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“The Department of Objects” brings work by Wyatt Hersey, Melissa Lakey, Esther Pearl Watson and Anna Valdez to a Chicago exhibition after a five-day winter residency at Camp Wandawega in Wisconsin. The artists drew inspiration from the camp’s collection of vintage objects and ephemera; the opening reception is scheduled for Oct. 23, 2026.
The participating artists are Wyatt Hersey, Melissa Lakey, Esther Pearl Watson and Anna Valdez. Their work followed a winter residency organized through a collaboration between Joy Machine and The Jaunt, which brought the artists from California to the Wisconsin camp for five days. The report describes snow, frozen lakes and temperatures as low as 4 degrees Fahrenheit during the stay.
The exhibition takes its name from an attic storage room at the camp, which the artists used as a workspace and called “The Green Room.” The space held old magazines, vintage fishing lures, books, patches and other camp ephemera. The report says some objects from the collection will also be included in the gallery presentation. It identifies Valdez’s “Assorted Vintage Lures” and Melissa Lakey’s “Vintage Radios” among the works, and lists Hersey’s “View from Wandawega Lodge” as a 2026 gouache painting on birch panel.
The exhibition announcement invites visitors to attend the Oct. 23 opening and says all four artists will be present. It also offers a collector preview, though the supplied report does not provide further details about its timing or access.
How the Camp Shaped the Artwork
The exhibition connects a specific place and its accumulated objects with new work by four artists. Rather than treating the camp only as a backdrop, the report describes its Department of Objects as a source of material and inspiration: the artists worked among the collection, and some of its items are expected to appear in the gallery. That link gives visitors a way to see both the resulting artworks and elements of the setting that helped prompt them.
The project also brings a residency format associated with travel and shared time into a public exhibition. The artists spent five days together at Camp Wandawega, with the winter setting shaping the experience described in the report. What visitors can learn from the exhibition will depend on the final presentation, but the reported mix of art and camp ephemera gives the show a tangible connection to its place of origin.
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From Residency to Chicago Gallery
The residency grew out of The Jaunt, an initiative that the report says has spent a decade organizing artist journeys to destinations chosen by participants. Its founder, Jeroen Smeets, introduced Winter Camp in 2024, bringing artists together for a shared stay. The current project is described as the third iteration of that winter gathering, in partnership with Joy Machine.
Camp Wandawega’s grounds date back more than 100 years, according to the source report. The site was used as a speakeasy and brothel during Prohibition before becoming a summer camp run by the Latvian Catholic Church. It now operates as a retreat in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, a short trip north of Chicago. That history and its collection of camp materials provide the setting for the artists’ residency and the exhibition title.
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Details Still Missing From Announcement
The supplied report does not name the Chicago gallery or venue, give the exhibition’s full run dates, or specify admission arrangements. It also does not state where or how to access the collector preview. Those details should be checked with the organizers before making plans.
The source identifies several works but does not provide a complete exhibition checklist or describe every artist’s contribution. It is also unclear exactly which camp objects will be displayed alongside the artwork. The announcement confirms the artists’ presence at the opening, but provides no further schedule for them.
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Opening Night and Visitor Details
The next listed event is the opening reception on Oct. 23, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m., with all four artists expected to attend, according to the announcement. Organizers are also inviting people to RSVP and offering a collector preview.
Readers interested in attending will need to consult the exhibition organizer’s listing for the venue address, admission information and exhibition dates, which are not included in the supplied report. The announcement does not identify any later events or programming.
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Key Questions
When is the opening reception?
The reception for “The Department of Objects” is scheduled for Oct. 23, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. The announcement says all four participating artists will be present.
Who made work for the exhibition?
The artists are Wyatt Hersey, Melissa Lakey, Esther Pearl Watson and Anna Valdez. They took part in a five-day winter residency at Camp Wandawega.
What does “The Department of Objects” refer to?
It is the name of a storage room at Camp Wandawega that held vintage magazines, fishing lures, books, patches and other camp memorabilia. The artists called the room “The Green Room” and used it as a workspace.
Where is the exhibition being held?
The announcement describes it as a Chicago exhibition, but the supplied report does not identify the gallery or provide its address. Readers should check with the organizers for the venue and visiting details.
Source: rss
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