Tuesday, December 30, 2014

2014 Artisans Road Trip Artist Bruce Morrison at Clear Lake Arts Center Exhibition

(top to bottom)
 "M12 Bales" - photograph, "Sun Dogs and Barn" - photograph, 
"Summer Memories" - oil painting
Images © Bruce A. Morrison
(click on image for a larger view) 

2014 Artisans Road Trip artist Bruce Morrison was invited by the Clear Lake Arts Center to participate in the exhibition "Salute to Agriculture".  

Morrison works in several different mediums, from photography to painting, drawing and serigraphy. His subject matter is the landscape and flora/fauna of the tallgrass prairie region of NW Iowa.  "Agriculture was the biggest benefactor of the prairie soil and it certainly becomes a frequent subject in my landscapes as well.", says the artist.

The "Salute to Agriculture" exhibit is being sponsored by Sukup Manufacturing and runs through March of 2015. 

Morrison and his wife Georgeann live on a small prairie remnant in SE O'Brien county where Bruce works from a brooding house/sheep barn studio they remodeled some years back - retaining the "character" of the building's past (in keeping with its agriculture heritage).  You can learn more about the artist by visiting - www.morrisons-studio.com

Sunday, November 23, 2014

2014 Artisans Road Trip Artists and "Art on a Card" Exhibit!

 
Artwork such as these can be found at the "Art on a Card" exhibit
at Arts on Grand! Images - top left clockwise - "Poinsettia" - watercolor - ©Anita K Plucker, "From My Window - Winter" - watercolor - ©Anita K Plucker, "Winter Hay Rake" - photograph - ©Bruce A. Morrison, and "Winter Along the Little Sioux" - color pencil drawing - ©Bruce A. Morrison
 
Four of the artists from the 2014 Artisans Road Trip will be featured in the upcoming "Art on a Card" exhibit at Arts on Grand in Spencer, Iowa in December! Exhibiting with other juried artists are Anita K. Plucker, Glenda Drennen, Joleen Dentlinger, and Bruce Morrison.

Arts on Grand invited artists to submit a winter theme image from which they then  feature as a printed card for purchasing - from each artist.  During the "Art on a Card" exhibit, the participating artists also exhibit other works on a winter or seasonal theme for the Christmas season.

"Art on a Card" will run from December 1st through 31st at Arts on Grand.  There will be an artist reception on Thursday December 4 from 5-7pm - the reception is open to the public.

Take in "Art on a Card" if you get a chance, and get into the Holiday Spirit!

Have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving out there!

Friday, November 14, 2014

Open Studio With 2014 A.R.T. Artist David Strom!

Click on the above image to view Poster!

2014 Artisans Road Trip artist David Strom is having an open studio on Saturday November 22nd, from 5-7 p.m.  The artist's studio is located in Windom, MN at 2025 Cottonwood Lake Drive.

The artist's open studio is being held as part of  "Local Color", sponsored by the University of Minnesota SW Regional Sustainable Development Partnership.

Check back again for more on artists of the 2014 Artisans Road Trip!

Sunday, October 26, 2014

2014 A.R.T. Artists in the Wanda J. Skogerboe Juried Exhibition

2014 A.R.T. Artists included in the 
Wanda J. Skogerboe Juried Exhibition
(from upper left - clockwise)
Mitch Eveleth, Bill Lieb, Dennis Dykema,
Judy Hemphill, Glenda Drennen, and Marisa Sidles

Artists from the 2014 Artisans Road Trip were included in the current Wanda J. Skogerboe Juried Exhibition at the Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, Iowa.  This biannual, juried exhibition is open to all artists 18 years of age and older.   The exhibition traditionally brings together a diverse group of artists working in a variety of media. Wanda Skogerboe was a special person with an appreciation for the arts. She was a valued volunteer and advocate for the Pearson Lakes Art Center for years.

One of the 2014 A.R.T. artists - Dennis Dykema was honored to be selected for the top prize: a solo exhibit in 2016! Former A.R.T. members Hank Hall and Dan Ruf won two of the three honorable-mention awards.

This exhibit runs through December 31st.  Call the Pearson Lakes Art Center at 712.332.7029 for more information.

One side note - the 2014 Artisans Road Trip would like to thank everyone for their support during the A.R.T. weekend on October 11th and 12th - Thank You!  Look for more from the 2014 Artisans Road Trip!
 


