2015 Artisans Road Trip Artists in Area Shows and Hoilday Weekend Events!

This week and weekend is bringing area holiday art exhibits and sales that several 2015 Artisan Road Trip artists will be participating in!  Yes, lots of choices and loads of fun!

 

Each year the artists of this area get together for a Holiday Sale, and this year is no different - except - this year there are two events on the same weekend!

The first Holiday sale that you'll find A.R.T artists participating in is at Barb McGee's Gallery on Main Street in Peterson, Iowa and at Beth Cathcart's Rocking M Pottery, NW of Linn Grove, Iowa.  Barb and Beth will be holding their Holiday sale for several artists this year! 2015 Artisans Road Trip artists at both Holiday Open Houses will include (among others) Tim Anderson, Beth Cathcart, Bruce Morrison, Barb McGee, Diane Noll and Marisa Sidles.  These Holiday Open Houses will be held on Saturday December 5 from 9:00AM to 5P.M. and Sunday from Noon to 3PM.

Take some time and check out the artists and entertainment at the McGee Gallery and Rocking M Pottery Holiday Open House!

 

Another Holiday sale and exhibit that 2015 A.R.T. artists are participating in is a new gallery in Lake Park, Iowa! "December at Systolic Studio" will be an Art and Fine Antique sale and is being held in the former Methodist Church building in Lake Park. This new gallery (Systolic Studio) will have a host of top quality artists and artwork and antiques over a 3 day event! 2015 Artisans Road Trip artists at "December at Systolic Studio" will include (among others) Danielle Clouse-Gast, Hank Hall, Tim Arand-McIlrath, Bruce Morrison, David Strom, Paula Streeter and Holly Zinn.

The event is inside the west entrance and up the stairway to the left, and this exhibit and sale opens on Friday, December 4 from 3-8PM, again on Saturday December 5 from 10AM-6PM, and Sunday December 6 from 11AM-3PM; be sure and take it in - you'll be in for a real treat!

 

Where else can you find 2015 A.R.T. artists this week and through the weekend!?  Try Arts on Grand in Spencer, Iowa for their "Christmas in the Gallery"!  The exhibit and the Arts on Grand Gallery Shop features several Artisans Road Trip artists and you can get anything from cards to original works!  For an extra treat - attend the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at Arts on Grand this Thursday night from 5:30-7:30PM!  Its free!  Enjoy the appetizers, games and fun!  The exhibit "Christmas in the Gallery" runs from December 1 through January 2, 2016.

There's a lot to enjoy and see - don't miss them!  Enjoy the season!

Thank You!

The big October Studio Tour/Art weekend event - the Artisans Road Trip, is a little over a week past and what a great weekend it was!

All of the artists of the 2015 Artisans Road Trip would like to take this time to put out a big THANK YOU!!!  Thank you to everyone who visited our studios or exhibit spaces, who put the word out to their friends and neighbors and who support the arts in NW Iowa!

Remember - the Artisans Road Trip also continues throughout the year with it's exhibits at galleries and art spaces around the region!  A.R.T. currently has two exhibits ongoing - one at Arts on Grand in Spencer, Iowa and another at the Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, Iowa!  More exhibits coming in the month ahead as well!

Thank you once again and we hope to see you at future events!

2015 Artisans Road Trip This weekend!!!

This is the big weekend!

Not one, but three venues!

Northwest Iowa's Artisans Road Trip members invite you to attend the 12th annual open studio tour on Saturday, October 10th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 11th from noon until 5 p.m.

Along with the open studio tour, everyone is encouraged to see and purchase original art at the two collective (group) shows sponsored by Arts on Grand and Pearson Lakes Art Center. "There will be one or two pieces from almost all of the artists," explains chairperson, Tim McIlrath.  It's impressive to see the range, quality and diversity of each artist's work and as a collective group."

Events and Dates:
Artisans Road Trip's Open Studio Tour: October 10 – 11, 2015
Arts On Grand, Spencer IA: September 29 to October 31, 2015
Pearson Lakes Art Center, Spirit Lake IA: October 8 to December 31, 2015


"Planning your personal A.R.T. tour is easy."

