Community members are invited to celebrate cultural connection, community creativity, and the spirit of the Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival at a special one-day Community Day event on Saturday, Aug. 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Ahuska Park in Monona.
Community Day will bring together live wood carving demonstrations by Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival founder Gene Delcourt, who will be joined by guest carvers Cody Cottrell (Oneida), Christian Felland, and Narissa Eichenger, according to a press release from the Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival, and will feature cultural demonstrators from the Little Eagle Arts Foundation (LEAF) offering interactive experiences throughout the day, including work by Jessie Blackdeer, Kimberly Crowley, Josiah Thunder, and Lillian White Eagle.
A highlight of the event will be a Ho-Chunk drum and dance performance honoring the festival’s roots on Ho-Chunk ancestral land and celebrating the traditions that inspired the work of Harry Whitehorse and continue to influence many of the participating artists.
This public gathering is designed to honor tradition, spark curiosity, and build excitement for the 2026 Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival. The inaugural Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival was held in June of 2024, featuring cultural presenters, live performances and art demonstrations as part of a full week of events and activities at San Damiano in Monona.
Community Day will be presented in partnership with Little Eagle Arts Foundation (LEAF). The event is free and open to all ages.
For more information about the event, click here.
