Local Artists Host Studio Tour to Connect Community to Art, Autumn
Falling Leaves Art Studio Tour celebrates 20 years of hosting the event this year
In rolling hills of oak, birch, and maple trees looming with colors of orange, yellow, and red, autumn in the Chippewa Valley is nothing short of spectacular. Amongst the trees, a few artists gathered to create the Falling Leaves Art Studio Tour with the hope of connecting to more people interested in art and were unaware of the studios located out in the countryside. In a curated list that changes yearly, folks can join this tour to find new treasures and enjoy the falling leaves.
20 years ago, Rozan Henning and Susan Koehler, local artists, came together to create the studio tour. Rozan felt that while showcasing her art did bring support, people might be more interested to see the full process in her home studio. The solution to getting people out there? Susan Koehler helped her to create the Falling Leaves Art Studio Tour as we know it!
Slated for Sept. 30, 9am-6pm, and Oct. 1, 10am-5pm, artists will be ready for folks to join them in their studio. Some locations feature multiple guest artists, some are handicap accessible, and all will have art for sale. A self-guided tour featuring 29 total artists, interested people can go to any or all of the 15 stops. On a map provided by the tour, downloadable from their website, locations with a "D" include an artist demonstration, locations with an "R" have restrooms, and locations with an "F" feature food.
“(On the tour) you can experience oil, acrylic, watercolor paintings … glass, unique, hand-thrown stoneware, pottery, rustic metal art, beautiful beaded jewelry, fiber art … garden art … landscape and wildlife photos, there are children’s books, illustrations …. There’s a lot of different artists and unique talents,” Wendy Campbell, an artist within the tour, explained.
With pumpkin patches and pond rest stops along the way, the art tour is more than an autumn experience. It is an opportunity to support local artists before the holidays, to see more of our community, and to get outside!
Learn more about each artist and download the map here: fallingleavesarttour.com. Maps can also be found at many local businesses or grocery stores in town.