A.R.T. at Clear Lake and More!

The 2011 Artisans Road trip artists are exhibiting at the Clear Lake Art Center in Clear Lake, IA now though January 10th, 2012.  Not ones to let moss grow under their feet, the Artisans Road Trip participants keep their work out there for the public to see and enjoy all year around!  If your heading east or have friends and family in the Clear Lake area, let them know you have an area treasure there for them to enjoy too!

The Clear Lakes Art Center is a fairly new facility, one to not miss if you have the opportunity.  It is located at 17 South 4th Street, Clear Lake, IA 50428 | 641-357-1998 | and its hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10AM - 5PM.

Another great opportunity to see work by A.R.T. artists is at the Holiday Open House being held this Saturday - December 3rd!  A.R.T. artists Beth Cathcart, Linda Fries, Diane and Wendell King, Barb McGee and Bruce Morrison will be showing at this Peterson area event along with other artists!

Not doing anything Saturday?!  Come on down to Peterson and enjoy the chance to see what's new and even pick up something actually made in the good old USA! (And right here in our own backyard to boot!)  There will be goodies and a good time to be had by all!

Artists will be at the Linda Fries Studio, Barb McGee's Gallery and at the Rocking M Pottery studio.

To find these simply click on this link -

http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/Ridge%20and%20Tallgrass.htm

On the A.R.T. map there click on the #19, 20 and 21 spots and you'll be taken to each locale for address, phone number and driving instructions!

The Holiday Open House runs from 9:00 a.m. through 6 p.m. on Saturday December 3rd!  We hope to see you there!!!

Close to Home!

"All" A.R.T. Artists encourage you to stay close to home for Shopping Small on Small Business Saturday! The above are just a small sampling of Artisan Road Trip artists you can find great gift ideas from! Artwork - upper left clockwise - Mel Myers, Diane King, Perry Polson and Danielle Clouse

You've all heard of supporting local businesses, and maybe you've even been hearing about Small Business Saturday(?)!! The two go hand in hand! Forget Black Friday, or if that's a big event for you - wind down the next day (November 26th)with shopping small at an Artisans Road Trip Artist near you!

One good example would be Mel Myers - Mel has been working on new glazes and forms in his Clay County Clay studio at 717 11th Ave East, located in the building behind the Council on Aging in Spencer. Stop by to see his newest creations of hand thrown, hand carved functional and decorative pieces that are safe for food, dishwasher, and oven use. These one-of-a-kind gifts make nice Christmas, birthday, or wedding presents. Give him a call at 7125802529 or 7122623383, or just stop by the studio.

There are many other example too, but to make things simpler just go to the Artisans Road Trip web site - the gallery link - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/gallery.... and choose an artist for more information.

Don't know many of the A.R.T. artists? Try a look at the A.R.T. map - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/Overall-... and click on any number at any location for more information - where they are, what they do and their contact information!

Enjoy an outing on Small Business Saturday! Keep your money in your local area and buy local while supporting the arts!

Second Stories

(From Judy Hemphill's "Second Story" slide show)

images © Judy Hemphill

 

Artisans Road Trip member Judy Hemphill of Spencer, Iowa, is an aerial, commercial, and fine art photographer.  As changes occur in her surroundings her commercial and contract images often become historical documents.  Since last spring Judy has been part of a project focusing on historical documentation.  Through the Spencer Renaissance Initiative Grant Program, Spencer Historic Preservation Commission hired Judy to photograph interior spaces of second floor properties in downtown Spencer.  "Second Stories," an open house and presentation featuring these images, will be Tuesday, November 22, 2011, 5:30 - 7 pm in Spencer City Hall Council Chambers. 

Due to a variety of circumstances many of the former office and residential spaces on the second floors of buildings in the Grand Avenue Historic Commercial District are vacant.  Many are time capsules which have not been disturbed since last occupied 20 to 40 years ago.  Judy captured overall views of hallways, kitchens, other living areas, offices, a dance studio, and an assembly hall.  Also pictured are vintage wallpapers, light fixtures, and views from some of the windows overlooking Grand Avenue.  

During the "Second Stories" open house, images of most of the Historic Commercial District exteriors and seven of the District interior spaces will be shared in an ongoing slide show.  At 6:00 photographs of the seven interiors will be featured with comments.  “Second Stories” property interiors included are the Medlar, Moore, McAllister Block, Floete-Cornwall (Glass Block), Union Block, Citizens National Bank, and I.O.O.F. Buildings.  

Spencer Historic Preservation Commission invites everyone to “Second Stories,” an open house and photographic presentation by Judy Hemphill, on Tuesday, November 22, from 5:30-7 pm in the Spencer City Hall Council Chambers, 420 Second Avenue West, 712/580-7200. 

A Farewell Note

Its not just a loss for A.R.T., but one for everyone whose life and art she touched. Anita Coon taught art at the High School level for 32 years. She also did adjunct work for Buena Vista University. She received the outstanding secondary art educator award from the state Art Educators of Iowa in 1993. And she presented art workshops locally and nationally.

 Anita was an active member of the Artisans Road Trip since 2005 and operated a working art studio, "Studio Upstairs," in Storm Lake.

A person of incredible optimism, Anita passed away on November 8, 2011, at BVRMC Hospice in Storm Lake after a 4 year illness with Pancreatic Cancer. She will be missed by all.

Off Season?

(Clock-wise from the left - Mari Stewart's mobile "Luminous Tear Drops",

"Out-of-the-box" drawing class with Hank Hall and "Art on a Card" exhibit 

at Arts on Grand in Spencer.

If there were an "off season" for the Artisans Road Trip you'd be hard pressed finding it!

A.R.T. artist Mari Stewart of the Side Street Gallery and Frame Shoppe in Arnolds Park, recently exhibited in the Rock Rapids Annual Art Show. The annual show is put together by the Rock Rapids Business Women and is in its 46th year.  Mari's mobile "Luminous Tear Drops" was awarded 1st place in the three dimensional division. 

On the teaching side of art - Hank Hall is holding his "Out-of-the-box Drawing Class", an adult drawing class that started November 2nd, Wednesday afternoons at Art on 16th in Olde Town Spirit Lake.  Classes run for four weeks.

And, as mentioned in the last A.R.T. blog - "Art on a Card" continues at Arts on Grand in Spencer. This exhibit features several A.R.T. artists and their select artwork is available as Christmas/Holiday Cards for purchase at Arts on Grand.  This fund raising event supports the arts in Spencer.  The exhibit (sponsored by Woolverton) runs through December 10th.

Watch for more from artists of the Artisans Road Trip!