DE PERE (NBC 26) — Art is a way people are able to express themselves and it’s no secret local artists have been directly impacted by COVID-19.
The pandemic has put a damper on many art shows over the last year, but on Sunday artists had the opportunity to showcase their work at De Pere’s Art in the Park event.
The event ended up being moved indoors as a precaution to the rain.
“We decided yesterday to pull it inside with just how much rain we have gotten, how wet the grass would be,” said Alliey Kline, De Pere Area Chamber of Commerce Board Member.
This is the sixth year in a row the event has been put on.
Last year the event still went on, Kline said they socially distanced and took the proper precautions.
For one Appleton artist, this is her first year being able to be a part of art events like this one.
Watch below:
Maria Anholzer is the owner of Grace Earrings. She makes polymer clay earrings by hand.
"During Covid a lot of people have been using their creativity abilities to make things and trying new things and now that Covid is less than issue we are able to get back together and show people what we can make and I just love seeing everyone's smiley faces again." Anholzer said.
Aholzer describes each pair as one-of-a-kind and lightweight:
Anholzer started "Grace Earrings" as a way to share her beautiful pieces with the community
While the name 'Grace' comes from her middle name, that's not the sole reason she decided to call her business that.
"The meaning behind is to highlight this gift that God has given me of loving art and the grace he has giving me in my life," Anholzer said.
She shares why it’s so important to be able to come out and have people experience her work:
“So as an art student not being able to be in the studios was very difficult for a lot of people but now that we are back in our studios, we are able to do everything we used to be able to do. And there is a lot of events this summer, especially in the Fox Cities area that made me really excited to be back,” said Maria Anholzer, Appleton.
Driven by faith, she said she has just one semester left before graduating college. She's double majoring in art and special education hoping to use her gifts to empower future generations.
"Teaching art so every week is a different concept or theme. Print making, ceramics, drawing paintings everything. But its also just a great way for young learners to learn how to express themselves," Anholzer said.
If you didn’t get a chance to check out her artwork in person, you can find Grace Earrings in several different stores across three different states.
Those locations are across Northeast Wisconsin well as in Minnesota where she's attending college and in Houston where she completed her student teaching.
See below for those exact locations:
Grace Earrings will also be participating in a few more events this summer. See below for more information:
