ArtOpener

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ArtOpener

June 5-7, 2026
artOPENer opens juried artists' studios along the St. Croix Valley.

11/06/2026

What an incredible weekend celebrating art, creativity, and community throughout the St. Croix Valley!

We're so grateful to everyone who spent time exploring studios, meeting artists, and supporting local art during this year's artOPENer. These photos, generously shared by some of our participating artists, capture just a few of the special moments from the weekend.

Thank you to our artists for opening their doors, sharing their creative processes, and welcoming visitors into their spaces. And thank you to everyone who came out to experience the tour and support the vibrant arts community that makes the St. Croix Valley so special.

Until next year! ❤️✨

08/06/2026

❤️ Thank you for an incredible artOPENer weekend!

It was a wonderful weekend celebrating art, creativity, and community throughout the St. Croix Valley!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who visited studios, met artists, explored new places, purchased artwork, and helped make this year's artOPENer such a success. Your support means so much to our artists who shared their work, stories, and creative spaces with our community.

The connections made, conversations shared, and art discovered are what make artOPENer such a meaningful experience.

We can't wait to see you again next year!

07/06/2026

🎨 It’s your last chance to experience artOPENer until next year!

Today is the final day of our self-guided studio tour throughout the beautiful St. Croix Valley. From 10 AM–5 PM, you can explore 16 studio locations, meet 31 talented artists, and discover original artwork in a wide variety of mediums.

Don't miss this annual celebration of creativity, community, and the arts. Plan your route and join us for the final day of artOPENer!

📍 Studios open today from 10 AM–5 PM
🎨 31 artists • 16 locations
🗺️ Visit artOPENer.org for maps and artist information.

06/06/2026

✨ Day 2 of artOPENer✨

Join us in the beautiful St. Croix Valley as our artists open their studio doors from 10 AM–5 PM today for a behind-the-scenes look at where creativity happens.

Explore original artwork, meet talented local artists, watch demonstrations, and discover one-of-a-kind pieces in studios throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. Whether you're a longtime art lover or simply looking for a scenic weekend adventure, artOPENer is the perfect opportunity to experience the vibrant arts community of the St. Croix Valley.

🗓 Saturday | 10 AM–5 PM
📍 16 studio locations throughout the St. Croix Valley
🎟 Free and open to the public

Plan your route and view the artist directory at artopener.org.

05/06/2026

The wait is over! artOPENer officially begins today, and we can't wait to welcome you to artist studios throughout the beautiful St. Croix Valley.

Meet talented local artists, explore unique creative spaces, watch demonstrations, and shop for one-of-a-kind artwork directly from the people who make it. From painting and pottery to jewelry, photography, fiber arts, sculpture, and more, there's something to inspire everyone.

📍 16 studio locations
🎨 31 talented artists
🎟️ Free and open to the public

Make a day (or a weekend!) of it and discover the incredible art, scenic beauty, and creative spirit that make the St. Croix Valley so special.

Plan your route and learn more at artOPENer.org.

04/06/2026

✨ Artist Spotlight: Mary Jo Van Dell ✨

Discover the evocative work of Mary Jo Van Dell during the 2026 artOPENer St. Croix Valley Studio Tour.

Drawing inspiration from the mystery, power, and quiet beauty of the natural world—as well as enduring relics from the past—Mary Jo creates contemporary paintings that invite reflection and personal interpretation. Working from memory and sketches, her paintings evolve intuitively in the studio, guided by a distinctive artistic vision developed over a lifetime dedicated to her craft.

Using a minimalist palette and thoughtful composition, Mary Jo captures the essence of her subjects rather than simply their appearance, creating works that leave space for viewers to connect with their own emotions, memories, and experiences.

📍 Visit Mary Jo during artOPENer at:
(STOP 2) Mary Jo Van Dell Studio
101 Judd St.,
Marine on St. Croix, MN

Instagram:
Website: maryjovandell.com

03/06/2026

🎨 Artist Spotlight: Richard Reynolds Ward - Artist

Join us during artOPENer 2026 to visit the studio of Richard Reynolds Ward, a landscape painter whose work is inspired by journeys across Europe, America, and Australia.

Richard's paintings capture the beauty of the places he experiences firsthand, exploring the interplay of light, color, and atmosphere. From sweeping landscapes to intimate scenes of everyday life—cafés, markets, street corners, and family gatherings—his work invites viewers to step into a moment and experience it alongside him.

Working from studies created while traveling, Richard transforms his observations into larger studio paintings that celebrate both the grandeur and quiet beauty of the world around us.

📍 Visit Richard during artOPENer at:
(STOP 10) Richard Reynolds Ward Studio
1820 River Ridge Rd., Apt. 7
Hudson, WI

Instagram:
Website: richardreynoldsward.com

03/06/2026

🎨 Artist Spotlight: Sam Thein

What started as a high school pottery class quickly became a passion—and now, at just 20 years old, Sam Thein is creating beautiful handcrafted pottery and sharing his work with the community through artOPENer 2026.

A sophomore at the University of St. Thomas, Sam has spent the last five years honing his craft, constantly challenging himself to learn new techniques and push his creativity further. Working primarily on the potter's wheel, he creates functional and artistic pieces that showcase thoughtful craftsmanship, texture, and unique surface treatments.

From wood-fired and electric-fired ceramics to experimental slip and oxide finishes, Sam's work reflects both technical skill and a genuine love for the pottery process.

✨ Meet a talented young artist
🏺 Explore handcrafted pottery
🎨 Learn about the techniques behind each piece

📍 Visit Sam during artOPENer at:
(STOP 4) Sam Thein Pottery
1901 2nd St. N.
Stillwater, MN

Instagram:
Website: samtheinpottery.com

02/06/2026

🎨✨ Artist Spotlight: Victoria Styrbricki & A House Unbuilt's Art & Water Micro Residency

During this year's artOPENer St. Croix Valley Studio Tour, visit A House Unbuilt to experience the work of featured resident artist Kimberly Wetzel, presented by Victoria Styrbricki's Art & Water Micro Residency program.

Working in charcoal, oil paint, and fabric, Kimberly creates multimedia works that transform energetic moments in nature into evocative landscapes through abstract forms and expressive mark-making. During her three-week residency in Stillwater, she has been creating a series of experimental charcoal drawings inspired by the movement of the St. Croix River, the surrounding bluffs, and the area's historic charm.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view Kimberly's completed exhibition and participate in a special community art-making experience, creating their own collages using fragments of her drawings. It's a unique chance to explore both the artist's creative process and your own.

📍 Visit Victoria during artOPENer at:
(STOP 8) A House Unbuilt Studio
321 Main St. S., Suite 204
Stillwater, MN

Website: ahouseunbuilt.com
Instagram:

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