“Art Inspired by the Archives” – Gallery Opening

What happens when we breathe new life into history?

Art Inspired by the Archives invites community members inside the Winona County Historical Society’s collections—where a single object can spark something entirely new. The word “inspire” comes from the Latin inspirare, meaning “to breathe into.” And that’s exactly what these artists have done.

Drawing from the archives—what’s preserved, and even what’s missing—each piece reimagines the past in a deeply personal way. The result is a conversation across time, where history feels less distant, and more alive.

Discover how the past can still surprise us—and how creativity can bring it vividly into the present.