A.R.T Exhibiting in Clear Lake!

The Artisans Road Trip is having their final exhibit of 2012 at the Clear Lake Art Center in Clear Lake, Iowa form November 20 through January 5, 2013!

As mentioned in previous blogs, the Artisans Road Trip is not just about a weekend open studio tour the first weekend of October - its also about the best artists of NW Iowa and bringing their work to the public!

Many of the A.R.T. artists are busy exhibiting in other area shows and exhibitions throughout the holiday season as well.  Small Bussiness Saturday is a really big deal for area artists...they are small business people too!  You can find the A.R.T. artists on the A.R.T. website for their studio locations and contacts - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/  The GALLERY link will take you right the the artist names and these link directly to each individual. Why not shop locally and support your local economy; bring home works created right here in NW Iowa!

Next year will celebrate the Artisans Road Trip's 10th year!  2012 has been a great year - 2013 promises to be even better!!!

Take in the final exhibit of the year in Clear Lake if you're able, and watch for more great things to come in 2013 - Thank you for your support of A.R.T. in Northwest Iowa!

2012 A.R.T. Mel Myers

Hand Carved Pottery © Mel Myers

Artists of the 2012 Artisans Road Trip are all gearing up for the holiday season!  This week we are highlighting Mel Meyers!

Mel is continually working on new glazes and forms of his hand thrown, hand carved pottery. His colors range from a nice, lively green (popular for the Christmas season), to warm earth tone glazes of browns and golds. He has had recent fun making flower frogs and vases that hold water for fresh cut flowers. His bowls and covered oven dishes have been popular for use at Thanksgiving meals as they keep the food nice and warm for the second helpings.
 
Mel has been working with pottery for over thirty years -- all in Spencer, so he is a home town, northwest Iowa artist whose work can be found in several galleries.

Mel welcomes people who stop by his studio, which is open for business daily at 717 11th Ave. East in Spencer. Be sure and stop in and see his most recent work!

For more information you can contact Mel at - 712-580-2529.

2012 A.R.T. Artist Tim Arand-McIlrath at the Wanda J Skogerboe Juried Exhibition

"Tributaries" and "Starryeyed"

© Tim Arand-McIlrath

Two of the two dimensional mixed media pieces that Tim Arand-McIlrath has been creating are currently being exhibited in the Wanda J  Skogerboe Juried Exhibition currently on view at the Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji,IA.

Detail from "Tributaries"

© Tim Arand-McIlrath

"Tributaries" and Starryeyed" were accepted into the juried exhibition.  "Tributaries" is a diptych consisting of two panels with layered acrylic paint and crocheted yarn. "Starryeyed" has an acrylic painted background with crocheted yarn and beads.

Detail from "Starryeyed"

© Tim Arand-McIlrath 

Founded in 1993, this biannual, juried exhibition is designed to further the art center’s mission by supporting and exhibiting contemporary art from the greater Midwest. This year the Wanda K. Skogerboe Juried Exhibition was judged by Barbara Walton, Associate Professor of Integrated Studio Arts at Iowa State University.

Thirty- five artists with 96 works entered the exhibit; twenty-two artists with 40 works have been selected to participate. 

Other A.R.T. artists included in the exhibition include Judy Thompson, Orange City; Dennis Dykema, Spirit Lake; Karess Knudtson, Milford; William Lieb, Spirit Lake; Hank Hall, Spirit Lake; and Glenda Drennen, LeMars.

The exhibition will be on display through December 31st, 2012

Tim's artwork can be seen online at https://www.facebook.com/ArtguyProductions and is available for purchase at Art on 16th Gallery in Spirit Lake.

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A.R.T. Artist in Richeson 75 Figure/Portrait 2012 International Competition

"Sojourners" 

watercolor © Judy Thompson

Even though the studio tour part of the 2012 Artisans Road Trip is behind us this year, the artists of the Artisans Road Trip work through the year with A.R.T. as a group, doing exhibits and meeting to work on activities for the coming year.  Another part of being a participant in the organization is being showcased in our blog, letting everyone know what our artists are up to "throughout" the year. Here we learn about 2012 Artisans Road Trip artist Judy Thompson and her participation and acceptance in a recent competition.  

