Category Archives: WI

ArtisTree Gallery, cooperative gallery, Land O'Lakes, WI

Artistree Gallery is Open

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Congratulations to the participating artists in Artistree, a cooperative gallery in Land O’Lakes, WI. The gallery has been open for one week, and has had many visitors who comment on the wonderful space and the high quality of the art. Arts in the gallery include watercolor & oil paintings, fiber arts (weaving, handspun yarns, felted hats, needlefelting, handcrafted socks, wool applique, and rug hooking), jewelry, pottery, collage, photography, quilting, and wood furniture.


Considering that the decision to start this gallery was made in early May 2009 and opened on June 15, this has been amazing. Special thanks to Wendy Polalisz, Shirley Battin, Amy Higgason, Karen Lenhart, and Sandy Hall for their hard work in making this a reality, and thanks to the 19 participating artists! Also, thanks to Kathy Schuh, owner of Forget-Me-Knot Floral, for making this space available to us.

This wire rack from a Pier 1 store is a wonderful way to display business cards. On the side counter there is space for artists brochures and arts promotional information. Also on hand is a book with a page on each artist for anyone interested in knowing more about individual artists.

I had a very pleasant four hours today at Artistree, enjoyed conversations with a number of browsers and customers, and am looking forward to another satisfying cooperative gallery experience.

Boulder Junction, Northwoods of WI, The Studio Gallery, WI

A New Season Begins

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Spring at The Studio Gallery in Boulder Junction, WI, just follow the stone path that leads to our gate and door.


Long ago, this little red building was a washhouse for railroad workers. Now it houses a small cooperative art gallery. There is no heat or insulation so we are open Memorial Day weekend through the first week or so of October.

Though we have a small fenced area, the deer have no problem jumping over it. Last year we replaced the live flowers, herbs and hanging baskets with large, painted wood flowers. Made by a few of our members, they were “planted” again this year. They are large, colorful, easily seen from the street, and three have center cutouts where visitors enjoy having their photos taken. Last year, quite a number of people asked what we would do with them when we close as they wanted to buy them! We expect there will be many requests again this summer.

This year we are open Wed. through Sat. each week, so with the members available to gallery-sit, each artist works about three days a month. This past Thursday was a workday for me at the gallery, a beautiful day, a fair number of browsers and buyers, lots of nice compliments on the work, and sales were great for this early in June.

This old bicycle caught my eye the other day with it’s beautiful flowers in the baskets.

ArtisTree Gallery, Land O' Lakes, LOLA, WI

The Artistree Gallery is Coming Soon

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Early in May, a number of artisans involved in LOLA (Land O’ Lakes Artisans) met and felt there was enough interest and commitment to open “Artistree Gallery” in Land O’Lakes. There will be watercolor, acrylic, and possibly oil paintings, jewelry, pottery, art quilts, weaving, and photography.

On Monday this week we had access, and the large room was cleaned and painted. Yesterday, available art works could begin to be delivered, and in the afternoon we met to discuss various business matters.

I believe the space is around 24′ x 16′, has five large windows that have been UV treated, two counter/cupboards, two additional tables were purchased, and a jewelry case has been made available. It’s a beautiful space with two warm pine walls and ceiling, two white walls, track lighting and ceiling fan.

Opening day is June 15th, open seven days a week, and open year-around. Since we are a cooperative-style gallery, the artists will be taking turns working. Yesterday, we could sign up for days to work. At this point there are 12 or so artists who are definitely committed to this, and I believe we are hoping for at least 20. Exciting things are happening in the Northwoods of WI.

Boulder Junction, The Studio Gallery, WI

Gallery Metamorphosis

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This past Wednesday, a few of the eleven artists in The Studio Gallery (2009) gathered to clean inside, do a bit of yardwork in our fenced area, and set up/display/hang the works for this year.


This was what I found when I arrived before mid-morning, nearly bare shelves, bare walls, and a layer of winter’s dust. So we set to work, windows were washed inside and out, shelves scrubbed, carpet vacuumed, small bins of “office supplies” organized, bags counted, and the little yard raked and ready for planting more herbs. Then pottery was unpacked and set out, paintings carried in and decisions made on where they would be hung, textiles set out, and by mid-afternoon we were nearly done.


Yesterday was our opening day and as Wendy is away, I spent the day at the gallery. Though it is Memorial weekend, Boulder Junction was fairly quiet yesterday. This photo shows the results of our work on Wednesday, the The Studio Gallery is looking good, and everyone will be bringing more work in throughout the summer and fall.

My basket of towels looking nice together on the shelf, but my antique towel drying rack at home is nearly empty, it’s time to weave up a few more.

It’s going to be a busy summer of weaving towels, runners, and rugs, cranking socks, working on the drawloom, as well as working at two galleries, the Artists Interactive demos and open studio day, along with the Northwoods Art Tour. I’ve been waiting a long, long time for this, and now it’s time to make it all happen!

Boulder Junction, The Studio Gallery, WI

Last Day for 2008

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Today was my last day at The Studio Gallery for 2008. Tomorrow is the last day we are open for business for 2008, though any of the artists may be contacted anytime throughout the year. It was an interesting season, given the economy. Though there were many positive comments on my woven table runners, they did not sell well this year, yet my socks, made on a 1908 Gearhart sock machine, sold very well. This was the first year I was making socks to sell.

The Studio Gallery is a cooperative gallery with eleven artists this year. We all contributed to annual expenses, and most members worked two or three days per month. Located in Boulder Junction, WI, the gallery is in a small, old, railroad building behind, which has a unique charm and come spring, a clean-up day takes place, and the new artwork is hung/displayed.

There are a number of birdhouses in the immediate vicinity, and pottery birdbaths are located outside, bringing winged visitors and beautiful birdsong. In previous years, we had beautiful flowers in the beds inside the gate, and a gorgeous window box planted, yet every year, midway through summer, we would arrive to find the local deer had jumped the fence and devoured everything in sight. They apparently had not read the books about which plants deer do not eat.

This year several of the women gathered together, cut out large wooden flowers, and painted them in bright, cheerful colors. We had many, many people inquire about purchasing the flowers, but believe next spring they will be sanded down, and re-painted and displayed again. With the circle cutouts in some of them, people loved posing and having their pictures taken. It worked out very well.

I brought my runners and socks home late this afternoon, not wanting to make the 40 minute drive again tomorrow. Tonight I am thankful for another year with the gallery, and I am already looking forward to 2009, and working on ideas for next year.