Studio Arts Programs
The studio arts program at MMAM give visitors a chance to immerse themselves in a new art-making form, and to learn a new skill. Different workshops are geared towards different art forms, ages, and skill levels.
Upcoming MMAM workshops:
Join acclaimed plein air artist Bob Upton for a two-day outdoor workshop exploring the expressive potential of gouache, a luminous and versatile medium that bridges watercolor and oil. Working along the banks of the Mississippi River, participants will learn to see and paint with clarity, confidence, and spontaneity.
The Center for Third Street Furtherings (CfTSF) has been active in Winona for some time now—quietly observing, recording, and assembling a clearer picture of a place that resists easy definition. In partnership with the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, the Center is now accepting a limited cohort of Field Agent Trainees to assist with an active investigation led by Senior Collection Agent Andy DuCett.
Experience the rare opportunity to work hands-on with a MMAM exhibiting artist. Join Tanya Aguiñiga in a one-day immersive workshop, Weaving in Community. Traveling from Southern California, Aguiñiga brings her internationally recognized practice that spans sculpture, installation, performance, and community-based work, into an intimate, accessible learning environment rooted in making and exchange.
This all-ages workshop gives participants the unique opportunity to create their own artwork with exhibiting artist Barbara McIlrath. McIlrath’s paintings and drawings begin with studying the patterns and shapes in the natural world, from land forms, limestone bluffs of the river, plants, trees, clouds, shadows and angles of sunlight.
In this three-day workshop, professional rod builder Kris Kristufek will guide you step-by-step through the process of designing and building a high-performance spin or casting rod—up to seven feet long—using premium, American-made materials.
In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore the “Crown of Thorns” construction technique—a hallmark of Tramp Art characterized by carefully notched and interlocking wooden pieces. Guided by woodworker Nathan White, students will learn the fundamentals of knife work, joinery, and hand-carving while crafting a star-shaped ornament or small decorative object. Along the way, Nathan will share insights into the cultural history of the form and its enduring spirit of reuse and creativity.
In this hands-on workshop, students will learn the traditional craft of weaving hamper baskets using willow that is sustainably grown, harvested, and processed in nearby Sandstone, MN. Through guided instruction, participants will create their own functional and beautiful baskets, learning a skill that connects craftsmanship, nature, and sustainable practices.
Join local gourd artist, Rachel Pauli, for a Halloween morning of ridiculous gourd fun. We'll be making lightweight, seasonal, maybe even spooky, earrings out Tennessee spinner gourds homegrown right here in Winona.
Dive into the world of sculptural form, Mexican folk art, and water-inspired storytelling in this two-day cartonería workshop for adults. Over the course of the workshop, participants will create a sculptural axolotl, Mexico’s iconic “smiling” salamander, while exploring its cultural, ecological, and symbolic significance.
Making Pająki, or mobiles from straw and paper, is a Polish tradition that goes back hundreds of years. Often made in the late Autumn in time for the Christmas season, and known for their eye-catching hues and ornate paper pompom techniques, they are made to decorate, protect, and bless the rooms in which they hang. Come be a part of this colorful craft revival and learn to make your own mobile to adorn your space!
In this workshop, participants will learn Peterson’s storytelling approach to image-making alongside foundational papercutting techniques. Students will design and construct their own delicate, translucent paper lanterns, layering imagery and light to create luminous, narrative-driven forms.
![December Third Thursday [Craft + Cocktail]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b7b157831d4df3206e42eaf/1776893306618-EG0L0IM4FRXBN2SE3QP4/2026.Third.Thursday.Square.yellow.jpg)
“Very pleasant experience. I was looking for an uplifting experience that lifted me to another level of understanding the creating process.”
Are you interested in teaching a workshop at MMAM?
Support for the Studio Arts Program
The Studio Arts program is presented by the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, a nonprofit mission-driven art museum located on the shores of the Upper Mississippi River.
MMAM gratefully acknowledges sustaining support from generous contributions from foundations, corporations, individuals, members and volunteers, including ongoing support from our Board of Directors, the Mardag Foundation, the Morgan Family Foundation.
Special thanks to our Presenting Partner, AmericInn By Wyndham Winona.
