As school shopping kicks into gear, Summer Breezes prevail at Art’s House Gallery. The Gallery Opening for Summer Breezes was celebrated Thursday, Aug/ 15, at 6:30 p.m. Anders Villwock, a young man with impressively hardened fingertips, played Bach on a classical guitar while a group of art lovers sauntered through this fun new exhibit. The exhibit features six local artists: Thea Enner, Brenda Olson, Carolina Downs, Lisa Kreutil Jennifer King, and Arriety Lowell.

Summer Breezes is set up in a booth format like Art on The Kinni. So, it has the feel of going to an art fair. It should remind everyone that Art on the Kinni is just weeks away: Saturday, Sept. 7. Put that on your calendar.

Kreutil’s colorful quilt visually smacks you from the far wall as you approach the gallery. It is strong, bold, well made, and colorful. There are many items stitched into the quilt including at least four messages. Kreutil’s booth includes all manner of basket weaving from sweet grass to fiber baskets, crocheting, two harness loom weavings, even dream catchers. Her embroidery is so consistently stitched, it is easily mistaken for machine stitching. Lisa tells us she may teach a basket weaving class for Art’s House if she has time in January. We’re hoping for some of that time.

Lowell shared her fascinating embossing process from her initial sketch to a three-dimensional template, to her uniquely designed stamped leather trays and pen holders. The pen holders are a great gift for the executive in your life who values where to place their thousand-dollar pens. Arriety’s wool stocking caps in gentle shades of color complement most winter wear.

Olson was not present at the art opening, but her paintings represent her well. She captures life with a kind of joy and whimsy. Don’t miss Olson’s constitutional changes. They are timely and significant.

Enner is the most visible of the artists at the art opening. Her art includes T-shirts that feature witty sayings like “Amygdala la la la la.” Enner also sews ruffled recaptured jean skirts, along with country- patterned kitchen towels.

Very few people can pass King’s table without picking up one of her bowls, cups, pitchers, or tiny vessels to feel the grooves and ridges from her pottery wheel process. Its easy to see people imagining how they could fit these functional items into their lives.

Downs adds a touch of glass to this exhibit with her large unique mosaic glass type art pieces. She demonstrates a feel for her glass medium in her Pizza Tabletop and her Swedish Kurbits- style glass window. Many smaller pieces of Downs’ glass appear throughout the boutique area of the gallery. They make great affordable gifts.

River Walk Square’s front window features a huge ancient sand dollar-like disc, along with a covered serving bowl and what could be my favorite blue bread-making bowl by Red Sled potter’s Brian and Susan Johnson.

The highest price item in Summer Breezes is $2,500 while the lowest is $23. It’s like a mini Art on the Kinni. You can plan to see Summer Breezes Art at Art’s House Gallery, 127 N. Main here in River Falls through Sept. 20.