Judith Ann’s artful shopping

"Dragonfly Trio" vase, by Kevin Hicks.

The Milwaukee Art Museum’s shop is a delight even if you don’t buy a thing. It’s worth it just to cruise the aisles and admire the beautifully designed Calatrava display cases. Don’t confuse this one with the much smaller shop, of items that accompany each temporary exhibition, in the Baker-Rowland gallery. It’s where I spotted a magnificent, large metal rooster (made in Illinois) that echoed the Accidental Genius show, which closes May 6. In the adjacent hallway, an assortment of Chinese jackets waited for buyers interested in mark-downs.

Indeed, the larger gift shop is a great place to admire Wisconsin products. During a cruise through, I selected three artists from the rural parts of our state: Ephraim Faience Pottery in Lake Mills, Wes Hunting Glass Studio in Princeton, and lastly (and nearer in the Holy Hill area) RRT Designs, owned and operated by Renotta Thompson in Hubertus. She blogs Renotta’s One a Day at the site linked above, which also showcases her handmade knitwear and jewelry.

A piece from Wes Hunting's "Color Field" series.

Thompson fashions her understated jewelry from pewter, beads and stones. Not one piece screamed “Buy Me,” though I was tempted to buy anyway. Neither clunky nor flashy, nor too ephemeral to almost be invisible, it’s elegant and wearable.

I’m not a fan of blown glass because it tends to be tortured. By that I mean, too many artists lose sight of the material they’re working with, and fall overboard into overkill. Wes Hunting studied with many of the best-known glass artists of the late 70s, and Italian glass certainly influenced him. That said, when a helpful employee showed me a row of work from his “Color Field Series,” I had to admire the artist’s attention to intricate detail.

A box of goodies from RRDesigns.

Of the three who caught my fancy, potter Kevin Hicks (who once upon a time worked as a potter for a commercial production company) hit a nostalgic note with his work (and the work of others) who labor in a converted barn near Lake Mills. Thrown and decorated by hand in limited editions of 500 or fewer, the motifs hark back to 19th century Arts and Crafts potters. The fields, trees, and a marsh surrounding the barn influence Hicks and friends beneficially. The pieces are outstanding.

Speaking of nostalgia, this week my favorite vessel, a porcelain piece brushed with the softest of pinks, sold during Leslie Hindman’s Milwaukee Spring Auction. I bought it when I worked in the Gallery of Wisconsin Art at the Milwaukee Art Museum over two decades ago, and for years it graced my various living spaces. Fashioned by the hands of artist Wayne Fischer, I felt a sense of loss when it sold. That said, it’s my hope that it will bring much joy to the person who submitted the winning bid.

All photos courtesy of the artists’ websites.