by Colin Crook
Local artists will throw open the doors to their studios this weekend during the 11th annual Santa Clara County Open Studios tour. And they're hoping you'll be standing there, ready to come in.
The three-weekend event--with the local leg of the tour this Saturday and Sunday--is a series of free, self-guided tours through hundreds of creative spaces. More than 100 artists at 48 different sites in Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View will be exhibiting their works from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
Open Studios was the brainchild of a group of 79 artists working mainly in San Jose. In 1986, the first year of the event, 26 studios were opened to the public.
"The artists wanted the public to get involved in their art. This gave them just that," said tour coordinator Liz Kraft, now in her fourth year with the event.
The mission statement of the tour was "to acquaint the general public and those associated with the arts with the variety of art objects created by visual artists who live and-or work in the county," explained Kraft.
After a one-year hiatus for evaluation, the next Open Studios tour took place in 1988, and it has been an annual event ever since. Since the inaugural event, the number of artists participating has tripled, according to tour organizers.
This year, 240 artists will exhibit their works at 147 tour sites over three weekends. "As far as pure artists, we have a 20 percent increase in participants this year from last," said Kraft.
What makes the tour different from most exhibits is that it offers artists the opportunity to show their work on their own turf, but within an organized framework.
"The artists are able to show their work without being judged by large galleries," Kraft said. "As far as the public is concerned, this is a chance to really see the artists and have conversation and dialogue."
Of course, visitors might also want to bring along their checkbooks. Works will be for sale in almost all the studios.
Artists' work spaces range from private studios in the artists residence--including garages or spare bedrooms--to shared spaces, such as the city-subsidized studios at the Cubberley Community Center.
Visitors will be able to observe many types of art, including ceramics, digital imaging, oil and acrylic painting, photography, and wood turning and sculpting.
Catalogs containing examples of each artist's work and information on the artist may be purchased from the artists during the tour, and also at several book stores, galleries, museums and art supplies stores throughout the county.
Information on local artists may be obtained at Accent Arts, 3908 Middlefield Road; Gallery House, 538 Ramona St.; Pacific Art League, 668 Ramona St.; Palo Alto Cultural Center, 1313 Newell Road; Printers Inc., 310 California Ave.; Tower Books, 630 San Antonio Road; and University Art Center, 267 Hamilton Ave. Free maps to the studios are also available at the same locations.
What: Open Studios of Santa Clara County (Palo Alto, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Los Altos) featuring works of 102 artists
When: April 19-20, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Obtain maps to 48 sites at above locations
Cost: Free
Information: (408) 964-6575
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