In conjunction with the upcoming Winter Water Fest at Door Community Auditorium (DCA), Door County sculptor Jeff Olson helped Gibraltar Elementary School students create wooden boats, which are currently on display in DCA’s Link Gallery of Children’s Art.
Olson, who lives in Egg Harbor but shows his work nationally (including appearances on Good Morning America and The Today Show to discuss the art of snow sculpture), donated his time to help Gibraltar second graders create the wooden boats that are currently on display. Olson carved the boats himself, then worked in conjunction with Friends of Gibraltar and Gibraltar art teacher Karla Donohue to help students sand and paint the boats in their art class. Olson also conducted a carving demonstration for the second graders.
The wooden boats created by Olson and Gibraltar students tie directly into “Paddle to the Sea,” a Caldecott Honor book that was made into an Academy Award-nominated short film. The book and film form the backbone of Grammy-winning Chicago ensemble Third Coast Percussion’s performance at DCA on February 1. “Paddle to the Sea” tells the story of a native Canadian boy who carves a wooden figure called Paddle-to-the-Sea and sets him on a journey through all five Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway en route to the Atlantic Ocean.
The Gibraltar students’ wooden boats are on display in the Link Gallery of Children’s Art at DCA, located at 3926 Highway 42, Fish Creek. Tickets for Third Coast Percussion’s Paddle to the Sea are available at the DCA box office, which is open Monday-Friday, 12-5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in person, on the phone at (920) 868-2728, or online at www.dcauditorium.org.
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