For the 21st year, artists in and around Philomath are inviting visitors inside their workshops, potteries and galleries.
The Philomath Open Studios Art Tour and Sale returns over the last two weekends of October, with 27 artists at nine locations. The tour runs Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25 with every stop open from noon to 5 p.m. each day.
The tour is free and self-guided. Visitors can start at any location and plan their own routes using the event’s brochure and map. The distinctive yellow POST signs along the roadways mark the way to each studio.
Organizers describe the event as a chance to meet artists, reconnect with longtime tour regulars and find a piece to take home or give as a gift. Visitors will find work in ceramics, wood, metal, glass, jewelry, fiber, painting, pastel, photography, printmaking and mixed media.
Several studios will offer live demonstrations during the tour.
Ongoing demonstrations will run each tour day at three studios. At Studio 5, Deb Curtis will demonstrate basket weaving with materials she gathers in the Pacific Northwest. At Studio 6, Pat Spark will demonstrate gel plate printing, Bruce Heys woodworking and Ken Pate printmaking. At Studio 8, Debi Friedlander will demonstrate colored pencil PhotoFusion and mixed media.
Green Heron Gallery (Studio 3) will host scheduled demonstrations each day. They begin at 1 p.m. with Jean Lawrence on silk painting Oct. 17, Mag Ival on nerikomi (colored clay) Oct. 18, Jennifer Deily on oil painting Oct. 24 and Sandy Wilson on decoupage Oct. 25. Vicki Wilson will demonstrate figures in clay from 4-5 p.m. on all four days.
Maxtivity Creative Space (Studio 4) will offer hands-on sessions from 1-3 p.m. Visitors can watch an artist demonstrate a technique and then try it themselves. The schedule is kinusaiga with Charlotte Montgomery on Oct. 17 and gel plate monoprints with Sarah Lench on Oct. 18. Teen Art Collective members and mentors will lead mixed media collage on Oct. 24, and the series closes with an artist trading card swap on Oct. 25.
A rundown of each tour stop:
- Studio 1, Daisy Drive Ceramics, 24745 Daisy Drive: Deb Garley (host), Anthony Gordon and Ann Lahr, all ceramics.
- Studio 2, Donovan Pottery, 5720 Donovan Place: Dale Donovan (host), clay; Phil Coleman, photography; Sara Crampton, upcycled wearable art; Merrill Sommers, metalworking.
- Studio 3, Green Heron Gallery, 1233 Main St.: Vicki Wilson (host), ceramic sculpture; Jennifer Deily, oil and watercolor; Maguelonne Ival, ceramics; Jean Lawrence, dye painting on silk; Sandra Wilson, decoupage mixed media.
- Studio 4, Maxtivity Creative Space, 1604 Main St.: Maxtivity Community Artists, hosted by Sarah Lench, featuring collage, fiber arts, ceramics, jewelry, printmaking and painting.
- Studio 5, 622 S. 16th St.: Stephanie Wiarda (host), pastel; Deb Curtis, fiber.
- Studio 6, 25140 Grange Hall Road: Erin Heys (host), pastel drawing and jewelry; Nick Heys (host), metal castings; Linda Herd, metalsmithing; Bruce Heys, woodwork; Ken Pate, etching and printmaking; Pat Spark, painted silk scarves and mixed media collage.
- Studio 7, 31364 Peterson Road: Greg Nicol (host), ceramics; Afon Blinov, woodworking and glass.
- Studio 8, 24409 Decker Road: Leslie Tejada (host), painting; Debi Friedlander, mixed media; Emma Marliave, beaded art and jewelry.
- Studio 9, 24482 Neuman Road: Gary Irwin (host), wood.
Work by tour artists is already on display at several locations ahead of the tour.
- Philomath Community Library, 1050 Applegate St. (through Oct. 31).
- Green Heron Gallery, 1233 Main St. (through Nov. 3).
- Philomath City Hall, 980 Applegate St. (through Nov. 20).
- Footwise window, 301 SW Madison Ave. in Corvallis (through Oct. 29).
Brochures and maps can be downloaded at PhilomathOpenStudios.com. The website also has profiles of each participating artist.
Printed copies are available locally at Philomath Museum and Philomath Community Library. In Corvallis, they can be found at Art in the Valley Gallery, the Corvallis Arts Center, the Corvallis Public Library, the LaSells Stewart Center’s Giustina Gallery and Pegasus Gallery and Framing. In Albany, copies are at Gallery Calapooia.