This year’s self-guided Herbster Studio Art Tour will showcase 16 artists in 11 studios Saturday and Sunday, August 18 and 19, 10am to 4pm. If you’ve never been to the South Shore, this event will give you plenty of reasons to go including a wide variety of accomplished artists, their fun art and a beautiful setting.

Herbster touts all of 104 residents, many who are artists. My woodturning neighbor, Dale Paulson, some five miles from town on the Lenawee Road, crafts one-of-a-kind wood furniture as well as offers yummy honey. If you follow the Lenawee south, past his home, you’ll soon drive sand roads into the Chequamegon Forest.

One branch of the springfed Cranberry River, known to be the coldest river in the state, winds nearby along Cranberry River Road where Beth Shoaf crafts glass beads. In town, near the lovely mouth of the Cranberry, Anne Fawver shows watercolors, carving and sculpture. Nearby are Penny Ericksen’s quilts, Linn Ericksen’s photographs, and Mary Agostine’s beach glass. Just across the Cranberry, Sara Mustonen and Patty Minehart show weavings and oils.

Bark Point Road leads to Bark Bay, a deepwater bay that some hundred years ago was expected to become the Chicago of the North. Along Bark Point Road, you’ll find these studios: Scott Sample with oil/pastels/watercolor and prints; Susan McDonald’s botanical paintings and prints and Teri Power’s drawings; nationally known Jane Herrick with award-winning fiber construction and mixed media; Greg Giles and Deb Bonine with photographs and oil/pastels/acrylics; and to wind up the tour, Linda Berquist, with pen and ink/mixed media and Carole Crandall’s jewelry.

The North and South Shores are incredibly distinct. Water falls from on high and rushes to Lake Superior along the entire North Shore. The South Shore exhibits almost as many rivers, but they laze their way to the lake, creating bogs and sloughs that make homes for many species, including a myriad birds.

Intersecting Bark Point Road is Bark Bay Road which leads to unique Bark Bay Slough with its wetlands, lagoon and coastal barrier spit. The slough contains carnivorous pitcher plants and sundew, and rare species including dragon’s mouth orchid and the bog copper butterfly.

The two mile sand spit facing the lake reminds you of an idyllic island paradise with pine trees swaying instead of palms. When the wind is right, you can body surf. Eagles chirp; blueberries, raspberries ramble; wild roses fill the air. Bark Bay Slough is a State Natural Area.  

A couple miles back intown is Herbster Campground, right on the curve of the lake. Couldn’t be more perfect. Last month, I met a woman from North Carolina taking a woodfired raku course down the Lenawee and two women who had biked with their husbands from Missouri and lower Michigan on a yearly camping rendezvous at Herbster Beach.

You can get to Herbster on WI State Highway 13 which you catch off Highway 2 at the outer edge of the City of Superior. A Studio Tour Lunch is available at the Herbster Community Church on Saturday from 11am to 2pm (free will offering), and Woody’s Annual Chicken Feed with live music is 3pm to 7pm, also Saturday (proceeds to the Herbster Volunteer Fire Department). Maps for the tour can be picked up at the Herbster Community Church in downtown Herbster. For more info: herbsterstudioarttour.com