This weekend marks the 21st annual edition of Northeast Minneapolis open studio crawl Art-A-Whirl. What began in 1996 as a small event spread across a handful of artist-dominated buildings has since expanded to become the biggest artist crawl in the United States.
It’s also become a shopping destination for fans of Minnesota-made products. To help you get started, I’ve compiled a list of the best pop-up sales and open studio events happening at this year’s weekend-long event. (Unless otherwise noted, all events take place during normal Art-A-Whirl hours, 5-10 p.m. Friday, noon-8 p.m. Saturday, and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.) Also be sure to download the just-released, free Art-A-Whirl app created by VON91 at artawhirl.org.
Spark Letterpress Shop Soft Opening
Just in time for Art-A-Whirl, Minnesota-based stationery company Spark Letterpress is opening its first storefront. In addition to its own brand of stationery, the store (converted from Spark’s former showroom) will carry quirky-cool finds such as vintage Italian pencils, Ellepi staplers, paper goods and party supplies by Brooklyn’s Knot & Bow, stationery by Sugar Paper Los Angeles, travel and home goods by San Francisco’s Maika Goods, and paper plants by Minneapolis’ Girl Friday Creative. They will be doing hands-on letterpress demonstrations throughout Art-A-Whirl weekend and offering complimentary treats and beverages from Misfit Coffee and JonnyPops. 1300 Quincy St. N.E., 1st floor, Minneapolis, 866-594-7113.
Hat Make Art-A-Whirl Sale @ A-Mill
Shop the new summer Hat Make collection by Minneapolis milliner Celina Kane at the Historic Pillsbury A-Mill artist lofts. 315 Main St. SE., Minneapolis
Art-A-Whirl Collective Pop-up @ Q.arma Building
Shop small and support local at this studio event hosted at the shared studio space of nylonsaddle photography and Acowsay Cinema, who will be joined by vintage resellers Moth Oddities, handmade jewelry line Koonyai Studio, and product design studio WAAM Industries for a pop-up shop of vintage clothing and accessories, handmade jewelry, photography prints, mugs and coozies, handmade wooden milk crates and cinder blocks, and lunch bags, plus music and refreshments all weekend. 1224 NE. Quincy St, #230, Minneapolis
Hazel & rose, Courtesy Hazel & rose
Hazel & Rose Grand Opening (Saturday only)
New sustainable-fashion boutique Hazel & Rose is celebrating its grand opening during Art-A-Whirl. The event features work for sale by local artists Whitney Olson (watercolor & ink paintings), Brenna Lee Olsen (acrylic & gold leaf paintings), nylonsaddle photography (photography prints), L. SHOFF (jewelry), and Hello, I’m Kate, LLC (calligraphy), plus free cotton candy from Cotton & Whim, live calligraphy by Hello, I’m Kate’s Kate Greunke, live photography by nylonsaddle photography’s Nicole Feest, and 15 percent off store-wide. Those wearing an “I Bought Art!” sticker (or buying art at Hazel & Rose) receive an additional 10 percent off. 4-8 p.m. Sat. 945 Broadway St NE, Ste 220, Minneapolis
Tread Light Artist Collective @ Thorp Building (Saturday & Sunday only)
Leather goods maker Tread Light is opening up its showroom for Art-A-Whirl. Shop leather moccasins, sandals, backpacks, purses, cardholders, cuffs, earrings, and more from the brand as well as goods from local artists: terrariums, gemstones, crystals, and handmade jewelry by Enyo Creations; zinc etching, stone lithography, and monotype prints by Alexandria J. Gomez; paintings by Zane Hazen; illustrations by Danielle Attinella; macrame, leatherwork, mobiles, and jewelry by Kate Langley; ceramic pots with plants by Charlie Olson; wood block print transfers and recycled book journals by Lynn Balvin; and tinctures, alternative healing, beauty products, and more by Sassafras Healing Arts. Noon-8 p.m. Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun., Thorp Building, 1618-1620 Central Ave. NE. #155, Minneapolis
Pop-up Sale @ Grain Belt Bottling House
Tessa Louise clothing, Strey Designs leather goods, Vikse jewelry, Foat Design clothing, Caperiver Studios photography, Andrew Braunberger Artworks, and MJ Alvarez Fine Art (#209). Jewelry designer Bridget Clark also hosts a weekend-long open studio. 79 13th Ave. NE., Minneapolis.
Made by Hands Art Fair @ Bauhaus Brew Labs (Sunday only)
On Sunday, Bauhaus Brew Labs hosts a Minnesota-made art fair as part of its weekend-long Art-A-Whirl block party. Look for woodworking, knits, ceramics, sweets, tattoos, and edibles, as well as handmade polymer clay jewelry by Wazo Designs and furniture by Willie Willette Works. There will also be an on-site barber, live music, vinyl spun by a live DJ, and beer and food available until 10 p.m. View the full artist lineup at the Facebook event page. Noon–6 p.m. Sun., Bauhaus Brew Labs, 1315 Tyler St. N.E., Minneapolis.
