The A.R.T. Blog

The Artisans Road Trip Blog will be making a move!!!  Stay tuned for a new Blog and a new location!

Thank you for supporting the Artisans Road Trip!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Everyone with the 2017 Artisans Road Trip would like to wish everyone out there a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2017 Artisans Road Trip Exhibiting at the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake!

Examples of  artwork on display at the Witter Gallery

from artists of the 2017 Artisans Road Trip!

Upper left - clockwise: Barb McGee, Bill Lieb,

Joanne Alberda and Bruce Morrison - all artwork

© the respective artists.

The 2017 Artisans Road Trip has a select number of works on display at the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake, IA.  The artists from the 2017 A.R.T. will have their annual weekend road trip this coming weekend and the Witter exhibit gives a nice sampling of what visitors to the 2017 Artisans Road Trip can expect to see and enjoy!

The Witter exhibit will run until October 28th  and there will be an artist reception on Thursday October 19th beginning at 5pm - the reception is open to the public!

Don't miss out on the 2017 Artisans Road Trip this coming weekend - Saturday (October 14th) 9am-5pm and Sunday (October 15th) Noon - 5pm - see artists all around the region, many in their studios where they work and others together in some of the best galleries NW Iowa has to offer!

For more on this greatly anticipated weekend visit the 2017 A.R.T. web site at -
http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/ and visit the "Maps" link to plan your weekend journey to the artists of our region!

Enjoy the 2017 Artisans Road Trip!


 

Hank Hall's Tin Bin Studio - Ready for the Roadtrip!

 Hank Hall, one of 33 artists participating in the 14^th Annual Artisans Road Trip in NW Iowa, invites you into his new workshop Tin Bin Studio on Oct. 14 and 15. 

"Fireworks" 

multimedia teapot - ©Hank Hall

Located behind his home at 15330 250^th Avenue, Spirit Lake, on East Lake Okoboji, the retrofitted grain bin houses Hank's clay studio and can be adapted for his drawing, painting, and mixed media processes.  

(Tongue-in-cheek) Hank high-fives a "visitor" in 

his studio after finishing painting a table area which 

he'll be demonstrating his artwork during 

the Artisans Road Trip!

A retired high school art teacher and former owner of Art on 16^th in Spirit Lake, Hall is pleased to unveil his new creative environment and demonstrate some of his art methods. 

After visiting Hall, road trippers are invited to go east about 1/2 a mile to see Bill Lieb's sculptures at his home at 15657 250th Avenue. 

 

2017 Artisans Road Trip to Exhibit at Arts on Grand in Spencer, IA!

You'll see these works of art plus many more at 

Arts on Grand's 2017 A.R.T. Exhibit!

Upper left clockwise - Penny Adam, Jo Alberda, Deborah Burow, 

Patricia Johnson and Cherie Courter 

(all artwork © the respective artist)

Arts on Grand in Spencer, Iowa will be exhibiting works from artists of the 2017 Artisans Road Trip!  Now is your chance to see a sampling of this 14th annual event that celebrates artists of the region, either in their own studio work space or galleries hosting the A.R.T. artists!

The 2017 A.R.T. exhibit at Arts on Grand will open Thursday September 26th with an artist's reception from 5:30-7p.m. - the public is invited!  This has been a traditional A.R.T. event kick off through years past and promises not to disappoint this year's audience, wetting their appetite for the road trip event itself coming up on the weekend of October 14th and 15th!

Arts on Grand's 2017 A.R.T. exhibit will run from September 26th through October 21st - be sure and catch it - don't miss out! 

2017 A.R.T. Artist Penny Adam Selected for Local Showing in Ames, Iowa!

"Lone Flight" - photograph - ©Penny Adam

Wheatsfield Co-op, the artist's local food co-op in Ames, Iowa, has a nice Community outreach program and, among other things, invites local artists to exhibit their work.  Acceptance is by a jury process and then the artist's exhibit month is assigned.  Penny was pleased to find she is September's featured artist! 

