Every year the John Michael Kohler Arts Center gives a specified group of artists the privilege of being taken to Kohler Wisconsin, to be a part of Laura Kohler’s 40 year old Arts Industry program. The artists enter into the Kohler factory and use the factory’s resources to create their own art. The resulting art belongs to the artists. But, some pieces are shown at the John Michael Kohler Art Center, or at the new Kohler Experience Center.
The Kohler Experience Center is literally an experiential happening for visitors, melding the iconic bathroom brand with a sort of visual and performance art. Visitors can quite literally take a shower, if they wish. There are displays that showcase the brand’s history, and others that allow peeks into the brand’s possible future. There are opportunities to talk ‘design’ and see it from all sorts of angles.
The blend of manufacturing and artistry that is the yearly arts industry program is applied to by artists. But only 16 of aspirants get the coveted spots. The artists get to use the resources Kohler has. They get to be inspired by the company’s craftspeople and the beautiful products the company makes. Meanwhile, the company garners great inspiration from the artists, enough to hopefully take their products to a whole new level.
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