December's Featured Artists: Barbara Keith and Chuck Solberg

Barbara Keith is a glass mosaic artist based in Lanesboro, MN. We've loved her landscapes and animal studies for years - her latest charming series of small (8" x 8") cat portraits captures a range of feline moods.

"During the time I was working on these cats," Barb explains, "a kitten showed up at our very rural home, probably dumped with it's litter mates on the road. So now Ollie has become part our our family! It was so much fun to be working on these cats while the new kitten and I discovered happiness with our new situation. Cats have such a universal appeal, and I decided to give them universal names, translating 'cat' into a number of languages." (Gato is pictured above.)


The artist also crafts fun bird ornaments that have flown into the gallery this season!

Click HERE for more on Barbara's work.






St. Paul’s Chuck Solberg is a nationally recognized clay artist and, with his keyboard, serves as The Grand Hand’s always popular “house band.” Chuck’s work in wood fired stoneware and porcelain is included in the permanent collections of the Weisman Art Museum, The Minnesota Historical Society, the University of Wisconsin and numerous private collections. He was awarded a prestigious Jerome Grant for his work with sagger firing. As a musician, Chuck has toured with Luther Allison and played with BB King, Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry.




See an expanded array of Chuck's work at the gallery through December and hear the artist in action with his keyboard midday on Saturday, December 11 and during Guys' Night, Thursday, December 16 from 5-9 PM.

Click HERE for more on Chuck's work.

Your Grand Hand Staff

Susan Clayton is the Grand Hand gallery manager and has been on staff since October 2004. She is a former curator of art at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, where she earned an MA in Art History and Art Exhibition. Susan’s academic research focuses on Minnesota artists and arts institutions.























Linda LaNasa came to The Grand Hand as a longtime collector of Minnesota craft. Linda is especially knowledgeable about our local artists and their work, and has a knack for finding the perfect hand crafted piece to enhance your home, your wardrobe or to give as a gift.

Joanna Scavone (left) recently launched and now coordinates the gallery’s online shopping services. She is a painter and a graduate student specializing in arts and cultural management at St. Mary’s University in Minneapolis.

Brad Homan brings his gifts for organization and “getting it done” to our gallery space. He is a packaging specialist at General Mills and is also a patent-holding inventor!

Rachel Nusbaum (right) is a print artist and a recent graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She coordinates the gallery’s offerings in woodblock, linocut and etching and our great selection of greeting cards. For more on Rachel’s work, visit www.rachelnusbaum.com.























Jan Painter, a photographer, art collector and neighborhood resident, has been a helpful friend to the gallery since it began and pitches in behind the sales desk when we need her most. (Jan is wearing pieces by her friend – and gallery artist – Lori Bacigalupi.)

Tessa Somermeyer is a life-long lover of craft who, since childhood, has been visiting exhibitions and artist studios with her mother, Jan Painter. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Minnesota. (Tess’s scarf is by gallery artist Randy Darwall.)























Click here for a profile of gallery owner Ann Ruhr Pifer.

Handcrafted Holidays 2010

Our annual Handmade Holiday bazaar is now open! We’ve stocked up on fresh finds and perennial favorites and have a wide selection of ornaments, jewelry, prints, and pottery as well as work in fiber, glass, metal and wood. We’ll be adding new goods throughout the season, with plenty of options under $60. Find the perfect handcrafted treasure for everyone on your list as well as treats for your holiday home and wardrobe. The Grand Hand offers gift-wrapping, shipping and corporate gift services.


Holiday Events at The Grand Hand:

Jewelry Trunk Show: Loeber + Look
Friday, December 3 - Sunday, December 5
Husband and wife artists Ken Loeber and Dona Look, whose studio is located in Algoma, WI, have collaborated to create their contemporary, clean-lined, 18 karat gold and sterling silver jewelry for almost 30 years. Ken - trained as a sculptor - brings his knowledge of metal techniques to the work while Dona, a birch bark basket maker, contributes her skill with fabrication. In 2008, the artists were featured in the PBS documentary series Craft in America.

Grand Meander
Saturday, December 4; 10 am - 6 pm
Enjoy a day on Grand Avenue during this leisurely, family-friendly holiday event featuring carolers and trolley rides while Santa and his reindeer spread holiday cheer along the avenue. At The Grand Hand, we’ll have holiday treats and live music from potter and one-man “house band,” Chuck Solberg. For further information, see www.grandave.com



Needle-felting Demonstration: Karen Engelbretson
Sunday, December 5; 2 - 4 pm
Gallery artist Karen Engelbretson will answer that burning question "How do they DO that?" about needle-felting. Karen will talk about the needle-felting process, and do a short demonstration. Karen is the creator of KJE Felties, our beautiful felted bird holiday ornaments, which will also be available for sale.

Guys’ Shopping Nights
Thursdays, December 9 and December 16; 5 - 9 PM
We’ll have salty snacks, brew and plenty of staff on hand to help you choose your gifts, wrap them on the spot and ship if needed – you’ll be done with your list and avoid the last minute rush!

NEW! Online Grand Hand shopping: check it out HERE

From the Fire

From the Fire will be on view at The Grand Hand from October 16 - November 14
Opening Reception: Saturday, October 16, 5-8 PM
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of Saint John's Pottery in Collegeville, MN, we'll present work in clay from Richard Bresnahan, artist-in-residence, and former apprentices Stephen Earp, Kevin Flicker, Sam Johnson and Anne Meyer. Saint John's University alumnus, designer and artist Willie Willette, has crafted a tea table from local elm as a companion to the clay that will be in service at a tea ceremony with Patricia Katagiri, Saturday, October 30 from 2-4 PM. (Pictured above, Richard tends the Johanna Kiln at Saint John's.)

See our events page for more information.

Autumn ...

In St. Paul, we're enjoying a beautiful Minnesota fall with summer-like weather and gorgeous new work from our artists. The Grand Hand started September by featuring graphite drawings from Bly & Rowan Pope, twin brothers and fellow artists who create highly detailed, labor intensive work. "Media Mike" Hazard stopped in to photograph the pair, above.















On and On (September 11 - October 10) featured influence, iteration and innovation in clay and painting from artists Ta-coumba Aiken, Robert Briscoe, Butch Holden, Jim Grittner and Jason Trebs .














October brought the inaugural national celebration of American Craft Week (October 1-10.) Grand Hand customers had a chance to participate in a Ceramics Makeover, trading up from imported mass-produced pieces to artisan work.

October's Featured Artist is Kathleen Clair, an El Paso oil painter who formerly lived in St. Paul and recalls local scenes in her work.

For more information on Grand Hand events, see www.thegrandhand.com