After being cooped up through the dark and gloomy winter, there’s nothing like a weekend road trip, and this area in the spring is a glorious place for road trips. 

A few reasons why: 

• Rural roads in Indiana are pretty well-maintained, especially when compared to our neighbor to the north.
• Even before GPS, it was hard to get truly lost in northeast Indiana. Most of the roads form easily navigable, orderly squares.
• The less-orderly roads along creeks and rivers display a wide-ranging assortment of buds and leaves to remind us that nature begins anew every year.

This weekend, you can add something to that list of reasons for a road trip: The 14th annual Rural Artist Studio Tour from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, May 4. 

Artistic road trip

With nine locations featuring the works of Sharon Zych, Kristy Jo Beber, Holly Heath, Derek Bastian, Andrea Bjorab, Jordan Fine Art Jewelry, William Steffen, and Lisa Vetter & Paul Siefert, the artist studio tour traverses the northeastern part of Allen County, from the north edge of Fort Wayne through Leo-Cedarville to Spencerville.

This will be a rare opportunity to visit with area artists who are opening their workspaces to share their processes. This isn’t a guided tour with strict timetables. It’s a casual, self-guided route to take at your own pace in whatever order you choose.

Music is always important for a good road trip, so consider your playlist wisely. You’ll be immersed in the creative spaces of talented artists, so something high-brow might be in order. Maybe a little light classical for the drive up State Road 1, perhaps something from Bach, played on a cello.

Grab a map from their Facebook page (facebook.com/ArtStudioTour) or stop by one of their sponsors (The Orchard Gallery, Old Crown, Mocha Lounge Dupont in Fort Wayne; Olde Church Shoppes, Steady Eddy’s, and Cedar Creek Candles in Leo-Cedarville) to grab a printed copy in advance. 

Once you’ve got your route planned and the music ready, it’s time to think about food. Last year, the tour added the restaurant Steady Eddy’s Station, which was a huge hit. This year, Steady Eddy’s will also have metal artist Derek Bastian repurposing cutlery into animal sculptures.

Pick up a gift

Spring is also a time when many good and decent people are so overwhelmed by the wonders of nature’s rebirth that they completely forget Mother’s Day is coming up. Fear not, for now you have just been reminded — and art is a great gift. 

If your mom just can’t get over the whole “wonders of nature” thing herself, you might even find a surprising option on the tour. 

Riverview Native Nursery and Beside Still Waters Greenhouse are on the tour, with opportunities to pick up spring plants while you’re out soaking up all that creativity.

The route’s southern terminus with Sharon Zych Watercolors, 8245 Notestine Road, in Fort Wayne, will have her seascapes with tall ships capturing the imagination.

From there, the tour heads to Kristy Jo Beber Stoneware Potter, 9719 Hosler Road, in Leo-Cedarville for wheel-thrown pottery.

Farther northeast is Holly Heath Photography at 14435-B State Road 1 in Leo-Cedarville. Her stop will be interactive with a chance to try your hand at acrylic pouring on canvas or wineglass painting.

Remember, you can do these stops in any order you like. 

Down the road from Steady Eddy’s is the historic Olde Church Shoppes at 10629 Main St. in Leo-Cedarville, which will be hosting representational oil painter Andrea Bjorab.

Spencerville finds

A lovely curving drive up State Road 1 along the St. Joe River leads you to Spencerville for Beside Still Waters Greenhouse, 18017 Devall Road, with guest artist Jordan Fine Art Jewelry creating hand-built mixed metal jewelry inspired by the natural world around us. 

Did you know there was so much cool art in the Spencerville area? 

It’s in Spencerville that you will also find wood artist William Steffen at 12724 County Line Road East. There, you will see him using wood to create vases, keepsake boxes, and bowls.

Those spring plants your mom wants might just be at Riverview Native Nursery, 5635 County Road 72, Spencerville, featuring native plants for beauty and biodiversity.

While you’re in the area, be sure to stop by the Spencerville Covered Bridge for a quick trip back in time, but absolutely do not skip The Art Farm at 17612 N. County Line Road E. Lisa Vetter and Paul Siefert operate The Art Farm with the philosophy that life is art. Their functional found object assemblage pieces and jewelry that they create (for love and money) is something to behold. If you make only one stop, make it at their restored 1860 farmstead studio.