Caledonia Argus

Bluff Country Studio Tour to feature local artists

Posted: 4/22/03

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

Local artists are opening their homes and putting their work on display for the 3rd Annual Bluff Country Studio Art Tour, held April 26-27 throughout the area.

The self-guided tour will feature a diverse array of art, including traditional mediums like pottery, painting, and photography, as well as more unique items like porcelain jewelry, handmade knives, and sculpted chopsticks.

Stretching as far north as Winona and as far south as Decorah, IA, the tour includes stops in Caledonia, Spring Grove, Houston, and La Crescent. Tour-goers are encouraged to go at their own pace, stop at as many of the 47 sites on the tour as they please, and take in the verdant springtime scenery as they traverse the region.

Ceramic sculpture in Caledonia

If, when meandering about a museum, your curiosity becomes piqued by a groove in a sculpture or a texture in a painting, and you cannot help but run your fingers over it, within seconds youíd be politely informed of your faux pas by a blaring security alarm and a phalanx of armed guards, who would kindly escort you to the nearest exit, after several hours of interrogation and full body searches.

Most art is to be seen and not touched. With Kelly Ohlís art, however, one can touch it without fearing the heavy hand of the law. The Caledonia artist actually encourages viewers to interact with the pieces, provided the interaction doesnít involve a power drill or buzzsaw.

ìThe work itself has a heightened sense of texture, an exaggeration of texture,î Ohl said, ìwhich is a way of communicating visually that itís okay to touch.î

Ruts and curves and stark color contrasts punctuate Ohlís collection of ceramic bowls, rattles, and wall installments, all of which were created with an electric kiln in the garage adjoining Ohlís apartment. Much of the work, she said, conveys a sense of abundance, as seen in the bowls overflowing with a surfeit of small, intricate sculptures.

Ohlís apartment doubles as her studio, and she encourages tour-goers to stop in and take advantage of the opportunity to gain a more intimate look at her work and the work of other area artists this weekend. ìItís a fun way to spend the day,î she said, ìand not too many artists open up their studios on a regular basis.î

Ohl is located in Caledonia at 109 North Gjere Avenue, Apartment #1.

An artistís approach to apparel

Lori Monson-Huus averages over 20 art shows a year, and she anticipates the show this weekend to be among the best. ìThereís going to be a wide mixture of work in a small area,î she said, ìso people will be able to have a nice drive and see some great artwork.î

Specializing in apparel made from silk fabrics and natural fibers, Monson-Huus creates scarves and blouses via a process of layered painting that can in some instances take many weeks.

She performs her craft while ensconced in her basement along Highway 26 just north of Reno. Her output is a diverse collection of loose-cut clothes that to the uninitiated look strikingly like the personal wardrobe of a geisha. Emphasizing pastel blends and focusing much of her creative attention on the drape of the fabric, the end result is comfortable clothing that pleases the eye.

Monson-Huus will showcase her work this weekend alongside eight other artists at the Sons of Norway Hall in Lanesboro.

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For more information on the tour, call 800-428-2030, or visit Historic Bluff Countryís website at www.bluffcountry.org.

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