First Friday Wine, Cheese, and Art

Friday, September 1    4:00pm - 6:00pm

Art:  Penny Adam, Photography

The following artist's statement sums up Adam's thoughts on her medium.

I love photography!

This is a versatile and expressive art form where the outcome can be simply straight forward or detailed and complex, realistic or amazingly abstract.  Photography satisfies a creative yearning and is portable allowing easy access to many locations and settings.  The images selected for this exhibit range from landscape to macro, abstract, and street photography.

2017 Artisans Road Trip Artist Danielle Clouse Gast a Finalist in the Celebration of Iowa: Agriculture Exhibition at the Iowa State Fair!

  "Field Notes Emmet County" - 24" x 24"

oil painting - ©Danielle Clouse Gast

 

 Artists selected for awards in the 6th Annual

Celebration of Iowa: Agriculture Art Exhibition

at the Iowa State Fair this summer

(2017 A.R.T. Artist Danielle Clouse Gast third from right)

2017 Artisans Road Trip Artist Danielle Clouse Gast was named a Finalist in the sixth annual “Celebration of Iowa: Agriculture Art Exhibition” contest  at the Iowa State Fair.

The Agriculture Art Exhibit is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, and it recognizes Iowa artists and Iowa's role as a global leader in agriculture. The exhibit is coordinated by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.

“Our state’s natural beauty, the farmers that care for the land, our crops and our animals have long been an inspiration for talented artists to create wonderful artwork," Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said. "This tradition continues with the outstanding pieces that are part of this exhibit. I congratulate all this year’s artists for the extraordinary work and encourage Iowans to visit the exhibition and view these pieces."

“Iowa artists have a long history of honoring the beauty and diversity of Iowa's rural landscapes and agriculture in their works," Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mary Cownie said. "Their talent continues with this year's exhibit, and we thank the Iowa Department of Agriculture and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation for partnering with us to showcase Iowa artists of all ages."

“Agriculture is more diverse than ever and is a part of our lives in Iowa, even beyond food, fuel and fiber," Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Craig Hill said. "We are encouraged to see how these talented artists are able to show that success, while celebrating the dedication of the men and women who helped us reach that success, through hard work, integrity and compassion.”

The entries were judged on innovation, relevance to the contest theme, and overall aesthetic and technical quality. Participants had to be Iowa residents working in 2D media. The winning entries were judged by officials from the three sponsoring organizations.

The finalists’ original artwork is on display through Oct. 30 at Café Barattas in the State Historical Museum of Iowa, 600 E. Locust Street in Des Moines.

Danielle works from her Spirit Lake Studio at 901 Hill Ave...you can find out more about Danielle and her work at http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/Danielle%20Clouse.htm

2017 A.R.T. Artists Recieve Awards at The Pearson Lakes Art Center's Plein Air Painting Exhibition!

 "Lone Bale at First Light"

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

(Awarded the "PA Brown Best in Show") 

The Pearson Lakes Art Center has opened it's 2017 "Plein Air Painting Exhibition", with the opening reception taking place last night on August 17th.

Two of the artists from the 2017 Artisans Road Trip were awarded recognition during the opening reception!  Bruce Morrison was given the "PA Brown Best in Show" award for his plein air oil painting "Lone Bale First Light", while another Morrison oil painting "Wooded Lane No.1" was given one of the 3 "Judge's Choice Awards".

"North State Street II"

 painting - © Marisa Sidles

(Awarded Honorable Mention) 

Another 2017 Artisans Road Trip Artist, Marisa Sidles, received an Honorable Mention for her painting "North State Street II"!

"Wooded lane No.1"

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

(Awarded "Judge's Choice Award") 

Plein air painting is a traditional practice of painting in the field on location - there was a great diversity of artwork and subject matter represented by this year's exhibit - be sure and take in the show if you're up in the region!