To learn all about the 2015 Artisans Road Trip, preview artists' work and begin planning your personal tour we encourage you to use these tools:
1. BROCHURE: You can find brochures at local art centers, participating artist locations, banks, libraries and gathering places in your community.
2. WEBSITE: www.artisansroadtrip.com
3. BLOG: http://artisansroadtrip.blogspot.com/

"We're looking forward to seeing you this year!"

BRUCE MORRISON, painter/photographer: "I love it when people come to my studio, see what I do and ask questions – I learn a lot from this exchange!  And people learn something too, in a fun way. I believe (that) the interchange between the artist and public fuels the act of creativity. The biggest barrier to any artist is the issue of 'exposure'.  A.R.T. gives the artist a venue for interaction and the potential for the purchase of the work. It also opens the world of 'creativity' to the public.

 LINDA FRIES, watercolorist: "Oh, the freedom and flow of watercolor and just as the brush takes control; the painter begins a journey and that's when the fun begins. For years now, A.R.T. has opened our home studio to the fun bunch that just stops in. And I so enjoy meeting all of these outstanding artists. Each year is richer, better – It's a good time."

 HANK HALL, pottery, drawings, painting: "Sharing my work with the public is something I love to do," says Hank Hall. "I create to satisfy my sense of aesthetics, and if someone else gets a kick out it then it just doesn't get better than that!"

And that's just a few words from three of the 35 artists participating in this year's big weekend event! The weekend forecast is for plenty of sunshine and above normal temperatures for October - plan a weekend trip and make the rounds at the 2015 Artisans Road Trip!

Hope to see you on the road for a fun weekend!

2015 A.R.T. Artist Hank Hall Teapot Selected for Regional Exhibit at Coe College!

“Parade Ready” – a mixed media teapot by Spirit Lake artist Hank Hall – has been selected for the juried show “River to River” at Coe College, in conjunction with the third bi-annual Iowa Clay Conference at The Ceramic Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The River to River exhibit will highlight the richness and diversity of ceramic art within Iowa and across eleven other Midwest states. The show runs from September 11-October 3 at the Sinclair Galleries on the campus of Coe College with a reception on Friday, October 2, from 6-8 pm is part of the Iowa Clay Conference that weekend.

Juror for the exhibit is Bede Clarke, Professor of Art at the University of Missouri since 1992. He received his Master of Fine Arts from The University of Iowa (1990) and a BFA from Eckerd College (1982).  Bede’s work is found in public and private collections in the U.S. and abroad.  He maintains a studio in Columbia, Missouri, where he produces his ceramic art work and continues to exhibit worldwide. Currently, he is working with wheel-thrown wood-fired stoneware vessels and large wall tiles emphasizing abstract drawing and color. He is interested in making work, which “like a good meal leaves a healthy, full feeling.”

Hall’s “Parade Ready” is a combination of bold and whimsical elements. It includes a wheel-thrown and altered teapot with a mixed media lid and handle, metal wheels, and a wooden ramp base. The teapot is made of bisque-fired cone 6 stoneware, sprayed with green glitter paint on the outside and white-glazed inside.

Hall explains, “My number one goal when making teapots is to satisfy my own esthetic sense of what makes for an entertaining, inventive, and personal teapot form. If others get the same creative kick out of them as I do, it doesn’t get much better than that!”

Hall creates one-of-a-kind clay, drawing and mixed media pieces in his home studio in Spirit Lake, IA. After 34 years of teaching art in Marshalltown, Graettinger, and Spirit Lake and an additional 10 years teaching private classes and running an art business, he now focuses on developing new work. Several directions of his imaginative work include teapots with mixed media embellishments; abstract drawings started with remote-controlled cars and robots; and colorful abstract paintings. An important early influence on his art was studying under Bauhaus-trained, master potter Marguerite Wildenhain at Pond Farm Pottery in Guerneville, CA in the summers of 1973 and 1974. For more information, contact Hall at 712-330-6007.

2015 Artisans Road Trip Artist Marisa Sidles at Spencer's Main Street Market!

Click on image of Marisa's work at the Main Street Market for a larger view!

