In the studio
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Sage Merritt / News Virginian
Published: November 7, 2007
The 13th Annual ACV Artisans Studio Tour, to be held Nov. 10-11, will give the public a chance to visit 38 professional artisans at 14 different craft studios around the area. All featured craftspeople are juried artisans at the Artisans Center. Each of the studios will give visitors a glimpse at an artisan's working environment, as well as the opportunity to purchase fine crafts and sample food and beverages from area dining establishments. Admittance to all studios is free for the weekend.
"This is a way for people to see inside an artisan's studio, see how they work," said Michael B. Dowell, executive director of the Artisans Center. "The tour has really grown. If one wanted to take in the whole tour, it would really take both days."
Tour-takers can visit any of the featured studios that they like during the two-day affair. The studio tour is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. Participants can also pick up a "passport card" at any studio during the weekend and add a stamp for each studio they visit. Every visitor is eligible to win a $50 credit in a drawing of the "passport cards" after the studio tour, and visiting nine or more studios gives participating visitors a chance to win a $300 credit in the drawing.
A map of the tour begins at SoLace studio in Elkton, where Barbara Polin will display marbled silk clothing and silk and leather accessories, and Judith Ligon will show her collection of sculptural jewelry and other creations. The tour winds through studios in Standardsville, Earlysville and Charlottesville, including stops at four studios in the Old National Linen Building in downtown Charlottesville. Studios there include Studio 6, where Michael Keith will display his furniture and potter Elizabeth Krome will exhibit her functional stoneware and porcelain pots; and Clay Hill Forge Ltd., where blacksmith Dale Morse creates hand-forged ornamental and architectural metalwork, Jo Perez will display her stained glass work and Will Armstrong and Kim Eubank will show their "metal quilt" wall hangings and mirrors.
The tour continues in studios in Ivy and Nellysford, with a final studio in Afton, Wayfarer Forge, where Gerald Boggs will show ironwork creations and Virginia Dawnswir, ceramic potter and sculptor, will display vases and bowls.
Other participating studios will display everything from elaborate quilt art to basketry to salt-glazed pottery.
To take the tour, visitors should visit the Artisans Studio Tour link on the ACV Web site at http://www.ArtisansCenterofVirginia.org. Print out a tour map and directions to the each of the featured studios and you're on your way.
"It is really a fun way to spend the day," Dowell said. "It just gets you out of the house and into these artisans' studios. There might be frost in the air this time of year, but generally the skies are clear and it's a beautiful drive. It's fun to see the studios. Almost all of the artists are already exhibiting at the Artisans Center."
Each studio will display its own artisans' work. In addition, many studios will also host additional craftspeople from around Virginia.
"For example, [furniture artist] Blaise Gaston has three artisans from further afield who will be at his studio with him," Dowell said. "Last year we had a jeweler who came from two-and-a-half hours away."
Some artisans will do demonstrations of their craft, Dowell explained, although for some it is not feasible. "If Blaise Gaston did a demonstration, there would be wood shavings in all of the food," he laughed.
Food will be provided free of charge at every studio. Dining establishments providing refreshments include Veritas Vineyard and Winery, Food of All Nations, From Scratch Baking Company, Gearhearts Fine Chocolates, Bellair Market and Feast.
To get a glimpse at the works of some of the artisans on the 13th Annual ACV Artisans Studio Tour, visit the Artisans Center of Virginia and take a look at their current fine crafts on display. Ask up front for the names of participating artisans, or download the list from the Web site.
For more information about the 13th Annual ACV Artisans Studio Tour or to participate, visit the Artisans Center of Virginia Web site at http://www.ArtisansCenterofVirginia.org.
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