March Events at Lynden

The Lynden Sculpture Garden is located at 2145 West Brown Deer Road. Admission is free. All events listed below are free unless otherwise indicated. Memberships, which offer significant discounts on workshops and other events, are available.

HOURS

In March, the Lynden Sculpture Garden is open daily from 10 am-5 pm (closed Thursdays). Thanks to the generosity of our donors, admission is free. For complete information on events, visitor guidelines, and everything that goes on at Lynden, visit www.lyndensculpturegarden.org.

A NOTE ON ICE SKATING

We will offer ice skating on one of the ponds at Lynden on Saturdays and Sundays when weather and ice conditions permit. Please visit us on Facebook for ice skating updates.

EXHIBITIONS: GALLERY

and then down became up: NEW WORKS BY SONJA THOMSEN

March 15-June 1, 2025

Opening reception: Saturday, March 15, 2025, 2-5 pm

More information: https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/exhibitions/and-then-down-became-new-works-sonja-thomsen

In and then down became up, Sonja Thomsen (2011 Nohl Fellow, 2023 Ruth Arts Alumni Awardee) weaves an intricate narrative across time and space, bringing together the legacies of pioneering women artists through a multidisciplinary exploration of balance, perspective, and maternal lineage. As she moves along “the spiral of time,” Thomsen collects and builds with women across history, transforming their stories into a constellation of interconnected works as she locates her place among them. In this first iteration of and then down became up, Thomsen deploys her research-based practice, and her own experiences as a mother, to illuminate previously unseen connections between Lucia Moholy (1894-1989) and Milwaukee native Hazel Larsen Archer (1921-2001)—two visionary women who shaped the avant-garde movements at the Bauhaus and its descendant, Black Mountain College.

Thomsen’s work is grounded in a central question: What happens when matriarchy becomes the gravitational center? and then down becomes up is constructed around the metaphor of physical reorientation as an act of recovering balance. With each shift in perspective, what once felt down becomes up, challenging viewers to reconsider their own relationship to gravity and equilibrium, to history and the present. Similarly, her creative process for this exhibition involves evolution, metamorphosis, and repurposing. A commissioned sculpture, visible just beyond the gallery’s windows, is echoed in the interior space in small, light-modulating objects, large-scale mural prints and transparencies, and photographs.

WORKSHOPS & EVENTS

WEDNESDAY WORK DAYS

Wednesdays, March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2025 – 10 am – 12 pm

More information and to register:

https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/calendar/wednesday-work-days

The Lynden land team is kicking off 2025 by launching a new series of Wednesday Work Days, a weekly volunteer opportunity on the grounds. Whether you are looking for a few hours of volunteer work or want a weekly activity that keeps you outside, you are welcome to join us on Wednesday mornings from 10 am to 12 noon. Projects vary from season to season; for the next few months, you will work alongside land staff to control woody invasive species in our natural areas. No experience is necessary, though you are encouraged to bring your favorite gardening gloves and digging tools if you have them. Water, snacks, and additional tools will be provided.

THE ART OF BIRDING WITH CHUCK STEBELTON

Sunday, March 9, 2025 – 10-11:30 am

Fee: $10/$5 members.

More information and to register:

https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/calendar/birding-2025

Join poet and Wisconsin Master Naturalist volunteer Chuck Stebelton on the second Sunday of each month to bird by eye and ear with a focus on the life histories of wild birds. We’ll watch for seasonal migrants and resident bird species and seek out the best bird habitats to identify as many species as we can. Please dress for the weather and plan to walk in varied terrain. Bring your binoculars and field guides if you have them; no previous birding experience required.

CREATIVE TIME FOR FAMILIES: SEED PAPER

Sunday, March 9, 2025 – 12:30-2:30 pm

Fee: $15/$10 member per family (all materials included).

All ages are welcome; children younger than 12 should attend with an adult.

More information and to register: https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/calendar/creative-time-winter-2025

During the winter and spring, we will be offering monthly drop-in workshops for families. Stop by for engaging, hands-on activities that bring art and nature to life. Whether you make a quick visit or stay the entire two hours, count on spending some quality creative time with family and friends. Make seed paper using recycled materials and native flower seeds in this eco-friendly workshop. Shape and press paper pulp into beautiful, plantable creations that will bloom when placed in soil.

VIRGO FULL MOON CIRCLE AND SOUND BATH

Friday, March 14, 2025 – 6-7:30 pm

Fee: $30/$25 members. Pre-registration required.

More information and to register: https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/calendar/virgo-full-moon-circle-and-sound-bath

Join artist-in-residence Jenna Knapp and sound facilitator Sevan Arabajian-Ries as they continue their collaborative events indoors for the winter. This sound bath will take place in the gallery, where participants will be surrounded by Sonja Thomsen’s and then down became up. Inspired by the winding path of the labyrinth, Jenna will begin the evening with a short, guided meditation inviting us to turn inward and attune to the frequency of our heart before Sevan begins the sound bath. We’ll wrap up the evening with an astro talk, writing prompts, and time for group reflection and sharing. Throughout the evening we will explore themes present under the Virgo Full Moon including: organizing our creative practices, embracing life’s big questions, and creating the space necessary to open ourselves up to new beginnings.

