Opening Reception:
Carrboro Arts Center
Friday, October 30, 2009
5-7pm
Tour Materials:
Download
the 2009 Tour Brochure (pdf)
Download text
Directions to Tour Studios (pdf)
Tour Preview Exhibits:
ArtsCenter in Carrboro & Burwell School Historical Site in Hillsborough
The History:
The Orange County Open
Studio Tour was begun in 1995 by Monnda Welch, an enterprising
jewelry maker then living in Orange County. Monnda was inspired
by the highly successful Chatham County Open Studio Tour, begun
a couple of years earlier. Initially unable to receive
any help from local arts organizations, Monnda single-handedly
promoted and organized the first Orange Tour. By 1998,
the Orange County Tour exhibited 45 artists and had attracted
loyal supporters, but it was a truly Herculean task to organize
the artists and raise the necessary funds for advertising. So
in 2000, Monnda turned the Tour over to the Orange County Arts
Commission, who in turn initiated the creation of the Orange
County Artists Guild. Guild members volunteer their time
working in committees to accomplish the many tasks related to
the Tour. The Open Studio Tour is funded only by artist member
fees and small donations from the community. Thanks to the Arts
Commission and to Monnda Welch for bringing artists together
in pursuit of our common goal--making Orange County artists visible.
Making Orange County
artists visible is not an easy task. There are an
estimated 700-800 artists of all kinds in Orange County. Visual
artists and craftspeople have relatively few opportunities
to be seen and appreciated in the county. So the advantages
of the Tour to the artist are obvious. Artists enjoy direct
contact with supporters and gain a much wider exposure of their
work. And Tour visitors enjoy meeting the artists in a casual
atmosphere, viewing a wide range of the artist’s work,
and being able to ask questions about the artist’s or
craftsperson’s process. In addition to seeing work the
artist has on hand for the Tour, visitors are welcome to ask
about commissions for larger works, serial pieces, portraits,
or installations. This means a piece is made to order and may
require a down payment and contract. Many artists are
receptive to installment payment plans for more expensive works
and often will allow buyers to take artwork home on approval
for a few days.
Studio visitors always say they
enjoy seeing the context and environment in which the work is
made—how studios reflect the individual artist’s
character and perspective. They say that the educational and
recreational value of the Tour is just as important to them as
the opportunity to actually purchase a work of art to take home.
Many are curious to get an inside look at what it really means
to create a work of art from scratch. Others come for inspiration
to actually take up an art form themselves. And the Tour is a
great experience for children of all ages.The Orange County Open
Studio Tour brings artists and the community together in celebration
of the creativity and diversity of the arts in our area.
Contact Gordon Jameson, (919)
932-3438 or email Gordon. if
you have further questions about the Tour or the application
process.
|