On view 18 June – 31 August 2025 in the Main and East Galleries and the Lobby.
The Theme
This year’s Midwestern engages with the native prairie lands of the Midwest, its history and inhabitants, the intersection of ecology and art, as well as poetry and the poet Emily Dickinson. Dickinson’s short poem, “To make a prairie,” provided the inspiration for this theme.
“To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee
One clover, and a bee.
And revery.
The revery alone will do,
If bees are few.”
—Emily Dickinson
“To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee
One clover, and a bee.
And revery.
The revery alone will do,
If bees are few.”
—Emily Dickinson
The Awards
In 2023, the museum devised a group of new awards to honor the memory of longtime exhibitors who had passed away before the exhibit. All of these individuals were accomplished artists, so each award endeavors to remember a particular aspect of each honoree: James VerDoorn was the very first member of the Rourke Gallery staff in 1961; Gretchen Kottke founded and operated her own gallery; Milton Yergens had a uniquely humorous lens through which he observed the world; and Joel Hegerle was warm and encouraging of fellow artists, regardless of what stage they may be at in their careers.
Last year, we introduced a new award to honor longtime arts patron and Rourke supporter Meredith Bloomquist (who just celebrated her 101st birthday in May!).
Below are the winners:
• Gretchen Bederman, “Prairie Dreams"; Winner of the Meredith Bloomquist Best in Theme Award, selected by Dwight Mickelson.
• Naomi Ramona Schliesman, “Ancestral Roots"; Winner of the James VerDoorn Staff's Choice Award, selected by the museum's staff.
• Mike Hazard, “A PRAIRIE SCHOOL PEEK"; Winner of the Gretchen Kottke Gallerist's Choice Award, selected by the Heather Friedli and Dave Thune.
• Jennifer Junker, “The Prairie Says..."; Winner of the Milton Yergens Wit and Whimsey in Art Award, selected by the Molly Yergens.
• Dwight Mickelson, “Flornyx (noun): A mythic or biological being that embodies both masculine and feminine traits while serving as a natural pollinator, harmoniously blending gender and ecological roles"; Winner of the Joel Hegerle People's Choice Award selected by museum visitors.
Last year, we introduced a new award to honor longtime arts patron and Rourke supporter Meredith Bloomquist (who just celebrated her 101st birthday in May!).
Below are the winners:
• Gretchen Bederman, “Prairie Dreams"; Winner of the Meredith Bloomquist Best in Theme Award, selected by Dwight Mickelson.
• Naomi Ramona Schliesman, “Ancestral Roots"; Winner of the James VerDoorn Staff's Choice Award, selected by the museum's staff.
• Mike Hazard, “A PRAIRIE SCHOOL PEEK"; Winner of the Gretchen Kottke Gallerist's Choice Award, selected by the Heather Friedli and Dave Thune.
• Jennifer Junker, “The Prairie Says..."; Winner of the Milton Yergens Wit and Whimsey in Art Award, selected by the Molly Yergens.
• Dwight Mickelson, “Flornyx (noun): A mythic or biological being that embodies both masculine and feminine traits while serving as a natural pollinator, harmoniously blending gender and ecological roles"; Winner of the Joel Hegerle People's Choice Award selected by museum visitors.
Dwight Mickelson, “Flornyx (noun): A mythic or biological being that embodies both masculine and feminine traits while serving as a natural pollinator, harmoniously blending gender and ecological roles"
Naomi Ramona Schliesman, “Ancestral Roots"
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Jennifer Junker, “The Prairie Says...";
Gretchen Bederman, “Prairie Dreams"
Mike Hazard, “A PRAIRIE SCHOOL PEEK"
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