Business Name: RiverStar, Inc.
Website: www.riverstarinc.com
Email: cbraun@riverstarinc.com
Address and Directions: 1705 Wilkie Dr. Winona, MN
Hours: 7:30 am – 5pm
Phone: (507) 452-5109
What services does your business provide? Contract Order Fulfillment, Distribution, Vendor Managed Inventory, Repair & Reconditioning, Logistics Expertise, Warehousing
History of your company? Established in 1995
How did you get started? It all started with a Community Education class. My sister and I had always wanted to try working with clay and the time was right in our lives to do it. We took a local Community Education class and both knew we wanted to continue. From there we began taking classes at the Edina Art Center. My sister’s life has taken her in a different direction, but I’ve been fortunate enough to continue on my path at my home studio.
How did you learn? Through lots of trial and error! Testing, testing and re-testing. And I love to attend workshops as I believe participation gets you thinking about using techniques and skills you may not have considered without the peer interaction.
How do you work best? I work best alone and under pressure. I’m always running the kiln just a few days before a show or event to have what feels like a suitable amount of inventory for the show. I’m not sure if I’m a procrastinator or just have unrealistic expectations of my workload.
How do you approach a new piece? I like to let the idea roll around in my head for a while. Think about it, think some more and then let it percolate. At some point I’ll try a new piece, discovered the flaws of my original plan and begin to formulate a new plan. I keep that cycle going until I come up with a design that works both aesthetically and functionally.
What have you learned? I’ve learned that science still isn’t one of my strong subjects. The “how” and “why” things work the way they do in pottery isn’t as interesting to me. There is lots of science that goes into creating certain reactions between glaze and clays to make a piece wonderful or just so-so. I prefer to think of the things that work out as happy coincidence and then try to recreate the components. What can I say, that’s just the way my brain works.
How do you fit art into your personal/family life? I work fulltime as a project manager for a utility so art mostly fits into my evenings and weekends. My kids are grown and busy with lives of their own so other demands on me are pretty minimal. Being a creative person though, does enhance my problem solving skills on the job so I guess I just practice a different kind of art there. Occasionally, I do find my mind toying with a new pottery project while looking over a set of roadway construction plans, but don’t tell my employer!!
Where do you work? I am fortunate enough to have two studio spaces to work in. One is at our house in Farmington and the other is at our farm near Lanesboro. Each space has benefits, but my favorite by far is the farm studio. The location is peaceful and the area is very beautiful. The plants and textures of the area give me lots of ideas for designs on pots.
What is your favorite thing about creating? I love to make large bowls. There is just something about the full robust shape of a large bowl that I can’t resist making them.
Do you offer classes? I don’t offer classes. I’ve considered it occasionally, but in the end neither of my studio spaces are that large and they’re hard to share. Maybe sometime in the future, but right now I kind of like the solitude of my studio time.
Why do you enjoy the art tour? The people. You get one on one time with just about everybody who stops. I like hearing their stories and finding out about them. By the time the tour is over, I’ve collected nearly as many business cards as I’ve given out. My second favorite part – during the tour, I have an arrangement with the Highland Store to make our breakfast and lunch as well as provide treats for those visiting. Their Blueberry Pancakes are to die for!! During the tour I get to have delicious meals and snacks and don’t have to make any of them. It’s a perfect arrangement.
What kind of art do you make? Wood fired pottery
When did you start creating art? Nate-in high school, Hallie-in college
How did you get started? Apprenticeship from 1997-99 with Mark Hewitt in Pittsboro, NC
What inspires you? Traditional pots from around the world, living in a beautiful spot
How did you develop your style? Our style has evolved over years of making pots, looking at and using other pots every day.
How did you learn? Classes in high school, Luther College and our apprenticeship
How do you work best? Doing different things each day; spending some time in the shop with the pots, some time outside doing the more physical work, like moving wood, cleaning kiln shelves, etc.
How do you approach a new piece? It's always fun to make a new shape. Often we start something new, but don't get what we are thinking of for a few cycles of making that particular shape
What have you learned? Even though it can be incredibly hard to make a living as an artist, there is nothing else we'd like to do
How do you fit art into your personal/family life? It is linked to family in every way-we both work together, our son plays around in the shop while we work.
Where do you work? Our workshop in NE Iowa
What is your favorite thing about creating? It's rewarding to see something functional coming from a simple material like clay.
