is now little orphan Annies bar). This place was always full smoke.Please be careful fire can be hot @nathanbobey @prezpipe @erikengstromphoto

May 29, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

Our dear friend @pauloctavious created a 10 foot tall dandelion for a dinner he hosted with the fab @txatxaclub in the middle of our field Seeing it outside the studio and on the dock where I imagine it was chefs kiss – Paul His tablescape :It was inspired by fragrances born from the garden vine and heirloom tomatoes climbing up candle sticks, dandelions in high grass. He wrapped the night with custom made gourmet smores by our favorite @mindysbakery (more on that soon)Thank you, @eyeaters for helping to host this gathering of creatives, makers and photographers for @mrsmeyerscleanday- captured by our friends @piomiostudio @jennaliberman #supperclub #dinner #CampMrsMeyers

May 28, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram

We were honored to host @anjaniemiphotography As an artist in residence.We just received some of her beautiful images.What she captured here at camp is part of a larger project called The Naturalist.One of photographs will hang in the camp artists cabin to add to the collection of works made by other artists who have completed residencies with us.We encourage you to explore this extraordinary talent at anjaniemiphotography.com. Represented by @theravestijngalleryAbout the project : As with many of Anja Niemis projects, the artist herself appears inA Naturalist Guide to Magic self-cast as the lone actress in a typically enigmatic role. This time, though, Niemis character is by no means the leading lady; theres a sense instead that nature is the projects protagonist, its living landscapes and sentient spirit overwhelming her presence more than ever before.In one image, a white cowboy hat the sole trace of a human hand floats past a desert backdrop, as if carried by a swirling wind. In another, weeds creep gently across a manmade pathway, slowly threatening access to a wooden jetty stretching out on a silver lake. Elsewhere, a band of charging horses gallop freely through a grassy plain, unbridled momentarily from the expectations of their owners.Whilst the characters that Niemi designs and embodies often follow a trajectory of transformation, the arc of this latest role closely echoes the artists own reality. Having bought a horse a few years back, Niemi soon encountered a problem of connection. Her pre-conceived visions of the relationship theyd share fell drastically short, leading her down a winding path of soul-searching. In trying to become attuned to her horses needs, to communicate with him somehow as well as to better understand the energy she emanates Niemi sought knowledge from a wide range of sources. The process gave her new appreciation for the natural world, with the endeavor to communicate with non-human life forms opening countless new doors.As was essential to Niemis recent journey, the images inA Naturalist Guide to Magicdemand that viewers become conscious of natures subtlety.

May 27, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram