Blog
About our "Blog"
We are keeping a history of our homepage as our "blog" and will also add commentary/updates as fits. Curious to explore our journey? Read on!
December, 2023
Looking for some fun Lake Minnetonka gifts this season?
Visit us on December 9 and find the perfect gift for those special people in your life (and for yourself) this season! Explore and find your special framed art & prints, notecards & coasters, antique postcards, puzzles & games, etched glassware & ornaments, embroidered towels & blankets and more. We have something for just about every person who ❤️s Lake Minnetonka.
We open Saturday, December 9 for Community Day
Our theme: Home for the Holidays 🕎 🎄 🌟
9am - 12 > We invite young creatives (K-5) to join the Gallery Navarre Artists Guild in the Art Lab where we will have fun making bag books (see photo at left) - they make a great gift!
12:30-4:30 > The Gallery is open to the public! Come and explore our displays celebrating "Home for the Holidays," including many local and Lake Minnetonka pieces of art, maps, prints, and more. All framed art related to our theme is 20% off.
5:30pm-8:30pm > We host our evening Creative Session in the Art Lab for young creatives (K-5) where we will make bag books, a great holiday gift!
November 13, 2023
We had a wonderful time with our young artists in the morning, guided by Karen Rose, our Artist in Residence, they created some beautiful art! We hope to have a full house in December for our 9am-12 and 5:30-8:30pm sessions!
Blog post from the Home page: Our First Community Day is Coming Soon!
We are excited to share our plan for our first Community Day: Saturday, November 11.
Our theme: Our Great Lake Minnetonka!
9am - 12 > We invite young creatives (K-5) to join the Gallery Navarre Artists Guild in the Art Lab for our first Creative Session! (Please learn more about the event and registration here.)
12:30-4:30 > The Gallery is open to the public! Come and explore our displays celebrating "Our Great Lake Minnetonka," including many local and Lake Minnetonka pieces of art, maps, prints, and more. All framed art related to our theme is 20% off.
5:30pm-8:30pm > We will host our second Creative Session in the Art Lab for young creatives (K-5). (Please learn more about the event and registration here.)
October, 2023
Karen Rose and I met at the Gallery, polished our plan for Gallery Navarre's first Community Day and visioned out our themes for the following Community Days for 2023-24. November's theme will be "Celebrating Our Great Lake Minnetonka" and December will be "Home for the Holidays."
We also designed a fantastic Art Lab for November 11. Our young creatives will have the opportunity to learn about Lake Minnetonka and create a mixed media piece focusing on the beautiful Lake that is... Minnetonka!
September, 2023 Homepage Update
Writing Gallery Navarre's Next Chapter
Located in Spring Park, MN, Gallery Navarre is a unique space, celebrating Lake Minnetonka's history, community and creatives. With the passing of Joan Wolfe, Gallery Navarre's founder and most gifted designer/picture framer, we are shifting away from custom framing to embracing new offerings, combining historic and place-based education opportunities with creative experiences for young people.
While continuing to sell Lake Minnetonka-themed maps, prints, and unique gifts, in Fall, 2023, Gallery Navarre will host monthly Community Days, including creative sessions for young people (K-5) and open Gallery hours showcasing a monthly theme and works created by artists focusing on Lake Minnetonka-themed works.
Please check back again soon to see our schedule and to explore the details. Questions until then? Please email gallerynavarre@gmail.com for more information or to arrange an appointment at the Gallery.
We look forward to welcoming you into the Gallery space soon!
Wendy
Joan Wolfe's Daughter, new owner of Gallery Navarre
August 15, 2023
Everything seems to be landing... After spending the summer redefining Gallery Navarre and physically moving and redesigning everything about 20' to the North in our special corner of the warehouse, we had a wonderful evening with the artists who had worked with my Mom. We are excited to enter into the next chapter of Gallery Navarre.
March 3, 2023
We didn't see it coming. My Mom, Joan K. Wolfe passed away unexpectedly early this morning after a short illness. While over the past few years I had talked with my Mom about her vision with the Gallery going forward, there were always a lot of creative ideas, but nothing incredibly clear so when she passed away, what to do with the Gallery became a very real question. I find myself very protective of my Mom's legacy and passionate about the amazing place I grew up (Crystal Bay). I also have an incredible sense of commitment to stewardship for the local art/artist community, thie history of this amazing pocket in the world, and honoring Gallery Navarre and the community my Mom came to exemplify. ~Wendy
Joan's obituary read as follows:
Joan K. Wolfe, age 80, of Orono, MN passed away unexpectedly on March 3, 2023 after a short illness. Joan was born August 7, 1942 in New Ulm, MN then grew up in Sleepy Eye, MN. After graduating from the University of Minnesota’s Dental Hygiene program, she worked as a dental hygienist for ~30 years. In the mid-1970’s, Joan started what would later become Gallery Navarre, igniting in her a passion for Lake Minnetonka-related art, history and the people who make it. Joan enjoyed learning, wildflowers, golfing and sailing Lake Superior with family and friends for nearly 50 years. She treasured her time and adventures with family, especially her grandson, Hunter.
Joan is preceded in death by parents Wilfred and Nora Vogel and survived by husband C. William “Bill” Wolfe, daughter Wendy Wolfe Leier (Tim Leier), grandson Hunter Wolfe Leier, siblings David Vogel (estranged), Barbara Shemon and Brian Vogel, and more friends than one can count. Joan will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. Please send any memorials to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Navarre, MN.
December 30, 2020 - After 20+ years in the space below Lakeshore Interiors and what once was Davinci's Pizza, Gallery Navarre closed its doors in Navarre and moved one mile West to 4310 Shoreline Dr, Spring Park, 55384. Moving during COIVD was a challenge, but we are excited for a new and different space and future!
