The Wanda Gag house is looking for donations to buy a collection of Gag artwork. The collection, described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by two board members, features over 300 pieces of art stretching across Gag’s life.

NEW ULM — The Wanda Gag House has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase a trove of Gag art, but they need the public’s help.

The collection has been put up for sale by the Wanda Gag Estate. It features over 300 pieces ranging from her earliest works as a child to some of her final lithographs. Wanda Gag House board member LuAnn Lindmeyer said one end of this spectrum holds great potential for the house.

“What attracted us is it’s Wanda’s [art] as a child,” she said. “It’s the evolution of Wanda from three to five years old to adulthood. We did not have a lot of children’s art Wanda did that remained with the family.”

Lindmeyer and fellow board member Alexander Roth both said an offering of this size and importance is a rarity. Roth said the offering makes sense given the circumstances.

“The family has been very diligent about keeping Wanda Gag’s legacy alive, but it’s a lot of work,” he said. “It needs to be done by an organization. They decided to [potentially] bring it back here to New Ulm, where the work started.”

The collection is also not limited to art from Wanda Gag. Pieces from Wanda’s father Anton and sister Flavia have also been included. Lindmeyer explained what the house plans to do once they have the pieces in hand.

“Some may need cleaning,” she said. “Not many are framed. The preservation of the art [is a focus]. We will be having some showings for art that has probably never been seen of Wanda. Flavia and Anton also have some [artwork]. I had never seen any of [Flavia’s] and there is not much written on her. Some of her landscapes and seascapes [would be included]. She has some unfinished pieces which might show up in an exhibit too. By 2024, something will be coming out at the Gag house.”

Lindmeyer said pieces not exhibited at the Gag house will be stored at the Brown County Historical Society or loaned to other museums. As for what the pieces could provide the city of New Ulm, Roth said it will bring in even more people from across the country.

“I’m [at the Gag House] and somebody starts talking to me,” he said. They said, ‘Oh, you’re not from New Ulm?’ I said I am and she said, ‘Oh, you don’t sound like it’ and I said, ‘Well, I lived in LA’ and they said, ‘Oh, the woman from upstairs is from LA.’ She came downstairs and was amazed at the work. She in turn now goes back to LA and starts spreading the word there and talking about it there.”

Roth said the house being on the New Ulm tour engages tourists to experience the other parts of New Ulm both on and off the tour. He also said the pieces would be an investment in the youth, education, business growth, and in Minnesota as a whole.

The Gag house has been approved for a matching grant, meaning whatever they are able to raise will be matched. Lindmeyer said the House needs to raise $25,000. With the matching grant, this would reach the $50,000 total needed. This threshold must be reached before December 1, or the offer will be rescinded.

There are several avenues for people to donate through.

Zelle: Alliance Bank – wandagaghouse@gmail.com

Personal Check: Wanda Gag House Association, Inc., P. O. Box 432, New Ulm, MN 56073

Transfer Funds: IRA, Donor-Advised Fund transfers

EIN #41-1624954

Drop Off: New Ulm Chamber of Commerce between 10am and 2pm

Cash: Bring to the Wanda Gag House during open hours

Mail: 226 North Washington St, New Ulm MN