“The Creative Drive” is a perfect name on many levels. It is fun, easy to remember, and it expresses so clearly what this event is about. Recently, I was renewing our domain name on the phone when the sales rep said, “that is such a great name, when you are done using it you will be able to sell it.” We don’t want to sell it, but where did it come from?

It was late winter in 2004 when four of us met at the Red Barn Café south of Baldwin for breakfast. Potter John Turula, painter Sheralyn Barnes,  musician Brian Barnes and myself  began to throw out ideas of how we could work together on a small spring art event. Our goal was to promote the work of local artists (ourselves at that point) and create a community art event that was fun for us and the public. It was unturned land and we just threw out seeds of ideas with no idea of where it was going to take us and which ones would grow.  (more…)

On an unusually warm winter day, I drove down a winding dead-end road, lined with majestic old trees, to glass artist Craig Campbell’s home and studio in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. I was welcomed by Craig in an expansive space, cheerfully interspersed with bright red glass pieces.

JLK: What are you working on these days?

CC: I just finished an edition of 310 cell phone holders. Oh no, there are 320! The cell phone holders look like little sculptures on the desk but then when you come to work, you just set your phone in the holder and the sculpture has become functional. I do a variety of kinds of work, everything from production, like the 320 cell phone pieces for a marketing company, to one of a kind pieces. The company that commissioned the cell phone holders prides themselves on being very creative. Every year we design an interesting new kind of piece – they have input and I have input. (more…)

I got this in an email the other day from Theresa Charpentier, one of our Creative Drive artists:

“Looking forward to spring already!”

Spring seems like a long way off as I write this. It was dark before 5PM and the temperature is heading towards zero tonight. I just want to eat and drink coffee and then go to bed. Right now spring seems farther away than last August. It is easy to put off today what we can do tomorrow and winter seems like a great time to live by that axiom. I know I can fall into that frame of mind.

But is spring really that far away? Not for an artist.

As a potter I have been surprised by spring many times. The production cycle of making pots runs six to eight weeks for me. A hundred or more pieces must be made, then given time to dry. This is followed by the firing process, which can run several weeks. In all from start to finish, with a few interruptions, I have to remember that it takes a long time to make a bunch of pots. The same goes for the other art mediums. I need to start making new work two to three months ahead of when I need it.

Theresa’s comment could mean that she is already tired of winter and is trying to “think spring.” But I don’t think so. I took her comment as a reminder to me that I cannot wait for the signs of spring to start making new work. I have to anticipate spring in the dead of winter if I am going to have some great new work done by the first weekend in May in time for the Creative Drive. I have a feeling that Theresa is way ahead of me on this.

If you would like to know what dragon eyes, writing books and leather have in common, then please join me in getting to know Charles Smith. Charles is an author and leather artist who has been living in the Baldwin area since 1990.  I met him one evening at his home in the woods of Western Wisconsin.

Jenelle:  What is the first piece that you remember making out of leather?

Charles:  A book binding.  I had written a novel, titled Dryad, for my kids.  My daughter, Soleil, who is now 16 years old, said she would like it in book form so I printed it out and stitched it together.  Then I bought some leather and made a binding out of it.  Soleil thought it was so cool, she helped me sign up to take some classes and learn more about working with leather.  I got started slowly and enjoyed it very much.  Every month I would buy a new tool and learn how to do something different.  That’s how I got started.
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My first time in the Color Crossing studio was on a bustling Saturday morning with well over a dozen people working on their particular projects. They were knitting, weaving, sewing or considering their next yarn purchase – which involves long meditations on colors and textures. My second time was on a peaceful fall day and the quiet atmosphere allowed all the beautiful pieces of art on the walls, racks and looms to shine. I was here to meet with Nancy Gavin. Nancy makes wearable art and has sold her art at Color Crossing for the Creative Drive for last three years.

Jenelle: What is the first thing that you remember making?

Nancy: I feel like I’ve been sewing forever!  The very first thing that I made was an apron when I was 9 or 10.  It was for 4H and my teacher was Mrs Kimble.  She was a very good teacher and insisted that every stitch be perfect, which meant things were torn out several times before they were right.  Ever since then, I have always sewn. (more…)

Spectrum West – WPR 88.3
2010

John Onkka is interviewed about the 7th Annual Creative Drive.

Listen to the interview here.

Eau Claire Leader
4/28/2010
Colfax Metal Sculptor to Participate in Art Tour. 
Read more…

Spectrum West – WPR 88.3
2008
Marty Pearson, potter, talks about his art, his home in northern Wisconsin, and the Creative Drive.

Listen to the interview here

Eau Claire Leader
5/1//2008
Nature Inspires Artist: Margy Jean Balwierz talks about her stoneware tiles.
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