Local Artists Demonstrate Their Crafts During Holiday Studio Tour
published 11/10/09
The weekend before Thanksgiving, let the Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour enrich your mind and rejuvenate your spirit! From November 20-22, artists will open their private studios at eight locations along a holiday arts trail winding through Portsmouth. Travel along the trail and enjoy each stop as it reveals the many expressions of creativity and beauty from the vision of fifteen seacoast artists.
The unique, personal atmosphere created by the tour offers you a special look into the life of the artists. You will have the opportunity to learn about the techniques used by each artist and craftsman to transform such diverse materials as clay, metal, fabric, stone, paint, glass, and paper into wonderfully handcrafted works of art. Artists will be performing demonstrations throughout the weekend, giving visitors the chance to see how they create their art. Come and spend the day, the entire weekend, or just a few hours.
New to the tour this year is eco-artist Tim Gaudreau. Artists returning to the tour include Maureen Mills and Steven Zoldak, showing handthrown stoneware and porcelain; Dyanna Smith, fused and lampworked glass and jewelry; Victoria Elbroch, etchings and monotypes; Lawrence Elbroch, photography; Karen Orsillo, colored porcelain pots and jewelry; Neil Troost Fine Art Photography; Bruce Iverson, traditional and contemporary Chinese brush painting; Tess Feltes, wildlife artist; Kristina Logan, lampwork, glass beads and jewelry; Reg Logan, ceramics and insect jewelry; Wendolyn Hammer, metalsmithing and design; Peter Happny, blacksmithing; and Lisa Grey, textile collage and printmaking.
This year, the tour is sponsoring new photographic work by Nora Happny, featuring images from Carolina for Kibera (CFK), an nonprofit organization in Kibera, the largest slum in Nairobi, Kenya, where Nora spent a month volunteering. Proceeds from the sale of these photographs will support the CFK.
Watch for tour signs with numbers and balloons as you follow the map to each home studio. All of the artists will be available to discuss their work and answer any questions you may have. The tour is free and open to the public. Work will be for sale and custom orders are welcomed.
Studios are open Friday, November 20 from 5-8pm, Saturday, November 21 from 10am-5pm and Sunday, November 22 from 10am-5pm. For more information please call 603-436-3818, or any of the participating artists.
Visit www.portsmouthartstour.com to download a brochure and tour map.
The Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour is generously sponsored by The Lollipop Tree, Piscataqua Savings Bank, Portsmouth Brewery, and Ceres Bakery.