WARTOUS, MANITOU BEACH, MEACHAM 鈥� The 12th Annual Spirit of Manitou Studio Trail is set to feature 19 artists鈥� collections in Watrous, Manitou Beach, and Meacham this July.聽
Given this year鈥檚 number of artists, the variety of art and their prices are exceptional, said Sandy Christensen, Secretary of the Studio Trail. Although there鈥檚 no glass blowing or blacksmithing, there鈥檚 a lot of room for 鈥減retty much everything else.鈥澛�
This includes paintings, photography, pottery, quilting, fabric art, furniture, sculptures of soapstone, clay and bronze, and carvings of bone, burly and ivory.聽
鈥淭he majority of us are hobbyists. All of us pretty much represent ourselves,鈥� Christensen said. 鈥淏ut that isn鈥檛 an indication that the art isn鈥檛 good. These people have been doing this for quite a while, and they have perfected an awful lot of their craft.鈥澛�
Christensen expects some serious collectors interested more expensive items, such as large canvas paintings.聽
鈥淚n my own case I do the clay thing, and I know that my statues sell for $75 to $100,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut not everybody troops out on a weekend to buy a statue.鈥澛�
Other works are less expensive but with just as much love and attention put into them. 鈥淭hey're not messy, or whipped up over night or anything like that,鈥� Christensen said. They're really high quality art.鈥�
While she wouldn鈥檛 describe Manitou Beach as world class, 鈥渋t is unique鈥� she said. 鈥淭he area that we鈥檙e in is an interesting one to go to, and I think that鈥檚 a part of our attraction.鈥�
There will be 10 displays in Watrous, six displays at nearby Manitou Beach, and three in Meacham, a 40-minute drive north on Highway 2. They will be open from 10 am to 7 pm on Sunday, July 6, and from noon to 6 pm on Sunday, July 7.
