On a cool spring morning, a forested pathway led to the first building in our tour at The Clearing Folk School, as we experienced art in Door County, Wisconsin. An original log cabin with its newer wood-clad addition made me think of elves. The ground crunched beneath our feet on our way to the stone Main Lodge. Inside, a cozy library and performance space felt like a step back in time.

For nearly a century, Door County has attracted art lovers and artists—painters and potters, and poets. Set along 300 miles of Lake Michigan and Green Bay, Door County is renowned for its watery playgrounds—and its cherries. But this area is also big on creativity. More than 100 galleries operate in 19 small Door County communities. You can easily find art in Door County, but three, quite different schools, have long drawn creatives here, too.

There is art everywhere as you explore Door County, Wisconsin. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

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The Clearing Folk School  

The Clearing Folk School in Ellison Bay was my favorite. Inside a white painted building, windows with peaks pointed heavenward. They also provided views of lush forests and meadows. Buildings at this not-for-profit arts and humanities school appear on National and State Registers of Historic Places.

Amid the 128-acre property, a well-used fire pit laid close to tree-lined views of Green Bay. The nearby Niagara Escarpment is a limestone cliff that runs along the county’s western edge, all the way to Niagara Falls.

Jens Jensen opened The Clearing Folk School in 1935.  Once a friend of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, he initially created it for landscape architects. Jensen also modeled the school after Danish folk schools, reflecting his own heritage.

Today, most students come from the upper Midwest. In classes and workshops, they create all kinds of art in Door County including paintings to quilts, wood carving to furniture, and music to metalwork. Birdwatching, nature study, and philosophy classes are also available. From June through November, enroll in one or two-day classes. Week-long residential learning takes place from May through October.

Peaked windows in this beautiful building point heavenward. Photo by Lisa Waterman Gray

The Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek 

At the Peninsula School of Art, a massive construction project was underway during our visit. Longboards beneath our feet led to the light-filled public Guenzel Gallery. The building replicates Wisconsin’s historic round barns. Inside, it showcases rotating educational-themed exhibits. In addition, the school’s nationally renowned annual Plein Aire event sells a quarter-million dollars of art in Door County.

The Guenzel Gallery displays artistic works at The Peninsula School of Art. Photo courtesy of Destination Door County

Long before the school opened, in 1965, faculty came here from The Art Institute of Chicago, each summer. They painted and also taught classes. Several art schools followed. They included The Fish Creek Art Colony (founded 1934), the Ephraim Art School (1940), and the Door Harbor School of Art (1964).

Not-for-profit ‘PenArt’ currently occupies 10 acres of land. The campus now includes five bright and airy painting studios; children’s art, metals, and ceramics studios, and a darkroom. There is also a resource library and a lecture room, plus administrative offices.

Nearly 1,500 students from more than 30 states participate annually in creating art in Door County. From age three to adult, students create oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings. They also work with stone, metal, glass, and more. Scholarships, for arts educators or university art students, cover up to 80 percent of tuition. Scholarships for children and teens from the county cover full tuition.

The Peninsula School of Art recently completed a major renovation project. Photo courtesy of Destination Door County

Write On, Door County

We visited Write On, Door County’s new sun-drenched writing center set amid beautiful natural surroundings. Artistic Director Jerod Santek clearly loves this building, which opened last year. It’s full of natural wood and large windows. Numerous bookshelves and a spacious kitchen also fill the space.

Write On, Door County recently moved to a beautiful new building. Photo courtesy of Write On, Door County

Since 2012, the not-for-profit organization has offered writing classes and events in Fish Creek. During 2019, nearly 1,900 people of all ages attended classes and events. It’s a place where Door County residents (and visitors) can engage in reading and writing at all experience levels.

Write On, Door County hosts author visits, memoir sessions, conferences, and classes throughout the county and beyond. In a recent year, the organization hosted 136 programs. It also entered 44 collaborations with organizations in, and beyond, Door County. The school brought in 73 authors and literary arts professionals.

Writer residencies of one week to one month include funding for some attendees. Program applications are accepted year-round. But competition for spots is very high. Potential participants are encouraged to submit applications at least eight months before the desired residency date if they want to create written art in Door County.

The new building for Write On, Door County offers plenty of seating and a library. Photo courtesy of Write On, Door County

Already a fan of the art in Door County, I’ve found three more terrific reasons to visit here again soon. Door County is full of comfortable accommodations, outdoor activities, and great restaurants, too. Be sure to check out Wander for more things to see and do when you visit Wisconsin.