The Open Studios Spring Tour gives art fans a chance to step inside the studios of 55 working artists. Visitors can check out 35 private studios throughout the Verde Valley from April 24 to 26. They can expect to meet with the artists and see a plethora of mediums, including ceramics, painting and metal. Checking out an artist’s studio in person is a very intimate experience and a way to further your appreciation for and understanding of art.
“The attraction for people is that they love being able to go into an artist’s studio. Most of the artists either do demos. They do storyboards, or they talk about what their processes are, because most people don’t have a grasp of, and I’ll just use pottery as an example, because that’s what I do. They have no idea how many steps there are,” says Mike Upp, president of the Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition (SVAC), the group that puts on the Open Studios Spring Tour. “They think you sit down at a potter’s wheel or a table and hand build something, and then you fire it, and, boom, it’s done. Well, there’s a whole bunch of other steps in between. So when people come to my studio, I try to educate them on: What are the steps? Why is handmade pottery more expensive than stuff punched out from the factory?”
Mike tells us that over 2,000 visitors check out the artists’ studios. Over half of those visitors are locals. The event, which is in its 23rd year, has a strong local following. He likes to ask people about what they enjoy about the event and the most frequent response is that it’s a different way to engage with the art. “A lot of people who open up and tell me it is because of the educational aspect. That’s the number one thing that I hear. And there just isn’t time for that in a gallery or even an art show. Some art shows have demos, but that’s not exactly the same thing,” he says. “You can come in and meet the artist directly. You can see their studio. You can see how they work. You can ask questions. It’s a much more in-depth experience. It’s immersive.” − Teresa K. Traverse
SEDONA CALENDAR: Events, activities, shows, happenings
