Activities: Egg Harbor

Dovetail Gallery & Studio
7901 Hwy 42
Egg Harbor
920-868-3987
info@dovetailgallery.com

“A Magical Blend of Art & Nature” is what Dovetail Gallery & Studio is all about!  Whether you are in the market for unique art items, specialty eggs in every variety you can imagine and some you can’t, fanciful jewelry, or wonderful sculptures and unique garden items – or you just want to enjoy taking a look at wonderful things that enhance life – stop in the Dovetail Gallery & Studio in Egg Harbor!  This is one great find!  And you can find it easily in Egg Harbor by looking for their signature “Egg” mailbox sitting right out near the road in front of the gallery (see photo).

We met with the delightful owners of the gallery, Kathleen Mand Beck (also an artist) and her husband Tom Mand – who took us on a magical tour of this gallery, housed in an historic building whose original section was built in 1873.  So you must make Dovetail Gallery & Studio a stop on your next trip to Door County!  In the meantime, you can enjoy the art on their website!

The log building is special enough, but it is filled to the rafters with wonderful items.  It is known for eggs of course.  Egg Art, among the decorative arts, is the oldest medium – dating back to 722 BC.  Giving an egg to a special friend or family member is an ancient tradition which symbolizes humankind’s faith in life’s renewal . . . an age-old expression of love. 

If you love egg art, you will be overwhelmed with the beauty and variety of egg art here – from a genuine dinosaur egg that is 70 million years old, to a rare Faberge’ egg (neither of which are for sale)!  And everything in between – from intricately carved eggs, cloisonné eggs, hand painted eggs, egg sculptures, glass and ceramic eggs - eggs that will exceed your fancy!  They are stunning and each unique – there is even an “egg museum” case that houses 350 eggs from all over the world (none for sale) for you to delight in.   

Kathy herself carves eggs in her studio out back for special occasions – birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and more – you can commission her to create a masterpiece according to your specifications.  And she can ship them anywhere in the world!   One of her eggs just went to Japan!  So commission her for your special piece!

Some of the best egg artists contribute to the gallery, like Paula Hare who creates cloisonné-like eggs – she is very well known!  Geri Meyer does highly decorated eggs, some with intricate faces.

You will find “Washi” eggs.  Washi is a Japanese technique, as it is a rice paper, and it is applied to a real egg to create a seamless wonderful masterpiece – in a huge array of designs.  And they are then lacquered for protection.  Ask to see a sample of how the Washi paper is cut prior to being applied to the egg – it is mind-boggling!

Beyond the Eggs!

And there is a lot more than eggs in this wonderful gallery!  You will find the works of Jon Anderson, who is known for his intricate polymer clay sculptures of turtles, rams, fish, bison, owls and more.  They are, according to Kathy, the “best in the world.”  Each is completely hand made and unique.

Roger Stark, who passed away in 1994 and who lived and had a gallery & studio in Egg Harbor, is known for his series of paintings of pigs.  Very detailed paintings, the prints are available in the shop here.    One of his most famous is the “Kissing Pigs” – notice the eyelashes on the female pig – and ask Kathy about that story.

Well-known Kathie George contributes spectacular batik art works done on rice paper - lots of florals and still lifes.  Truly awesome.

Dana Del Castillo’s works will mesmerize you – she is known for acrylic and gold leaf paintings – we have never seen anything like this – truly captivating.

Then there are items from the “Glass Eye Studio.”  The glass balls sit flat on a surface, and the viewing area on the top is flat – so you can peer in and observe the wonders hidden there – this is where all the details are.  These remarkable glass paperweights come in different series, like the Celestial collection which includes Jupiter, the Big Dipper, the Northern Lights and Mars; and an Environmental series – whimsical and beautiful.   We have never seen these before – and they are truly magical and thought-provoking!

Ceramic and Porcelain tiles

Ceramic tiles can be used for trivets or wall decorations, and come in just about any imaginable design – from fish and turtles to florals, birds, seashells, cats and lots more.  Some of the tiles can be used indoors or outdoors in your garden.  Five artists are represented in the Gallery, so the section is huge.    Colorful and beautiful, they’d make a perfect gift – for yourself or a friend!  You will also find 3-D porcelain tiles as well.

Garden Art

Have you seen those fanciful copper sprinklers that keep your flowers and lawn looking beautiful?  Well, Kathy designs her own copper sprinklers, and they have misters made by a Wisconsin artist – you will always see a copper sprinkler out in front of the gallery tending to their beautiful flowers.  What a great selection she has created – and they are superior!

The Gallery also carries other garden items like benches, chairs, sprinkling cans and metal garden art like sculptures of birds, sunflowers, chairs and giraffes – each contributing to the gallery mantra: “A Magical Blend of Art & Nature.” 

The jewelry is lovely and beautiful – and fills an entire glass case.

We have only scratched the surface here of this artistic excavation!  We were so impressed that we will return again and again to this special gallery, where magic lives!  So make sure you stop in Dovetail Gallery & Studio when you are in Door County – and please tell Kathy and Tom that DoorCountyNavigator.com sent you!

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