PRESentING partner
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Previous MMAM workshops:
![July Third Thursday [Craft + Cocktail]: Solar Prints](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b7b157831d4df3206e42eaf/1775073537903-A5GUC8PMATTAXS1GRL34/2026.07.ThirdThursday.square.cocktail.jpg)
Spend a summer evening experimenting with the magic of sunlight in this hands-on, outdoor workshop during our July Third Thursday Craft + Cocktail night. Over the course of three relaxed, creative hours, participants will explore sun-printing techniques using vibrant turmeric-based processes using found materials in the MMAM Gardens.
Deep-mapping is the process of exploring a place in a physical, emotional, and creative way. This two-day workshop will lead participants on a deep-mapping experience of the Upper Mississippi River, facilitated by instructor Hannah Demma, that includes canoeing, papermaking, sketching, printing, and storytelling.
![May Third Thursday [Craft + Cocktail]: Suminagashi Marbled Paper](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b7b157831d4df3206e42eaf/1775611634201-JCVAM01PTKHOXB2JMSHC/2026.Third.Thursday.Square.yellow.jpg)
Unwind with a relaxing evening at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum at our Craft + Cocktail: Suminigashi Marbled Paper workshop with Dawn Tevis. You'll craft your own marbled paper while enjoying a beverage from MMAM’s own Waterbar Cafe + Provisions alongside good company, perfect for a date night or gathering with friends!
Join James Richards in this sketching workshop, celebrating the transformational experience of travel, and the added richness, excitement and creative rush that on-location sketching brings to it. You'll learn to use sketching as a way to explore and a key to discovery in beautiful Winona’s vistas.
In this beginner-friendly workshop, learn a basic beaded herringbone rope with bead artist Dulcey Heller. Participants will be provided with a started sample to learn the stitch and multiple variations, and then continue with their own creation.
In this hands-on workshop, students will learn the traditional craft of weaving hamper baskets using willow that is sustainably grown, harvested, and processed in nearby Sandstone, MN. Through guided instruction, participants will create their own functional and beautiful baskets, learning a skill that connects craftsmanship, nature, and sustainable practices.
Join artist Tali Weinberg for a hands-on workshop exploring how weaving can translate data, memory, and emotion into tactile form. Participants will begin by reflecting on landscapes and waterscapes meaningful to them, then learn to interpret climate data through color and pattern on small frame looms. The session combines discussion, observation, and creative making—transforming information about place and climate into woven studies that honor both scientific and personal relationships to the environment.
Join Winona-based ceramic artist Will Brzezinski for an immersive two-day workshop where you'll create your very own set of beautiful, functional ceramic cups—no pottery wheel required! This beginner-friendly experience opens the door to the ceramic arts through accessible hand-building techniques that anyone can master.
In this three-day workshop, professional rod builder Kris Kristufek will guide you step-by-step through the process of designing and building a high-performance spin or casting rod—up to seven feet long—using premium, American-made materials.
Join Winona-based ceramic artist Will Brzezinski for an immersive two-day workshop where you'll create your very own set of beautiful, functional ceramic cups—no pottery wheel required! This beginner-friendly experience opens the door to the ceramic arts through accessible hand-building techniques that anyone can master.
Start your oil painting journey with confidence in this beginner-friendly, hands-on workshop. Participants will receive a curated kit of high-quality painting materials—including an 8x10 canvas—to use during class and take home for continued practice.
Join Winona-based ceramic artist Will Brzezinski for an immersive two-day workshop where you'll create your very own set of beautiful, functional ceramic cups—no pottery wheel required! This beginner-friendly experience opens the door to the ceramic arts through accessible hand-building techniques that anyone can master.
Curious about wood carving? This relaxed, hands-on class is for you! You will be provided with an 8”x10” basswood board and tools to use for this day-long, relief carving experience. With step-by-step guidance from the instructor, you will learn to use three different gouges and the marks they can make as practice.
Spread holiday cheer with handcrafted block-print cards in this creative workshop at MMAM! Sip a handcrafted cocktail from Waterbar Cafe + Provisions while you carve, ink, and print a beautiful set of cards ready to share with loved ones.
Join Winona-based ceramic artist Will Brzezinski for an immersive two-day workshop where you'll create your very own set of beautiful, functional ceramic cups—no pottery wheel required! This beginner-friendly experience opens the door to the ceramic arts through accessible hand-building techniques that anyone can master.
