2021 Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour to offer three new artists

MOUNTAIN VIEW — All are invited to visit Mountain View to get started on the Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour. This free self-guided driving tour showcases the private working studios of artists located within 30 miles of the historic Courthouse Square. Now in its 20th year, the tour will take place Friday, Saturday and Sept 19.

More than 30 artists in 23 studios will offer visitors an up-close and personal look at how and where they create their distinctive pottery, jewelry, painting, photographs, leatherwork, woodwork, furniture, baskets and more. Tour participants will have an opportunity to visit with the artists, see their work in progress and purchase locally produced art and crafts directly from the creators from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 19.

The tour welcomes three new artists in two studios this year: Lisa Crews, potter and folk artist; and Doug and Colleen Kraatz, stained-glass artists.

Two artists were selected for the 2020 tour, which was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Jeweler Cindy Kopack and leatherworker Janice Clark will open their studios to the public for the first time.

Returning artists include Doris Fountain, primitive folk art; Judi Munn and John Perry, pottery and painting; Ed Alexander, photography and iron furniture; Pam Alexander, jewelry and garden art; Tom and Sage Holland, flame-worked glass beads and sculpture; Owen Rein, furniture and baskets; Mahdee and Peggy Raiees-Dana, woodworking and garden art; Charles and Linda Widmer, jewelry; Liz and Lewie Lloyd, wood and knives; Yun Kim, painting; Mark Moeller, painting; David and Becki Dahlstedt, pottery; Jeanette Larson, weaving; Paul Gillam Jr. and Paul Gillam Sr., woodworking; Maria Smith, flame-worked glass-bead jewelry; Joe Bruhin, woodfired pottery; Blant Hurt, storyteller and booksmith; Freda Cruse Hardison, local historian and author; and Claire Cresco, stained glass.

A free printed Map and Guide to Artists’ Studios will help participants travel “off the beaten path” to visit the studios. The guide is available at the following locations:

• The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, 409 Vine St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The guide is also available in the chamber’s outdoor freeliterature kiosk.

• The Batesville Area Arts Council Gallery on Main, 226 E. Main St., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

• Mountain Home: The Baxter County Library, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (open Tuesday night until 8), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

• The Calico Rock Heritage and Visitors Center, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

• The Mountain View Area Chamber of Commerce, 109 N. Peabody, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on tour weekend, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to noon Sunday.

• The Arkansas Craft School, at the corner of Main and Peabody in Mountain View, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday on Studio Tour weekend.

• The Arkansas Craft Gallery, 104 E. Main St. in downtown Mountain View, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The Gallery showcases handcrafted Arkansas art and crafts by members of the Arkansas Craft Guild.

• The Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

• The Paris Area Chamber of Commerce, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

• The Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce in Ozark, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Additional locations may be added and will be listed on the event’s Facebook page at facebook.com/ offthebeatenpathstudiotour

and at offthebeatenpath studiotour.com, which includes information on all the 2021 artists, along with an online version of the guide.

For more information, contact Becki Dahlstedt, tour coordinator, at (870) 6154825 or becki.dahlstedt@ gmail.com.