Why do you enjoy the art tour? It brings people to our shop/kiln/home that wouldn't otherwise be able to find us, at the end of a dead end road. We love to be able to share how and where we work with people, and seeing our kiln really helps to get a connection to the pots--why they look the way they do, and where they come from. We fire our kiln over the tour weekend, so that's always an exciting thing for people to see.
Location- 2856 Blair Rd, New Albin, IA 52160
From Hwy 76, 2 miles south of Eitzen, MN, turn Left onto Church Rd. Go about 2 miles, Left on Golden Ridge. About 2 miles, Left on Sleepy Hollow. Go about 1 mile, Left on Blair Rd. 1/2 mile down Blair, left over cement culverts, then an immediate right onto private driveway. We are about 20 miles from Lansing, IA; Waukon, IA; Spring Grove, MN; Caledonia, MN.
Business Name: The Inn at Sacred Clay Farm B&B
Website: sacredclayfarmbandb.com
Email: sacredclayfarm@acegroup.cc
Address and Directions: 23234 Grosbeak Rd. Lanesboro, MN 55949
Take Hwy. 16 west (from Spring Grove). Go past the BP station and the Chat and Chew in Lanesboro, out of town toward the west, about 1 mile. Turn left at the sign for the DNR State Fish Hatchery - Grosbeak Rd. You'll be on pavement for 1/4 mile, then take a sharp left on the gravel road. We are 1 mile down on the left.
Hours: We are open all year round. Check our availability on our website!
Phone: 507-467-9600; or 1-866-326-8618 toll-free
What services does your business provide? We are a full service bed and breakfast, serving gourmet breakfasts complete with organic coffees and teas. The Inn has 5 guests rooms, with a variety of amenities and many beautiful common spaces, both inside and out. We have 2 1/2 miles of groomed hiking trails on the property, in addition to a formal garden and a trout stream. It's a peaceful and relaxing get-away as we don't have televisions or computer hook-ups in the guest rooms.
History of your company? We opened in the winter of 2005. The Inn is a large post-and-beam structure - lots of exposed wood and windows to let in natural light!
Any other info that might be of interest to visitors of the art tour? We have many accessories and pieces of art that were purchased fair trade, from other countries, in addition to locally-made pieces. We also have a gift cart for our guests, stocked with locally made articles.
Name: Roger L. Meyer
Website: www.turnedtowood.com
Email: ttwmeyer@acegroup.cc
What kind of art do you make? functional turned wood
When did you start creating art? approximately 6 years ago - 2004
How did you get started? I have a background in building construction and have always had a passion for wood.
What inspires you? Figured woods and unusual shapes/designs
How did you develop your style? Trial and error - where there is a need, thre must be a solution.
How did you learn? By always looking for something different.
How do you work best? By working on many pieces at the same time.
How do you approach a new piece? How best to not disturb but rather save and accent the natural beauty and shape of the tree.
What have you learned? That wood is a medium which is always different, always changing and totally unpredictable.
How do you fit art into your personal/family life? My wife assists me by doing all the marketing and necessary documentation.
Where do you work? I have a workshop in a separate building close to our residence.
What is your favorite thing about creating? Solving the mysteries of wood - cutting into a new log.
Why do you enjoy the art tour? Talking to people who enjoy my artwork - even if they don't buy anything.
Where are you located? My home/workshop is located at 8458 Union Ridge Drive in rural Hokah, MN. We're very easy to find - out in the country 3 & 1/2 miles off Hwy 44 between Hokah and Caledonia. During the tour, we are at the Lanesboro Community Center.
Website: www.acegroup.cc
Email: info@acegroup.cc
Address and Directions: 207 East Cedar Street, Houston, MN 55943 (large, gray building on Cedar Street which is Hwy 16)
Hours: 8 am to 5:30 pm
Phone: 888.404.4940
What services does your business provide? Ace Communications Group provides local and long distance telephone service, high-speed Internet access, digital TV service, and is an authorized retailer for Verizon Wireless service.
