Lovely, dark and deep: Nicolet College art instructor displays art at Rhinelander airport

Hanging in the Rhinelander Oneida County airport waiting area are twenty paintings and a cluster of sculptures, all created by Nicolet College art instructor Nate Wilson. 

One wall is dedicated to a mixed media series of darkly serene woods, a soothing blend of watercolor and colored pencil that demonstrates a mastery of color, line and light. Another wall features a series of illustrative and dynamic underwater paintings with a recurring character. Oil paintings of a dramatically lit squirrel and cat provide a jolt of energy in the room. Small figurative sculptures in clay with a sense of humor fill a display case.   

The display is part of a partnership between the airport and Art Start, a non-profit in Rhinelander dedicated to arts education and cultural engagement. The airport hosts five rotating displays per year, spotlighting a variety of artists, to entertain weary travelers.

When asked why he is an artist, Wilson laughed. “I don’t know how to answer that question. Asking why I do art is like asking someone why they eat food,” Wilson said. “It’s just a default for me.” Wilson added that he uses art to unwind and relax in the evenings.

Wilson’s artistic skills aren’t limited to the airport, though. He shares his expertise with the next generation of artists at Nicolet College, where he has taught art classes since 2012. 

When Wilson started teaching, he was surprised by the variety of students in his classes. At Nicolet College, students come from different backgrounds and ability levels, which means Wilson has developed different strategies to help them succeed.

“Teaching art [at Nicolet College], you have to have 10 modes. You have to craft an art class for students of all levels and abilities, to set them up to create something they’re proud of, whatever their skill level. And then engage with all of them individually.”

Wilson says that skills students learn in an art classroom like creative problem solving and critical thinking can enhance their future career, no matter what industry.

“If you look at a lump of clay and see just a rectangle, that’s not going to work in today’s job world,” said Wilson. “Your brain has to be nimble, adaptable and creative when solving problems.” 

Students at Nicolet College can earn an associate of arts degree specifically for visual arts pre-majors who want to get a head start on a four-year degree more affordably, and closer to home. Nicolet College also provides more casual community art classes, which are open to all community members.