neal jewelry, Courtesy neal jewelry
NEAL Jewelry Open Studio + Pop-up Collective @ Thorp Building (Friday & Saturday only)
Lauren Neal of NEAL Jewelry hosts an open studio event and pop-up collective. She’ll have her latest collection, DALE, on hand as well as faves from previous collections, one-of-a-kind pieces, samples, and sale items. On Friday, she’ll be joined by Forage Modern Workshop buyer Sara Tonko, who will be selling some choice vintage goods, and Matthew Locher of Solid Gold, who will be spinning records. On Saturday, she’s hosting Kathryn Sieve of clothing line Winsome Goods, designer Crystal Quinn, who will have clutches, pins, and feminist t-shirts for sale, and ceramicist Eunice Pitts. (#215). 5-10 p.m. Fri., noon-8 p.m. Sat., 1618 Central Ave. NE., Minneapolis
Gumball Collective Vintage Pop-up & Artist Market
Northeast boutique Gumball Collective is hosting a vintage pop-up sale and artist market in honor of Art-A-Whirl. Find goods from more than 100 Minnesota makers and artists plus special guest artists, giveaways, treats, and sales. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat., noon-7 p.m. Sun., 158 13th Ave. N.E., Mpls., 612-568-5813, gumballcollective.com
Art-A-Whirl Lounge Pop-up Shop @ Solar Art by Chowgirls
Hang out in Chowgirls Catering’s mod lounge space and enjoy pop-up shopping from a curated group of local makers, including Radiate Activewear, Ash Photo Design, Vandalia Street Press, redshoes26, Marisa Martinez Jewelry, Wooden Spoon Editions, Stonyhill & Companies, Assemblage Jewelry, Bouchard Design Co., Studio 2 Ceramics, Scarlet A Design, The VOICE Community Replace Design, Dipped In Acid, and Queenikathleeni Designs, plus mid-century modern furniture from findfurnish (pictured), food by Chowgirls Killer Catering, seasonal cocktails with NE distillery spirits and local brews, and an art exhibit by Society of MN Sculptors and paintings by John Alspach. 711 15th Ave. NE., Minneapolis
Art-A-Whirl Pop-up Market @ Water Bar
In honor of Art-A-Whirl, Water Bar will host a pop-up artist market with posters, publications, and other art and design works for sale. For more information, visit the Facebook event invite. 2516 Central Ave., Minneapolis
sota clothing’s mobile store, Courtesy sota clothing
Sota Clothing Mobile Store Launch
Men’s and women’s Minnesota-centric t-shirt brand Sota Clothing debuts its mobile store during Art-A-Whirl, parked outside the Thorp Building. 1620 Central Ave. NE., Minneapolis
Northrup King Building Open Studios
The biggest artist building in Northeast, Northrup King hosts a number of open studios from local makers. Britta Lynn Design and artist Ashley Barlow will join ceramicist Louisa Podlich of A Mano in her studio (#252). Karin Jacobson’s jewelry studio will feature guest artists Adrienne Anderson of handbag line Designs by Adrienne and Jean Bathke of children’s clothing company Janey Appleseed, which partners with a group of women artisans in the Democratic Republic of Congo (#288). Eco-friendly jewelry line L. Shoff hosts an open studio all weekend (#375). Studio mates Nick Lundeen Jewelry, Jen Chilstrom Art & Kjurek, Meg Brown Ceramics, Elise Estrada Metals, and 3 Jäg Design by Betty Jäger will be joined by guest artist Christina Graziano of Blade&Knoll will be here all the way from Denver, Colorado, with her jewelry, art and home goods (#451). Silvercocoon jewelry and Ernest Miller ceramics will be guest artists at the studio of Danish Teak Classics (#277). Ceramic artist Kimberlee Joy Roth will host an open studio (#431). Larissa Loden Jewelry will be releasing a new collection, Arête and have cookies from Cookie Cart (#265). EC Design jewelry by Emily Johnson hosts guest ceramic artist Elizabeth Pechacek (#254). Uptown boutique Local Motion and Heinrich Designs will be a guest artist at Sharra Frank’s studio (#364). Flourish Art and Gifts studio will host artist David Cunningham, Anne Lenhardt Koebele of Hardt Jewelry, furniture maker NEU Design, House of Gina Marie‘s spring 2016 clothing collection as well as a capsule collection of colorful African waxed cotton and leather totes, and a clothing drive for the Clothing Collective‘s June 2 charity event to fight sex trafficking at Aria (#238). ACG clothing by Anna Chambers-Goldberg will also pop up with her spring collection (#466). 1500 Jackson St. NE., Minneapolis
California Building Open Studios
Aisha Formanski of Everthine Jewelry will open up her newly expanded studio. 2205 NE. California St. #305, Minneapolis
Artspace/Jackson Flats Open Studios
Leatherworker Kerry Riley of Needle & Black will host an open studio with new wallets and cardholders. Noon-8 p.m. Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 901 18 1/2 Ave. NE. #208, Minneapolis
Casket Arts Building Open Studios
Emma Freeman Designs welcomes guest artist Lisa Roy with pocket journals, jewelry, prints, home decor, greeting cards, and ceramics for sale. 681 17th Ave. NE. #115, Minneapolis
To learn more about Art-A-Whirl, visit nemaa.org/art-a-whirl.
