This exciting fiber and textile exhibition opens this Friday, January 14.

The Milkweed Project (above) is a collaborative artwork made up of approximately 150 objects created by several hundred artists and crafters from 30 states and 10 countries. It is a main highlight of the show. Participants from the U.S. and around the world have contributed works that are knitted, felted, crocheted and woven. They became a part of one artwork that is intended to capture the essence of a milkweed pod; its soft, ethereal beauty and its importance  to the natural world. The artwork was  conceived of and organized by Shan Bryan-Hansen. To learn more about the project, visit http://sticksandstitches.squarespace.com.

Other nationally-recognized textile artists, including Alison Gates (Above image: Neither Created nor Destroyed), Jennifer Hunold, and Mindy Sue Wittock, contribute non-traditional textile and fiber pieces that make this exhibition one not to be missed. Sculpture, basketry, quilting, embroidery, weaving, sewing, crocheting, felting, and knitting will be represented.

Join us for the opening reception on Friday, January 14, 5:00 – 8:00 pm. The event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served. The exhibition runs through February 28.

Visit our main website for directions, hours, and more information about The Eclipse Gallery.

This event also coincides with the next Algoma Art Wave, a gallery/studio tour that takes place every 2^nd Friday evening of each month.

Also, I love the way she has created her artist statement:

To see more, stop by The Eclipse Gallery soon! Visit our main website for more information on current and upcoming exhibitions, hours, events, and more.

Come into the gallery to snag a copy!

REMINDER: For those of you who don’t already follow my personal art blog, Visual Influence, I have an art giveaway going on right now — and today is the LAST day to enter. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post for a chance to win an original painting of mine! While you’re there, check out my other posts, and if you like what you see, subscribe to the RSS feed. I’ve been blogging now for 3 years and try to bring my own unique perspective to what inspires me about art & craft. Let me know what you think!

These are some of my favorites:

Come in and take a look! Makes a great last-minute holiday gift!

Visit our Flickr to see more photos of Lauren’s work.

Holiday Hours:
December 24 – 29 we will be closed.
We WILL be open New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day for our regular hours.

CLOSING SOON: Salon 100 exhibition
If you had your eye on any artwork in our current exhibition, it will be closing on December 23. Buyers may come in at any time to take work home. Don’t miss this great opportunity to purchase a piece of original art for only $100!

carolyn phillips

This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served including gourmet cheeses, wine, and holiday cookies. So bring a friend and stop by!

Salon 100 features a wide variety of artists and styles–and all work is priced at only $100. Many artists are from the Northeast WI area, making this a great show to not only support your local artists but also your local gallery! Best of all, you can take purchased work home right away if you like.

We want to thank you for all the support you have shown us this year — looking back at all the great artwork we have brought to Algoma, we couldn’t have done it without you.

Finish up your holiday shopping with a handmade gift or gift card. Buy local and buy handmade this year – it really makes a difference! We have a few specials running right now:

– 25% off selected jewelry designs by Kim Geiser and Brandon Hemm

–20% off Gift Cards

–With every purchase, you will get a coupon for a free $10 gift card with your next purchase of $50 or more. (For those of you on our mailing list, you will be receiving this coupon in the mail. Click here to easily sign up to receive these mailings)

We welcome your input! Leave us a comment/question below, and see you Friday night!

Mrs. Gritzy also knits great kitchen scrubbies and washcloths, among other things. You can find her on Facebook here.

ALL of her aprons are available in the shop or on our website! We are currently re-vamping our online shop and are adding new items every week. Bookmark www.eclipsegalleryshop.com and check back often. Here’s a direct link to the aprons.

Another great aspect about Katie’s candles is that they are made from 100% soy wax from soy that is grown by American Farmers. She also supports WI business by purchasing her supplies through a family-run business in Northern WI.

Right now we have many fall scents available in different sizes. We also have tarts that can be melted in any type of warmer and reused until they stop smelling. Winter scents will be coming in soon. These make a great holiday gift!

You can also find All You Need Is Candles on Facebook here.

Thanks for buying local and buying handmade!

Laural Virtues Wauters’ mesmerizing artwork explores the meditative art of the mandala. Creating a mandala is a form of active meditation that quiets your mind and allows you to journey within making the invisible visible.

Laural was born in Frankfurt, Germany and grew up in Algoma. She has written about her epic adventure of self-discovery and revelation in her new book, Tree Oracle: The True Story of Carmen Sylvia, which is available at Door to Door Books in Algoma.

Laural’s current series of artwork are colorful representations of the seven Chakras, as well as mandalas that she has visualized and created. For more information about her artwork, visit Laural’s website at www.mandalashaman.com or stop by The Eclipse Gallery at 507 4th St. (Hwy 42) in downtown Algoma.

We were fortunate enough to win two awards recently! Community Improvement of Algoma nominated us for the Best Interior Renovation project for the Wisconsin Main Street Program awards, and we won! That was very exciting, since the award is on a state-wide level. Here is a link to all of the winners and the press release.

We also won a Rose Award from the Algoma Chamber of Commerce, which is for helping to make the downtown more inviting. It was nice to be recognized for all of our hard work and we really appreciate it!

Each is unique, and for between $10-$20, you can’t beat ‘em!