Tuesday, October 7, 2014

The 2014 Artisans Road Trip is Coming!

A sampling of the art treasures to be found on the
2014 Artisans Road Trip! (Artwork © each artist
'top left clockwise' - Bruce Morrison, Linda Fries, Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath, 
Joleen Dentlinger, Barb McGee, Ron Netten, Dennis Dykema, 
Joanne Alberda, and 'center' Beth Cathcart.
(click on image for a larger view)

The 2014 Artisans Road Trip is this weekend!  Saturday, October 11th (9AM-5PM) and Sunday October 12th (Noon-5PM)!  Its been a good year of working and exhibiting as a group and individually - now comes the big event!

In its 11th yearthe Artisans Road Trip is your opportunity to visit artists where they work and exhibit. Visit countryside studios overlooking scenic valleys, in picturesque towns, or even lakeside! This year's event includes 25 of NW Iowa's best artists, working in painting, pottery, wood turning, photography, fabrics, mosaics, sculpture, jewelry making and other mediums. This artist studio tour is well known for its intimate look at various artist's work spaces, their gallery locales, and the artists make themselves available for your questions and insight into their work. 

Search for treasures made by the hands of some of the region's finest artists and discover the hidden beauties in their studios and galleries - as well as enjoying the beautiful fall season and harvest time in NW Iowa!

Hope to see you this weekend!

 


 


Friday, September 26, 2014

2014 Artisans Road Trip Exhibit at Arts on Grand in Spencer, Iowa!

Examples of work by 2014 A.R.T. Artists 
(Artwork is © the following artists - top row left to right - 
Danielle Clouse, Perry Polson, Marisa Sidles, middle row
left to right - Glenda Drennen, Sue Biederman, Mel Myers, 
bottom row left to right - Robert Ansorge, Mitch Eveleth and Bill Lieb)

The 2014 Artisans Road Trip is exhibiting at Arts on Grand in Spencer, Iowa - now through October 25th.
Get a nice preview of the works of those artists participating this year in A.R.T.!  

There will be an artist's reception for the exhibit at Arts on Grand on Tuesday October 14th from 5 PM - 7PM -
meet the artists and enjoy the Spencer gallery and what it has to offer!

Want to take in the Artisans Road Trip?  This is a great way to see a sampling of what each artist does, and visiting the Spencer exhibit beforehand can help you plan your A.R.T. weekend!
 
Remember - the 2014 Artisans Road Trip is the weekend of October 11 and 12th this year and will run from Saturday October 11 (9AM-5PM) and Sunday October 12 (Noon-5PM)!  Make plans for a road trip in NW Iowa this fall - visit artists where they work and/or exhibit and enjoy a nice autumn drive to top it off!
 
Hope to see you then!

Sunday, September 14, 2014

2014 Artisans Road Trip Artist Karen Ruddy - Working at the Grotto of the Redemption this Past Summer!



2014 Artisans Road Trip artist Karen Ruddy has been busy this summer! Karen finished a commission over at the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, Iowa, contracting for work on the restoration of mosaics throughout the Grotto. The grant was for five weeks of work but ten weeks were spent working on in-place and new mosaic panels on the East Wall of the Courtyard.
Karen completed half (14 - foot long -mosaics) on one side of the pool around the statue of Michael the Arc Angel, and four 3x1 foot panels that will be implanted in the East Wall of the Courtyard when the leaks that blew out the hundred  year old mosaic panels are found and repaired. 
Ruddy says If you have never visited the Grotto, you might consider a trip there. It is a truly holy place. Father Dobberstein, the German priest that was stationed there in the early years of the twentieth century built it over his lifetime. There is a statue of him on the grounds and his work is known worldwide through the SAMA (Society of American Mosaic Artists) conferences. In fact, the last one Karen attended, the first presenter was a woman from France who studied mosaics all over the world and the first frame shown on the big screen was The West Bend Grotto in the middle of the U.S.A.
The tours are well worth a person's time as you learn things about Father's talent and ingenuity. For example, he made stones by melting children's crayons and glass during the war years when he could not obtain rocks, minerals, or Smalti glass for his grotto walls. You will find some in the base of the stations,  along the way of the cross.
The Restoration Expert wanted Karen to harvest the old gold Smalti and use it instead of new. The artist had already started building the panels when he called from Wisconsin, so she finished the one with the new Smalti as an extra project and began grinding the cement off all sides of each small piece to prepare it for implanting into the newly restored substrait. The pool project was really difficult as Ruddy had to hammer and chisel each piece out of the original mosaic so that she could create an even surface for the new Smalti image. That was after she clambered over a three foot high metal fence, the only way to get to the work site.
The artist states that if she is still around next summer, she may get to complete the fourteen mosaics on the other side of the pool. 
To find out more about the artist Karen Ruddy, read more about her at the Artisans Road Trip web site - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/Dr%20Karen%20Ruddy.htm  
And Remember - this year's Artisans Road Trip event will be held the second weekend of October on Saturday - October 11 from 9AM - 5PM and Sunday - October 12 from Noon - 5PM!  See you then!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

