📍 Christ Church, Delavan

For five days in March, Christ Church in Delavan transformed—pews shifted, walls filled, tables appeared, and light was carefully arranged—not just to display art, but to welcome people.

The 15th annual art show, Inspired Reflections, welcomed more than 425 visitors and featured over 45 artists and 225+ pieces of art spanning a wide range of mediums—from painting and fiber to sculpture and mixed media. Artists came from across southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, including Delavan, Elkhorn, Lake Geneva, Madison, Whitewater, Chicago, and beyond, creating a truly regional gathering of creativity.

But what made the show memorable wasn’t just the volume of art—it was the way the whole space came alive.

Behind the scenes, the work began almost immediately after last year’s show ended. The Art Show Committee—Roberta and Kasey Karstetter, David Buchanan, Linda Christian, Joan and Steve Hay, and Katy Wimer—met regularly for months, organizing logistics, promoting the event across Delavan businesses, and shaping the experience from the ground up.

A 2025 diocesan grant helped expand the show’s capacity, funding additional hanging systems and eye-catching feather banners that drew in passersby. Outside, large welded metal sculptures by Larry Krueger added a striking visual invitation from the front lawn—art that quite literally stopped people in their tracks.

Inside, transformation required muscle as much as imagination. Parishioners and artists moved furniture, pews, pedestals, easels, shelves, and lighting—turning familiar rooms into gallery spaces. And when the show ended, they did it all again in reverse. This was community effort in its most tangible form.

The energy built throughout the week.

Wednesday evening’s Artist Reception felt like a reunion—old friends reconnecting, new artists meeting for the first time, conversations unfolding across generations. It wasn’t just an opening—it was a gathering.

Saturday became a full-day experience of art and participation:

• A community drum circle led by Susan Beamesderfer and Judy Spear invited visitors to join in rhythm, whether using provided drums or bringing their own

• Rachel Catlett demonstrated antique wool spinning, connecting past craft with present curiosity

• A skit, The DOG, performed by Steve and Joan Hay, brought humor into the mix

• Katy and Dale Wimer shared live music, filling the space with song

Visitors were invited not just to observe, but to participate—and they did.

And always, there was hospitality. Tables filled with offerings from both artists and parishioners: water, wine, juice, cookies, bars, sandwiches, soups, breads, fruit trays, cheeses, and more. The kind of abundance that quietly says: you belong here—stay awhile.

One of the most beloved features was the Community Art Project. Guests of all ages were invited to create small 3” x 3” watercolor pieces, which were then added to a growing framed display. Participation was so enthusiastic that a second frame had to be added to hold them all—each square a small but meaningful contribution to the whole.

Though the show is free to attend, generosity flowed in other ways. Donation jars collected over $560, with proceeds shared between the Delavan-Darien Backpack Food Program and future improvements to the show. Several artists also contributed pieces to silent auctions benefiting the Backpack Program and Spirit of Hope Men’s Homeless Shelter—extending the impact of the event beyond the gallery walls.

🙏With Deep Gratitude

Special thanks to the Art Show Committee—Roberta and Kasey Karstetter, David Buchanan, Linda Christian, Joan and Steve Hay, and Katy Wimer—whose steady leadership and months of planning made this event possible.

We give thanks for the parishioners who moved what felt like everything—furniture, lighting, displays—and then welcomed guests with warmth and care throughout the week.

We are grateful to the artists who shared not only their work, but their time, their tools, and their willingness to support one another—loading, unloading, setting up, and encouraging fellow creators.

Thanks to Larry Krueger for the bold welded sculptures that welcomed visitors from the front lawn, and to all who added depth to the experience through music, performance, demonstration, and participation.

And to those who spread the word—through posters, flyers, social media posts, photos, and videos—you helped extend the reach of this gathering far beyond the building itself.

🌱Looking Ahead

Already, there are conversations about what’s next. Plans are beginning to take shape for a potential collaboration with the Delavan Train Show in 2027—an event that drew more than 2,500 visitors this year across multiple downtown locations. Christ Church may become part of that wider experience, opening the door to even greater community connection in the years to come.

For now, what remains is the memory of what was created together:
a church rearranged,
a community gathered,
and a space where art became not just something to see—
but something to share.

📸 Submitted by Roberta Karstetter