Emily Anderson and Katy Helen. Photos: Chris Emeott
Emily Anderson and Katy Helen open a working art studio and gallery in Marine on St. Croix.
For many who call the St. Croix Valley home, there’s a certain je ne sais quoi that sets the quaint town of Marine on St. Croix apart.
“It’s this magical place where you feel so at peace with the topography, and you are able to escape here,” says Marine on St. Croix resident and artist Emily Anderson.
This essence has drawn a number of creative residents and entrepreneurs to the area, creating a vibrant arts community. “I love the art scene. It’s just so cool because there are so many incredible artists in the area,” Anderson says. “It’s an art place you have to seek out.”
Emily Anderson
Now, Anderson and fellow artist Katy Helen have founded a working art studio and gallery to create and showcase their work. The pair opened Marine Village Art Studios in the heart of Marine on St. Croix in early summer.
But let us take a look back to December 2023, when the foundation of this friendship—and an idea for a working artist studio and gallery—was set. As most things do, it all started over coffee. On a cold December day, they spent more than three hours together and quickly discovered they were kindred souls. “We went from, ‘Oh, hi. Nice to meet you,’ to ‘Let’s make this happen and open a studio space together,’” Helen says.
Katy Helen
Both artists draw their inspiration from the natural world. “Our artwork complements each other, while still distinct as to whose is whose,” Helen says. Anderson is a vibrant acrylic painter and focuses on intricate landscape pieces. Often, her inspiration is found just a few steps from the studio on the St. Croix River. Helen is known for her hand-cut stained glass and mirror mosaic work, which is primarily focused on surfboards. Lately, her focus has switched to a more Midwestern subject: mosaic canoes. “In California, the ocean was my nature; here, it is the river and woods,” Helen says.
Together, these two have made space to create both art and community. The plan for Marine Village Art Studios is to continue to be a working artist studio for both Anderson and Helen that will be open to the public for special events and by appointment.
“This is a sweet town with wonderful people, and we want to be a nice addition to the community,” Anderson says. The gallery officially opened on June 1 with a combined show of pieces created by both artists. “It was an introduction to the community, and we had a steady flow of hundreds of people each day,” Helen says. “It’s a wonderful community and so supportive.”
Marine Village Art Studios is open by appointment and for special events. A schedule of upcoming open houses and more information can be found at marinevillagestudios.com.
Marine Village Art Studios
41 Judd St., Marine on St. Croix
Facebook: Marine Village Studios
Instagram: @marinevillagestudios