The Plein Air Painting Exhibition will stay on display through September 16th - contact The Pearson Lakes Art Center at 712 332-7013 (email -  visual@lakesart.org) for more information!

"Conversations With my Watercolor Box" - Exhibit by 2017 A.R.T. Artist Glenda Drennen!

Artwork ©Glenda Drennen

 

"Conversations with My Watercolor Box",  an exhibit by Glenda Drennen is now showing at the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake, IA. 

 

A native from South Dakota, Glenda Drennen was a former public school music teacher.  She then began to paint with Watercolor after leaving her teaching career; through her found passion, she has been awarded many memberships like the Iowa Watercolor Society, Watercolor Honor Society, and Iowa Artist. A number of her award winning paintings have been exhibited in corporate and private collections across the States and abroad. Drennen’s Studio - Watermark Studio, is located in LeMars, IA. 

 

Glenda's work is both colorful and whimsical. Her work is very dreamlike and attractive to the eye. Drennen uses her wonderful imagination of storytelling to create her paintings, being inspired from a variety of stories and events in her life.

 

The exhibit will be showing through August 26th - be sure and not miss this wonderful showing!  For more information contact the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake at 712 732-3400.  The Witter Gallery is located at 609 Cayuga Street in Storm Lake, IA.

2017 A.R.T at the Red Rock Center for the Arts in Fairmont, Minnesota!

A sample of the work at the Red Rock Center for the Arts during the month of August!

Far Left (clockwise) - Joanne Alberda, Hank Hall, Haley Tardiff and Bruce Morrison.

(All artwork ©the respective artists)

Artists of the 2017 Artisans Road Trip will be having an exhibit at the Red Rock Center for the Arts from August 1 through the 31! 

The Artisans Road Trip has exhibits at galleries, art centers and art museums throughout the year; this showing at the Red Rock Center for the Arts is the second since their first successful exhibition last year.  These exhibits are a great way to see a sampling of what the artists from A.R.T. are up to, and this year's exhibit is no exception!

Take in the exhibit's opening artist reception this coming Thursday, August 3rd from 5:30 - 7:00 pm - meet some of the artists from this year's event - the public is welcome!  

Thank you for visiting - be sure and check back again soon for more news from the 2017 Artisans Road Trip!

 

2017 A.R.T. Artist Bruce Morrison's Artwork at the Lost Island Prairie Wetland Nature Center this Summer!

"Spring Bobolink"

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

2017 Artisans Road Trip artist Bruce A. Morrison is displaying his artwork this summer at the Lost Island Prairie Wetland Nature Center on Lost Island Lake north of Ruthven, IA.

"Dickcissel"

color pencil drawing - © Bruce A. Morrison

The natural wetland areas around Lost Island are a particular favorite of the artist; commingling the wetlands and the tallgrass prairie "is the best of both worlds"!

"Big Bluestem in Bloom"

color pencil drawing - © Bruce A. Morrison

The Lost Island Prairie Wetland Nature Center gives the public an appreciation and basic understanding of the wetlands and offers opportunities to enjoy the beauty of these natural treasures.  One of the goals of the Lost Island Prairie Wetland Nature Center is to give to give visitors the information and skills needed to make wise decisions regarding our natural resources, to become better stewards of the land and to make an impression that will last a lifetime.

Catch the showing of select artwork of Bruce Morrison on display July through the end of August - and take in the beauty of our wetlands and prairies while you're at it!  A win -win!

2017 A.R.T. Artist Penny Adam Juried Into "Iowa Exhibited XXXII" at the Polk County Heritage Gallery in Des Moines, IA!

"Three Pears"

photograph - ©Penny Adam

Artist Penny Adam talks about her image in the exhibit; "It is exciting to be a part of this juried show "Iowa Exhibited XXXII" at the Polk County Heritage Gallery in Des Moines, IA!  It was a cold February day when this image 'Three Pears' was made.  Looking for something red to photograph in honor of Valentine's Day; these pears fit the concept."

