July 19, 2017 at 3:39 p.m.
Area studios to participate in 2017 Northwoods Art Tour
Area studios to participate in 2017 Northwoods Art Tour
By Kayla Thomason-
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
This year there will be 33 artists participating, which matches the 2013 record for number of artists.
This year's lineup includes three new artists: Dianne's Frame Shoppe in Rhinelander, a gallery that features regional artists; RK Photo Art in Eagle River, where Robert Koch will have his landscape and wildlife photographs on display; and The Art Nut, where Nancy Paquet will have her pastels, colored pencil and acrylic portraits, landscapes and some abstract work on display.
Because people who take the tour don't visit all of the artists it's hard to tell how many people participate in the event, but Ann Waisbrot, public relations coordinator for the Northwoods Art Tour, estimates the number is in the thousands.
"Personally I get over 200 people, but these guests do not necessarily go to all studios as many people pick a region for each tour and do that area," she said. "Others pick an area of interest and visit all potters, all woodwork for example, so with 33 studios at 200 each that's 6,600 people but most people go to more than one studio. There may be easily over 2,000 to 3,000 individuals."
Waisbrot said guests have told her the variety and quality of the artwork is what draws them to the event.
"They enjoy the opportunity to meet the artists and see where they live and work," Waisbrot said. "All the artists are demonstrating and people like see the works in progress and each artist's process. We can discuss what inspires our process and our work, answer questions about materials used, share stories of the work and people's response to the work. It is fun to see repeat visitor and meet new ones."
Waisbrot's favorite thing about the tour is interacting with the guests.
"(I enjoy) the personal contact with people who enjoy art," she said. "Seeing their response to the paintings, hearing their memories of the Northwoods experience as children or impression if they are new to the area. Many people schedule vacation time so it coincides with the tour, some wander in because they saw a sign. There is a youth camp that brings students to the studio each year. I have had groups that go to a different art tour around the state each year."
Not only has she had out-of-state visitors, Waisbrot has seen locals and return visitors. She encourages neighbors and anyone else to take a break and tour some of the studio, learn about the techniques used or a style of art with which they were unfamiliar.
The free tour works its way through Vilas, Oneida, Iron, Langlade and Lincoln counties.
Maps and brochures for the event are located at area chamber of commerces, many businesses, tourist brochure racks and online at www.northwoodsarttour.com.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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