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Sandi Pillsbury Gredzens
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The Lake Superior 20/20 Studio Art Tour will highlight 20 artists in a 20-mile loop along Highway 61 in Minnesota. Sandi Pillsbury Gredzens' wildflower oil painting "Trillium" is one of many works that will be displayed during the last two weekends of September.
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Val Bolen
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A mosaic done by Val Bolen.
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Rose Kadera Vastila
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A sculpture by Rose Kadera Vastila.
While you’re out savoring the crisp air and fall colors near Lake Superior in September, you can step inside to see its influence on local artists, who are offering a tour of studios from Duluth and Two Harbors.
This is the second year for the Lake Superior 20/20 Studio Art Tour off Highway 61 Expressway and along various side roads. Seven sites are on the tour. Ceramic and pottery artist Rose Kadera Vastila’s studio about 8 miles inland from Lake Superior is one of those sites.
“I say that I’m inspired by the woods that I live in,” says Rose, who goes on daily hikes.
Her intriguing sculptures could represent a tree, a person, or both. She calls them “figurative and woodsy.” Rose also makes functional pottery – mugs, bowls and urns.
At Rose’s studio you can also see the work of painter Sandi Pillsbury Gredzens. Her “Trillium,” a wildflower oil painting, appears to be largely white and green. But a closer look reveals other subtle colors, such as traces of red that are applied by placing layer over layer in a process called glazing.
Sandi has painted flowers for 20 years and also chooses subjects such as waterfalls and Lake Superior landscapes. For the tour, Sandi is a guest artist at Rose’s studio, along with husband David Gredzens and his landscape photography. Elsie Cook’s oil, pastel and watercolor paintings also will be displayed there.
Artist Cynthia Lovold, who with Rose started the art tour, says that she and her husband, Bruce, make their pottery together. “He throws and I applique, glaze and hand paint on many of the pieces …”
The tour’s name derives from having 20 artists in a 20-mile loop, and the idea is to showcase artists who don’t have a storefront. The variety of artwork includes glass sculpture, wood turning, glass blowing, print making, jewelry, watercolors and mosaics.
Visitors will find demonstrations at most stops, and there will be refreshments and music at many sites. The tour will be well marked on Highway 61 with bright green signs. A map is available online.
“We’re just trying to let people know that there’s a lot of art up here and a lot of talented people,” says Sandi, who helped organize the tour.
Lake Superior 20/20 Studio Art Tour, Duluth to Two Harbors, Sept. 20-22 and 27-29. Details about artists and a map are at www.lakesuperior2020.com.