Art in Bloom – Door County Pulse

The Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair. Submitted.

Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair set for May 25-26

Certain subjects seem to catch artists’ attention more than others. If you need proof of that, just think – how many times have you seen a painting of a sunset (or a boat, or a lake, or a tree)? Personally, I’ve seen more than I can count (though to be fair, my job reporting on Door County’s art scene has exposed me to more plein-air paintings than the average person.)

Hartford, Wisconsin-based metalsmith Herb Johnson created this massive metal flower a few years ago, hand-cutting and hand-forging each petal and leaf. The finished product is about 5 feet across and 10 feet tall. Johnson’s other larger-than-life sculptures include dragonflies, fish, spiders and hummingbirds. Photo courtesy of Herb Johnson. 

Regardless of how common a certain subject is in the art world, every artist puts their own spin on it during the creation process. If you lined up a dozen painters in front of the same sunset, they’d all make something different. 

Here, we can see that effect in action. 

This flower design was hand-drawn and hand-cut with a jewelers’ saw in sterling silver, then riveted with copper, according to Alicia Randazzo of Oreb Lram Fine Casual Jewelry. Situated on the south shore of Lake Superior, the jeweler uses gemstones, metal, Austrian crystals and glass to craft unique designs. Photo courtesy of Alicia Randazzo.

In advance of Sturgeon Bay’s 26th-annual Fine Art Fair, I asked a lineup of participating artists for examples of their work that all focus on the same subject: flowers. What I got back from them was a fields’-worth of unique work that reflects the current state of the county – which is now in full bloom.

April Sepich of Very Very Vintage Tinworks works exclusively with reclaimed materials, primarily vintage ceiling tin that dates back 100 to 140 years. As such, each piece has its own backstory. This flower is made of tin reclaimed from an Odd Fellowes lodge in Orford, Wisconsin. Photo courtesy of April Sepich. 

As always, Destination Sturgeon Bay’s Fine Art Fair will take place over Memorial Day weekend, May 25 from 10 am to 4 pm and May 26 from 10 am to 3 pm. 

Leather-worker Peter Peters made this carving for someone who loved roses. He enjoys working with organic forms like flowers because they can include soft and sharp geometrics; the hand-carved vine and rose in this piece represent the softer side of the spectrum. Photo courtesy of Peter Peters.

At the festival, a record 80-plus artists from across the Midwest will show and sell their works, which include sculptures, glass art, paintings, jewelry, fiber art, prints, metal works, photographs, wood works and ceramics. 

The first-, second- and third-place winners in two- and three-dimensional art mediums will be notified of their titles and awarded cash prizes and ribbons on Saturday afternoon. The fair will also recognize Best of Show and Honorable Mention in both categories. 

In addition to the art, the two-day event will feature music by DJ Mike Raye and children’s activities by Door County Health and Human Services. The Dough Shoppe, Steel Belly BBQ, Cottontail Candy, The Dog House, Cabana Mexican and Cowboy Kettle Korn will offer food, while Destination Sturgeon Bay will offer beer and other beverages. 

Admission is free and dogs are allowed at the fair, which will take place at Martin Park, 207 S. 3rd Ave. in Sturgeon Bay.