It’s construction season during Fresh Art Tour! From featured craftsmanship to behind-the-scenes readiness, works of art and the art of hard work will all be on display this spring.

Fresh Art Tour is a self-guided tour of 21 artist studios and galleries of Lake Pepin and the backroads of southern Pierce, Pepin, and Buffalo counties. Celebrate the tour’s 25^th year 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Friday June 2 through Sunday, June 4.

New to Fresh Art Tour this year is Jon Anderson of Star Hill Timberworks, Ellsworth.

“We help folks with a passion for timber framing build structures with their own hands that they will be proud of for generations to come,” Anderson said. “If you build it, and you are proud of your work, well, in our book that is art.” 

While at the North House Folks School in Grand Marais, Minn. learning rigging practices, Anderson wandered into a timber framing class on their campus. From that point on, he was hooked.

“Timber framing is a construction process using mortise and tenon - buildings held together with hardwood pegs in lieu of screws and nails,” Anderson said. “Timber framing was a common construction technique in old farms and barns. As modern framing methods became available, we sort of lost touch with timber framing practices in the United States. The art of timber framing was revived in the 70s by interested folks that disassembled structures, figured out the process, and documented and taught the old school methods. At Star Hill Timberworks we are proud to be part of the next generation that pushes the old ways forward in a techno-crazy environment. Sometimes, when you sort of wonder what exactly you do at work sitting in front of that blue screen, it just feels right to make something with your hands.”

Anderson offers workshops, partnered timber frame builds (collaborative construction), plan development and consulting at Star Hill Timberworks. He has structures for you to see on site and will offer live demonstrations of the technique during the Fresh Art Tour. It is a must-see for anyone with the desire to construct their own small timber frame structure for sauna, shed, gazebo, pergola, chicken coop, greenhouse, or tiny home. The beauty of his finished product and the historical perspective it represents will take your breath away. 

“I’ve taken many classes, taught many workshops, and connected with most of the framers in the Midwest,” Anderson said. “Our passion is to help drive folks away from screen time in favor of building something that matters to them.” 

Gail Pommerening has been a favorite stop on the Fresh Art Tour for many years; she is known for her delicate touch in creating pastel paintings of the many wonders of nature she finds on her farmstead.

But Pommerening is also a skilled craftsperson, and framer of another sort. 

“From the design area and my large worktable to wall space used for frame samples and storage of framing materials and supplies,” Pommerening said that nearly half of her art studio is a designated construction zone.

After you enjoy the warm hospitality of her country studio and enlist her help in choosing a mat and frame style for your newly purchased artwork, she waves a friendly goodbye as you drive away down her gravel lane. For Pommerening, though, construction begins as she applies her knowledge and skill to the tools in her workshop: mat cutter, glass cutter, saws, joiners, and numerous hand tools. Birds and butterflies, hammers and wire, glue and sawdust are all part of her art business. Even the realities of supply chain interruptions as experienced by many construction companies in recent years impact small artist studios.

“Most products arrive quickly but I deal with out-of-stock items too. Fortunately, my customers have been patient when need be,” she said. “Framing is a creative process that not only protects the artwork, but compliments it as well, and every piece of artwork receives special attention and archival treatment to preserve the art for years to come.”

“For years to come.”  “For generations to come.” It’s not surprising to hear similar phrases from two very different artists. Art has a way of connecting us. Let’s call it “the joinery of art” for all you construction folks out there.

Find artist information and tour map at freshart.org.

Submitted by Fresh Art Tour