Tour Open Studios
Tour Open Studios: Artists at Work, Art For Sale
Open Studio Weekend
May 26 & 27, October 6 & 7. Yellow signs will once again dot the Vermont landscape over Memorial Day Weekend, leading locals and tourists alike to the workspaces of 259 artists and craftspeople who will open their studios to the public for Vermont Open Studio Week-end’s landmark 20th year. Visitors will see how art and craft is made at the studios of glass blowers, jewelers, printmakers, potters, furniture makers, weavers, ironworkers, painters, sculptors, quilt makers and wood carvers. Many galleries will also host gallery talks and feature special exhibits in conjunction with Vermont Open Studio Weekend.
Artisans of Southern Vermont
May 26 & 27. 30 of the Artisans of Southern Vermont (Manchester-Bennington area) will participate in Open Studio Weekend.
20th Anniversary Rock River Artist Tour
July 21 & 22. The Rock River Artists’ Open Studio Weekend, South Newfane. We are a collaborative of 19 professional artists residing along the Rock River basin in Southern Vermont. Despite major damage due to Tropical Storm Irene, we’ll be celebrating our 20th anniversary in style. Our creative talents include a variety of disciplines and mediums, from oil paintings to pottery to custom furniture. Several of the artists’ work has received national acclaim and been hosted in galleries and museums throughout the country. We welcome a new member, potter Rob Cartelli. Flood waters served as the Rock River Welcome Wagon a week after he moved in, but his house survived and his garage will soon be a new studio for his functional porcelain tableware.
Readsboro Arts Festival
Sept 15. Readsboro Arts Festival is an annual event featuring artists and craftspeople from southern Vermont and includes performances by local musicians, and free art making activities for all ages.
Brattleboro-West Arts Studio Tour
Sept 29-30 10a-5p both days. 15 or so of possibly the most eclectic group of artists ever to share a six-mile radius. Where else can you watch a weathervane maker, a rug braider, a wood carver and a stone mason practice their craft alongside artists who work with hand-dyed silks, colored porcelain, blown and fused glass, and locally harvested hardwoods? And that’s before you get to the landscape artists, portraitists and abstract painters. The artists all live along the Whetstone Brook watershed, in the villages of West Brattleboro and Marlboro. http://www.Brattleboro-west-arts.com
River Valley Artisans Tour
Oct 6th & 7th, 10a-4p. Travel the scenic back roads of Southern New Hampshire in the Connecticut River Valley during our peak foliage season while enjoying the work of local artists and artisans in their studios. This self-guided tour encompasses the towns of Chesterfield, Spofford, Walpole and Westmoreland. There will be a group of artists exhibiting in the Westmoreland Town Hall, centrally located on Route 63 in Westmoreland. Start your tour here to obtain a map and see samples of the work from each artist participating in the tour. rivervalleyartisans.com
34th Annual Putney Craft Tour
Nov 23-25, 10a-5p. In 1978, the First Putney Artisan Festival was held spurred by local artist Margo Torrey. The idea of a self-guided tour of artists’ studios was a unique idea at the time and served as a model for craft tours by other organizations in the future. The goal was to create an event for area craftspeople to sell their works locally by drawing visitors from near and far. This year’s tour features 25 studios in the Putney area, putneycrafts.com.
Walpole Artisan Tour
Nov 23-25 sponsored by Walpole Artisans Cooperative. The Artisans will be featuring demonstrations in studios throughout the Walpole area, Alstead, N.H. and Bellows Falls, Vt. The starting point of the tour this year will be the Walpole Artisans Cooperative Gallery, 52 Main Street in downtown Walpole, across from Burdick’s Restaurant. 603 756 3020. Hours: Wed-Sat 10a-5p; Sun 11a-3p, walpoleartisans.org.
Cotton Mill Open Studio and Holiday Sale
Nov 30, Dec 1 & 2, The Cotton Mill is 3-story 145,000 renovated mill building in Brattleboro that has been converted into studio space for artist and performers. The first weekend in December the Cotton Mill opens to the public with demonstrations and art for sale, just in time to pick up some great holiday gifts. You’ll see potters, glass blowers, circus performers, musicians, painters, candle makers, jam makers, jewelers, booksellers, dancers and more all under one roof.
Cherry Street Artisans Holiday Sale
December 1 & 2, 44 Cherry Street, Brattleboro, Cherry Street Artisans Open House and Café is a show of twelve artisans’ work in a beautiful Victorian home which is transformed into a fine craft show and café. Participating artisans offer fine hand-crafted items; the kitchen becomes a café offering delicious food and amazing desserts. 802 254-3530,
cherrystreetartisans.com.
