Find new studios, artists at Art Leap 2019

Art Leap, an "open studio event" featuring artists and guest artists, will offer 20 sites and feature more than 65 artists and musicians at studios and other locations in Hubbard, Becker and Wadena counties.

The event will be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28 and 29. Studios will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

It's a great time to purchase original art for your home, office or as gifts and meet the artist who created it.

As you drive from studio to studio you can expect to see fall colors at their peak. At some studios and other sites, visitors will find artists doing demonstrations, hear live music and enjoy treats. Brochures will be available in mid-August at the Park Rapids Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, Park Rapids Area Library and other locations and at http://www.prlaac.org.

Three new sites will be part of this year's event.

The Hubbard County Developmental Achievement Center (DAC) will be showing work created by clients working with local artists Nate Luetgers and Marsha Wolf. Art here will include mosaics, paintings and murals, woodworking and rugs made using recycled materials. Client artists will be available to discuss their work and the experience. Visitors also are invited to see a new sculpture created out of reused materials located at the Salvage Depot at 320 Career Path (Highway 34 east, north of the AmericInn).

Sandy Fynboh Andress will return after a two-year hiatus. She is currently focusing on her original love of glass beads and small sculptural works. Using a torch and a few simple tools, she creates art beads and floral sculptures from both Effetre and borosilicate glass. These techniques include scientific glass blowing processes using boro tubing, murine cane making in soft glass and much more. Guest artist Dianne Poncelet will be displaying her floral abstracts in acrylic. Sandy will be doing demonstrations at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday. Dianne will be demoing her techniques at noon Saturday. Visitors will be able to try making layered backgrounds at an activity table.

Mary Follett is opening her studio at Bad Medicine Lake for Art Leap visitors. A retired art teacher, she uses meaningful objects given to her to include in artworks she has done for family and friends. Her mediums are found object assemblages and paper mȃche. Some of her artworks have been influenced from winter trips to Mexico. Her sister, Barb Christiansen, will be a guest. She does fiber arts and metal works, weaving and knitting and may bring her spinning wheel and spin.

In addition to new locations, several studios who have participated in past years will host new guest artists and new works that will interest first time and returning visitors. Live performances also are scheduled at several sites both days.

Forestedge Winery and Gallery near Laporte also invites guests on the tour.

Heartland Arts (formerly Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council) sponsors Art Leap with funding provided, in part, by a Region 2 Arts Council Grant through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by Minnesota voters on Nov. 4, 2008.