This October is your chance to explore the over 40 local artists throughout Eastern Dutchess County New York who will open their studios to the public for the 9th annual ArtEast Open Studio Tour. This free self-guided tour takes place the weekends of October 17-18 and October 24-25, 11am to 5pm.
The ArtEast Open Studio Tour spans beautiful rural Dutchess County NY and Patterson Township in Putnam County at peak of fall foliage season. Run by artists, the ArtEast event gives visitors a relaxed, behind the scenes look at how artists create their work – their inspiration, their creative process, as well as a private viewing of their most recent work. It also gives guests an opportunity to purchase original artwork straight from the artist.
Leading up to the open studios will be a public art project, funded by the Pawling Community Foundation and private donors. The Pawling Village Green will be enlivened with colorful art banners depicting original works by photographers, sculptors, painters, printmakers, fabric artists and multi-media artists. To celebrate hanging the banners, participating artists will be on hand at the September 12th Farmers Market exhibiting the work depicted on the banners, creating plein aire works and interactive photography.
Marked by bright yellow signs along Route 22 and backcountry roads, the ArtEast Tour stretches south to Patterson, west to Hopewell Junction, east to Wingdale and north to Dover. Over 21 unique locations — including private studios, barns, garages, work spaces, galleries and several group sites – allow tour guests to take their time and enjoy two full weekends of scenic country drives, leaf peeping and a wide variety of artistic mediums and styles.
Whether you’re a returning guest or taking the ArtEast tour for the first-time, you’ll enjoy the warm and welcoming mix of accomplished artists. You’ll see other art lovers and connect with the artists as you hopscotch around to the studios. You’ll run into vistors from throughout the region, neighboring Connecticut, and up and down state, even guests visiting from Europe have found their way to ArtEast.
Past guests have raved about the wide diversity of artistic styles from landscape, still life and figurative work to contemporary folk art, photo realism, conceptual and abstract art.
This year’s ArtEast highlights include new, never before seen work by long-time ArtEast artists including Peter Cascone’s work in chalk, a new direction for photographer Bill Prickett, fiber artist Karen Madden incorporating textures soft and metalic, and photographer Lonna Kelly’s light filled work. Artists new to the tour this year are Bea Gustafson, painter, studio potter George Davidson, fiber artist William B. Owens and abstract painter Jerry Michalak.
Fiber artists include Karen Madden, Pat Lane and William B. Owens and range from one of a kind clothing and gloriously colored scarves to sculptural wall pieces. Folk and assemblage artist Rick Gilstad’s works are carefully constructed free standing and exuberant wall mounted pieces. Printmaker Amy R Farrell works in mixed media creating multi-layered works inspired by the natural world.
Painters run the gamut from Susan Hennelly’s vividly colored water colors to John Colantuono’s free form abstracts, and Mary Smoot Souter’s traditional and impressionistic realism to Peter Cascone’s free range of medium. Returning favorites include Gretchen Hoffman Abene, Kathy L. Braun, Liliana Washburn, Ann Godesky, Doreen O’Connor, Jeanette Rodriguez.
Photographers are Lori Adams, Lonna Kelly, Bill Prickett, and Karen Presser. Their work stretches from newly conceived nudes by Lori Adams to Karen Presser’s contemporary surrealism.
Potters Amy Brenner, Kathleen Heidemann, Drew Montgomery, and George Davidson include both fine art, functional and decorative work. Sculptor Bob Madden’s work ranges from fine gallery pieces to the linked hearts Bob makes especially for weddings.
Artist groups that offer great variety are at the Fountains at Millbrook, the Front St. Gallery.
Plan your tour in advance by visiting the interactive tour website at arteastdutchess.com where you can get a preview of each artists work and organize your route. You can even get to know some of the artists featured in video interviews. Visit four or more artist studios, you can enter to win a free gift from one of the participating artists.
All of the artists on the tour have work for sale. Prices run the gamut from specially priced works created exclusively for the open studio tour such as cards and small works of art to larger pieces priced from a few hundred dollars and up.
The tour is made possible by the tireless work of artist volunteers and the generosity and support of the Pawling Community Foundation, Arts Mid Hudson Council and local business sponsors, including , George Apap Painting, The Village Frame Shop, the Bakeria, Town Square Pizza, GardenLarge, Petite on Main, and Eastern Hay and Grain.
For more information or to interview any of our artists, contact Lonna Kelly at arteast_LK@yahoo.com or call 845-855-1676.
Ann Godesky, Painter
George Davison
