Witter Gallery

05/28/2026

Hello Summer! We are so excited for Summer Art Camp! There is still a few spots available for registration. June is going to be whimsical! Please email [email protected] to register your young artists.

05/25/2026

Introducing ✨Beyond the Beacon✨a storytelling series highlighting the artists and stories behind Storm Lake’s lighthouse sculptures.

First Feature: Andi Urban

“What I love most about Storm Lake is the diversity of our community.”

For Andi, that sense of belonging inspired United Through Love, a lighthouse designed to reflect the people who make Storm Lake home.

Every hand painted on the piece belongs to a real Storm Lake resident, representing the many lives, stories, and backgrounds that make our community stronger together.

“I want people to feel included. I want them to know that there’s a place in Storm Lake for each person.”

Through her work, Andi reminds us that Storm Lake shines brightest when we are united through love.

05/22/2026

✨Friday Feature: Meet the Faces Behind the Gallery ✨🎨

This week, we’re featuring Witter Gallery Board President, Julie Steinfeld — a passionate advocate for the arts, our community, and the many projects that help keep creativity thriving in Storm Lake.

What inspired you to get involved with the Witter Gallery?
“I have always loved visiting the exhibits offered by the Gallery. I am grateful Ella Witter gifted such a special space to our community.”

Describe your style or taste in art.
“I hate to overuse the term eclectic, but my taste is pretty eclectic — or maybe ‘collected.’”

Do you have a favorite moment or project you’ve been a part of?
“I feel lucky to have been part of the mosaic mural project. I also loved the Mother’s Closet exhibit. I really enjoy working with our board members and staff on fundraisers.”

What do you hope visitors feel when they walk into the Gallery?
“I know our visitors will feel welcomed by our friendly and knowledgeable staff, Cindy and Esther. I hope visitors also leave feeling inspired.”

What book, movie, or song could you enjoy over and over again?
“I love children’s books and could read them over and over again to any child who will listen.”

Some of Julie’s favorites include:
📚 Miss Suzy by Miriam Young
📚 Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
📚 The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss

We’re incredibly fortunate to have Julie’s steady leadership, enthusiasm, and care helping guide the Gallery. Her dedication behind the scenes helps create meaningful experiences, strengthen community connections, and keep the arts flourishing for everyone who walks through our doors.

05/18/2026

✨⭐️Monday meet the Artist ⭐️✨

This week, we’re excited to spotlight artist Isabela Lopez and share a glimpse into the inspiration and creative process behind her work.

How did you get started as an artist?
🎨I began drawing in middle school after watching videos of online artists documenting their work.
Their process fascinated me and inspired me to create for myself. In high school, though, I began to take art seriously as I developed a passion for it. This is thanks to my teachers, Mrs. Huss and Mrs. Whyte, whose guidance deeply inspired me to keep pursuing art.

Which artists have inspired or influenced your work the most?
🎨Lin Gökshin has inspired me to experiment more boldly with mixed media. They have sparked my curiosity about combining digital and traditional techniques. J.C. Lyndeker's elegant brushstrokes and minimalist backgrounds have also greatly inspired the way I approach composition and backgrounds.
Most recently, Egon Schiele has captivated me with his raw, expressive yet controlled brushwork. His work has encouraged me to explore more intensity and rawness in my own work.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out as an artist?
🎨Learning the principles of art might seem tedious and boring at first, but they form the foundations for every artist. It is essential not only to understand the principles but also to revisit them with new media. The way balance and texture behave, for example, can shift depending on the materials you use; each medium has its own version of the fundamentals.

What drew you to the mediums) you work in today?
🎨The sheer versatility of gouache is what drew me to it. The medium can behave as either a translucent medium, like watercolor, or an opaque one, such as acrylic. Other mediums I've used, like oil pastels and graphite, appealed to me for the way they interacted with one another.
The way in which they blend and layer provides me rich textures to play with.

What do you hope viewers feel when they experience your work in person?
🎨I hope that when they view my work, it encourages them to think and discover a story for themselves that they might have never thought of otherwise.

We invite you to stop by and experience Isabela Lopez’s work in person as part of our current exhibit alongside fellow artist Jack Huss.

05/11/2026

🎨 Monday Meet the Artist 🎨

This week, we’re featuring Jack Huss- one of our exhibiting artists this month, whose work embraces curiosity, individuality, and a sense of wonder.

✨ How did you first get started as an artist?
“I first got started because of my parents. They’ve always had artistic skill, whether it was flipping through my dad’s sketchbooks or spending time in my mom’s classroom. It was the right environment to grow up in creatively.”

✨ Which artists have inspired or influenced your work the most?
“Artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, and John Singer Sargent.”

✨ What advice would you give to someone just starting out as an artist?
“Work through real experiences.”

✨ What drew you to the medium(s) you work in today?
“Taking classes at Buena Vista University while pursuing my K–12 Art Education degree.”

✨ What do you hope viewers feel when they experience your work in person?
“A sense of wonder.”

✨ Music, podcasts, silence, or chaos — what’s playing while you create?
“Music, for sure.”

✨ If your artwork had a mood or personality, what would it be?
“My work would be awkward.”

Be sure to stop in and experience his featured exhibit alongside fellow artist Isabela Lopez, now on display at Witter Gallery! And stay tuned for next week to learn more about Isabela!

05/10/2026

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05/09/2026

Join us Saturday, May 16th at 11am for this acrylic paint pour class with Esther! Register by email at [email protected] or call us at 712-732-3400

05/09/2026