Marisa Sidles, 2015 Artisan Road Trip Artists from Terril, has been participating in Spencer's Thursday evening Main Street Market. Marisa works in a variety of media including acrylic painting and whimsical found metal sculptures. At the Thursday evening event  (running until August 13th from 5:00 – 8:00pm on the Count Court House grounds) Marisa has been bringing her anvil, hammer and antique spoons so that you, the customer, can create your very own piece of original art in the form of a spoon pendant. Marisa will guide you through the process to the finished product. If you are not able to make it to the market, you will have an opportunity to create your own spoon pendent or see how it is done, during the Artisan Road Trip this October 10 – 11.

 

Pictured is a customer's finished piece. I love that the "G" is backwords. To me, is says "I have flaws, but I am still showing courage."

 

Also pictured is an example of the other original pieces Marisa creates with scrap/found pieces of metal including a beetle and angel wings made from the outside of a dryer perfect for indoors or outdoors.

 

In addition to whimsical metal sculptures, Marisa creates vibrant paintings in a variety of subjects from colorful birds to landscapes and portraits. You can see more of Marisa's work by liking her facebook page at Rissy's Design & Creations, or by visiting her 2015 A.R.T. web site page at - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/ 

 

Thank you for visiting and learning more about the artists of the 2015 Artisans Road Trip!

See You at the Side Street Gallery in Arnolds Park!

Artists to meet and greet at the Side Street Gallery's

Open House Saturday - June 20, 2015!

"©" the artists work shown - upper left - clock-wise: Linda Fries, 

Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath, Barb McGee, Deb Manly, Holly Zinn, 

Karen Ruddy, Marisa Sidles, Irene McCoy, Bruce Morrison, (center) Hank Hall.

Meet and greet artists of the 2015 Artisans Road Trip this Saturday (June 20) afternoon (Noon-5PM) at the Side Street Gallery in Arnolds Park, Iowa!  Stop by and see the works of the artists, ask questions or just join in celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Side Street Gallery and the retirement of the gallery founder Mari Stewart!  The Side Street Galley will close for the season in July and open again next spring under new ownership.

 

Plan a day at the Lakes - there is plenty to do and enjoy!  And be sure to stop by the Side Street Gallery and enjoy the best artwork the region has to offer!

 

Hope to see you there!

2015 Artisans Road Trip Artists Exhibit at the Witter Gallery!

Artworks of 2015 A.R.T. artists, like these, will be on display

at the Witter Art Gallery until the end of June.

Artists work (upper left/clockwise) - Glenda Drennen, Hank Hall,

David Strom, Sarah Morphew, Judy Hemphill, Deb Manly, Irene McCoy,

and Kathy Evert.  All work © the artists represented.

 

The 2015 Artisans Road Trip artists are celebrating A.R.T. this spring and summer with an exhibit of their works at the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake, Iowa, during the month of June.

 

Come and view works of art by the best in the region!  Better yet, come and meet the artists and get a little insight into their works!  An Artist Reception will be held at the Witter Gallery on Thursday - June 11th, and will run from 5:30-7PM!  The public is invited!

 

Witter Gallery hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:00-5PM, Thursday 1:00-6PM and Saturday 10AM-2PM.  For more information about the exhibit you can visit the Witter Art Gallery web site at http://www.thewittergallery.org/ or call the gallery at 712-732-3400.

 

The 2015 Artisans Road Trip exhibit will run through June 25th - hope to see you there!

A.R.T. Celebrating Long-Time Member's Retirement

Example of the artwork at the

Side Street Gallery Celebration on June 20th!

"Anvil Across the Valley" - oil pastel 

© Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

 

Former Artisans Road Trip long-time member Mari Stewart, of the Side Street Gallery in Arnolds Park, Iowa is retiring from the Gallery business, having sold the Side Street Gallery effective later this summer.  

 

Marie Stewart's Side Street Gallery has been a lakes area fixture for over 35 years and what better way to celebrate than to spend an afternoon with the Artisans Road Trip artists in celebration!  

 

On Saturday, June 20th - come and join us helping Mari celebrate her gallery's long standing run, and see artwork from the 2015 Artisans Road Trip artists in attendance, enjoy some camaraderie and good treats and refreshments!

 

The celebration will be going on from 12 noon through 5p.m. - Saturday, June 20th!  The Side Street Gallery is located in Arnolds Park's Old Towne district at 28 Allen Avenue.  The gallery can be contacted for more information at 712 320-5906.

 

What a fun way to spend your Saturday afternoon! 

