Creating opportunities for artists, promoting art education, and showcasing the arts on Madeline Island.
On This Page
The La Pointe Center for the Arts (LPC) is a non-profit organization that supports the arts on Madeline Island. Over the years the La Pointe Center for the Arts has contributed to the arts in various ways by creating opportunities for artists.
We promote art education, showcase the arts through a gallery and retail space, produce theatrical and concert performances, create literary opportunities, sponsor artist residencies, promote arts in the school, provide grants, and sponsor events in the community.
This has provided the Madeline Island community with entertainment, cultural enrichment, socialization, education, and empowerment opportunities that foster a sense of identity, pride, and connection.
Our History
The dream of the La Pointe Center Board was to have an Arts Center with spaces for classes, exhibitions, and performances. Headed by Mary Lange, plans were drawn up. Patrons were to purchase land and the centrally located property was indeed purchased across from Tom’s Burned Down Cafe.
Ultimately, the project did not come to fruition and the land was sold. That money was used to purchase the present day La Pointe Center and Art Guild Gallery condominium space.
Some of the major milestones in our organization’s history are shown below.
La Pointe Center, Inc. is established, started by Mary Lang.
Madeline Island Art Center is established by Max Lein and Mort Cushman.
Madeline Island Art Guild is established as a non-profit organization. First Gallery exhibit.
Regranting Program begins along with our Wisconsin Arts Board partnership.
Positivity Children’s Theater first production, “The Girl, the Fish and the Medallion”, written by Natalie Lacy.
Art Guild changes name to La Pointe Center Art Guild & Gallery.
La Pointe Center for the Arts becomes the organization’s official name.
Performing Arts concert series begins.
Madeline Island Literary Society begins.
Artist in Residence program begins.
OUR WORK
Accomplishments
Showcased below are some of our accomplishments. This work was completed thanks to generous donations from people like you! Please consider supporting the La Pointe Center for the Arts.
Supporting the Arts & Traditions of Mooningwanekaaning
The interaction with indigenous artisans, the local community, and tourists continue to enhance and establish bonds of cooperation and cultural understanding of the historic traditions of the land we all now share.
La Pointe School Art Program
Over the years projects and artists have been brought in to enrich the artistic experience for students at the La Pointe School. These projects have been traditionally shared with the public at the La Pointe Center Gallery’s first exhibit of the season (La Pointe School Art Show).
Gateway to the Island
The “Gateway” started from a vision of La Pointe Center for the Arts to have a piece of art as a welcoming to the island. In 2018 LPC dedicated $20,000 to the project.
Grants at Work in the Community
Since 1994, the regranting program has funded over $150,000 to artistic projects through the regranting process with the Wisconsin Arts Board. These projects have provided opportunities for artists of all media to pursue their talents.
LEADERSHIP
Our Board
In endeavoring to fulfill its mission, the La Pointe Center for the Arts continues the dream of its founders, patrons, and supporters. Past Board members have been instrumental in establishing an arts community on the island and making Madeline Island a welcoming place for artists and those who support the arts.
Business Manager
Kassidy Curtis-Lugo
Kassidy has been the Business Manager of the LPC since August 2024. She moved to Madeline Island from Brooklyn NY where she obtained a BFA in Production and Design for Stage. Kassidy and her husband, Riley Brown own and operate their own painting/home improvement business as well as a mobile sauna business called Hot Island Sauna.
As business manager for LPC, she helps manage member data, helps run our social media and marketing, and works with our website designer to keep the LPC site current.
Board of Directors
Gina Hand Eoloff – President
Gina is the current President of LPC. She has had a long career in Nursing which included more than a decade in Product Marketing and Medical Affairs at Medtronic. Gina completed her doctoral degree in 2019 and currently works as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse at the La Pointe Community Clinic. She and her husband Eric are fulltime residents on the island.
Lance Wurst – Treasurer
Lance and his wife recently moved to the island from Nebraska. Lance worked as a teacher of art classes there and recently retired as a freelance artist. Lance will serve as Treasurer this year.
Madeline Rupp – Secretary
Maddie is a fulltime resident and is currently managing the Madeline Island Museum. Maddie also has worked at the Madeline Island School of the Arts and has served on other island boards
As a child growing up in Duluth, MN, Ken was introduced to the Apostle Islands while boating with his family. For most of his adult life he has spent the summers living at the Madeline Island marina on his boat, the Kinship. When he and his husband Andrew purchased a home in La Pointe, Ken became more involved in the community including the La Pointe CFA. In his previous life he worked in the family hotel business, ZMC Hotels, Inc. where he led the company as CEO for 15 years until his retirement in 2015. Ken and Andrew love island life and enjoy golf, pickleball, boating, skiing, traveling, and the rich arts community of the area.
Steve Law
Steve grew up in Hopkins, MN and has been coming to Madeline Island for 60 years. His father loved sailing for many years; the family would charter a sailboat to cruise the Apostle Islands. He participated in many race weeks and can tell as many tall tales of the races he was in as a lot of the salty dogs on the island. His family ultimately built a home on the island that his brothers and families still own. His roots are growing deeper there.
He went to St. Olaf College then received his DDS from the University of Minnesota. He then moved to Denver, CO to start a dental practice. He served the patients of Metropolitan Dental Care until his retirement in 2021. MDC just finished its 40th year of business and the legacy of the practice he built lives on.
Since retirement he has spent more and more time on the island. The more time on Madeline the more time he wants to be there.The extraordinary beauty of the water, the islands and the fascinating people there inspire him to want to contribute to the community of La Pointe.
He loves creating and performing music. stevelaw.com
Kayla Picciano
Kayla bought the Bell Street Gallery four years ago now and opened up the Bayfield location almost three years ago. Prior to that she worked 20+ years in sales, primarily in the creative and digital media space. She currently lives in Bayfield full time with her son Vaughn.
Elizabeth and sidekick John have been fulltime Madeline Island residents for over 20 years. Elizabeth has served on multiple Island boards including the Madeline Island Library, Chair of the Town of LaPointe Community Awards Committee, and Chair of the LPC Re-granting Committee. Elizabeths career background includes working with multiple Nonprofits in the Twin Cities and Chequamegon Bay area and degree in Nonprofit Administration & Resource Development.
Elizabeth is the designer of Big Bay Creations and recipient of the CBAC Artistic Development Award. Her passions include photography, sailing, travel, gardening, cooking, hunting, fishing and the creation of chainmaille inspired jewelry. Elizabeth has served as Grant Writer and currently as Family Human Services Administrator for the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
Jim Hansen
Jim has a BFA and a MFA in Ceramics and Printmaking. He has been coming to the Island since 1968 and became a seasonal resident in 1988. After retiring from the University of Minnesota Jim became involved with Woods Hall Gallery & Studios as a potter. Jim has showed and sold work at the LPC Art Gallery, Bell Street Gallery, and other galleries. Jim was a recipient of a LPC grant in 2017.
Kaesha Baloch
Managing Director of the Great Lakes Lifeways Institute, supporting land-based, cultural, and food sovereignty projects across the Great Lakes region. For over a decade, she has worked alongside Indigenous communities, leading initiatives in food systems, event coordination, and community entrepreneurship.
With a background in fine jewelry making and pre-architecture, Kaesha brings a creative and design-minded approach to her work. Deeply connected to the Twin Cities’ food scene, she continues to build bridges between artists, growers, and culture bearers.
A contributor to Madeline Island’s community life for more than seven years, Kaesha is closing on her island home this November. She can often be found biking or swimming around the island with her ten-year-old daughter, Maliha, who shares her love for creativity and connection.