DOG DAYS AT LYNDEN

Saturday, March 15, 2025 – 10 am-4 pm

FREE.

More information: https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/calendar/dog-days-2025

Bring your canine friends for an early spring walk. Dogs must be leashed and considerate of other visitors, canine and human.

GREENWOOD GATHERING: CARVERS’ MEET-UP WITH JEREMY STEPIEN

Saturday, March 15, 2025 – 11 am-4 pm

Fee: $15/$10 members. You are welcome to attend for the entire day, or for a portion, but registration is required.

https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/calendar/carvers-2025

Join us for the spring session of Lynden’s Greenwood Gathering, an open-ended carving event where both new and returning participants can bring their current or finished carving projects to share with fellow woodcarvers. Gather around the campfire to carve, exchange ideas, share techniques, and draw inspiration from each other’s work. The gatherings will include occasional themed demonstrations and relevant garden tours. In March we may meet indoors, and we’ll take some time to explore the sharpening strop.

and then down became up: NEW WORKS BY SONJA THOMSEN: OPENING RECEPTION

Saturday, March 15, 2025 – 2-5 pm

FREE.

More information: https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/calendar/and-then-down-became-new-works-sonja-thomsen-opening-reception

Join us for the opening of an exhibition of new work by Sonja Thomsen. The artist will be in attendance.

LYNDEN BY NIGHT: A WALK WITH CLAUDIA ORJUELA

Saturday, March 15, 2025 – 7-8:30 pm

Fee: $10 per session/$5 per session for Lynden members. Children under 6 are free.

More information and to register: https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/calendar/lynden-night-mar-2025

Come walk Lynden’s grounds with educator Claudia Orjuela, who will introduce you to the mysteries and unique features of outdoor life after dark. Discover the sights and sounds of the night in Lynden’s back acres and observe our monumental sculptures beneath the light of the Worm Moon. A bonfire and treats await at the end.

HOME BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

Thursday, March 20, 2025 – 7-8 pm ***VIRTUAL***

FREE.

More information and to register:

https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/calendar/home-book-discussion-group-2025

The Lynden/HOME Refugee Steering Committee book discussion group, moderated by Lynden’s Kim Khaira, is for those interested in firsthand accounts of displacement. We consider works of non-fiction and fiction, including autobiographical and semi-autobiographical works, by writers who have faced or are facing forced displacement as refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants. In March we continue Aednan: An Epic, by Linnea Axelsson. Newcomers welcome!

HOME: UKRAINIAN PYSANKY WORKSHOP & FUNDRAISER

Sunday, March 23, 2025 – 1-5 pm

Fee: Early bird fee $55. After March 10, $60/$55 members.

More information: https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/calendar/home-ukrainian-pysanky-workshop-2025

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Pysanky, traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs, revered globally as symbols of peace and prosperity. Legend has it that the creation of Pysanky holds the power to ward off evil, making each meticulously decorated egg a beacon of hope. At this Pysanka Workshop, hosted by Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc., we will celebrate and preserve this cherished tradition while making a tangible difference in the lives of others. By educating participants about the rich heritage of Ukrainian egg decorating, we hope to foster a deeper appreciation for Ukrainian culture and heritage. Your support is integral to the success of this meaningful endeavor, ensuring positive outcomes for our community. All proceeds from this workshop series will directly benefit victims of war in Ukraine, providing essential medical supplies to those in need.

SPOON CARVING: A SLOYD INTENSIVE WITH JEREMY STEPIEN

Monday, March 24-Wednesday, March 26, 2026 – 11 am- 4:30 pm daily

Fee: $274 /$234 for members. Registration is required. Add a Mora knife for $35.

For information and to register: https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/calendar/sloyd-spoon-carving-intensive

Sloyd, or slöjd, is a Scandinavian handcraft movement that emphasizes practical, everyday items made from natural materials. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced carver, this three-day intensive will guide you through the essential steps required to safely carve a wooden spoon from greenwood. The emphasis will be on traditional axe and knife-hold techniques. You’ll go home with a spoon and the knowledge to continue carving on your own. All greenwood materials are included. We’ll provide a set of carving tools, though you are welcome to bring your own.

SLOW GROWING IN THE TIME OF TREES: A WOOD CARVING WORKSHOP WITH DANIEL MINTER

Saturday, March 29, 2025 – 1-3 pm

FREE, but registration required.

