Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

May 4, 2011, Page 2

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

First-ever CCEDC Art Tour well-attended

 Wendell Ziegler of rural Neillsville holds a decorative centerpiece (left) made of Big Leaf Maple and a decoration (right) made of many types of wood, including maple, walnut and ebony.  Ziegler displayed and sold many of his wood creations, including his best-selling wood mushrooms (shown at left) and many other items during the first ever Clark county Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) and Tourism Bureau Studio Art Tour, held Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1, at area artists’ home.    The photo below shows more of his artistic work. (Photos by Peter Spicer/Clark County Press) 

By Peter Spicer 

Many Clark County residents visited area artists’ homes to check out and even purchase artwork Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1, during the first annual Clark County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) and Tourism Bureau’s Studio Art Tour.

Rural Neillsville resident Wendell Ziegler was one of several Neillsville area artists participating in the tour and displayed and sold his handcrafted wood creations Saturday and Sunday.

Ziegler has made the decorative wood items for seven years and sold many of his best-selling wood mushroom decorations during the tour.  He also displayed other wood items, including bowls, decorative pieces and even a wood chess set, complete with table and stools. 

One of Ziegler’s creations, a decorative bowl, took three days to make from start to finish and was made with over 100 pieces of wood. The bowl includes many types of wood, including maple, walnut, ebony and other varieties.

Most of those attending intended to purchase some are, said Ziegler.

Those attending the tour stopped by artists’ homes or studios to meet the artists, view their artwork and make purchases.

The art tour featured approximately 15 county artists, including five Neillsville and Granton artists’ work.  Neillsville and Granton artists included Ziegler; Bill and Betty Jonas, Granton; Mary Hinkle of Golden Dreams Fine Art Studio and guest artist Sue Shrank, Neillsville; and Deborah Olson of Neillsville and Stolp Pottery.

Six artists who participated in the tour reported between 80 and over 200 area residents visited each of their homes during the two-day tour, stated CCEDC Office Manager, Denise Lindner, who added she was “overwhelmingly pleased” by the turnout.

 “I think [the art tour] was an overwhelming success,” concluded Lindner.

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