Comments Off on Always Evolving, the Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour Happens Nov. 22-24
It’s a relic that continues to evolve, and always remains relevant. The Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour (PHAT) is the region’s grandmother of home-based studios. Since 2001 artists have furiously cleaned their studios and thrown open their doors inviting the public to learn, unearth hidden treasures, and buy direct from the maker.
“Nineteen years ago we decided to invite people into our home studios to show collectors what it is we really do, and where we do it,” says Maureen Mills, one of the founders. “Today the tour is part of the season’s tradition for artist and visitor.”
It’s a party with benefits. For the artist, it’s a chance to experience the public’s reaction to the work, and to get to know them. For the buyer/viewer it’s a way to be more informed about the art and its maker.
“It’s a celebration of sorts,” Mills says. “It’s friends with mutual interests sharing an experience.”
PHAT underscores the best in the represented fields. Its artists, selected for skill and variety, range from masters of their fields to emerging artists. Its roster boasts some of the best in their chosen medium.
The upcoming event features nine studios, with 18 artists. There are two Piscataqua Region Artist Advancement Grant recipients, and nine League of NH Craftsman among them. The majority have exhibited nationally. Seven have shown, taught and or demonstrated internationally, among them Kristina Logan, Maureen Mills and Victoria and Lawrence Elbroch, Lisa Grey, and Peter Happny.
“I think one of the reasons people enjoy it so much, and come back year after year, is they’ll see familiar artists, but always a few new faces,” Lisa Grey, print and textile collage artist says. “I also think the variety of medium, style and price range has kept people interested, that and the fact it’s a low-key event, perfect to take in with friends.”
This year’s art includes stoneware and porcelain wares, monoprints, mixed media collage, printmaking and drawing, photography, carved and illustrated ceramics, jewelry (glass beads and fused, metal and porcelain), felt scarves and wall art, hand-cut designs, cabinetry, blacksmithing/metalwork, illustration, woodwork and acrylic and encaustic paintings.
“It’s surprising what’s tucked away in these nine locations, Mills says. “It’s also surprising who is there.”
The tour also features Karen Orsillo, Nancy Kanner, Emma Ashby, Diane Stradling, Tess Feltes, Lucinda Clarke, Bill Clarke, Dyanna Smith, and three generations of women artists, Kristina Logan, Reg Logan, Sophia Logan- Barré.
As always, many of the artists will demonstrate their processes periodically throughout the tour.
PHAT’s FREE Studio Checkpoint Pass and Raffle is also back. Visit all nine studios over the course of the weekend, get your passport marked at each one, and be eligible to win one of a number of original works by participating artists.
A free passport and information on how it works is available at each studio.
There are numerous reasons people come and return year after year, not the least being gift-giving.
Art is a special, thoughtful, quality gift for any holiday or celebration. Each piece is one-of-a-kind, always comes with a story, and is heirloom quality, a gift that can be handed down from generation to generation. Open studio visits afford time to discuss a gift with an artist who can help you make the right choice for its recipient.
For information on the artists, tour times, and the raffle, download the Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour brochure, or visit us on Facebook and Instagram!
“We’ve always thought of this as ‘an occasion.’ It’s a way to meet face-to-face, and, we trust, for our guests it’s an intriguing and entertaining event,” Grey says. “So once again, the doors are open, studios tidied, and our best work (and deals) are on display.”
Stop by, Nov. 22 5 to 8 p.m.; Nov. 23 and 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Comments Off on 2019 Tour Brochure now available!
Find out all the details of the 2019 Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour on our new brochure, posted on the Brochures page, here. It includes all of this year’s artists and a map of the locations. Make your plans now to come to Portsmouth the weekend before Thanksgiving, November 22-24, and join us for this fun tour of open studios!
Comments Off on Want a preview of the tour?
Check out the window at Alie’s Jewelers in downtown Portsmouth to see items on display from a number of artists participating in the tour. Thanks to Alie’s for arranging the lovely display again this year, and thanks to tour artists Karen Orsillo and Tess Feltes for organizing things on our behalf.
Comments Off on Studio Checkpoint Pass and Raffle – new this year
We have a raffle! For this year’s tour, check in with the first studio you visit to pick up a “Studio Checkpoint Pass” with all the studio numbers. Have the artists sign your pass at each studio and then turn it in at your last studio to be entered into the raffle.
Raffle items will be on display from each artist in their studio. One ticket will be drawn for each item at the end of the tour weekend.