More information and to register: https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/calendar/slow-growing-daniel-minter-2025

Call & Response artist-in-residence Daniel Minter pays a visit to Lynden as part of Slow Growing in the Time of Trees, a C21 Collaboratory. The Collaboratory brings together Lynden artist-in-residence Yevgeniya Kaganovich, her collaborators—Lisa Moline, Lane Hall, and Jim Charles—and their guests to cultivate an interdisciplinary creative space that examines the durational nature of trees, mushrooms, and humans, and the symbiosis between trees and human and non-human partners. Minter will revisit sites of importance from his two-year residency, IN THE HEALING LANGUAGE OF TREES: a natural act of transformation restructured for curing many ills. The walk-and-talk will be followed by a wood-carving workshop suitable for carvers of all levels.

WINTER PROGRAMS FOR THE YOUNG AND VERY YOUNG

TUESDAYS IN THE GARDEN FOR PARENTS & VERY SMALL CHILDREN

Tuesdays, March 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2025 – 10:30 am-11:30 am

Fee: $16/$12 members for one adult and one child.

More information and to register:

https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/tuesdays-in-the-garden

Join art educators Claudia Orjuela and Denice Niebuhr for hands-on art making and all-senses-engaged exploration of the outdoor world at Lynden. Tuesdays in the Garden, designed for children aged 1-3, provides a nurturing environment where children’s curiosity and wonder are extended through play and exploration, and children and their caregivers learn and discover side by side. We’ll consider different themes, each designed to connect Lynden’s environment with children’s interests. We will encourage experimentation and the manipulation of art and natural materials to tell stories, solve problems, and develop relationships. Tuesdays in the Garden meets weekly in March and the themes are Animal Tracks, Pebbles and Twigs, Feathered Friends, and Signs of Spring.

REGISTER FOR SESSION II OF ART + NATURE LAB

Thursdays, March 6-April 24, 2025 – 3:30-5:30 pm

Ages 7-11

Fee: $154/$112 members per 7-week session

More information and to register: https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/calendar/art-nature-lab-ages-7-11

Lynden’s Art + Nature Lab engages participants aged 7-11 in inquiry-based art and nature learning, problem solving, and creative making. Over the course of each seven-week session, art educator Jeremy Stepien will take you on a series of art challenges and studio projects. Art + Nature Lab will meet indoors in the studio at Lynden with occasional excursions in the garden.

SUMMER CAMPS AT THE INTERSECTION OF ART AND NATURE–REGISTRATION OPEN

June 23-August 20, 2025

For information and to register: https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/camps

Lynden’s art and nature camps for children aged 4 to 15 years integrate our collection of monumental outdoor sculpture and temporary installations with the natural ecology of our hidden landscapes and unique habitats. Led by artists, naturalists, and art educators, the camps explore the intersection of art and nature through collaborative inquiry and hands-on artmaking, using all of Lynden’s 40 acres to create a joyful, all-senses-engaged outdoor experience.

NOHL FELLOWSHIP EVENTS

Supporting artists is a at the core of Lynden’s mission. One of the ways that we support artists is by administering a range of grant programs for artists: the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Mary L. Nohl Fund Fellowships for Individual Artists, the Suitcase Export Fund, and the Ruth Arts Mary L Nohl Alumni Awards. In March, the second cohort of Ruth Arts Mary L. Nohl Alumni Awardees, a program open to past Nohl Fellows, begin their orientation and the 2024 Nohl Fellows prepare for the opening of their exhibition at the Haggerty Museum of Art in June.

COMING UP IN APRIL

The sculpture garden will be closed on Sunday, April 20, 2025.

April is full of opportunities to step outside at Lynden, from the weekly Wednesday Work Days, to the Lynden by Night moon walk (April 12, for the Pink Moon), Chuck Stebelton’s monthly bird walk (April 13), and dog day (April 19). Our Garden Work Days return on April 24—join us for the spring cleaning of the formal garden. The biggest outdoor event of the month occurs on April 26, when International Sculpture Day meets Kites Over Lynden meets the first Lynden BioBlitz. Plenty of hands-on activities for all ages that day. Tuesdays in the Garden meets weekly. The themes for April are Sweet Sugar Maple Trees, Colorful Eggs, Bilingual in Nature: Arte, naturaleza y Español, and Baby Animals. Claudia Orjuela leads the final Creative Time for Families on April 6, when we’ll be carving our own stamps from rubber blocks. The HOME Refugee Book Discussion group finishes Aednan, by Linnea Axelsson, on April 17.

ABOUT THE LYNDEN

The Lynden operates as a laboratory at the intersection of art, nature, and culture. Since opening to the public in 2010, we have worked with artists, educators, students, and our community to create, support, and share experiences that integrate our collection of more than 50 monumental sculptures and temporary installations, Lynden’s community of artists, and the natural ecology of our 40-acre site. The sculpture garden is open to art and nature lovers of all ages daily, 10 am-5 pm; closed Thursdays. Admission is free. Learn more about visitor guidelines here: https://www.lyndensculpturegarden.org/visit. Annual memberships are also available.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.