2014 A.R.T. Artist is September Exhibition Cove Artist at a Piece Of Work, INC.


"Breezy" - printed fabric, crocheted yarn, 24x 36"
© Tim Arand-McIlrath

Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath will be showing this summer's collection of new 2 D artwork and a small collection of recent 3D works. All of the 2D work uses recycled fabric from garments as backgrounds. The artist will be giving an artists talk at A Piece of Work about 6:10-6:15. Art on 16th (around the corner from A Piece of Work ) will also be featuring his work as well and  will be open until at least 7:30p.m.


Artwork © Tim Arand-McIlrath

Tim's artwork will be on display throughout the calendar month of September at A Piece of Work, Inc. in Spirit Lake, Iowa.  You can see more about Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath's work at the 2014 A.R.T. website at - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/Timothy%20McIlrath.htm

 Remember the 2014 Artisans Road Trip is fast approaching - coming up this October 11 and 12 - enjoy the beautiful autumn in NW Iowa and the wonderful artwork of the 2014 A.R.T.!!!

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Two 2014 Artisans Road Trip Artists at the "Paint the Iowa Great Lakes" Plein Air Painting Exhibition!

Top two works (Acrylic paint, crocheted yarn) - ©Timothy J Arand-McIlrath
Bottom work (Acrylic painting) -  ©Marisa Sidles

The Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji Iowa features two A.R.T. Artists, Marisa Sidles (Terril) and Timothy J Arand-McIlrath (Okoboji) as two of the participants in the "Paint the Iowa Great Lakes" Plein Air Painting Exhibition. The exhibition of painting done in the open air style will be on view through Oct 11th in the Pearson Lakes Art Center's Weaver Lobby Gallery.

 "Looking Down- Heuchera/Moneywort"
Acrylic paint, crocheted yarn, 12”W x 12”H - ©Timothy J Arand-McIlrath

Arand-McIlrath has four works in the exhibit and has chosen the concept of "looking down" as a theme for his plein air works for this exhibition. His works are acrylic paint combined with crocheted yarn. Juror Dennis Dykema selected "Looking Down- Heuchera/Moneywort" as second place winner in the exhibition.

 Look for Arand-McIlrath's artwork during  Artisan Roadtrip 2014 at the Pearson Lakes Art Center.  You can see more about Timothy J Arand-McIlrath's work at the 2014 A.R.T. website at - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/Timothy%20McIlrath.htm

 "The Trail At Lakeside Lab"
Acrylic painting - ©Marisa Sidles

Marisa Sidles has 2 works in the exhibit and has gone "outside" her comfort zone to create her plein air works for this exhibition. Her acrylic paintings include bright and bold colors creating a landscape of trees. Juror Dennis Dykema selected "The Trail At Lakeside Lab" as an honorable mention in the exhibition. Dykema referenced her bold use of color and painting style as having an innocent familiar quality of the "le fauves" (wild beasts) of the early 1900s.
Look for Marisa's artwork during  Artisan Roadtrip 2014 at her Studio in Terril, IA. And you can see more about the work of Marisa Sidles at the 2014 A.R.T. website at - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/MarisaSidles.htm

 Stop by the The Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji and catch the exhibition through October 11th - which is also the first day of the 2014 Artisans Road Trip this year!!!

Remember the 2014 Artisans Road Trip this October 11 and 12 - enjoy the beautiful crisp fall air and the wonderful artwork of the 2014 A.R.T.!!!

