Though I would argue Eau Claire is much better for music lovers, the city has a growing visual arts scene as well. There are also lots of opportunities for artists to sell or display their work. Here are some places to go to find local art.
Farmer’s Market/ Artist Market
The weekly farmer’s market in Phoenix Park is well known for its food and art market. Stop by to buy from local vendors of arts and jewelry. Anyone can apply to sell their art at the farmer’s market through the Tangled Up in Hue website. The cost to apply is $50.
The Maker’s market was founded by local Eau Claire residents and is more frequented by college students or recent art alumni. The maker’s market has events in various locations, from outdoors in the summer to Forage or the Brewing Project downtown.
They also have an active Instagram page and a monthly Featured artist. The fee to apply is $40, however this year the market is on hiatus after September 6th until further notice.
ARTFLY is a small organization aimed at promoting the arts in Eau Claire. The platform hosts artist displays at SHIFT coffee bar, Brent Douglas Flowers, and Racy D’Lenes Coffee Lounge.
Watch out for artist talks at Racy’s, zine, submissions, and the annual ‘Art on Deck’ show – art made on skateboards. To apply to be part of ARTFLY go to the website or contact Kelsey M Wenberg at [email protected]
A student favorite, the Goat on Water Street also hosts a different artist every month. Art can be for sale or show and there is no commission fee. Just ask the manager if you are interested in showing your art.
2 Roots has a great selection of wine and art. There are a number of paintings from local professional artists all over the building, and the owners regularly change the art on display. 2 Roots also hosts local music weekly and is a great place to go to try wines or a charcuterie board.
Banbury Place is probably one of the most unique locations in Eau Claire. An old tire factory that was founded in 1917, Banbury Place now rents out spaces for apartments and studios.
The artists in Banbury Place have bi-annual markets and art crawls, but it is also possible to stop in the shops at any time. The location in the giant industrial building next to the river makes it definitely worth the visit.
Two well-known local artists, Barbara and Andy Shafer, also have a joint studio in the building and love to chat with students.
The Pablo Center has three different galleries which highlight artists year-round. Notable opportunities include the Confluence of Art Annual and the Plein Air painting competitions. The Pablo Center galleries are open daily from 10-2 and are an easy way to look at local art.
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library has recently been revamped and provides a variety of resources to the Eau Claire community. It hosts art shows year-round on the top floor of the building.
The most notable is the yearly Wisconsin ArtsWest show which highlights works from artists around the state. Anyone over 18 can apply, and there are prizes for best in show.
Sonnek can be reached at [email protected]
