Dan and Lee Ross works on display at the Art Colony March 22-April 7

Master sculptors Dan and Lee Ross of Hovland have ventured into a new medium— printmaking—through an Artist in-Residence collaboration with the Grand Marais Art Colony. An opening reception and artist lecture will be held Friday, March 22 at 5 p.m. Their work will be on display at the Art Colony until April 7.

Local artists Dan and Lee Ross, nationally recognized stone and clay sculptors, spent two weeks in January at the Grand Marais Art Colony exploring an unfamiliar media – printmaking. This opportunity led the Rosses in new directions, challenging them to redefine their artistic language through ink, paper and the printing press.

The result is a collection of original prints entitled Entry Points which will be on display at the Art Colony from March 22-April 7 in the Founder’s Hall. The public is invited to attend the Opening Reception and Artist Lecture at 5 p.m. Friday, March 22. The artists will also be available on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to speak with exhibit visitors.

Dan and Lee’s paths crossed in 1972 as students at the University of Wisconsin- River Falls. Subsequently a collaboration began that continues to this day. They work side by side from initial design to the finished piece. Their work ranges from small hand-held clay pieces to large scale commissions carved out of granite. Moving to Hovland in 1991 had a dramatic impact on their work. New forms and shapes evolved after they observed how tumultuous storms and shifting ice sheets rearrange their boulder strewn shoreline.

 

This is the second Artist-in- Residence at the Grand Marais Art Colony. In the 2012 inaugural residence, visual artist Hazel Belvo spent two weeks developing a large scale body of paintings which she shared with the community through open studios and public lectures. For generations, the Art Colony has been a nurturing sanctuary for the creative spirit – welcoming artists of all skill levels and backgrounds into the artistic community of the North Shore. The Artist-in- Residence program provides established artist(s) with access to our studio spaces to expand and explore their creativity. For more information see www.grandmaraisartcolony.org or call (218) 387-2737.