Local artists, in partnership with the Garrett County Arts Council, invite the public to take the 10th Annual Artist Studio Tour.This year’s tour will kick-off with a Preview Party on Friday, July 21, from 5:30 to 7pm at The Gallery Shop in Oakland. Samples of the participating artist’s work will be on display and select items will be offered in a silent auction. The Preview Party is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
The actual Studio Tour will be Saturday and Sunday, July 22 and 23.The artists’ working studios will be open from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm both days. The self-guided tour route spans the county from north to south and includes more than 30 artists at 11 locations.
Unique, hand-made artwork will be on display for sale. The range of art forms featured will include paintings in acrylic, oil, watercolor and pastel; blown glass goblets and vessels, jewelry created from copper, silver, gold, gemstones, vintage flatware, fused glass and Steampunk sculptures; several styles of photography on paper, wood, canvas and metal; woodcrafts;fabric art and quilting;and avariety of pottery styles.
Artists will be on hand to share details about their creative inspiration, technical processes, and the tools and materials they use to make their unique hand-crafted work, as well as the business of art in the region. Several locations and artists are new on this year’s tour.
New to the tour is the Mill Run studio of watercolor painter Susan S. Johnston in the Friendsville area. Susan will host another new artist,Julie Adam, with her distinctive vintage flatware jewelry.Also in Friendsville, is Visionquest Studio, displaying the nature photography of owner and photographer, Crede Calhoun.
Nearby is Bear Creek Studios, home of woodworker Jeff Lyon and potter Joan Lyon. They will host Connie Pardini of Wirestorm Creations jewelry, along with new artist, Amy Childers, showcasing herappliqued fiber art landscapes.
Two studios will be open in the Bittinger area. The Loft Shop gallery and studios will feature hosts, Sue Arnson’s watercolor paintings and mixed media collages and Alan Arnson’s woodcrafts and woodturnings. Joining them will be Josh Brown and his high-fired porcelain and stoneware pottery, as well as new artist, Kitty Lynch, and her Wire Wrapture silver and gold wire-wrapped precious stone jewelry. A new location in Bittinger is the Warm and Cozy Quilts studio of Wendy Rippeon. Wendy creates quilted table runners, mug rugs, ornaments and bed-sized quilts. She will be hosting another new artist, Tony Marchetti, who will have hand-made wooden picture frames and some framed photography for sale.
In McHenry, Joan Chaney will display her hand-quilted wall hangings, framed quilts and full-sized quilts. She will host Becky Diller, a photographer and jewelry-maker, who is new to this year’s tour. Close by, on Laurel Ridge, is Deep Creek Pottery, home studio or Ron and Lorie Skidmore with their gas and wood-fired pottery. They will host 4Wheels Photography by Marcia Warnick andBrenda Caldwell’s Aunt B’s Place whimsies and sculpture with a Steampunk flare. New to their location will be mosaic stepping stones designed and created by young-artist, Derek Skidmore.
In Swanton, Snowbird Creations Glass Studio, home to glass artist Julie Turrentine, will display her fused glass jewelry, sculptures, and yard ornaments. Julie will hostoil and pastel painter Renee Keil, who is new to the tour. Nearby, on Turkey Neck Road, is Appalachian Studio, the home of watercolor and mixed media artist, Robert Yonke. His subjects include water and mountain landscapes, as well as local wildlife.
Another new location is Smoke N Mirrors Photography, a gallery and studio owned and operated by photographer Dave Bruffy, in downtown Oakland. Dave will host Rebecca McClive, an oil painter whose subjects include landscapes and wildlife. Four Storm Artists Gallery on Swallow Falls Road showcases the work of over 20 artists including the owners, members of the Blizzard family.The nature and landscape photography of father and daughter artists, Neal and Caroline Blizzard, the silver and gemstone jewelry of Karina Stonesifer, and the blown glass goblets and vessels of international artist, Peter Schweifel.
The Artist Studio Tour is free. “This is a chance for the community and our guests to meet and talk with local artists one-on-one. A number of the tour locations are only open to the public once a year, during the annual Studio Tour.” said an Arts Council spokesperson.
The Studio Tour brochure with map is available at area locations including The Gallery Shop in Oakland, the Visitors Center in McHenry, Ruth Enlow Libraries, and various businesses throughout the area. It can also be downloaded from the Garrett County Arts Council website, garrettarts.org. There will also be directional signage along the tour route to guide drivers to the sites.
For more information, contact the Garrett County Arts Council at 301-334-6580.
