Supporter: Ace Communications Group

Ace Communications Group

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.

Call for Artists

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.

Mike Knox - Potter

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

Supporter: Country Trails Inn and Suites

In addition to featuring our artists, we'd like to highlight our business sponsors. Thank you so much to all of our friends and supporters including...

www.countrytrailsinn.com

countrytrailsinn@rconnect.com

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 


Mary Singer

Name: Mary Singer
Website: www.msingerart.com
Email: msingart@hbci.com

What kind of art do you make? paintings and prints
When did you start creating art? 30 years ago
How did you get started? doing commissions
What inspires you? life
How did you develop your style? by trying everything
How did you learn? by doing
How do you work best? in my studio on a commission or a subject that inspires me
How do you approach a new piece? Depends
What have you learned? lots, that I can do more with a positive attitude
How do you fit art into your personal/family life? Art is what I AM not what I do
Where do you work? in my studio
What is your favorite thing about creating? Seeing the finished product and liking it
Have you ever done public art, community art, worked with children, etc…? yes
Do you offer classes? yes
Why do you enjoy the art tour? meeting the p[eople
Art Tour location: Corner of Third and North Baker St. 125 North Baker St. People who are downtown can just go West on Third till they come to my corner.



My work involves many subjects and various media. I work primarily in oil on canvas and
board but I also work in acrlylic, mixed media, watercolor, pencil, pastels, colored pencil and pen and ink. I enjoy capturing the spirit of the subject. Portraying people, especially when that entails working from old photos, is a challenge that I always welcome. Pets are a favorite subject because I have always had a heart for them. Equine portraiture is a first love for me. Nature , scenic, flower trees and wildlife stirs my soul. Whether I am portraying a person , home or nature I am always driven to put ‘life’ into it.

My methods involve intense study of the subject. Ideally , I go to the client and observe, sketch and take my own photos. Observing the subject and doing life sketches ia always my first choice. I always do value sketches , working with the client to involve them in the process to assure satisfaction. I reach a point where I leave it alone for a while then go back to it with a “ fresh eye “ .

My work is primarily realistic but I employ impressionistic methods too. Mixing media is also enjoyable and allows me to add another dimension to the panting.. The area I live in is all the motivation I need. I take many of my photos of the Upper Mississippi River and the surrounding area. Many of my scenic paintings are area streams and backwaters.
Water is a theme that appears repeatedly in my work. My faith as a Christian is reflected in the constant use of and appreciation for nature. The Upper Midwest is one of the most
Beautiful anywhere.

I have a studio at my home and sell my work at galleries and gift shops, art shows and the Internet. Minnesota artists at mnartists.org and wildlifeartlink.com are just a couple of the links that I am associated with. I have fine art prints of animals in limited and open editions. My designs are being reproduced on etched mirrors by Master Visions of Minneapolis,MN, www.mastervisions.com , clothing and various other products. I have work at Wildes Art Gallery in Tomah, WI, Picadilly Gallery and Frame , Minn.City, MN among others. Please call, write or e-mail me for further information or you may order direct from my web site.

Lanesboro Art Center

Name: Lanesboro Arts Center

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.

Bluff Country Art Tour 2010 a success!

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!