Eau Claire Studio Lends Artwork To Borrowers At No Cost

Art on display at Artisan Forge Studios in Eau Claire is being loaned out to borrowers at no cost through a program intended to promote local artists and their work.

The Art Lending Library program began Nov. 22, and had three pieces loaned out as of Dec. 16. There are about 35 paintings and 15 sculptures ranging in price from $75 to $6,500 available for loan, said Bilhenry Walker, curator of the Artisan Forge Sculpture Park in Eau Claire and a sculpture artist.

Artisan Forge is a building with studio units that artists can rent. There’s also a metalworks studio in-house, as well as a coffee shop and gallery.

Walker organized the program modeled after one he saw in Minneapolis.

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The artwork will be lent out to anyone in Eau Claire County and the seven surrounding counties: Dunn, Chippewa, Clark, Jackson, Trempealeau, Buffalo and Pepin. Requirements for borrowers are that they provide contact information, one reference and a valid credit card.

“It’s starting small, and what we’re discovering is that this is a word-of-mouth operation,” Walker said. “They tell their friends and neighbors they have a painting for over the holidays, which they’re proud to show, and the word gets out.”

Artwork for 10 artists Walker represents through his company, Bilhenry Gallery, will be delivered and installed by Walker, who said he wants to ensure the pieces are protected and to find the best placement for them.

“I want to see that painting displayed as well as possible,” Walker said. “I don’t want to see it crooked; I want to see it in the best possible spot.”

Smaller works will be sent home with the borrowers who will hang it or display it themselves.

Walker noted that while music and theater are well established in Eau Claire — a community of about 70,000 — “the visual arts come in a poor third.”

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“Eau Claire is a very small community and the people are just not used to having fine art,” Walker said.

Walker said artists interested in having their pieces on loan should stop by Artisan Forge. Artists would commit to having their work out of inventory for three months.

“This is the way you get to meet people and start developing a community of people who appreciate art and who eventually will become collectors,” he said.