A Fiberartist's Journey – 50+ Years of Making Fiberart

2015 A.R.T. artist Tim Arand-McIlrath, Okoboji, will be the featured exhibition at the Nobles County Art Center in Worthington, MN. for the month of May. The exhibition is titled "A Fiber Artist's Journey".

"I realized that I had been making art for over 50 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.

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.

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 1-30.

A.R.T. Exhibit at the LeMars Art Center!

Examples of the artwork of 2015 Artisans Road Trip artists

that can be seen at the Le Mars Art Center exhibit.

(© the following artists from top left/clockwise - Mel Myers, 

Joleen Dentlinger,Beth Cathcart, Barb McGee, Tim Anderson, 

Bruce Morrison, Hank Hall, and Paula Streeter)

A.R.T. has exhibits during the year, demonstrating the work of each of the year's Artisan Road Trip artists.  The first 2015 A.R.T. exhibit will take place at the Le Mars Art Center during the month of May.  This is the first showing for A.R.T. at the Le Mars Art Center! Now is your chance to see the work of artists, both familiar and new to A.R.T.!

The Le Mars Art Center is located at 200 Central Avenue SE in Le Mars, Iowa.  The art center's hours are Wednesday through Friday 1-5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The Le Mars Art Center will host the opening Artist's Reception on Saturday, May 2nd from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. - the public is invited!  You can contact the center for more information at 712 546-7476.  Hope to see you there!

2015 A.R.T. Artist Kathy J. Evert - KJEwelry Trunk Show Scheduled!

KJEwelry will be holding the first trunk show of the 2015 calendar year on Saturday, May 2nd, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Elements Design Studio, 36 Highway 71, Arnolds Park.  A trunk show is a showing and sale in a retail store of an entire collection of clothing, jewelry, etc., from a particular designer.  I will be on hand all day to showcase and talk about the jewelry designs and will be introducing three new collections - my Gearhead Collection of scrap copper pieces from SPM Gaskets in Spencer, the fine wire jewelry (sterling silver and gold-filled) and the Team Spirit Collection (your school colors).  

"I have done a few pieces in the past of the scrap copper and they don't last long, said Kathy J Evert of KJEwelry.  "I will have several pieces of this collection on hand for exhibit and sale and enjoy telling the story about how these came about.  You will have to stop by to hear the story.  The fine wire jewelry collection is a result of several one-on-one workshops taken this winter with a jewelry artist in Phoenix I met several years ago and had the opportunity to study and learn with her this winter. The team spirit collection is a new jewelry addition utilizing the old Japanese braiding technique called Kumihimo.  This collection is made of satin cords and have also been doing several pieces that are beaded as well as braided with leather."  Much more coming in the Kumihimo category as are classes at Arts on Grand and in Spirit Lake or Okoboji this year.

KJEwelry will also be one of the artists at the Orange City Art Burst, part of the annual Tulip Festival.  Art Burst is held on Saturday, May 16th on the Sioux County courthouse lawn, complete with live music, adjacent to the food court, and parade route.  There are 44 artists that have been selected for the event which is free and runs from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.   For more information visit www.octulipfestival.com.

To learn more about KJEwelry visit www.kjewelry.etsy.com or www.okobojibead.com

Artisans Road Trip Artists in the Nobles County Art Center Area Art Show 2015

  

L-R Bill Lieb, Tim Arand-McIlrath, Marisa Sidles, Holly Zinn, with Tim Aramnd-McIlrath's mixed media sculpture - "Spent".

 Haley Rothstein and David Strom.

Artisans Road Trip is well represented in both the Nobles County Art Center Area Art Show 2015 and the award winners in the  exhibition. David Strom -Windom, MN, Haley Rothstein - Windom, MN, Mavis Simms -Sac City, IA., Sarah Morphew - Estherville, IA, Holly Zinn -Lake Park, IA, Bill Lieb - Spirit Lake, IA, Tim Anderson - Cherokee, IA, Tim Arand-McIlrath - Okoboji, IA, Marisa Sidles - Terrill, IA, Deb Yellick Manly - Okoboji/Grinnel, IA, and Kathy Evert - West Okoboji, IA are all represented with artworks in this exhibition. Tim Arand-McIlrath got "Best in Show” Award for his Mixed Media Sculpture “Caught” and Holly Zinn won “Honorable Mention” for her Mixed Media Drawing “Figure Study In Three”.  David Strom, Mavis Simms, Sarah Morphew, Tim Anderson, and Kathy Evert all received “Merit Awards" for their work in the show.  The exhibition at the Nobles County Art Center, 407 12th St., Worthington, MN continues until April 24.

