Studio Sellke has expanded from the back of an industrial building in Gem Village to a gallery setting - in Gem Village.

While putting an art studio in the middle of an industrial-residential area might sound a bit odd, The studio's frontage on U.S. Highway 160 is amazingly beneficial, said Karrie Sellke, the gallery owner and a driving force behind tomorrow's "Off the Beaten Path - an Art Explosion."

The event got its name in part because an idea for a simple studio walk turned into a good-sized festival with dozens of vendors and lots of children'S activities.

Off the Beaten Path is scheduled to take place from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Visitors will be welcome to visit Sellke's gallery, of course, which features all La Plata County artists, other than some Native jewelry artisans from New Mexico and Arizona.

She also has an exceptional amount of crystals and fossils for sale.

Featured artists include Kelly Black; Tim Cox known for his depictions of cowboy life; hand-painted ceramics by Anne Verivaet of Durango; thunder gourds by Cindy Cuthbert (they really sound like thunder); glass bowls by Amy Stuck of Ignacio; and Pine River Pottery by Connie Mason Bennett. Wearable art - AKA jewelry - is displayed by Connie Cyprian and Myrna Jacobson. Marilyn Cross of Bayfield has her oil paintings on display, and Kasey Correia of Ignacio has raku spirit dancers.

"We are so excited we could give local people this venue," Sellke said.

Sellke herself has been interested in art since whe was a kid, doodling in her schoolbooks and creating beaded leather bags at home. She did it mostly for the fun of it until her friends started encouraging her to sell her works. She now creates jewelry as well, recycling silver spoons into pendants and other pieces.

Studio Sellke is located at 39965 U.S. Highway 160, and can be reached at 884-0565.