Northwoods Art Tour Starts TODAY!!

 

The Northwoods Art Tour kicks off today, and I’d love to welcome you into my creative space! This self-guided tour is your chance to visit working studios, meet local artists, and experience the creative spirit of the Northwoods in full swing.

From expressive paintings to unexpected 3-D works, each stop offers something different—and you just might discover a piece that resonates with you.

You’ll find me at Stop #13 in the brochure. Come say hello, explore the work, and enjoy the beauty of art in the Northwoods.

🗓️ July 25–27

Learn more: https://christinealfery.com/pages/northwoods-art-tour

In My Forest

 Featured image: Dancing with the Wind and the Trees

In my backyard forest, the trees aren’t in rows. They are scattered about. Below are huge pines and saplings, aspens whose leaves are flat and twist and turn in the breeze.

In my forest, the ground is moist and spongy. There are deep, deep brown mosses, fallen bark, and dried fall leaves from years ago. 

In my forest, there is a very dense canopy.  Sunlight peeks through in some spots.

In my forest, trees growing along the lakeshore have roots exposed from the soft sandy soil. These roots look like branches with no leaves, but they are powerful, muscular roots that bring life to the tree.

While walking in my forest, I listen to squirrels performing high-wire acts from tree to tree. I breathe slowly, full of gladness.

There is magic in my forest.

Join Us at the Northwoods Art Tour

 

The Northwoods Art Tour is almost here, and I’m excited to invite you into my creative world! This self-guided tour is a rare opportunity to explore working studios, connect with local artists, and experience the vibrant energy of the Northwoods art scene.

From painting and sculpture to unexpected 3-D creations, every stop offers something unique—and you might just find that one piece that speaks to you.

You’ll find me at Stop #13 in the brochure. I’d love to share what I’ve been creating and chat about the inspiration behind it all.

🗓️ July 25–27
🔗 Learn more: https://christinealfery.com/pages/northwoods-art-tour

See you there!

Self

 

Featured image: Part of the Whole

One who rises

Rises of himself.

One who falls, falls from

Himself.

I don’t remember where this quote comes from, but it is a definitely contemporary rewrite of Ecclesiastes 4:10.

Excited!

 

Featured image: Hawk III
Image of Wings coming soon.

I have just finished three pieces of art, two of which I have been very excited about for some time, "Wings" and "Hawk III."  They are going into the Manito Art Exhibition. 

60th Annual Art Show

July 17-20, 2025

Manitowish Waters Community Center

I am calling them "Wings" and "Predator" for the exhibition. I had to name them early for the entry form, but as I was finishing, they took on different names.

These two pieces have been the focus of my journal for some time, and upon completing them, I found they didn't live up to the hype I had built up in my mind.  Has that ever happened to anyone else?  These end thoughts about the two pieces are choked with all those wonderful, creative thoughts that occurred when I was creating the works. 

"Grrrrr... go away. Why are you here?" Has this ever happened to any of you?

I close my eyes - listen quietly - breathe deeply, become one with the earth and remember why I create, not to make a perfect piece, but to weave and be one with the rest of "things" to be the "yes, yes, yes."

The first things I see when I open my eyes are two silvery drops on a green leaf.

I hear hummingbirds over my head.

Trees dancing with the breeze.

The two works are just fine.

Northwoods Art Tour 2025

 

The Northwoods Art Tour is just around the corner, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it! This self-guided tour is your chance to step into working studios, meet local artists, and see creativity come to life across the Northwoods.

From painting and pottery to sculpture and more, each stop on the tour is filled with inspiration—and maybe even that perfect piece you didn’t know you were looking for.

You’ll find me at Stop #13 in the brochure. I’d love to show you what I’ve been working on and chat about the process behind it. Hope to see you there!

Learn More HERE.

Why Do We Need Art

 

Featured work: Why Do We Have Art

There are many ways to be creative. The beauty of creativity is that there is no right and wrong way. Creativity begins with abstractions that need to become – to become visible, to become an idea – just to become to become.   Creativity is unique to the one who is creating – defined by spirit, the heart, and the soul of that individual.   

Scientists are creative. Da Vinci knew that. 

“To develop a complete mind: Study the science of art; Study the art of science. Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.“

Artists are creative. Da Vinci knew that too.

“Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art.”

“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.”

It takes a creative mind to see a concept from an abstraction – to understand what it is. As children, we all begin with a creative mind. Creativity stops when we put limitations on that creative spirit – we teach them to color in the lines, teach how to find the one “right” answer. Whether the creative mind is nourished or stifled happens along the path to adulthood. We stop playing. We stop imagining. We stop exploring other pathways of “what” and “way” and questioning why certain truths have come to be.  

Imagine a child’s endless creative spirit – and then imagine limiting that spirit. Limit how they color. Limit how they see the world. Tell them what they see, how they are expressing it, is wrong. Choosing to color outside the lines at that age takes a powerful creative spirit that cannot be squashed. Is your creative spirit like that? I'm excited to share a preview of my second 3D sculpture from my new studio! My first sculpture won't be revealed just yet, as it's headed to the Manito Art League's Art Show, and their guidelines prevent any prior public display. I encourage you to attend the 60th Annual Art Show from July 17-20, 2025, at the Manitowish Waters Community Center.

This new piece is tentatively titled "Why Do We Have Art?" It was created to emphasize the pivotal role of "idea" in artistic expression and the indispensable nature of freedom, without which the generation of ideas would be impossible. You can view this piece at the Campanile Center for the Susan B. Smith Art Gallery.

The sculpture is constructed from repurposed and found objects that I have meticulously assembled, objects that would typically have been used for different purposes and conveyed different messages.