"Iowa Exhibited XXXII" is the Polk Heritage Gallery's 32nd edition of their juried show - this one features 43 artists from around Iowa.  The Artists Reception and Opening is today - July 13 starting at 5pm.  The exhibit runs through August 25th.  You can find more information at the gallery's web site here - http://www.polkcountyheritagegallery.org/

Thank you for visiting - check back for more on the artists of the 2017 Artisans Road Trip!

"D. Strom - 50 Year Journey" Exhibit at the Pearson Lakes Art Center!

2017 artist David Strom will be having a solo exhibit at the Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, Iowa from July 6th through August 26th in the Monte Pearson Gallery.  The artists reception coincides with the 2017 Artisans Road Trip exhibit starting the same evening - you can bounce from one show to the other!  The reception and openings start at 5 pm Thursday July 6 and last though 7 pm.

Stop by and see Strom's unique take on the environment so familiar to each of us in this region and enjoy his graphic drawing and painting styles, framing the inescapable landscape of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota.

David lives and works from his studio in Windom, Minnesota - learn a bit more about David and the 2017 Artisans Road Trip at - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/David-Strom.htm

First Summer Exhibits Opening for the 2017 Artisans Road trip!

Works representative of those to be viewed this summer at the

Nobles County Art Center in Worthington, MN and at the 

Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, IA

2017 Artisans Road Trip Exhibits!

(Artists illustrated above from upper left to right -

Barb McGee, Haley Tardiff, Joanne Alberda, Perry Polson,

Penny Adam and Karen Ruddy - all artwork

© by the respective artists.)

The 2017 Artisans Road Trip is kicking off it's summer exhibition season with two separate shows for July! 

The first show will be at the Nobles County Art Center in Worthington, MN and runs from July 1 through August 26th.  There will be an artists reception open to the public on Sunday afternoon - July 9th, from 2-4 p.m.

The next show is to be held at the Pearson's Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, IA and runs from July 6 through August 19th.  An artist's reception is scheduled at the PLAC for Thursday July 6th from 5-7 p.m.

The Nobles County Art Center hours for your summer viewing are 12 noon through 3 pm Monday through Friday.  The Pearson Lakes Art Center is open throughout the summer from  Monday - Saturday - 10am - 4pm, Thursdays - 10am - 9pm, and Sundays 12pm - 3pm.

Have a great July and August and take in the 2017 A.R.T. summer exhibits! 

 

2017 A.R.T. Artist Bill Lieb Juried into the Sculpt Siouxland Exhibition in Sioux City!

"Bird #4" - kinetic sculpture ©Bill Lieb

Bill Lieb, long-time Artisan Road Trip artist, recently had one of his public sculpture pieces juried into the Sculpt Siouxland exhibition in Sioux City. The exhibit is sponsored by an organization of community leaders in partnership with the Sioux City Art Center. The sculpture was installed June 8, 2017 at the corner of 4th Avenue and Pierce Street, about one block northwest of the Sioux City Art Center (shown in the distant background),  and will remain in place there for one year. 

The 10.5 foot tall abstract sculpture is titled "Bird #4" and is part of a series of five large public sculptures fabricated by the artist in the past two years. The triangular base is weathering steel, the two wing features above the base are stainless steel and the top spinner is aluminum. The piece is kinetic and is activated by the breeze to present curious bewildering movements to engage the viewer in playful conversation.

This is the sixth sculpture entered by Bill Lieb and accepted into the Sculpt Siouxland yearly exhibition over the exhibits thirteen year history. The building at the right is the Great Southern Bank.

See more of Lieb's work at his web site -  williamliebsculpture.com  and on the 2017 Artisans Road Trip web site at - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/

Thank you for visiting our blog for the 2017 Artisans Road Trip - be sure and stop back again soon!

