Make time in your Door Peninsula itinerary for a gallery hop. Here is a suggested plan, which includes various towns as well as artists working in diverse media.
Beginning from the south, visit Popelka Trenchard Glass Art Gallery and Studio, 64 S. 2nd Ave., Sturgeon Bay. This is a contemporary gallery in an offbeat industrial neighborhood of Sturgeon Bay. The glass sculptures are colorful and eye-catching. And these nationally regarded artists-Jeremy Popelka and Stephanie Trenchard--make the glass art right here. Ask about upcoming glass blowing demonstrations.
Next, head to Off the Wheel Pottery, 4234 Cty E., Egg
Harbor. Resident artist Renee Schwaller has a unique gallery in an old granary. You can see the kiln, more pottery, as well as jewelry for sale in the adjacent studio. Schwaller uses, for varying effects, four different kinds of clay bodies: white stoneware (most often), brown stoneware, terra cotta (for garden pots) and a low fire white clay. The hallmarks of her pottery are designs of flowers, trees, insects and more in bright colors and with stunning use sgraffito decoration. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and individually made by the potter.
Just north is the Kathy Glasnap Gallery, 8873 Cty. A, Fish Creek. Glasnap is a self-taught watercolorist who paints landscapes and interesting buildings such as old barns, churches and lighthouses. Many of the pretty scenes include "Fred," a bright red cardinal. Glasnap sells prints and notecards, too.
She also works by commission, creating art of people's homes and more. Glasnap's art appears on cards marketed by the National Wildlife Federation and Pumpernickel Press.
Also in Fish Creek, don't miss Edgewood Orchard Galleries,
4140 Peninsula Players Rd. The setting is just as beautiful as the art-enjoy the sculpture in the garden, outdoor courtyard, and then enter the stone fruit barn converted to a stunning gallery representing many artists. Keep your eyes peeled for oil and pastel paintings-landscapes, still life and more--by Bonnie Paruch of Sister Bay, and oil paintings by Craig Blietz, also of Sister Bay.
Another not-to-be-missed commercial gallery is Fine Line Designs Gallery, 10376 Hwy. 42, Ephraim. The gallery is set back from the road a tad, as there is a two-acre sculpture garden. Inside, enjoy the pieces by artists working in various media, especially paintings by Ram Rojas of Sturgeon Bay. Rojas's striking images of landscapes, landmarks and icons are done in various media-oil, watercolor and more.
A relatively new gallery is the Rustic Fish Gallery, Shops of Green Gables, Hwy. 42, Ephraim. Here, you can see Erik Rinkleff paint some of his hand-carved Santas, angels and country characters. He is inspired by Scandinavian flat plane carving style. This means each woodcarving shows lots of angles or knife marks in the design.
The gallery also has greeting cards, notecards and nature
prints by Mary Ann Rinkleff, the founder of Little Fish Studios. Little Fish is one of the country's fastest growing inspirational greeting card companies. Many of the images for the cards were taken by Mary Ann in Door County.
Continue north to Ellison Bay, where it's always a good idea to check out the American antiques and contemporary folk art at Newport House Gallery, Hwy. 42 at Lakeview Rd.