Watercolor artist, Judy Thompson, had the honor of taking part in the Richeson 75 Figure/Portrait 2012 International Competition.  Her figurative piece, Sojourners is one of 75 pieces of art which was selected from several hundred entries, including entries from four continents in a variety of mediums.

Jack Richeson& Co. is a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality art materials. As part of their mission to support the visual arts community, the Richeson School of Art & Gallery and the Richeson75 International Art Competitions were created. The Richeson75 Competitions are meant to offer a venue in which established and emerging artists may show their latest, best work to a wide and appreciative audience.

You can see Judy’s work and the complete exhibition online at Richeson 75 Portraits.

Be sure and check back again for more about the artists of the 2012 Artisans Road Trip - throughout the year!

Thank You!!!

Its been nearly 2 weeks now since the 2012 Artisans Road Trip weekend.  It was a beautiful, albeit crisp and breezy weekend, and 2012 Artisans Road Trip participants got to meet many new "gallery goers" as well as some familiar friends - it is so neat to meet everyone, whether or not for the first time, with a handshake and a greeting :)

 

Thank you everyone who stopped at the studios, galleries and workspaces.  We hope you had a chance to enjoy some fun "road tripping".  And thank you to everyone who came, fell in love with some works on our walls, and gave them a good home, this is more gratifying than we can adequately express...thank you so much.

 

We hope to see or hear from you again through the season, as we dig out of the framing work, jobs in progress and new commissions ahead.  Have a grand autumn and watch for more ahead - for the 2013 Artisans Road Trip!

The 2012 Artisans Road Trip is Finally Here!!!

Artwork shown (left to right)

© Karess Knudtson, Anita (Katie) Baedke-Plucker and Judy Hemphill

The 2012 Artisans Road Trip is finally here this weekend!!!  This is the 9th year of this NW Iowa "Studio Tour", and as far as the autumn color is concerned here - one of the prettiest in memory!

 Artwork shown (left to right)

© Perry Polson, Joleen Dentlinger and Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath

It sounds like fall weather is actually going to be here on Saturday and Sunday, so wear your sweater and enjoy the crisp air! Take in all the studios you can and enjoy this weekend!

Artwork shown (left to right)

© Danielle Clouse, Bruce Morrison and Beth Cathcart

The Artisans Road Trip hours this Saturday October 6th and Sunday October 7th are - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.  There are four main routes, so the choices are great!  Find maps online for the Road Trip, and see all the artists participating, and directions to their studios - on line at http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/

Hope to see you this weekend!!!

Event Exhibit at Arts on Grand!

 Artwork shown (left to right) 

© Mel Myers, Holly Kellogg and Glenda Drennen

The 2012 Artisans Road Trip event is nearing!  And to get ready for this year's A.R.T. is a "sneak preview" if-you-will; a traditional Artisans Road Trip exhibit at Arts on Grand in Spencer, Iowa!

Artwork shown (left to right) 

© Bill Lieb, Judy Thompson, and Wendell King

This exhibit will give you a preview of what is in store for you as you venture out to take in that crisp fall air and warm sunshine on the studio tour that has become a region tradition!  See what your favorite artists have been up to this year, and even check out some new venues!  

 Artwork shown (left to right) 

© Barb McGee, Martha Thien, and Hank Hall

The Artisans Road Trip exhibit at Arts on Grand opens Tuesday night, September 25th, with an artists reception.  This reception, from 5 - 7 p.m.,  is held in conjunction with Business After Hours. The public is invited, and refreshments will be served.  The exhibit runs from September 25 through October 27.

Artisans Road Trip will be held October 6 & 7, 2012. Maps are available at Arts on Grand. Also, find maps and more at www.artisansroadtrip.com 

 
 This exhibit is sponsored by: State Bank