Spring Art Crawl in Ellison Bay Gives a Sneak Peak

Art is blooming all over Ellison Bay this spring! Seven galleries in Ellison Bay open wide their studios and galleries to art lovers and collectors Saturday, May 17 and Sunday May 18 from 10 am – 5 pm. Each gallery will hold a drawing for a beautiful work of art and hold special events, which may include demonstrations, refreshments, wine tasting, book signings. Maps and information are available at each gallery.

Clay Bay Pottery Gallery, 11650 Highway 42, just south of Ellison Bay, features new Floral and Fauna designs on classical forms by David and Jeanne Aurelius. New hand built forms influenced by David’s travels abroad will be demonstrated on Saturday. A drawing for a beautiful bowl will be going on both Saturday and Sunday. "Blossom" punch, wine, and appetizers will be served.

Linden Gallery, 12001 Hwy 42, downtown Ellison Bay, will open with lots of new antiques, original art, artifacts, textiles, jewelry and stories from Jeanee and Brian Linden’s new Cultural Centre and Retreat in China, which opened March 23 this year. The Lindens hosted their first painting group at the centre April 1 – 22.

Cousin’s Walk, 11940 Lakeview Road, up from Mink River Rd., showcases Marcy Farber’s one of a kind original designs. Her style is a combination of country, folk and decorative influences painted on furniture, wall pieces, clothing, old enamelware and more. Marcy will paint on anything and will demonstrate that during the weekend. Refreshments offered.

Turtle Ridge Studio Gallery, 11736 Mink River Rd. Mary Ellen Sisulak offers: her new handbag line in spring colors; a new wine, Turtle Ridge Kunstantino Alphonso Red; noted architect, poet and boat builder Ralph Murre, reading from his new book of poetry, Psalms, on Sat. 1 – 3 pm; and a new line of Green Garments, dresses made from recycled tees.

The Savory Spoon Cooking School & Marketplace, Hwy 42, (next door to the Newport House Gallery) offers hands-on classes designed for the home cook to learn by experience. The marketplace has treasures from around the world.

Newport House Gallery, 12044 Highway 42, is enticingly full of original contemporary folk art. Carol Lango and Jan Jenkins are celebrating their 28th year in Door County. Artist William Hemmerling is featured with his “The Heart of Gold.” Artist Terrell Powell is new this year with his painting “The Rooster.” Also discover sculpture, decoys, baskets and lighting.

Gills Rock Stoneware, 12012 Lakeview Rd. (across from the Newport House Gallery). Thor and Judy Thoreson have found one more way to use fire: their new wood fired brick oven, which will bake bread and/or pizza for special events. New in the gallery are large baking dishes with decorative handles, artfully displayed with the other fine functional and decorative pottery and fine home accessories.

Ellison Bay Pottery Gallery, 12156 Garrett Bay Road (1/2 mile north of Hwy. 42, across from The Clearing), opens the season with the exhibit “Father & Son: Color & Light” – paintings of Ellison Bay by the late Thomas Dietrich and Door County ‘Art for Everyday’ functional pottery by his son John; Pit Fired Ceramic Art; wine provided by Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery.

The Clearing Folk School & Jens Jensen Visitor Center, Garrett Bay Road (entrance on the left before Ellison Bay Pottery) is a ‘folk school’ for adults and offers classes in the arts, fine crafts, humanities and natural sciences. Special bookstore hours are 10 am – 5 pm both days. Fresh cookies. Demos Saturday 1 – 4 pm by the Andersons: Vickie on Rug Hooking & Craig on Grain Painting. The entire campus is open to the public from noon – 4 pm both days.