Yellowstone Art Trail shares area talent

By Julia Wolf

The Yellowstone Art Trail returns for its ninth installment, Friday, Sept. 8, and Saturday, Sept. 9, in the Cadott, Boyd and eastern Lake Wissota area, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., both days.

The free, self-guided tour features 31 artists in nine locations, along the historical Yellowstone Trail (currently County Hwy. X).

“This event is something a little different,” said trail organizer and artist Jean Arneson. “It is geared toward the fine arts, not the arts and crafts.”

She says the items are handmade and one-of-a-kind. “The technique in creating the types of art are very intricate, with countless hours involving a labor of love,” said Arneson.

Some of the art forms on display, available for purchase and demonstrated along the trail, are basketry, stained glass, jewelry, painted stones, painted gourd products, pottery, metal art, fiber art and wood art.

“It always amazes me, the amount of talent and creativity in our own neck of the woods,” said Arneson.

Gloria Eslinger, an artist joining the trail for the first time this year, at Bohemian Hall, says she has done art for a very long time. She started out as a painter and now, primarily works in mosaics and abstract art.

“I just love working with the different glasses,” said Eslinger, who says she also started adding found items to her work, such as rocks or bottle caps.

Much of Eslinger’s work is nature inspired. She says she likes that people can look at her abstract pieces and see different things.

“I like the beauty of everyone finding something that they can resonate with in my artwork,” said Eslinger. “That just brings me such joy.”

Artist Mary Gwidt has been part of the trail since the beginning and this year, will be stationed at the Lafayette Town Hall. She does iconography, an ancient Christian art form, and Petrykivka, a Ukrainian folk art.

Gwidt says Petrykivka is in the singlestroke painting family, the same family as rosemaling. She says the art form has seen a resurgence, because of the war in Ukraine, as people go back to the roots of their culture.

Gwidt’s roommate is a missionary in Ukraine, with Chalice of Mercy, and is from Ukraine. She requested Gwidt try to learn how to do the art from her country, so Gwidt decided to give it a try. Gwidt says she even had to order brushes from Ukraine, made of cat hair.

“Which, as a professional artist, was something I had absolutely never heard of,” said Gwidt.

She says Petrykivka is a chance for her to share her roommate’s culture.

“There’s something for everyone,” said Kathy Cernohous, of the Yellowstone Art Trail.

She is a stained glass artist who has been on the trail for a number of years.

Cernohous says she was introduced to stained glass through a course 30 years ago, learned multiple techniques and has done it ever since. Cernohous will be located at the Anson Methodist Church stop and may do a demo, if it is not busy.

Cernohous says she enjoys visiting with the other artists set up at the church, who work with a variety of mediums each year, as much as talking to the visitors stopping in. She says one disadvantage of being on the trail, is it is much harder for her to visit artists at other stops along the trail.

Gwidt also says she made good friends along the trail, both the people coming along the trail visiting every year, and the other artists at the same stop as her.

“It’s like a reunion,” said Gwidt. Gwidt says she usually does demonstrations during the trail, and enjoys talking about the history and symbolism of her work with those touring.

Arneson says the art trail is for all ages. In fact, Eslinger plans to bring her nine-yearold niece, an aspiring artist, with her on the trail this year.

The Cadott Historical Society and ZCBJ Bohemian Lodge, north of Cadott, are open for touring, during the event.

Arneson says kolaches will also be available for purchase at Bohemian Hall and lunch is available at English Lutheran Church of Bateman, east of Chippewa Falls. She says there are also numerous restaurants and shops along the route.

More information about the trail, including a map of the locations, is available online, at yellowstonearttrail.blogspot.com and facebook.com/yellowstonearttrail.

Each artist along the trail will give away one of their creations, so people are encouraged to enter their name in the drawing at each location.

“Just grab a few friends, hop in your car, and follow the bright yellow signs and sunflowers dotting the trail,” said Arneson. “We welcome you to experience the arts in our area.”