Put yourself in their place
People who step into the studio in Marsha Marcuson’s home on North Regal Street find themselves transported into another world. This world – no matter what the season – has dazzling blue irises and bright red geraniums, yellow pansies and autumn-hued cattails. It also contains breathtaking views of vineyards and villas in colors that sing with inks and acrylics and oils.
And for one weekend, the public is invited into this world.
Marcuson and four other artists in north Spokane will open their homes for the fourth annual Town and Country Studio Art Tour Saturday and Sunday. In each studio, additional artists will join the host to present a variety of artistic media. Besides paintings, visitors will find pottery, baskets, glass, batik, metallic sculpture and photography on exhibit.
North Side artist Hilda Bradshaw plans to display her pottery at the studio of Angelica Di Chiara-Hardin on North Ruby Street during the tour. Bradshaw has worked as a potter since the late 1980s. She teaches classes and is a founding member of the Spokane Potters’ Guild. The tour provides an opportunity to show her work publicly and talk to people about pottery. She believes the event benefits both the artists and the public. “Visitors can meet the person who made the object,” she said.
Carol Schmauder, coordinator of the tour, agreed. “We have music, hors d’oeuvres and lots of fine art at each studio, and the artists are present to answer any questions our guests might have,” she said. All the art work is for sale, but there is no pressure to buy. “People are free to just come and look,” she added.
Marsha Marcuson has participated in the tour each year since it began in 2004. “I just enjoy watching and talking to the people as they come through,” she said. “They get to see the art with the artist. It’s a little more of a personal experience.”
Spokane’s first studio tour emerged from artist Jan Juday’s idea of allowing the public a glimpse into artists’ working studios. Juday envisioned people asking questions and chatting with artists in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Now, four tours later, this is still the most important element of the event.
According to the tour’s Web site, visitors see “the creative process, work-life and work-environment” of participating artists. Marcuson said this is the primary goal of the tour – bridging the gap between those who create art and those who enjoy it.
“You get to see how the artists work, because it’s happening right in our studios,” she said.