Woods Hall is a community of artisans and supporters

Woods Hall fosters and nurtures community for artisans and others on Madeline Island. It also is a place of teaching, sharing and learning.

Our artisans contribute their time, performing maintenance and work in the shop in exchange for an increased percentage of sales of their wares.

Our members reach out to other islanders in search of the joy of creating, inviting them to join in our supportive, productive community.

‘When people purchase a rug, ceramics, jewelry or another product, not only are they buying distinctive art, they also are helping sustain the financial well-being of someone right here on Madeline Island. Also, the creation of crafts in the Woods Hall studios is a productive and constructive activity for islanders, especially all winter long.’

– Michele Auger, weaver

 

Passionate about arts, creativity and Madeline Island

Meet our team

Chelsea Birenberg

Our Gallery & Studios Manager, Chelsea, joined our team in 2025.  She has a BFA from Cooper Union and is currently completing a thesis for an MA in Japanese Art History from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She has extensive experience in arts organizations and loves riding the ferry to the island every day to support the Woods Hall community.

Nancy Lyver

Our Summer Assistant, Nancy, joined our team in 2023 and has been a lovely addition to the gallery sales team, as well as a talented artisan. She considers herself lucky to spend summers on the island, and finds herself inspired by the beauty of Madeline Island and Lake Superior.

Carolyn Cone

Our jewelry studio manager is a retired teacher who has been making silver jewelry for over twenty years. She started her metal smithing journey at Sculptors Wrestle Steel (put on by Tom Nelson) making large metal sculptures. She then shared a studio workspace for metal smithing with Hilary Nelson, Grace Hogan and Sara Owen. She has since taken classes in Minneapolis. Find my work on Instagram: @islandcone.

Dolly Schneeberger

Our weaving studio co-manager and longtime islander loves sharing skills with a new generation of weavers. She offers mentoring and hosts our open weaving studio, eager to teach those around her the joys of weaving.

Malia North

Our board chair was lucky enough to grow up on Madeline Island and still spends part of her summers up there with her family. She joined our board in 2023, and joined us as Board Chair in July of 2024. She is a talented artisan, making and selling her polymer clay jewelry here in the gallery.

Susan Sabre

Susan, our bookkeeper and weaving studio co-manager, has been involved in Woods Hall since 1989 when she discovered her love of weaving. Sewing was her first art, and she loves working with fibers to create beautiful things.

Our local artists

Upcoming news & events

Our story

Seasonal island economy

Madeline Island has always had a seasonal economy, with work primarily available from late May through early September. Because of this, year-round islanders historically struggled with providing for themselves and their families during winter.

Building community

St. John’s United Church of Christ founded Woods Hall in the early 1950s as a community outreach initiative. The goal was to help islanders stay busy during the winter weaving rugs and creating other craft items, which then could be sold during summers to supplement income.

When the program showed promise, the church built the craft shop and studios, with generous contributions from the Woods family, longtime summer residents and in-kind contributions from island carpenters, craftsmen and volunteers.

Today

Woods Hall still helps islanders generate income. Because the island community of year-round and summer residents is close-knit, Woods Hall opens membership to anyone with an island connection.

Throughout the year, the island and its visitors benefit from the studios, workshops and camaraderie, as well as the opportunity to buy and sell art—much of it with special island themes and meaning.