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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Art enthusiasts can walk the ‘walk’ downtown

Keith Vandervort
Posted 2/3/16

ELY – A winter tradition in Ely is marking 17 years in 2016. As a companion event to the Ely Winter Festival, the ArtWalk has become a traditional event that draws visitors from across the state, …

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Art enthusiasts can walk the ‘walk’ downtown

Posted

ELY – A winter tradition in Ely is marking 17 years in 2016. As a companion event to the Ely Winter Festival, the ArtWalk has become a traditional event that draws visitors from across the state, during the city’s celebration of winter, now through Feb.14.

The Ely ArtWalk has grown into a unique indoor and outdoor showcase the amazing talent of nearly 70 adult artists and more than 200 young art enthusiasts from kindergarten through high school. “Nineteen new adult artists will bring their creativity into the public eye this year,” said coordinator Steve Voiles.

“The event is a non-competitive and non-profit display of the vast array of talent embodied by those who live in Ely or have significant connections with the Ely community,” he said.

Beginning this week, and running through the 10 days of the Ely Winter Festival, art lovers and tourists can enjoy a window-shopping exhibition of more than 400 unique pieces of art on display in the windows of 42 businesses in downtown Ely.

Exhibits include oil, acrylic, and watercolor painting, quilting, fiber arts (knitting, felting, crochet, and thread arts), mixed media, sculpture from found materials, wood block and linoleum prints, photography, basketry, silver jewelry, pencil and ink drawing, fine woodwork and frame making, ceramics, and both functional and decorative pottery.

“Many visitors and locals alike will celebrate this bright spot in the midwinter as they walk the ‘Walk’ and shop the windows of Ely businesses,” he said.

An ArtWalk opener, where art enthusiasts can meet the artists, will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, from 1-4 p.m. at the Ely Folk School, 209 E. Sheridan St. in Ely.

All of the art on display is for sale after the exhibit. “One-hundred percent of all sales go directly to the artists,” Voiles said. To arrange a purchase, call Lisa Pekuri, at 218-235-3295. “She will put you in contact with the artist,” he said.

Art lovers will be able to attend two other events on Saturday. The Northern Lakes Arts Association will host a Craft Fair, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the former VFW Building at 2 W. Sheridan Street. Ely Greenstone Public Arts will host the Fabulous February Fun Arts and Crafts Fair at Miners Dry House from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Ely ArtWalk is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council with funds from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature in accordance with money from a vote by the people of Minnesota, and by grants from the Gardner Humanities Trust and the Ely Chamber of Commerce. “Additional support came from the Ely Winter Festival and the generosity of individuals in the community and area businesses,” Voiles said.

CUTLINES

Dayna Mase and Brittany Foster set up a display for the 2016 Ely Art Walk Saturday morning at the Ely Folk School, Mercahnts around town will display art in the front windows through Feb. 14. Photo by K. Vandervort

Ely artist Roy Misonznick hangs his display in the front window of Serena’s Carpets on Chapman Street this week in preparation for the Ely ArtWalk.

Ely artists Claire Taylor, Lynn Hall and Sandy Brandley have their display at J & L Hardware and Ben Franklin store.

ART WALK LOCATIONS AND ARTISTS

Piragis Northwoods Co.,105 N. Central Ave.

Nancy Hernesmaa, Heidi Pinkerton, ArAnn Schuler Santo

Taste of Ely, 117 N. Central Ave.

Carl Skustad

Ely Surplus & Outdoor Shop, 129 N. Central Ave.

David Bixler, Cathryn Peters, Margaret Schumacher

Mealey’s Gift and Sauna Shop, 124 N. Central Ave.

Brittany Foster, Ann Rasberry

Brandenburg Gallery. 11 E. Sheridan St.

Michael and Kathy Brennan

Hand Done T-Shirts, 15 E. Sheridan St.

Helen Cusack

Dee’s Bar, 17 E. Sheridan St.

Robert Conzemius

The Haircut Shop, 27 E. Sheridan St.

Hailey Worth

Steger Mukluks, 33 E. Sheridan St.

Cecilia Rolando, Nancy Scheibe, Dea Whitten

BoatHouse Brew Pub & Restaurant, 47 E. Sheridan St.

Larry Rude

Pottery Shop, 127 E. Sheridan St.

Wade Pharr, Linda Trapkus

Roots, 129 E. Sheridan St.

Ken Hupila

Pengals Basswood Trading Co., 137 E. Sheridan St.

Suzanne Hammons, John Kauppila, Linda Lenich

Insula Restaurant, 145 E. Sheridan St.

Tom McDonald

Wintergreen Northern Wear, 205 E. Sheridan St.

Jackpine Bob Cary

Ely Folk School, 209 E. Sheridan St.,

Autumn Cole, Ely High School art students

Plum Bun Bakery, 402 E. Sheridan St.

Andrea Balsimo

JD Mills , 230 E. Sheridan St.

Bonnie DuFresne, Nancy Keranen

Timber Ridge Trading Company, 228 E. Sheridan St.

Keran Flynn-Kroska, Jennie Ivezic

Ely Steakhouse, 216 E. Sheridan St.

Marc and Barb Farley

Goodwill/Sheridan St., 206 E. Sheridan St.

Kristin Williams

J&L Hardware/Ben Franklin

Sandy Brandley, Lynn Hill, Claire Taylor

Serena’s Carpet, 114 E. Chapman St.

Roy Misonznick, Richard Kuzma

Wells Fargo Bank, 104 E. Chapman St.

Jeanne Bourquin, Carol Bowman, Sarah Guy Levar

Merhar’s, Ace Hardware,48 E. Chapman St.

Viv Mueller, Nicole Putman, Eric Sherman

Ely Design Works, 9 E. Chapman St.

Betty Firth, Joe Vito Maubry

Ely Echo, 15 E. Chapman

Nora Wildgen-White

Dr. Scott Anderson, 33 E. Chapman,

Holly Rom

Don Sovil’s State Farm Insurance, 35 E. Chapman St.

Brittany Schwarz

NAPA Auto Parts, 45 E. Chapman St.

Ely Elementary and Middle School art students

WELY, 133 E. Chapman St.

KJ Kerns

Kess Gallery,130 E. Sheridan St.

Arnie Markl

Mary’s Spinning Wheel,126 E. Sheridan St.

Heart of the Woods Quilt Guild

Up North Jobs, 102 E. Sheridan St.

AmberBeth VanNingen

Northern Expressions, 48 E. Sheridan St.

Ray and Rose Theilbar

Frontier Communications, 22 E. Sheridan St.

Pamela J. Davis

Jasper Company Bake Shop, 112 W. Sheridan St.

Griffin’s Elementary Art Students/Community Education

Art Corner, 301 W. Sheridan St.

Dafne Caruso and Art Corner Kids