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