The Door County Maritime Museum (DCMM) is pleased to announce the very first exhibit in our new temporary and traveling exhibition space within the Peterson Gallery at the museum’s Sturgeon Bay location (120 North Madison Avenue). Entitled Beside the Lake, Beneath the Wind, the new exhibit features the nautical work of Door County master artist Gerhard CF Miller (1903-2003) and is a collaboration between DCMM and the Miller Art Museum.
The exhibition features more than 40 Miller paintings and drawings from both DCMM and the Miller Art Museum, along with artifacts from the DCMM collection related to some of the artworks on display.
“We couldn’t image a better way to open our new temporary exhibit space than with this show,” said DCMM President & CEO Kevin Osgood. “Gerhard Miller was a titan of Door County artists, and to collaborate with the Miller Art Museum on our inaugural exhibition is a wonderful statement about the strength and breadth of the arts and culture on the Door Peninsula.”
Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, Executive Director, Miller Art Museum, said “Gerhard Miller’s relationship with the water was as central to his work as it was to life on the Door Peninsula itself. To see his nautical paintings in conversation with the Maritime Museum’s collection—including artifacts that share the same waters he painted—couldn’t feel more appropriate. We are both excited and honored to partner with the DCMM on this inaugural exhibition, and we hope it invites audiences to see both institutions, and Miller’s legacy, in a new light. This collaboration between our two museums is one we believe will only strengthen the community we both serve.”
“Beside the lake, beneath the trees, / Fluttering and dancing in the breeze” is a couplet from William Wordsworth’s famous 1807 poem, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.” It is a classic of English Romantic poetry, and highlights the calming, joyful, and lasting impact of nature on the human spirit.
The Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay is open seven days a week, 9am-5pm. Entry to Beside the Lake, Beneath the Wind is included with museum admission. The exhibition will run through the summer season and will close at the end of October.
Gerhard CF Miller
Born in 1903 in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Gerhard CF Miller overcame polio in childhood and turned his hours of convalescence into a lifelong creative pursuit. He mastered drawing, watercolor, and egg tempera, and focused almost exclusively on watercolor and egg tempera after 1938—a shift influenced by his mentor, celebrated American watercolorist Roy Mason (American, 1886–1972). Miller’s work reflects the region he loved: the light and atmosphere of the Door Peninsula, the quiet architecture, and the sweep of its landscapes. His paintings capture not just what we see, but how we might feel the world’s stillness and movement, and were celebrated for his distinctive style of imaginary realism. Miller exhibited widely during his lifetime, earned membership in the American Watercolor Society, and supported his own travel and growth as an artist through the sale of his work. Gerhard passed away in August 2003 at the age of 100—his longevity and productivity leaving a profound legacy.
About the Miller Art Museum
Nestled in the heart of downtown Sturgeon Bay, the Miller Art Museum stands as a beacon of cultural enrichment and artistic exploration. Established in 1975, the institution has been a cornerstone of the local community, fostering creativity and appreciation for the visual arts. With a diverse collection of more than 1,500 works spanning historical to contemporary, along with regularly changing exhibitions, visitors are treated to a compelling and diverse array of art. From powerful exhibitions highlighting regional and national talent to thought-provoking exhibits that explore the depths, joys, and complexities of our world, the museum offers something for art enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds. Beyond its exhibits, the Museum presents an array of educational programs, tours, performances, and events, engaging visitors in experiences that deepen their understanding and appreciation for art. With a commitment to excellence and accessibility, the Miller Art Museum continues to foster connections between artists and community through the creation of opportunities to explore, appreciate, and advance the visual arts.
The museum is located at 107 South 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, WI, 54235 inside the Door County Library in downtown Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. For information call (920) 746-0707 or visit the museum on Instagram at @MillerArtMuseum or Facebook at Miller Art Museum.
About the Door County Maritime Museum
The Door County Maritime Museum & Lighthouse Preservation Society, Inc. preserves Great Lakes maritime history, primarily focusing on Door County, Wisconsin, and provides interpretive and educational opportunities for current and future generations.
The Museum operates three locations, including the Door County Maritime Museum along the working waterfront in Sturgeon Bay; the iconic Cana Island Lighthouse in Baileys Harbor; and the Death’s Door Maritime Museum in Gills Rock. As one of northeast Wisconsin’s top tourism destinations, averaging 95,000 visitors annually, the Door County Maritime Museum serves as a cultural and educational resource for all 72 counties in Wisconsin.