Another great reason to come out and visit the Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour!
Comments Off on 2018 Tour Brochure is Here!
All the information about this year’s Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour can be found in our new brochure. Discover who’s new to the tour, see examples of their work, and explore the updated map.
We hope you’ll join us for our 18th year – November 16-18, 2018.
Comments Off on 2017 Brochure and Tour Map
The 2017 Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour runs from Friday, November 17 through Sunday, November 19. Mark your calendars and plan for a weekend in Portsmouth, NH to jump start your holidays!
Comments Off on Arts Tour This Weekend!
The time has come – this weekend is the 16th Annual Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour.
Explore the work of 14 of the Seacoast’s most talented artists during the original Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour. The Tour takes place every year on the weekend before Thanksgiving. This year falls on November 18-20.
Artists on this free, self-guided tour continue to open their studios without an admission charge. Visit home studios to see new work, watch demonstrations and get a jump on your holiday shopping.
New to the Tour this year is oil painter Cheri Dennett. Cheri is a contemporary realist whose work spans a variety of subjects. Find Cheri’s home studio in Studio 5 on Lincoln Avenue.
The Tour is a great way to spend a few hours, the day, or the weekend exploring and supporting the work of these local artists who are sharing home studios with the community.
Artists reveal their work on Friday, November 18 from 5-8pm. The Tour continues during the day on Saturday, November 19 from 10am-5pm and Sunday, November 20 from 10am-5pm.
Download a Tour map or follow the route on google maps. Signs will be posted at each studio with numbers and balloons to help navigate the driving loop.
Comments Off on 2016 Brochure and Tour Map Available
It’s another year filled with incredible local art – the sixteenth annual Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour! We are already gearing up for our November open studio weekend, which includes the creation of a new brochure and Tour map. Jump to the Map webpage to download all the 2016 information.
For those of you attending the League of NH Craftsmen Sunapee Fair, stop by Dyanna Smith’s booth #501, or visit Maureen Mills and Steve Zoldak in Demo Tent F to pick up a brochure in person.
Comments Off on 2015 Tour weekend of November 20-22
Explore the work of 15 of the Seacoast’s most talented artists during the original Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour. The Tour takes place on the weekend before Thanksgiving, November 20–22.
The artists on this free, self-guided tour continue to open their studios without an admission charge – now for the fifteenth year. Visit home studios to see new work, watch demonstrations and get a jump on your holiday shopping.
New to the Tour this year is furniture maker Thomas Hand. With grace and precision, he works with Chippendale, Queen Anne & Federal Furniture styles, specializing in Portsmouth reproductions. Tom joins glass artist Dyanna Smith in Studio 2 on Peverly Hill Road.
The Tour is a great way to spend a few hours, the day, or the weekend exploring and supporting the work of these local artists who are sharing home studios with the community. Artists reveal their work during the Opening Night celebration with refreshments on Friday, November 20 from 5-8pm. The Tour continues during the day on Saturday, November 21 from 10am-5pm and Sunday, November 22 from 10am-5pm.
Signs will be posted at each studio with numbers and balloons to help navigate the driving loop.
Full Studio List:
Studio 1: 911 Greenland Road
Artists: Maureen Mills and Steven Zoldak (handthrown stoneware and porcelain),
Karen Orsillo (porcelain pottery and jewelry), Stacey Durand (paintings and prints), and Neil Troost (fine art photography)
Studio 2: 78 Peverly Hill Road
Artists: Dyanna Smith (glass jewelry, beads and sculpture), Thomas Hand (period and reproduction furniture)
Studio 3: 589 Middle Road
Artist: Emma Ashby (encaustic paintings)
Studio 4: 31 Boss Avenue
Artist: Bruce Iverson (traditional and contemporary Asian brush painting)
Studio 5: 351 Union Street
Artists: Diane Stradling (felted, embellished garments and wall hangings)
Studio 6: 178 Highland Street
Artist: Tess Feltes (wildlife art)
Studio 7: 220 South Street
Artists: Kristina Logan (lampwork, glass beads and jewelry), Reg Logan (ceramic and insect jewelry)
Studio 8: 66 Rock Street
Artists: Peter Happny (blacksmithing), Lisa Grey (textile collage and printmaking)
Comments Off on 2015 Tour Brochure Posted
Take a look at this year’s brochure for the Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour on our Brochure page – it includes the Tour map and information on all of the artists. The Tour takes place this year on the weekend of November 20-22. Hope to see you there!