Saturday, August 23, 2014

2014 Artisans Road Trip Artist Bill Lieb - "The Birder" Sculpture Dedication

"The Birder"
Sculpture ©Bill Lieb

2014 Artisans Road Trip member artist Bill Lieb recently installed his latest public sculpture, titled "The Birder", at the Dickinson County Nature Center in Okoboji, Iowa. The Birder is a memorial to LaVonne Foote for her generous support of the Nature Center.
 

(sculpture detail)
"The Birder"
Sculpture ©Bill Lieb

The Birder is constructed of 1/2" thick laser-cut weathering steel with stainless steel and aluminum accents in the walking stick, binoculars, and the bird. The bird's wings rotate in a breeze.  The sculpture is over eleven feet tall and is installed in the prairie grass field adjacent to the center.
 

The Birder is the ninth public sculpture Lieb has installed in the Lakes Region over the past eight years. To learn more about Bill's work, check out his page on the 2014 A.R.T. web site at - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/William%20Lieb.htm   

Stop by Bill's home in Spirit Lake during the 2014 Artisans Road Trip on October 11th and 12th this fall, to see his other works of art!

Monday, July 14, 2014

2014 Artisans Road Trip Artist Marisa Sidles Opens Studio During RAGBRAI!


 
Spoon Pendant by Marisa Sidles

2014 Artisans Road Trip artist Marisa Sidles, from Terril, Iowa, will have her studio open to RAGBRAI riders and visitors on Monday, July 21, 2014, for 5 minute art projects. The old Terril Post Office, located at 110 North State Street – south of the fire station, now serves as her art studio where she creates original works of art spanning from expressive acrylic paintings to whimsical sculptures made of left over building and farm supplies. 
 
Post Cards by Marisa Sidles
 
Marisa has come up with 2 fun art projects that will take only 5 minutes: spoon pendants and create your own postcards. 
 
For $10 you can stamp your own name, birth date, poem or whatever you wish on a spoon that has been made into a pendant for you, creating a personalized necklace or a key chain. For only $2 you can create your own postcard. Marisa will have blank postcards ready for you to put your original design on. She will then mail them for you from the local Terril Post Office to anywhere in the United States. You can even send them home so you have a memento from your ride. 

"I invite you to take a break and get creative," said Marisa. mreynolds@terril.net • 712-363-1307

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

2014 A.R.T. Artist - Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath in "Past and Future" Exhibition - Ruth Davis Design Gallery, University of Wisconsin - Madison,WI



2014 Artisans Road Trip artist Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath writes - " I am very pleased that twelve pieces of my current artwork are included in an exhibition at the Ruth Davis Design Gallery at the University off Wisconsin Madison. The exhibition will be on view from June 19- August 8. The exhibit features the work of three alumni who pursued professional careers in the arts  and  student work. There will be a closing reception on Aug 8 from 1:30-3:30pm during which I will be giving a gallery talk.






If you are in the area, please check out the exhibit. I would love to see you at the closing reception Aug. 8."
Thank you for stopping by to learn more about the artists of the 2014 Artisans Road Trip - check back again soon!




Monday, June 23, 2014

2014 A.R.T. Artist Bruce Morrison at Neal Smith's J.N. "Ding" Darling Art Gallery!

All images © Bruce A. Morrison
 
2014 Artisans Road Trip artist Bruce Morrison will be exhibiting a solo showing of "From the Tallgrass" at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge's J.N. "Ding" Darling Art Gallery from July 1 through August 21st.
 
The Neal Smith NWR is one of the largest federal refuges in Iowa - this refuge is solely dedicated to the Tallgrass Prairie. "The mission of the Refuge is to actively protect, restore, reconstruct and manage the diverse native ecosystems of tallgrass prairie, oak savanna, and sedge meadow. These were the native habitats existing on the Refuge’s 5600 acres prior to Euro-American settlement."  In keeping with the focus of the Neal Smith NWR, Morrison's exhibit will feature works in keeping with our state's natural heritage of the prairie.
 
Bruce has spent the past 40+ years painting, drawing and photographing in the Tallgrass Prairie and Prairie Pothole region, and has also worked within the scope of prairie restoration/reconstruction and education of this nearly vanished natural heritage, making it the focus of his work through the years.
 
The Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge is located adjacent to Prairie City, Iowa - just 22 miles east of Des Moines.  You can find out more about the refuge at their web site - http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Neal_Smith/about.html
 
Morrison's works have been published throughout North America and his artwork has exhibited throughout the United States, Canada and overseas.
 
Check back again soon for more about the artists of the 2014 Artisans Road Trip!
 
 

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

2014 A.R.T. Exhibit at the Witter!

Just a sampling of the artists exhibiting at the Witter in June!
(Artwork © the artists - upper left/clockwise - Bill Lieb, Glenda Drennen, 
Ron Netten, Robert Ansorge, Joleen Dentlinger, Ken Harskamp, 
Perry Polson and Dennis Dykema.)

The 2014 Artisans Road Trip is exhibiting at the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake, Iowa this month!  A.R.T. participates in exhibits as a group throughout the year.  This latest exhibit opened June 5th at the Witter Gallery and runs through June 27th.
 
There will be an artist's reception at the gallery on Wednesday evening from 5-6:15 p.m.  The exhibit at the Witter is being sponsored by Paxton's Jewelry of Storm Lake. 
 
Come and meet many of the artists involved in this year's Artisans Road Trip, and get a sampling of what this year's A.R.T. has in store for NW Iowa!

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

"COME TO MY WINDOW" - Solo Exhibit by Anita K. Plucker, 2014 Artisans Road Trip Artist!


"ONE WITH NATURE"
watercolor ©Anita K. Plucker
"COME TO MY WINDOW" is a new solo exhibit by Anita K Plucker!  The exhibit will be held at the Nobles County Art Center, 407 12th St. in Worthington, MN.
 
"FROM MY KAYAK - TRUMBULL  LAKE"
watercolor ©Anita K. Plucker
"This exhibit offers insight as to what matters to me....what is important to me....and what inspires me to create my watercolor paintings and colored pencil drawings,"states the artist.

"ADAPTATION - BULLFROG"
 watercolor ©Anita K. Plucker
"At the top of the list is nature, all forms of it. I am in awe of nature and am grateful for the wonder I feel for it. When I am immersed in it, the real me rises to the surface and life's chaos melts away..... for a while. Nature literally reveals and soothes my inner spirit. I especially love the peacefulness of being out on the water in my kayak. Usually with camera in hand, I am able to capture scenes of nature up close. For the last five years, these outings have led me to create a body of work titled, "From My Kayak"., focusing on the designs, the patterns and the textures created as nature and man play with the surface of the water. I find myself almost constantly looking at my world through an invisible viewfinder, studying and analyzing the light, the shadows, the composition, all of which triggers something inside me to consider what I am seeing as a painting or drawing."

Exhibit Opening & Artist's Reception: Sunday, June 1, 2-4 pm

Art Center hours are 2-4:30 weekdays.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Mel Myers and the Iowa Festival of the Arts!


All pottery ©Mel Myers
 
Mel Myers' s most recent kiln load of glazed fired pottery is now unloaded, and packing is underway in preparation for the Iowa Festival of the Arts hosted June 6 -8 in Iowa City. Mel's hand thrown, hand carved pottery draws a crowd as well as devoted, returning purchasers who await his Spring collection. 

 All pottery ©Mel Myers
 
The Iowa City show is the first of eight shows for Mel this summer. Under the building sign of "Clay County Clay", Mel works daily at his studio where walk-ins can see the master ceramic artist at work, admire works in progress, and visit the gallery shop -- all located at his work place at 717 13th Ave West in Spencer, Iowa. Walk-ins are welcome.
 

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Tim Arand-McIlrath - "A Fiber Artist's Journey"

"Swooped" (top view)
artwork ©Tim Arand-McIlrath

Tim Arand-McIlrath, Okoboji, will be the featured exhibition at the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake, IA for the month of May. The exhibition is titled "A Fiber Artist's Journey".

"I realized that I had been making art for over 45 years. Recently I have been revisiting printed fabrics from many years before, and incorporating them into new mixed media artwork .  The exhibition will feature selections from the different approaches I have taken with my work over the years. The emphasis will be on the 2D mixed media work and the 3D sculptural mixed media pieces. Also included will be felted artwork, woven and screen printed pieces.

"Eruption", Felted wool, wool fabric, 30"H x 22"W - $350
artwork ©Tim Arand-McIlrath

Folk art has long been an area of interest for me. I have researched and collected folk art in all my travels. I have spent extended visits to Mexico and in particular to the Oaxaca area. The color, texture and freedom of expression have fascinated me for many years. There is an incredible excitement in the work of folk artists.