History of your company? Ace Communications Group is a member-owned cooperative serving 19 communities in southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa since 1950. Ace also operates wholly-owned subsidiaries in Mesick, Michigan; Allendale, Michigan; and Caledonia, Minnesota. The company was formed after World War II when telephone service in rural, southeast Minnesota was very inadequate. At that time, most of the telephone lines in operation were owned and operated by groups of farmers. I
n 1949, a group of farmers representing many small telephone companies met to discuss improving rural telephone service. This meeting led to the formation of the Fillmore County Telephone Cooperative in 1950. Beginning in July 1951, the company made its first acquisition of 104 customers in Ostrander. It continued to grow through acquisitions and now serves customers in southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and western Michigan. The company changed its name to Ace Telephone Association in 1956. And, it began doing business as Ace Communications Group in 1999 to better reflect the
full range of communications services offered.
Any other info that might be of interest to visitors of the art tour? Ace is dedicated to the residents and businesses it serves and is proud to give back to these communities. In 2000, the Ace Scholarship Fund was established to award a
$1,000 scholarship to 15 deserving high school seniors in our serving areas. To date, Ace has given $165,000 in scholarships. Ace also makes donations to area schools and organizations; benefits; and community events. Ace employees also volunteer their time and talents in many of these communities.
The 2010 Bluff Country Studio Art Tour was a great success. But we're not resting on our laurels... we're getting ready for next year! If you are an area artist or gallery please consider applying to be part of the 2011 Tour.
Download the letter & application (pdf). Deadline is August 6, 2010.
Name: Mike Knox Knox Studios 2, Strawberry Point , Iowa
Website: www.mikeknoxstudio.com
Email: studio2@mikeknoxstudio.com
What kind of art do you make? Woodfired ceramics
When did you start creating art? As a child
How did you get started? Received my MFA in 2001
What inspires you? British sculptors, antiques, and traditional pots
How did you develop your style? Hard work
How did you learn? BFA from Kent State , MFA from UW-Madison
How do you work best? Making a lot of work, drawing, sculpture, pots, etc
How do you approach a new piece? With zeal
What have you learned? Get into the studio everyday regardless if you make something or not
How do you fit art into your personal/family life? Art is my personal life and encompasses my family on every level
Where do you work? My studio along with teaching at the university part-time
What is your favorite thing about creating? It fills an instinctive need
Do you offer classes? We offer drawing classes, paper making classes, and ceramic workshops…go to our website and subscribe to our BLOG for updates www.mikenoxstudio.com
Why do you enjoy the art tour? I like to reach out to people and share the wonderful communication of the arts
Country Trails Inn and Suites, 809 Highway 52 North, Preston , MN 55965, just west of intersection of hwy 52 and 17….and about a ½ mile east of hwy 52 & 16
We are open 24 hours, 365 days a year. We have 40 rooms, continental breakfast, pool & spa….includes 6 whirlpool suites. Hotel was est. 8/26/1996…..we are a non-smoking facility
Kevin Zuck Manager Country Trails Inn & Suites 809 Highway 52 North Preston, MN. 55965 (507) 765-2533 FAX (507) 765-4450 Toll Free (888) 378-2896
Website: www.lanesboroarts.org
Email: gallery@lanesboroarts.org
What kind of art do you sell? We represent over 80 local and regional artists who create work out of wood, paintings, fiber, jewelry, metal, ceramics, stone, photography, glass, etc
When were you founded? We are a non profit art center started 1993
How did you get started? A group of artists got together and decided the area needed an art center
Robbie Brokken manages the gallery. Robbie, what inspires you about LAC? Teaching the community about the arts, and helping artists sell their work.
What have you learned? We’ve learned that people from all walks of life appreciate hand made work and want to enjoy the artwork in their personal surroundings as well as viewing it in a public venue.
How do you fit art into your personal/family life? Those of us that work at the Lanesboro Arts Center have a passion for our work. It has always been and always will be our life style.
Where are you located? We are located in Lanesboro, MN, 103 Parkway Avenue North, Lanesboro, MN 55949, (507) 467-2446
Have you ever done public art, community art, worked with children, etc…? We have programs working with local school children, adult classes, artist residencies, public art projects and programming dance, theater, documentary film, music and local community theater and school events.
Do you offer classes? Periodically we offer adult art classes. Please check our website for information
Why do you enjoy the art tour? We love the art tour. It’s a very pleasant weekend filled with people loving art and having fun.
Thank you all for coming out to the Bluff Country Studio Art tour this year! It was nice to see so many people! We are starting this new blog for you, the visitors. Here you will find artist interviews, news about our supporters and more! Thanks for stopping by, and we hope to see you again at this blog!
