Arts Awakening

“Field Sunflower” by Ruth Sandor.

For Ruth Sandor and Erl Sandstrom, retirement to Door County meant an awakening and reawakening to the creative arts. They are the Door County Art League’s featured artists for Aug. 1 – 7.

Art has been part of Sandor’s life since she began taking art and design courses at the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign in the 1950s. After retiring in 1997, Sandor established a second home in Door County and rekindled her interest in drawing and painting. She describes herself as a representational artist with a particular interest in plein air watercolor painting. “I try to suppress the urge to be too careful, which is hard for me to do,” says Sandor.

When he retired in 2003 and moved to Door County, Sandstrom took up photography as a way of celebrating and preserving the stunning scenery he encountered on the peninsula. Through classes at the Peninsula School of Art and the The Clearing Folk School, he was able to hone his technique and better capture the character of the county. With his good computer skills he was able to embrace digital photography and use it to convey the concepts, moods, and emotions generated by the Door County vistas.

“Visitor” by Erl Sandstrom.

The gallery is located in the courtyard of the Top of the Hill Shops in Fish Creek at Spring Road and Highway 42. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, 11 am to 3 pm. For more information visit doorcountyartleague.org.