 

2017 A.R.T. Artist Penny Adam at the Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames!

"Song for the Broken"

photograph - ©Penny Adam

2017 A.R.T. Artist Penny Adam has been included in the Octagon Center for the Arts "Community of Artists" Biennial Exhibit in Ames, Iowa.

Penny, a photographer in this years Artisans Road Trip, speaks about her selected work in the Octagon exhibit -  "The French Quarter of New Orleans is such an interesting place! With so much to see, and do, there are photo opportunities around every corner. "Song for the Broken" was taken somewhere in the French Quarter while the morning crews were cleaning up after last night's revelry. The message is what first caught my eye with the colors and textures also contributing to the image."

The 2017"Community of Artists" exhibit is showing from June 2 through July 27th.  More information about the exhibit can be found at https://www.octagonarts.org/

You can also learn more about Penny Adam at the A.R.T. web site at http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/Penny%20Adam.htm

Watch for more on the exhibits and artists of the Artisans Road Trip!

2017 A.R.T. Artist Juried Into "Oak Hill Exhibition of Iowa Artists" at the Blanden Art Museum

"Passing Don's Old Place at First Light - Study"

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

2017 Artisans Road Trip Artist Bruce Morrison has been juried into the "Oak Hill Exhibition of Iowa Artists" exhibit at the Blanden Art Museum in Ft Dodge, Iowa.  The Oak Hill exhibit is a juried exibit, meaning artists must submit their work to be juried by an appointed juror each year.  This year's juror was Benjamin Gardner - Chair in the Department of Art & Design and a Professor of Art at Drake University.  

Morrison is a regional artist from rural Hartley; Bruce works in oils and drawing medium such as color pencil and graphite...he also works with photography, which was his major in art school at the University of Iowa where he earned a B.F.A with a double minor in painting and serigraphy (silkscreen printing).

The artist is know for his regional works involving the Tallgrass Prairie and it's flora and fauna as well as the landscape in the area in which he lives and works.  "I portray real locations and places in the landscape where I live and work and it gives me great pleasure exploring our "neighborhood" through the camera or on my easel...it is fun to hear viewers say they know where this or that place is and even throw in their own memories or history of the locale portrayed.

The oil painting juried into the exhibit is titled  "Passing Don's Old Place at First Light - Study" and depicts first light along a gravel road just minutes from the artist's studio.  Bruce's studio is located on their acreage overlooking the Waterman Creek valley - the studio being remodeled into a year-round working studio and gallery,  from an old brooding house/sheep barn built in the late 1920's.

The exhibit  "Oak Hill Exhibition of Iowa Artists" is available for free public viewing now and runs through July 8th, 2017.  Be sure and take in this exhibit and other beautiful exhibits at the Blanden Art Museum the next time you're in Ft Dodge!

You can learn more about the Blanden Art Museum by visiting their website at - https://www.blanden.org  And you can learn more about the artist by visiting his web site at - http://www.morrisons-studio.com/  or follow his blog at -  http://prairiepainter.blogspot.com

Learn more about Bruce and the other artists of the 2017 Artisans Road Trip by visiting their web site at - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/!

 

2017 A.R.T. Artist Anita K. Plucker to Hold Workshop - "Watercolor Basics for Beginning Adults"

 

Watercolor paintings ©Anita K. Plucker

Well known NW Iowa watercolor artist Anita K. Plucker will be conducting a workshop -  "Watercolor Basic for Beginning Adults" at Arts on Grand in Spencer, Iowa.  This workshop is geared for the person who has never painted with watercolors, however, the information and practice will also be valuable to the more experienced beginner.  Anita will focus on the basics in painting with watercolor and will guide participants step-by-step as they practice these basics and techniques together in a couple of different compositions.  

Available slots for the workshop are on the following dates and times:

March 16, 1-4 pm

March 17, 9-4

March 18, 9-4

For more information about the workshop -  call Arts on Grand at 712-262-4307 to pre-register and to get a supply list.  

