The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
‘Open Your Eyes’ to art
Studio tour returns with new spaces in Winsted, New Hartford
WINSTED, NEW HARTFORD — The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council will hold the 10th annual Open Your Eyes Studio Tour Saturday and Sunday in Winsted and New Hartford.
Twentynine artists will open their creative spaces to the public and share their art practices and processes with visitors. This is a unique opportunity to visit local working artists from a variety of artistic backgrounds while exploring the beauty of Northwest Connecticut. Learn about each featured artist and reserve your map of the tour at www.OpenYourEyesTour.org.
This year’s artists include painters, potters, photographers, sculptors, fiber artists, basket weavers, textile artists, mixed media artists, printmakers, gourd carvers, ceramicists, calligraphy and book artists, and jewelers.
The artists and artisans in New Hartford are Carol Taylor, Carlton Taylor, Karen Carvalho, Deb Strid, Holly Hall, David Skora, Ginny
August, Pam Chambers and Susan Rood. In Winsted, the artists and artisians are MaryPat Leger, Victor Leger, Cheryl Bartley, Sharon Lee Dougherty, Jane Durchame Hoben, Gail O’Connor, Monica Rosenberg, Amy Richardson, M.Wilk, Katheleen Borkowski, Donna Davis, Amy Grosclaude, Jeanne Morningstar Kent, Debra Lill, Kiki Michalek, Heather Neilson, Tina Puckett, Julie Rego, Karen Rossi, and Gay Schempp.
Maddie Stenson, program coordinator of the arts council, said, “I
am super excited for this year’s studio tour, especially since I am so familiar with the areas. It is an honor to work with such phenomenal and diligent artists, including my art teacher who taught me at Torrington High years ago. I hope that studio visitors enjoy seeing this region’s vast creative energy as much as I have this year. I’m looking forward to the tour weekend!”
During the tour weekend, there will be two information stations where visitors can check in for the tour, get maps or pick up preordered maps, posters and Tshirts, ask questions and make donations to the arts council. The Winsted Info Station is at Whiting Mills, 100 Whiting Street, Winsted. The New Hartford Info Station is at Beekley Community Library, 10 Central Ave., New Hartford. Each Info Station will only be open during the hours of the Studio Tour, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 24, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 25.
An Opening Night Party will be held at Brewery Legitimus at 283 Main St, New Hartford, on Aug. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. The Brewery is kindly donating 10 percent of the proceeds from the event to the Arts Council and there will be live music and a food truck. Come celebrate the tour with the artists and the Arts Council staff with delicious craft beer.
“I am so excited by the breadth of work on this tour. The local artists and artisans are a huge part of what makes this region special. Their creativity helps keep our communities sustainable, and adds to the wellbeing of our area. This is a great way to celebrate their contributions while bringing tourists into our towns.” said Rufus de Rham, Northwest Connecticut Arts Council’s executive director.
The Studio Tour remains free to the public thanks to support from the council’s sponsors. The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council gets year round support from the Connecticut Office of the Arts/ DECD.