Fred Somers artist talk

Posted on January 19, 2017

Studio ArTour artist Fred Somers will be giving an artist talk tonight Thursday January 19th 6:30pm at the Paradise Center for the Arts. Located at 321 Central Avenue N, Faribault MN 55021

2017 Studio Artour registration is now open

Posted on January 17, 2017

2017 Studio Artour registration is now open using the following link and will close on March 15^th . Click here to register.

Please note the following..

-We are requesting that all information and images are new this year.

-Please label the images according to the registration instructions.

-Artists that were not in the 2016 Studio Artour are considered new artists and need to jury in for the 2017 Studio Artour. New artists will be notified of the jury outcome within two weeks of completing their registration.

I want to thank all of the artists who have volunteered to help with the 2017 Artour.

Studio ARTour allows glimpse of artists and their work environments by Renee Brown

Posted on October 6, 2016

Studio ARTour allows glimpse of artists and their work environments

The Studio ARTour offers a unique perspective for those who have not seen an artist’s personal work space before.

It involves local artists from Northfield, Faribault and Farmington who open their studio doors for a weekend to allow the public to explore their workplaces and to talk directly with the artists.

This is the 12th annual year for the Studio ARTour, which will showcase 40 artists at 21 studios in the southern Minnesota area.

Judy Saye-Willis, one of the artists and co-chairs for this year’s ARTour, noted that no one person is in charge of everything.

“We put together what needs to get done,” she said. This includes taking care of distributing brochures, creating proofs and raising awareness, blogging, marketing, setting up registration and promoting their sponsors.

It is not just the studios and artists that draw people in, but the variety of styles that are used as well. The tour offers a diverse range of mediums such as ceramics, paint, glass, beads, metals, wood, fabrics, dyes, photography and many more.

This year, the Studio ARTour received a Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) grant along with business sponsors. Saye-Willis noted that most years they do not have grant money, so it’s the artist’s fees and the business sponsors that help fund the tour.

“The planning stages start right after the tour and registration is in March,” she added. “By the time we get to this time of year the work is pretty much done.”

Some of the artists have participated for many years, while others will be joining the tour for this first time. David Allen, a painter and sculptor, is one of those who is new this year. His take on the upcoming tour is that it would be different from the art shows he normally attends in several ways.

“In an art show you bring what you think you can sell,” he said. “With this, you can show people the things you don’t normally bring to attention in shows.”

His hope is that this kind of experience will have a positive impact and that he will form new relationships with customers through meeting them in person.

“It’s not just about the sales,” Allen added. “It’s a fun thing to show people who you are and what you do.”

Showing off the artist behind the work is something that Sue Hammes-Knopf looks forward to as well. She is one of the co-chairs for the tour and is the artist behind Full Bloom Beadwork.

“I love to be able to show in my own space because I’m free from the physicality of setting up an art fair booth,” Hammes-Knopf added. “I just put out my work, invite people in, we have a nice time, and many people purchase and it’s a nice variety from being in the art fair booth.”

Kathy Miller, who paints with watercolors, also enjoys inviting people into her studio for similar reasons. She has participated in the Studio ARTour for six years.

“I like the fact that it’s indoors, in a controlled environment, and I have all of my art supplies there so I can readily demonstrate,” she said. “I think it’s wonderful, it brings people from all over to the area so they’re learning what a strong art community Northfield and Faribault and other areas are.”

A list of all of the artists, the mediums they work with and a detailed map can be found on the Studio ARTour’s website athttp://www.studioartour.com/.

What: 12th Annual Studio ARTour

When:

Some studios: Oct. 14 from 4 – 8 p.m.
Oct.15 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where: Local artist’s studios

Sue Hammes-Knopf

Posted on September 17, 2016

The Established Artist grant that was awarded to me by Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council requires a Capstone Exhibit. My Capstone exhibit is going on now at the Northfield Arts Guild. “Exploring Variations of a Bead-Woven Shape” is part of the annual members show. Definitely, stop in to see my Capstone exhibit and the entire members show!

I will be showing Sept. 17-18 at the Lakeville Arts Festival. Come on by!
www.LakevilleArtFestival.org

Also, come on by #16 on the ArTour!
Many pieces of sculptural jewelry presently on exhibit at NAG will be in studio, just in time for you to enjoy!
Sue Hammes-Knopf

FullSizeRender (8)

Frederick Somers

Posted on September 13, 2016

Frederick Somers painting “Come to the Waters II” was juried into the Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition of Traditional Oils at the Eisele Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio. The exhibit opened Friday, September 9 and Fred expects that the painting will be on view during the Studio ARTour.

16-02 Come to the Waters II 72 x 600

Sue Hammes-Knopf

Posted on August 18, 2016

So I had two women representing Jehovahs Witnesses come to my third floor studio door this morning. Definitely, a “first”! Haha! I sent them off with Studio ArTour brochures. I believe they will be new customers!
Sue Hammes-Knopf # 16

Kathy Anderson

Posted on August 4, 2016

Normally my rust dye process involves steaming the wrapped bundles in an old enamel pot in the house, but yesterday I took advantage of the heat and humidity and let them do their magic outside. IMG_1082 (1)

Rusty landscape spikes and onion skins are laid out on cotton muslin.

Bundles after they have been “stewing” in the black plastic bag for several hours.

Unwrapping the bundles is always my favorite part… never know what lies within until the big reveal!

Red onion skins, rusty spikes and a fireplace screen combined to transform this piece.

“And what do you do with the cloth once it has been rust dyed?” you ask. Not sure… maybe warp for a runner, fringe on a wall hanging, accent pieces in a scarf…. who knows! Visit Studio #7 during the Studio ArTour to find out!

Sue Hammes-Knopf

Posted on August 4, 2016

I’m at that point of closure for this necklace. The elements are coming together! Yes, one at a time! This process is very exacting. This piece will be exhibited first at the Northfield Arts Guild members show, Sept. 1-24. Then, (most likely), this necklace will also be shown on the Studio ArTour, at my studio, #16. Come on by!
Sue Hammes-Knopf

Judy Saye-Willis working with Michel Garcia

Posted on July 9, 2016

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I have had four intense days working with Michel Garcia in my studio doing tests with a variety of natural dyes and organic materials. Learning a lot.

Julie Fakler at F-Town Brewery in Faribault

Posted on July 1, 2016

Julie Fakler & Karen Peters
Farm animals exhibit at F-Town Brewery.
This exhibit is a collaboration between two sisters. Julie a painter and Karen a printmaker/sculpture. All six paintings were created over this year’s Memorial Day weekend. Both sisters grew up in rural southeast Minnesota and share a love for domestic animals

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