Tim Arand-McIlrath with his mixed media sculpture "Caught" was selected as "Best in Show" by juror Dan Wahl at the Nobles County Art Center Area Exhibition in Worthington, MN.

"Figure Study in Three" by Holly Zinn was selected as "Honorable Mention".

This exhibition shows many media and provides a fresh look at what is happening art wise in our area. Dan Wahl from Walnut Grove, MN served as juror for the exhibition. He selected  a great variety of artworks for awards. The Awards were announced at the Opening Artist Reception held April 12.

Congratulations to all the A.R.T. members who entered their artwork into this exhibition.  If you are in the area stop in to see this exhibition.

A.R.T. 2015 is Here!

The 2015 Artisans Road Trip is organized and ready for it's 12th year as the premier artist organization/event in NW Iowa!  

The 2015 artist members are as follows: (to learn more about each artist click on their name)
Joanne Alberda
Tim Anderson
Sue Biederman
Beth Morris Cathcart
Cherie Courter
Joleen Dentlinger
Glenda Drennen
Mitch Eveleth
Kathy Evert
Linda Fries
Danielle Clouse Gast
Hank Hall
Connie Hankens
Ken Harskamp
Judy Hemphill
Marie-Louise Kierscht
William Lieb
Deb Yellick Manly
Irene McCoy
Barb McGee
Tim Arand-McIlrath
Sarah Morphew
Bruce Morrison
Mel Myers
Ron Netten
Diane Noll
Gene Polson
Perry Polson
Haley Rothstein
Karen Ruddy
Marisa Sidles
Mavis Simms
Paula Streeter
David Strom
Holly Zinn

2015 has many things in store for the Artisans Road Trip!  Its not just about the big autumn studio tour that A.R.T. has built upon, but also the many exhibits throughout the year!

A.R.T. 2015 will be exhibiting at many area and regional galleries and art centers this year, including the LeMars Art Center during the month of May, the Witter Gallery (Storm Lake) during the month of June, Arts on Grand (Spencer) from late September through October, the Pearson Lakes Art Center from early October through December, and the Clear Lake Arts Center from mid January through February in 2016.

In the meantime the artists of the 2015 Artisans Road Trip are working hard in their studios to bring their best work forward throughout the year - many are open year-round - check out their web sites and Face Book pages, and other means of viewing and even purchasing their works via the links above with each individual artist's name or visit the 2015 Artisans Road Trip web site at - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com!

Look no further for the best in ART in 2015!

Artisan's Road Trip Call To Artists!

The Northwest Iowa Artisans Road Trip is more than just an open studio tour. For the people following the Tour, it’s a chance to get out on a fall weekend to meet local artists in person, see the studios where they work, ask questions about their motivation, watch demonstrations of techniques, and of course, purchase new artwork for their collections. 

For the artisans involved, the Road Trip is a powerful networking and marketing opportunity. Not only can you personally connect with a wider audience, you also get to know the other artists on the Road Trip through group exhibitions and meetings. In 2015 alone - A.R.T. has 5 exhibits scheduled throughout the year!

Nowhere else can you get the effective advertising and promotion implemented across so many venues (newspapers, radio, television, regional gallery exhibitions, a comprehensive website and regularly updated blog, and more) for the price of the annual registration fee. 

The A.R.T. Directory and Tour Guide brochure alone has been cited by many artisans as a direct cause of sales. Full-color brochures are sent out each year by mail and distributed to Iowa Welcome Centers, public libraries, cultural centers, restaurants, motels, and retail establishments throughout the area. A.R.T. is organized and run by artists for artists. Together we work to increase art exposure, introducing new art styles to the community and new customers to local artists.

Are you an artist? We want you to join us!

To join the 2015 Artisans Road Trip just download the 2015 application form at the 2015 A.R.T. web site at http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/prospectus.htm or contact any of the contact names listed there.

Make 2015 your best ART year yet!