Open Studios Inspires Artists and Visitors.

Creating art is a one on one experience.  It’s an experience between the artist and the paints, fibers, clay, wax or metal.  It’s a solitary studio process with a rhythm of its own. 

Once a year, during the Washington County Open Studios tour, artists embrace a totally different studio day.  They open up their studios to visitors.  For two days, they show their art, tools, inspirations and creative process to anyone who stops by.

Our goal as a group is to let anyone see art in the making.  Where.  How.  And what it looks like before it becomes a finished piece of art.  We hope to inspire creativity in everyone who visits.

But the visitors aren’t the only ones who get inspired.  Our artists get a weekend of inspiration, too.

For weaver, Peg Silloway, the weekend was a kaleidoscope of delightful experiences.

“A neighbor brought her parents, one a weaver, the other a spinner and crocheter, and before they left offered me a supply of hand-spun and luxury yarns they are not using, an enormous gift for a weaver,”  says Peg.  “Another woman came early Saturday and announced that she’d seen me on television and came to my studio first.”

For Peg, some of the most inspiring moments came about teaching her craft to others.   

“A boy, who had learned to weave in a class several years ago, came with his father on Sunday.  At my studio, he wove on the rigid heddle loom and clearly has a talent for the craft.  He left with a bag of yarns from my stash. His mother is also an artist on our tour this year and I met her at the preview opening at Art on Broadway.”

Peg adds another teachable moment from the tour, “Neighbors whom I’d never met came on Sunday and wanted to understand every step of the process, and even tried the loom, too. I think that was the best part for me...seeing that light bulb go on when someone understands how weaving works and how the craft is literally woven in to many things we touch and wear every day!”

For fiber artist, Terry Grant, opening her studio brought her back travels to Ecuador.

“A young couple came in the door and said they live just up the street from me and had wondered what the "little house" was!  They looked all around at my work and after a look-around upstairs in my studio the woman said, "You’ve been to Ecuador! When?"  I explained my daughter lived in Ecuador for a number of years and we visited often. I have made a lot of art based on those trips. Her husband then told me he was from Ecuador and recognized many of the locations in my work. He went to University in the same city where my daughter worked and met her Ecuadoran husband.  We shared favorite places and experiences and even compared the jewelry we were wearing—"my earrings are from Chordaleg" (near where the husband was from)—"mine are from Otavalo, but my bracelet is from Chordaleg.”

Terry not only connected with new people but found a new connection for her daughter as well. “I got their contact info and hope to get them together with my daughter and son-in-law, who now live here—just a few blocks away!” 

Says Terry, “You never know who you will meet at Open Studios!

Collage artist, Jo Reimer, found herself with a studio of admirers and lots of questions.

“Once they got past exclaiming over the physical studio space and studying the collage paintings that covered my walls they were full of questions and so happy with the answers,” says Jo.  “People were amazed at processes that are second nature to me but a mystery to them. They wanted to know about gelatin printing, dissolving inks with solvent, using powdered graphite with glue, how to mix my recipe for a glue that doesn't cause paper to buckle, and so much more. And I want to share ideas with folks, to tell them that inspiration doesn't come like a bolt of lightning; it comes as a result of working in the studio with the tools of the trade.”

Like Peg, Jo found herself with not only teachable moments but a studio class.

“What fun to welcome so many interested, inquisitive people to my studio.

Many asked whether I teach. Though I was a teacher most of my life I haven't taught in recent years, but the enthusiasm of my visitors has convinced me that I need to start teaching again. I am energized by teaching and as a result of the tour I realize how much I miss helping people be creative. In fact, I taught my first studio class today and can hardly wait for the next session.”

This is Jo’s first year on the Washington County Open Studios Tour.

Jo says, “I'm glad I participated in the Washington County Studio Tour and hope to do so again next year. It's such a well-run organization and I'm happy to be a participant, making art accessible to others.”