Rite of Spring: Artists invite us into their studios

Jerry Belland's work caught this visitor's eye

The annual rite of Spring opened the doors of artists' studios at the Racine Business Center -- giving artists a chance to show off their newest work and art lovers a reason to think about redecorating. Dale's Upstairs Gallery and Gallerie G were also open.

More than a dozen artists were on hand Saturday to talk about their work, meet old friends and -- hopefully -- sell a piece or two to finance their future efforts. Here's a sampling of what we saw as we traipsed from studio to studio, talking to the artists as we wandered.

 Maureen Fritchen displayed large abstract murals, and found-object assemblages. 

The one on the table used stuff found at Habitat's Re-Store

 A dot here, a dot there... and Daniel Fortney's paintings came to life

 Marjorie Meyer offered her individually designed purses

From Racine to New Orleans and back: Roberta Williams returned to her roots

after Hurricane Katrina, displaying pendants, jewelry and collages

made in her new studio here.

 Sally Miller works on a digital creation, blending images from multiple photos

The brass pitcher and red platter on his worktable are finding their way into a painting

-- as Greg Helding sketches his next move. You can see the finished painting

at next year's show, he says, "if it hasn't sold before then!"