SHELL LAKE — Even for an untrained eye, the detailed beauty of Tiffany Knoop’s art depicting flowers crafted out of metal were stunning. Unsurprisingly, earlier this summer a panel of experienced judges agreed when they found her submission worthy for the upcoming juried Shell Lake Art Festival to be held on Saturday, July 6. Juried art shows are events where an exhibiting artist’s work has to be found worthy of entry by presenting their art to a panel of “jurors” or judges who then decide who will be allowed to show their creations.
“This was my first juried art show and I was worried the pictures I submitted wouldn’t show the actual size and detail of my work,” said Knoop. “I’ve always enjoyed working metal into strawberries and flowers. I’ve been fortunate to find the public seems to enjoy them, too, but I haven’t shown my work at this type of show before. When my husband, Cody, and I lived in Montana, I began selling my art at a farmer’s market before we moved back to the Shell Lake area in 2022. It was a new venture for me, but I was successful at it. I’ve always enjoyed art and been fascinated by metal.
“People ask me if my art will always stay the same and I tell them no, but I love the way metal transforms into something that looks alive and lasts too,” said Knoop, who said she’s driven by the show in the past but never had a chance to even stop in. “I certainly never had an opportunity to apply for a spot before, so I’m really excited about the opportunity this year.”
Knoop’s exposure to creating art with metal took an unusual route.
“I joined the U.S. Air Force after graduating from a community college in Illinois. During my four years of military service, I also earned an associate degree in aviation maintenance technology. I’ve always had an interest in welding, so after my military years, I attended Montana State University-Northern and completed my degree in diesel technology with a Certificate of Applied Science in Welding Technology,” said Knoop. “After a few internships as a welder, I began teaching at the college as an assistant professor of welding.”
Carol Thompson, along with Rowie Hansberger and Wanda Zeug, took over the coordination of the Shell Lake Art Festival from David and Jeneice Haessig. She said artists from other locations are also going to be showing their work.
“Besides local artists, we’ve got artists coming from Iowa and Minnesota, in addition to other parts of Wisconsin,” said Thompson. “There will be 35 artists showing their work on July 6. I also want to be sure to thank David and Jeneice, who, after 20 successful years of directing the Shell Lake Art Festival, handed it off to the three of us. The Haessig’s have been so helpful guiding us into the 21st-annual art show. We hope to replicate their success in making this yet another great art festival.”
Knoop will be joined by other artists such as John Lamovec, who creates wood furniture, Kyle Tostenson’s aerial photographs of local lakes on reclaimed wood frames and Hannah White-McGinn’s blown glass art.
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