FRESH ART

Sunday's day trip took us westward along the River Road an hour and a half to the Lake Pepin area for part of a studio tour called FRESH ART FALL TOUR 2016.  Bear Paw paperwork/ fiber artists had posted on FB about their participation at Pepin Farm Pottery in Maiden Rock. I have been lusting for a piece of their wool felt artwork. Unfortunately, they don't tend to come as far South as our neck of the woods.  SOooo this was the perfect opportunity for another Miata ride with another gorgeous fall day!

Let me assure you all these artists have very incredible unique studio spaces/galleries and art. We made 5 stops and they were each unique and in stunning locales. The journey was definitely worth it.

First stop: Adobe Gallery & Design in Stockholm,WI where you'll find many fine works of local and regional artists all year round.  Remember this little town holds a major art fair every summer. My book group, the Happy Bookers, even frequented it a couple of years ago. On this studio tour stop the featured artist was woodworker Lars Stromayer's gorgeous inlay work in furniture, game boards and cutting boards.

After strolling through the gallery and finding a FRESH ART pamphlet with the list of studio stops, artists, mediums and addresses besides a map, we were off. There would be 4 more stops.


Stop 2. The first name Black Cat Farmstead caught my attention and I am glad it did because it actually was two stops in one. myklebust + SEARS I'm assuming are a wife (Andrea) and husband (Stan) combo as she is the fiber artist and he sculpts wood and stone. The large studio workshop next door to the old house had huge stone pieces and wood outside with future project pieces for large installations inside. We are talking HUGE. This big studio is where Stan Sears works. Stan's son also works with him while his daughter's knitting patterns give him inspiration.  Stan's job is not only in design but figuring out how to achieve the concept. I wish my photos did this carving and finishes justice both in scale and color. 

Actually patina painted wooden rope 4 ft 

Some tools of the trade

Perhaps 3 feet in diameter?

                                     

mini prototypes for future
 large scale projects

Artist  father & son, daughter's knitting design in wood

I see topography in this one, don't you?

Below's a pic of one of Stan's finished sculptures that resides now in Charlotte, N.C.  Amazing, right? If I knew who was in charge of art in UW-L's new student union, I'd definitely send them his way... 

All this large sculptor work is happening next door while sheep are grazing in the pasture whose wool will become hand spun yarn for the knitted goods in the historic cabin that used to be Laura Ingalls Wilder's grandparents home and was moved to this locale. This is where Andrea works spins her art.

(R) Andrea Myklebust

If you're interested in spun wool, an antique spinning wheel/ loom/ original fiber art, you need to come take a look. Andrea's woolen creations are so beautiful.

Stop 3. Gail Pommerening's country studio is perfectly situated behind her home between apple trees and a lovely fountain. Her drawings include landscapes, wildlife especially birds and butterflies. 


One of her favorite birds, the golden finch, won her a wine label design contest on 'Summer Dew' for Danziger Vineyards. 

Gail with her winning eagle 

Two years later Gail once again won their label contest this time with her eagle soaring over the little Mississippi town of Alma where the vineyards are atop the bluff. The wine is not ready yet but will bear the eagle label when it is. I will definitely watch for it!

Leah Werner with one her dog mutts in progress

Pottery was at our fourth stop  in a one room country building workspace.  Leah Werner's ceramic work has a definite whimsy to it. Her animal figures each seem to have their own personalities. I loved all of her creations...




It was difficult making up my mind which flowerpot bird could come home with me.  So I just had to buy two, one as a gift and one for me.




Also at this stop Featured artist Darrel (Chopper) Bowman (r) demonstrated thrown pottery on a foot powered wheel before it becomes his beautiful reduction fired stoneware.

And at stop number we got the million dollar view of the Mississippi. A modern house with river views, a garage summer kitchen besides 2 out buildings as studio work spaces. Here we found Peter and Mary Deneen and Martha Winter's handmade pottery, a salt kiln and gallery, pottery studio, woodland trails and bluff top views.

Guest artist was Morris Pottery.

Featured artists here were Peder Heglund wheel thrown and hand built stoneware painted, incised and textured with wood ash and stoneware glazes.

And last by not least Bear Paw Paperworks/Fiber by Bill and Linda Sumner .Their needle felt wool dimensional nature related wall art is just so full of life. And do you think I went home with one of their nature scenes? Nope, one of the Sumners new abstracts went home with us, go figure. For those of you who know me you won't be surprised by this choice.  Mission complete.

I wish we could have visited all 16 stops but the sampling we did have with our five reflect the beauty of the area we call home and you can see where surroundings give inspiration to creative souls...
FRESH ART indeed.

Vista  from PEPIN FARM POTTERY