Open Studios takes enthusiasts on tour around county
On April 25 and 26, art fans have a chance to see local artists
in action with the San Benito County Open Studios tour. Unlike
typical art shows, the studios tour brings people right into the
space where the artists work, and it features locations in
Hollister, San Juan Bautista and Aromas.
Open Studios takes enthusiasts on tour around county
On April 25 and 26, art fans have a chance to see local artists in action with the San Benito County Open Studios tour. Unlike typical art shows, the studios tour brings people right into the space where the artists work, and it features locations in Hollister, San Juan Bautista and Aromas.
“The whole purpose is to give them a chance to see how art is made,” said Kathleen Sheridan, a painter who is participating in the event. “It’s not just a show, but they are going into the studio and witnessing the process and being able to see how art is made.”
Sheridan and her husband, Kent Child, a ceramist, have participated in the Open Studios Tour for many years, though they took a break from it last year.
“It works really well,” Sheridan said. “A map shows all the locations of the studios, and people can choose what artists they want to see based on the flier.”
Sheridan said the artists often offer refreshments and music, but the focus is on how art is made.
“It is a really fun way to spend an afternoon,” she said.
Sheridan has a studio set up inside the house, and Child has a building on their property where he does his pottery. For the tour, they both set up their work in a shared space and they try to come up with new ideas for ways to show their work each year. They often include a photo collage that shows the process of some of Child’s work.
“He does a Japanese-style wood firing,” Sheridan said. “It shows how the pots are made and how it is fired.”
This year, 14 artists are opening their studios to the public, down from about 20 last year.
“One of the disadvantages is that you don’t get to go out and see the other work,” Sheridan said. “Usually, it’s fairly busy and we have a nice flow of people coming.”
The artists can, however, see each other’s work at a preview exhibition held in the weeks before the tour. This year’s preview was held April 4, at the Blak Sage Gallery in conjunction with the quilt show and the charming chairs show.
“It really has been a nice exhibit,” said Sharlene Van Rooy, the executive director of the San Benito County Arts Council. “There seems to be something for everyone to enjoy.”
The exhibit finished April 18, with a closing reception.
Van Rooy said she plans to take the Open Studios Tour for the first time this year.
“I think it’s a great way for the community to really learn how much time some of this art takes,” she said. “I am going to a couple of the studios myself to see the process.”
For Sheridan and Child there is one more benefit to the show.
“It’s lovely to have a deadline and something that you need to work toward,” Sheridan said. “It encourages you to take a conscious effort toward your work and how it is perceived.”
Mostly, though, the event is just fun, Sheridan said.
“It is definitely family friendly and the admission is free,” Sheridan said. “It’s just a great activity.”
Participating artists:
Gail Mutoza
fine silver jewelry
603 Carpenteria, Aromas
Tanya Anistratenko
beaded glass jewelry
808 Washington St., San Juan Bautista
Linda Bjornson
stained glass
189 Carr Ave., Aromas
Katherine Stutz-Taylor
etchings & relief prints
189 Carr Ave., Aromas
Kathleen Sheridan
Oils of rural San Benito County
1198 Sally St., Hollister
Kent Child
functional ceramics
1198 Sally St., Hollister
Jane Rekedal
functional and sculptural stoneware/porcelain
1560 Cannon Road, Aromas
Gayle Sleznick
watercolor and water-based paint
George Boyer
portraits of San Benito and Monterey
1124 Sally St., Hollister
Pat Zuniga
watercolor and oil landscapes
230 Third St., Hollister
Rachel Zuniga-Garcia
Color pencil and pastel drawings
230 Third St., Hollister
Janeice Van Loon
pit-fired ceramics
801 Third St., San Juan Bautista
Louise Roy
watercolor, oil, and acrylic paintings
2391 Calistoga Dr., Hollister
Nancy Olaeta
oil painting and fused glass
121 Pinetree Ave., Aromas
For more information on each artist or for an example of the work, visit www.sanbenitoarts.org and click on the SBC Open Studios link.
