Durango Open Studios Tour and Art Sale set for Oct. 15-16, 22-23

Durango, Bayfield, Ignacio and Mancos artists to open their studios to the public

DURANGO, Colo. – Fifty-one artists from Durango, Bayfield, Ignacio and Mancos, Colo., will open their studios or galleries and share their artistic processes with the public the weekends of Oct. 15-16 and 22-23, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. as part of the 3rd Annual Durango Open Studios Tour and Art Sale. The event is free to the public, though artists’ work will be available for sale.
“We have so many visual artists in our region, and this is an opportunity for the public to meet them one-on-one, view their work and learn more about how they go about creating,” said Denise Leslie, publisher, Arts Perspective magazine, the event’s producer. “The creative process is different for everyone, and all of these artists have wonderful stories to tell.”
Artists participating in the Open Studios Tour represent a wide variety of fine arts disciplines, ranging, in example, from bronze sculptor Veryl Goodnight of Mancos to Durango plein aire painter Sharon Abshagen, as well as pastel painter Lorraiine Trenholm of Ignacio and the animal paintings and illustrations of Duck Girl Art’s Cindy Coleman of Bayfield, and many more. [Please note, a complete listing of the artists follows this press release.]

“Our Tour Guide and Map will be available October 3, so you can plot your routes in the various communities,” said Leslie, noting the Tour Guide and Map can be picked up at locations that distribute Arts Perspective magazine. “But we’re also working with other entities to make an adventure out of the tour. For example, the folks at the Rochester Hotel are organizing a bike tour to the Durango studios, and Arborena gallery, wine bar and cafe will host a special dinner including a tour of the Mancos studios via limousine.”
The public will have an opportunity to meet all the artists at a pre-tour reception, Thursday, Oct. 13, 4-6 p.m. at the Rochester Hotel & Courtyard, Durango. Appetizers, cash bar and music by Ruth Crutcher, The Guitar Dojo are planned.
New to the tour this year is a “Mystery Studios” event challenging tour participants to find three Durango Open Studios’ “Mystery Studio Buttons” and be eligible for a $300 cash prize award. Six artist studios on the tour route have been designated as the Mystery Studios. Participants must complete the event entry form and follow rules posted on the Durango Open Studios website.
A “taster” event featuring original work from the participating artists was held at the Durango Art Center, Sept. 9-18, as part of its “Open Doors” exhibition. Artists receiving top honors in the juried competition, were, Best of Show: MarSon – Susan Cardin, “Weaver” mixed media; 2nd Place: Mar Evers, “Burnished Meadow” oil; 3rd Place: Maryellen Morrow, “Memories Rising” oil on canvas; Shared Vision Honorable Mention Award: Patty Russell, “Peace Portal” jewelry. Artwork was judged on execution, composition, choice or appropriateness of medium, technique, imagination, uniqueness and originality.
“This event provides us, as artists, an opportunity to connect with the general public one-on-one. It’s terrific,” said Jane Mercer, fine art oil painter who has participated in Durango Open Studios in the past. “I’ve found that people really want to understand our process and how we create art. Plus it’s a great opportunity for us to market our work.”
Sponsors contributing to the success of the event include, Rochester Hotel & Leland House, Durango Arts Center, The Mail Room & Copy Center, Sorrel Sky Gallery, Dancing Spirit Gallery, Arborena, FastSigns, Goodnight Trails Gallery and Mountain Limousine.
Further information and details of the various special activities are available on the Durango Open Studios Facebook page or at www.DurangoOpenStudios.com.
Durango Open Studios is part of the Shared Vision Publishing family, founded in 2004 on the idea that it takes a shared vision to create a successful connection between arts and culture. To learn more about Shared Vision Publishing and its activities and services, visit www.sharedvisiononline.com or contact Denise Leslie at 970.403.1590.