The Grohmann Museum at MSOE will host its 15th annual Lost Arts Festival on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, from noon to 4 p.m., inviting visitors of all ages to experience hands-on demonstrations of traditional crafts and trades that have shaped communities, industries and everyday life for generations.

The annual festival celebrates the activities and ways of work captured in the paintings and bronzes of the museum’s permanent collection. For one afternoon, the Grohmann Museum becomes a living laboratory where artisans share the techniques, skills and traditions behind trades that are increasingly rare in modern life. These demonstrations offer visitors a firsthand look at the craftsmanship behind their work.

Frogwater, the popular Milwaukee-based folk and bluegrass group, will provide live music throughout the afternoon, bringing an energetic soundtrack inspired by traditional American musical roots.

This year’s festival features a diverse group of makers, artists and craftspeople dedicated to preserving and passing along these historic skills:

Cream City Rug Hooking – Members of this local guild will demonstrate rug hooking, a textile art that transforms strips of wool fabric into colorful decorative rugs and wall hangings using hand-operated hooks and traditional patterns.

Luke’s Lost Arts, Wooden Shoe Carvers – Visitors can watch the centuries-old craft of wooden shoe carving, a skilled woodworking tradition that combines utility, artistry and cultural heritage.

Jo Weber, Master Painter – Weber will demonstrate traditional decorative painting techniques, showcasing the craftsmanship and attention to detail that defined the work of master painters before modern manufacturing methods.

John’s Chair Caning – Chair caning involves weaving natural materials into chair seats and backs to restore antique furniture and preserve a practical craft that dates back hundreds of years.

Julie De Reu, Spinner – Using raw fibers and a spinning wheel, De Reu will demonstrate how wool and other natural materials are transformed into yarn for knitting, weaving and textile production.

Flying Colors Glass, Stained Glass – This demonstration highlights the art of stained-glass construction, from cutting and shaping colored glass to assembling decorative and architectural pieces using traditional methods.

Chris Vail, Bobbin Lacemaking – Bobbin lacemaking is a delicate textile art in which threads are braided and twisted around bobbins to create intricate lace patterns once used extensively in clothing and household linens.

Cary Suneja, Paper Marbling and Bookbinding – Suneja will showcase the centuries-old techniques of paper marbling, which creates swirling decorative designs, and hand bookbinding, the craft of assembling and protecting books by hand.

Lindsey Schwenn, Spinning and Wool Preparation – Visitors will learn how raw fleece is cleaned, carded and prepared before being spun into yarn, offering insight into the earliest stages of textile production.

Trey Savage, Charcoal Drawing – Savage will demonstrate charcoal drawing, a classic artistic medium prized for its rich texture, expressive line work and ability to capture light and shadow.

Cris Robinson, Shuttle Tatting – Shuttle tatting uses a small handheld shuttle to create intricate lace through a series of knots and loops, producing delicate decorative edging, ornaments and heirloom pieces.

DESCO, Diving Equipment Maker – Representatives from DESCO will present the craftsmanship behind traditional diving equipment, including helmets and gear that played an important role in commercial and industrial diving history.

Agates Anonymous, Lapidary – Lapidary artists cut, shape and polish stones and minerals to reveal their natural beauty, transforming rough rock into jewelry, decorative objects and collectible specimens.

Russ Piant, Cider Making and Canning – Piant will demonstrate traditional food-preservation methods, including cider production and home canning techniques that have helped families store seasonal harvests for generations.

The Lost Arts Festival is included with museum admission. The Grohmann Museum is located at 1000 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202. For more information, visit grohmannmuseum.org.