I have been 'accused' of having too much fun creating my art. Not possible in my world. Having fun is one of the prime motivators in my work. I love having viewers smile. I smile a lot while I am working on my art.

"Mementos" -  3 panels, 14"x14" Crocheted yarn, shells, sand, $150 each panel
artwork ©Tim Arand-McIlrath  

In my two dimensional pieces, the backgrounds are painted with acrylic paint or are surface designed fabrics and sometimes embellished with found objects. The foregrounds have crocheted webs introduced onto the compositions. The three-dimensional pieces are usually constructed out of willow branches and are many times painted or varnished. The found objects and crocheted yarn inhabit the structures. Color, texture, repetition, and pattern have always been strong elements in my work. The compositions are based on my observations of the world around us."

The exhibition dates are May 7- 30 with an opening reception planned for May 8 from 5- 6:30PM. The Witter Gallery is located at 609 Cayuga St. Storm Lake, IA.  For additional information contact Ron Stevenson, Gallery Director at 712-732-3400 or wittergallery@yahoo.com.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

2014 Artisans on the Map!

http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/map2014.htm
 
Locate your favorite artist participating in the 2014 Artisans Road Trip!  All Maps are "drawn" and linked up to your favorite artist or that artist you always wanted to visit!

Just visit http://www.artisansroadtrip.com and click on the homepage "Map" link.  Artists are spread out through the Iowa Great Lakes region, all the way down to Storm Lake and through Spencer, Terril, Estherville, and the Peterson and Sutherland/Hartley areas!

Actually you may visit these artists any time of the year, their contact information is on each individual's web page on the 2014 A.R.T. web site - But be sure and plan a fun studio tour outing this October!  Saturday and Sunday - October 11th and 12th!

Enjoy the 2014 Artisans Road Trip!

Friday, March 7, 2014

2014 A.R.T. Artists Juried Into "Weather Permitting"!

A sampling of artwork from "Weather Permitting"!
(Copyrighted work of the following artists - upper left/clockwise:
Anita (Katie) Baedke-Plucker, Judy Hemphill, and 'bottom' Bruce Morrison)
-click on image for a larger view-

"Weather Permitting" - an exhibit with several A.R.T. artists participating, began this week at Arts on Grand in Spencer, Iowa! This is a great exhibit - who needs to dwell on "just" winter now?!  This exhibit has it all - fair weather, stormy weather, after the storm, cold weather, warm weather, you name it and it is fun!

2014 Artisans Road Trip artists participating in "Weather Permitting" are - Joanne Alberda, Robert Ansorge, Judy Hemphill, Barb McGee, Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath, Bruce Morrison, and Anita (Katie) Baedke-Plucker.

"Weather Permitting" has an public opening reception on Thursday, March 13th from 5-7 p.m. and the exhibition runs through April 5th.  

Contact Arts on Grand for more information!

Sunday, March 2, 2014

"Improvisations" Exhibit by 2014 Artisans Road Trip Artist Joanne Alberda!

"Still Life Cherries"
Artwork © Joanne Alberda

2014 Artisans Road Trip artist Joanne Alberda will be exhibiting "Improvisations", An exhibition of photographs and fabric collages at the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake March 4 to 28, 2014.

"Ball Game"
Artwork © Joanne Alberda

"My work can be described as a translation of everyday images into an aesthetic format. The viewer’s attention is at first attracted to images of common subjects from nature…leaves, flowers, seed pods, cocoons…but quickly moves to the rhythms and textures and colors of the formal arrangements of these images."

"Firestorm"
Artwork © Joanne Alberda
 
Three groups of works will be shown under the theme of Improvisations: "Improvisations on Nature", "Tales from a Ghost Town" and "Games".

For more information about this exhibit, contact the Witter Gallery, 609 Cayuga Street in Storm Lake, IA at 712-732-3400 or via e-mail: wittergallery@yahoo.com

Check back again to find out more about the artists, exhibits and activities of the 2014 Artisans Road Trip!