Join Minneapolis-based artist Nick Rindo for an all-inclusive introduction to Minnesota State Fair Crop Art. This workshop provides all the tools and knowledge required to submit your first entry in next year's State Fair. The session reviews current rules and categories while exploring the rich history of Minnesota crop art.
Join textile artist Shea for an immersive one-day workshop exploring the intersection of place, water, and textile arts. Participants will create a beautiful 6" x 6" textile map featuring the waterways of the Mississippi River near the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, using accessible stencil techniques that can be replicated at home.
Join plein air painter, Joshua Cunningham, for a special 2-day oil plein air painting workshop. Each day will be unique and subject to the time, place, and weather. In this workshop, participants will examine how some foundational principles of the prismatic palette can deepen the understanding of how light and air reveal the world, helping us see and share in the gift of each day.
![[SOLD OUT] Workshop: Master the Basics - Ink and Watercolor Sketching with Kar-Keat Chong](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b7b157831d4df3206e42eaf/1746825894505-GAGFES0HG8H3DB3CW86Z/2025.Kar-Keat+Chong.square.jpg)
Join Kar-Keat Chong, artist, architect, educator and worldly Urban Sketcher for his workshop “Master the Basics: Ink and Watercolor Sketching with Kar-Keat Chong.” Designed to develop confidence and understand the dynamics of sketching on location. Come away with the skills and passion for life-long learning as you embark on your artistic expression through sketching.
Join MMAM for a workshop presented in partnership with Pillbox Bat Co., to build and paint your own custom Kubb set—a Nordic lawn game that's equal parts strategy, skill, and summer fun. Held at the iconic Pillbox Bat Co., known for its handcrafted baseball bats, this workshop offers a playful shift from America’s pastime to one of the midwest’s finest. You’ll leave not only with your own one-of-a-kind game set, but also with a new way to enjoy the sunshine with friends and family for years to come.
Join Minneapolis-based artist Pam Luer for a hands-on Nature Sketchbook Workshop set against the inspiring backdrop of Pleasant Bluff. Guided by Pam’s decades of experience connecting art and nature, and supported by the land-based knowledge of Restoravore organizers, this workshop invites participants to slow down and observe the natural world through sketching.
Unwind with a relaxing evening by the water at our Craft + Cocktail candle-making workshop with Rae Handcrafted. Inspired by the scents and tastes of summer, you'll craft your own custom candle while enjoying a cocktail and good company—perfect for a date night or gathering with friends!
Immerse yourself in the ancient art of papermaking while exploring the Mississippi River through an innovative deep-mapping experience. In this three-day workshop, participants will journey beyond traditional cartography to create a nuanced, multi-layered understanding of place through hands-on creativity.
Unwind and unleash your creativity at our Craft + Cocktail Workshop on Thursday, June 12. Join Rochester-based wood specialist Kevin Ewing for an evening of hands-on artistry, where you’ll carve your very own river-inspired scene from a block of basswood. While you work, enjoy a refreshing cocktail expertly crafted by Water Bar, perfectly paired to complement the experience.
This workshop focuses on experiencing the world right outside our window, promoting awareness and connection to nature through exploration, collage building, and repurposing textiles.
In this workshop, chose to built either a shallow trug for gathering flowers and herbs, or a deep trug for collecting fruits and vegetables. Trugs are simple, beautiful, functional, light weight, and long lasting, some are still in use after 100 years.
In this two day workshop led by Craig Blacklock, students will photograph reflections on the Mississippi River, experimenting with different perspectives and shutter speeds. Later in the day, the class will edit their images using both traditional and AI-based software, guided by examples from both painting and photography, and share their work during critiques.
Join Lindsay Krage for a two-day workshop to learn the basics of sewing a beginner friendly garment. Although some sewing experience is required, no garment sewing is necessary.
Participants will learn about 'indie patterns', printing digital patterns, body measurements, fabric preparation and cutting, and finally sewing garments on a home sewing machine. Additional skills may include binding, quilting, applique, and chain stitching.
This "Create a Character" workshop invites kids to unleash their imagination and bring unique characters to life through illustration. Through guided exercises and creative prompts, attendees will learn to draw characters with distinct personalities. We'll explore facial structure, how to incorporate unique features, and develop their character to enhance storytelling skills.