Art-A-Whirl 2020 Goes Virtual

This weekend is Art-A-Whirl, but things are decidedly different this year. For 25 years, NEMAA's AAW has been the largest open-studio tour in the country with more than 800 artists in every medium at more than 60 locations in NE Minneapolis.

The online Art-A-Whirl experience goes live on Friday, May 15 at 5pm. Find artists by map location, studio building, or medium. Browse over 800 artist profiles and shops with shipping and curbside pick-up options. View art demos, virtual studio tours, and musical performances. So many of these artists rely on Art-A-Whirl sales every year to keep their business running, so consider supporting them if you can. Visit nemaa.org/art-a-whirl at 5pm to get all the details.

Clockwise from top left: Indigo & Snow hand-painted raw silk top, Julie Meyer Leather Goods game night gift pack, Studio Ok Ok ceramic vase, Liz Pechacek ceramic mugs.

Clockwise from top left: Indigo & Snow hand-painted raw silk top, Julie Meyer Leather Goods game night gift pack, Studio Ok Ok ceramic vase, Liz Pechacek ceramic mugs.

Here are some of the highlights:

  • Studio mates EC Design by Emily Johnson and Liz Pechacek Ceramics are hosting a virtual cocktail party on Instagram live on Friday starting at 6pm, where they'll show off their favorite finds from Art-A-Whirls past. Pro tip. Grab a take-home margarita or sangria kit from Centro and Popol Vuh, just blocks away from the Northrup King. Best of all, 10% of all sales from the weekend go to Second Harvest Heartland. Follow along at @lizpechacek and @ecdesignstudio on Instagram.

  • To order Strey Designs leather goods during Art-A-Whirl, shop at streydesigns.com and choose “Art-A-Whirl Curbside Pickup.” Plus, if your order is over $100 she’ll throw in a free face mask. Pickup is available Friday from 12–6pm and Saturday noon–5pm at the back of the Northrup King Building, Door 4.

  • Julie Meyer Leather Goods is offering new game-night gift packs that include a handcrafted leather zip pouch, available via curbside pickup. The maker is also donating 10% of all sales to Emergency Relief Fund for Artists during the pandemic and free shipping on orders over $50. Visit juliemeyerleathergoods.com to order. Pickup is available at the Holland Arts Building all weekend.

  • Indigo & Snow will be offering special editions and one-of-a-kinds of her hand-dyed apparel, accessories and home goods, like a hand-painted raw silk top, dropping Friday at 5pm at indigoandsnow.com. You can choose curbside pickup at checkout or get items shipped.

  • Studio Ok Ok is offering its gorgeous, unique and winky ceramics (like her cat dishes)—via curbside pickup. Shop online at studiookok.com.

  • Artist Cait Courneya has launched her new "Solitude" series of paintings, and is also having a sale on prints, pillows and scarves at caitcourneya.com.

  • Salted Artist pop-up gallery is making its debut with a virtual gallery during Art-A-Whirl at the Steller Connect space at Broadway and Central. Tune in at @thesaltedartist on Instagram. 

  • Ceramic maker A MANO will update its online shop, weshopamano.com, three times over the weekend: 5pm Friday, noon Saturday and noon Sunday.

  • Sarah C. Chapman fine jewelry just added new pieces to its online shop, plus get free shipping with code SPRING2020 at checkout at chapmanmetals.com.

  • Keep the Faye is selling its full range of goods, including its new face masks made from its Minnesota tea towels scraps, its kitschy Minnesota- and Wisconsin-themed melamine plates and more at its Etsy shop, etsy.com/shop/KeepTheFaye.

  • Nomi Quilts is having a sale. Save between 20%–50% off of everything in stock, plus free local delivery, customized bags at no extra charge and even a discount on custom quilts. Shop online at www.nomiquilts.com.

  • Print maker New Leaf Old Roots will have a very limited number of palm frond screen-printed tea towels for Art-a-Whirl this weekend, plus some new little treasures on her Etsy shop at etsy.com/shop/NewLeafOldRoots.

  • Painter Lindsay McCall is offering new small works, new prints and some sale items online at lindsaymccall.com.

Find more recommended Northeast makers to shop during Art-A-Whirl below at their websites or at nemaa.org/art-a-whirl beginning at 5pm. (Check with individual makers to see if curbside pickup is available):