The 24th annual summer Northwoods Art Tour will take place July 28-29-30, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Some of the Northwoods’ finest artists and artist-owned galleries are allowing visitors a behind-the-scenes view of how their work is created. The annual Northwoods Art Tour provides a rare opportunity for the public to discover where many Northwoods artists live and work, view their processes and inspirations, and purchase art directly from them.
The tour map takes visitors on a drive through some of the prettiest back roads of Northern Wisconsin beginning in Lincoln County at the southern tip of the tour in Irma and Tomahawk.
Chapel Art Gallery in Irma
Linda DeBroux, a potter who owns Chapel Art Gallery on the side of Irma Hill, is new to the tour this year. She will open her studio to display years worth of permanent artwork displayed behind the red doors, as well as functional and decorative wheel-thrown pottery which will be available for purchase. Located at N6639 Cty. Rd. H in Irma, the studio is easily accessible from Hwy. 51. Turn east on Hwy. J for 1/4 mile, then turn north on Hwy. H to the first place on the left.
Swallow Haven Studio in Irma
Andrea Fenner is a pastel artist also located on Hwy. H in Irma. Her studio, Swallow Haven Studio, is located at N7944 Cty. Rd. H in Irma, further north of the Chapel Art Gallery. If this is the first stop on your self-guided tour, take Hwy. 51 to Hwy. S. Follow Hwy. S until it intersects with Hwy. H, then turn left (south) to reach Swallow Haven Studio. Visitors will enjoy a peek into her studio perched atop a ledge overlooking a native trout stream surrounded by the beauty of the Northwoods. Her work features landscapes and animal pastels.
Tomahawk-area artists
Two Tomahawk-area artists are participating in the tour this summer. The first, Shayna Kelley, is a teacher, artist, and the owner of The Fifth Element Gallery at 124 W. Wisconsin Ave., 2nd Floor, in downtown Tomahawk above Sideways Wine & Craft Beer. [Note: Access via stairs only.] Kelley is new to the tour this year and is a contemporary multi media artist. Her multifaceted space showcases local artists’ artwork (in addition to her own), along with art and yoga classes, and an open studio space. She provides a place for artists to discuss, discover, and create art.
Lisa Krueger uses watercolor, pastel, acrylic, mixed media, and alcohol ink to create her artwork. She will again open her studio, Oak View Studio, to visitors at W3985 Oak View Rd. in rural Tomahawk. Her studio is in the peaceful backwoods of Tomahawk where large oaks welcome guests. Her original creations and paintings range from vibrantly colored images to soft, subtle hues on canvas. Her studio is also open year-round by appointment.
37 artists to visit
A total of 37 artists are participating in this year’s Northwoods Art Tour, and visitors are welcome to follow their own free, self-guided tour to explore, discover, engage, shop, and enjoy original artwork and the artists who created it, on one or even all three of the tour days. Many artists will provide demonstrations and are also open to engaging conversations with the public. Learn about what inspires their art, their creative process, and how they go from imagining their work to finishing a piece.
Betty Christian’s unique jewelry designs in silver, copper, and gold are featured in her Rhinelander studio. Heading north on Hwy 17, check out Eagle River, where there is a cluster of five artists showcasing art quilting, unique wood-turned pieces, sterling silver jewelry, ceramics, stonework, and upcycled art pieces.
On Hwy 70, going west, there are several more artists in St. Germain, including a potter and printmaker and a hand weaver. Continue west to Hwy 51 and take a detour south and then west at Hazelhurst to see Jenny Gibson’s 100 year old sock machine, Phyllis Schuit’s quilted wall-hangings with hand embroidery, and David Barnhill’s nature photography.
Over in the Lac du Flambeau area, Christine Alfery’s studio features contemporary fine art, and at La De Da Gourds, Karen Caldwell sells hard-shell gourds. Lisa Opfer is a new member who creates whimsical pottery, and Jillayne and Jeff Waite create unique garden art and unusual indoor sculptures. Jack Stayer of Sand Lake Trading Co. creates stained & fused art glass, and Bob Kovar is a wildlife and landscape photographer.
In Boulder Junction, Sara Muender, owner of Moondeer Gallery, is a multimedia artist. Mary Burns of the Manitowish River Studio weaves on a unique hand-jacquard loom and has a new exhibit “Women and Water: Woven Portraits from around the World.”
Steve Klemann’s Land O’ Lakes area studio showcases his handcrafted furniture and is worth the drive. And that’s not all. There are more studios on the tour in the Boulder Junction, Mercer, and Manitowish area
Brochures with studio descriptions, driving directions, and a map are available at area businesses, chambers of commerce, and online at northwoodsarttour.com.