Check back again soon for more on the artists of the 2017 Artisans Road Trip!

 

Deborah Burow - New Artisans Road Trip Artist for 2017!

 Artwork ©Deborah Burow

(click on the image for a larger view)

  

Deborah speaks about  a recent workshop she held: 

Breaking all the rules is harder than you think.

6 weeks of an art class that was designed to help each artist break out of their paint box

proved to be harder than we thought. All those rules about staying in the lines, matching colors to life forms, painting what your experience tells you is successful---all those known entities make us feel comfortable.  And maybe a little static.  But the class managed to get past the rules and create FREELY.  Flowers never looked so fun. Wild colors, free-form shapes...unlimited imagining...

Each artist used their own style to begin, next they tried new concepts, created backgrounds, and then started painting over them. That was the hardest part. We all wanted to save our masterpiece backgrounds, but they were created to enhance the final stages of the art pieces.  All uncharted territory. All were brave moving from small canvases to larger sizes and bigger images.

We started with backgrounds, taped off some of the design and continued to paint over the top. So hard to cover up those delicious colors and shapes. And such fun removing the tape as we progressed with layers of painting.

We had fun using an app to display our paintings life size, on the wall of real rooms. You can see YOUR own art; use the link http://www/ohmyprints.com/de/WallApp/455

All asked about future classes. I will email when new sessions start; visit my website - www.deborahburowArt.com, and sign up for the email on the home page.

All instructors of art classes know the value to us personally of teaching classes. Classwork prep causes us to work hard, too. As we work on the same assignments as our students, we experience first-hand the struggles and joys they are experiencing.  Above are several of the pieces I created right along with all the other artists in class.  I always learn so much from each person. Thanks so much everyone. You were each an inspiration to me. 

Join us again for more on the artists and exhibits of the 2017 Artisans Road Trip!

 

The 2017 Artisans Road Trip - Ready for Another Great Year!

New, and some returning past members, will make up a very 

diverse 2017 A.R.T.!  From upper left - clockwise - 

Penny Adam, Tonya Archer, Julie Hamilton, 

Beth Cathcart, Patricia Johnson and Deborah Burow.

(All artwork copyright by respective artists.)

The 2017 Artisans Road Trip is geared up and ready for another great year!  This year finds 31 artists - many of whom are new to the organization and several returning from a hiatus of past years, as well as many other long time returning members!

Introducing 2017 members: 

Penny Adam, Ames, IA

Tonya Archer, Storm Lake, IA

Deborah Burow, Cape May, NJ

Beth Cathcart, Linn Grove, IA

Julie Hamilton, Peterson, IA

Patricia Johnson, Spencer, IA

Barb McGee, Peterson, IA

William Lieb, Spirit Lake, IA

Joleen Dentlinger, Storm Lake, IA

Haley Tardiff, Lakefield, MN

Glenda Drennen, Sioux City, IA

Perry Polson, Spencer, IA

Anita Plucker, Terril, IA

Gene Polson, Marcus, IA

Danielle Clouse Gast, Spirit Lake, IA

Tootie Powers, Spirit Lake, IA
Marisa Sidles, Terril, IA

Mitch Eveleth, Estherville, IA

Lisa Potter, Spirit Lake, IA

David Strom, Windom, MN

Ken Harskamp, Ida Grove, IA

Tammy Hoppe, Arnolds Park, IA

Linda Hopkins, Arnolds Park, IA

Cherie Courter, Storm Lake, IA

Hank Hall, Spirit LAke, IA

Ron Netten, Storm Lake, IA

Roberta Williams, Arnolds Park, IA

Karen Ruddy, Emmetsburg, IA

Bruce Morrison, Hartley, IA

Joanne Alberda, Sioux Center, IA

Irene McCoy, Milford, IA

Looking forward to the Artisans Road Trip events of 2017!