Ho-Chunk/Ojibwe artist relocates studio to Baraboo, Wisconsin
Last October, Driftless Now spent some time with Hoocąk (Ho-Chunk)/White Earth Ojibwe artist Christopher Sweet at his Blue Bear Studio open house. Located in downtown Reedsburg, Sweet wanted to provide an opportunity and venue where people can appreciate Native American art and develop connectedness with each other. Sweet had shared it’s important to him that the Native Community feels the studio is a place where, “we are represented and our culture shared.” It also opens up to the public a view into Native American culture as expressed through art.
Sweet and his wife Chrissy, always looking for a better way to promote the Native American arts, came across an opportunity to move the studio to a high traffic area in the Historic Baraboo Square. Tucked away in the Baraboo Hills, Northwest of Madison, Wisconsin, the Baraboo Square offers several art shops, restaurants, and an array of unique stores. The Square hosts a farmer’s market and a summer concert series, among other events throughout the year.
Sweet said the decision to move from Reedsburg to Baraboo was a no brainer. “I mean, we loved the studio space we had in Reedsburg. It was a large space, almost too large, because everything was so spread out.”
With the Sweet’s lease coming up for renewal, his sister Angela Lowe, who owns and operates WilloWood Inn in Baraboo, ran across a suite for lease on the Square. The Sweets went to take a look at it. “We came to Baraboo and checked out the space, it's smaller, but the building it's in is historical, it holds an awesome history,” he said. Sweet noted it was smaller, but felt more personal and comfortable. “There's a lot more foot traffic and we feel everybody's really friendly around here and welcoming. There are a lot of connections in this area. So, we put a lot of work into this space. We put in new carpet, tiling, and painted the walls. Now that we've got the work done, people really need to come check it out and see all the artwork that's in here.”
For now, Sweet showcases mostly his work in the studio. In the previous location he also showcased the work of artists, Kelly Logan (Hoocąk), and Terry Walker (Omaha). It has always been Sweet’s intention to make his studio a place other Native artists could share their creativity and gain exposure. He encourages other Native American artists to reach out to him.
“We're just loving the Baraboo area. This is where we wanted to be in the beginning, we let the universe make it happen. So, it happened.”
Not on an artistic journey alone, Sweet credits his wife Chrissy saying, “She's been, like, the greatest. We consider ourselves a team. It's a lot teamwork, and without her, none of this would really have come about. You always need somebody to back you up and remind you of your worth. To point out what you need to do and what gifts you have, what you're capable of. I'm very grateful for Chrissy.”
Inspired by his mother Lenore, also an artist who lives in Reedsburg, Lenore now has to travel just a bit further to visit her son to support and enjoy his creativity. Sweet said that his mother loves what he and his wife have done with the new studio space and what it's turned into. “She feels really good about it, so does the rest of the family,” he said with a smile.
With his sister and him both having their businesses in Baraboo, Sweet thinks “it's kind of neat”. Angela’s business, WilloWood Inn features themed rooms that allowed her to express her artistic side in her own right. Sweet stepped in to help her out. “I've also done some work for her. So that's kind of cool. I was feeling really, really good about that because I was able to put up some artwork of mine in there. I also painted a mural in one of the rooms. So, there's a room dedicated to Hoocąk culture.” Sweet said, “It is not just another motel, with each room themed differently, it’s more like a little museum.”
When we sat down in the new studio to interview Sweet, he and his wife had a booth set up outside on the Courthouse Square at the Spirit Lake Art 57th ArtJune Art Fair. An invitation only juried event, this was Sweet’s second consecutive year participating. “It’s nice to be here again. It's convenient to be able to share the Native culture with people in this area. I really do appreciate it.”
Blue Bear Studio is open 11 am to 5pm Monday through Thursday. You can also call (608) 581-8100 for appointments on weekends if Sweet is not set up at an event.
Blue Bear Studio is located at 524 Oak Street Suite 10 (Upper Level) Baraboo, Wisconsin.
Visit Blue Bear Studio on Facebook at facebook.com/csweetdzine/ or on Instagram- instagram.com/csweetnativeart/
