By Marcia Tinker, SCAA Studio Chairperson
Claude SmithThe Silver City Art Association Red Dot Studio Tour returns once again Labor Day Weekend, August 30 – September 2. An artist reception will kick off the weekend Friday evening, August 30, 5:00-7:00 at Light Art Space Gallery, 209 West Broadway. Meet the artists, view a work representing each one's studio, and pick up a brochure to guide you on your weekend tour. Tour hours are Saturday 10:00-5:00 and Sunday 11:00-4:00. The Studio Tour brochure is conveniently divided into two maps, in town and out of town for easy planning and traveling.
This year's tour includes new to Grant County artists, as well as those for whom New Mexico has been their long-term base & muse. Experience a variety of art: functional & narrative clay work, paintings in diverse media including beeswax, photography, montage, sculpture, digital, and fiber works. Follow the map down country roads, along scenic byways, as well as historic downtown Silver City, finding studios where you love the art!
New Studios on this year's Tour include; Sally Tilton, Kathryn Schmid and Joni Giovanna Hesley. Clay artists are Katherine Allen, Susan Mach, Claude Smith, and Catherine Russo. Artists working in drawing and paint: Mimi Peterson, Richard Harper, Katherine Schmid, Diana Ingalls Leyba, Sally Tilton. Contemporary and traditional metal sculptures are created at Nick Barton's Imaginary Forge and Michael Metcalf's studio. Janey Katz and Bryan Hyde offer unique twists in photography and design. Visit Joe Kennedy for turquoise, paintings and drawings. Fiber Art is big on the tour from Suzi Calhoun's quilted art, Donna Foley's natural dyed yarns and weaving, Gio Hesley's hand painted silk, to Marcia Tinker's ReImagined apparel! Pierre Nichol's Mimbres inspired gourd art and Diane Kleiss's encaustic sculptures cannot be missed! The Youth Mural Program is also a Red Dot Studio whose vibrant art is seen on walls throughout the Silver City region. Many of the studio artists work in a variety of mediums other than mentioned!
The exchange between artists and visitors makes the annual Studio Tour rich and unique. Visiting artists in their creative space gives insight into different media, processes, and the methods each artist has in applying their techniques. Included are works in progress, completed art and informative demonstrations. It is also a chance to discover some areas around Grant County that artists discovered before you.
To get an early preview the of the studio tour artists the art exhibit at Light Art Space opens to the public on August 22. Tour brochures are available at Light Art Space, local businesses and at the Silver City Visitor Center. Studio artist information is always on the Silver City Art Association website.
Our Studio members create art in private dedicated studio space throughout Grant County, where they are immersed in the beauty and history of Southwest New Mexico, from downtown Silver City to Mimbres Valley, the mining district and into the iconic Gila Forest. Their studios offer solitude, inspiration, creative work space, a retreat, and a place to focus. Many also describe their studios as imaginative messes! Studio artists often exhibit and sell at local and national galleries, art markets and events. Their eclectic studios become showplaces during the Labor Day Weekend Red Dot Studio Tour when you can see how and where these artists create. Many of these studios are also open by appointment year round.