Thursday, February 27, 2014

2014 Artisans Road Trip Artists Announced!

A sampling of Artists participating in the 2014 A.R.T. Event
(From upper Left - Clockwise: Daniel Clouse, Perry Polson, Marisa Sidles, Mel Myers, William Lieb, Mitch Eveleth, Robert Ansorge, Glenda Drennen, and Center: Sue Biederman)
(click on image for a larger view)

The artists for the 2014 Artisans Road Trip have been announced!

They are as follows - listed under their names, medium(s) and locale:
1.   Marisa Sidles - Painting, Terril 
2.   Ron Netten - Potter, Storm Lake 
3.   Judy Hemphill - Photography, Spencer 
4.   Beth Cathcart - Pottery - Linn Grove 
5.   Timothy Arand McIlrath - Abstract Compositions, Okoboji 
6.   Barb McGee - Painting, Peterson 
7.   Linda Fries - Watercolor, Peterson 
8.   Ken Harskamp - Watercolor, Ida Grove 
9.   Joanne Alberda - Collage & Stitched Fabric, Sioux Center 
10. Robert Ansorge - Photography, Storm Lake 
11. Sue Biederman - Painting, Drawing, Everly 
12. Danielle Clouse - Painting, Okoboji 
13. Mel Myers - Pottery, Spencer 
14. Pettina Perkins - Painting, Anthon
15. Dennis Dykema - Painting, Spirit Lake  
16. Anita K. Plucker - Watercolor, Terril 
17. Diane Noll - Jewelry, Linn Grove 
18. Bill Lieb - Abstract Sculpture, Spirit Lake 
19. Joleen Dentlinger - Pen & Ink Drawing, Storm Lake 
20. Bruce Morrison - Painting/Photography, Hartley 
21. Karen Ruddy - Multi-Media/Beaded Painting, Emmetsburg
22. David Strom - Pen & Ink/Painting/Collage, Windom, MN 
23. Mitch Eveleth - Pen & Ink, Estherville
24. Glenda Drennen - Watercolor, LeMars 
25. Perry Polson - Woodturning, Spencer
With many returning artists and some new participants, we're looking forward to another great year!
Check back often for more about the Artisans Road Trip 2014!

Saturday, January 25, 2014

A.R.T Artist Karess Knudtson Exhibits at Arts on Grand!




Arts on Grand in Spencer Iowa is hosting an exhibit  titled "Natural Encounters", a solo exhibit by Artisans Road Trip Artist Karess Knudtson.  Karess resides with her family in the beautiful countryside along the Little Sioux River in Milford, IA. Karess studied art and worked in the art department at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She graduated from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Virginia Tech with a Masters of Arts in Education.

"Four on Screen" 
artwork © Karess Knudtson 

The creative process has been a very important part for the artist, for as long as she says she can remember. The art pieces that Knudtson currently works with are all original and hand-worked. Each begins with her photographs and evolves into a mixed media piece of art. The photos are digitally and physically manipulated. Some pieces are then created with an upcycled “canvas” which might include barn wood, metal remnants and other “historic” reused materials. Encaustic painting with beeswax adds yet another dimension of beauty and protection. The selected artworks are mixed media - photographs and encaustic paintings.

"Better by Far"
artwork © Karess Knudtson

"Natural Encounters" began showing at Arts on Grand January 7th with the exhibit running through March 1st,  Arts on Grand will be having an artist's reception on Thursday, February 6th from 5-7 p.m. - the public is invited!

For more information on the artist's work you can visit her website at - http://www.karessknudtson.com/
   
Be sure to take in "Natural Encounters" in Spencer at Arts on Grand, and visit us again here for the Artisans Road Trip!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Artisans Road Trip Exhibit at the Clear lake Art Center!




The Artisans Road Trip is exhibiting their works at the Clear lakes Art Center, in Clear Lake, Iowa from January 15th through February 28th.  

Although this is a 2014 showing, the A.R.T. artists are from the 2013 membership, but with many new works on exhibit!  The new 2014 membership will be determined through a jurying process later this month.  A.R.T. invites any interested artists to apply by visiting the web site and downloading the application form at - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/2014-CallforEntry.pdf or by contacting one of the organization's members to have a form mailed to them, by calling 712 732-6286!  Its not too late to get in on the action and excitement of the 2014 Artisans Road Trip experience!

To find out more about the A.R.T. showing at the Clear Lakes Art Center, contact the center at 641-357-1998.  The Center's hours are 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday, and is located at 17 South 4th Street in Clear Lake!