Valley verve : Artists open studios for tour weekend
Next weekend is your chance to take the third annual Spokane Valley Studio Tour. Six artists will display their creations at their homes, along with others artists.
The artists are trying something different this year by kicking off the event with an opening reception at the MAX restaurant and lounge in Mirabeau Park Hotel on Friday night before the tour which runs next Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sept. 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Friday reception will run from 6 to 9 p.m. with wine tasting, light refreshments, music by Cheryl Branz, a display of art done by artists participating in the tour and a silent auction. Tickets are $10 and will benefit future promotion of the tour.
There are six stops on the self-guided studio tour.
Conrad Bagley will be opening his doors at 4110 N. Herald Road. Bagley works in many mediums. He will be demonstrating the fusion of glass at his stop. The theme at his place will be the Wizard of Oz. Last report, he was looking for bricks to paint yellow for the event. Watercolor artist Trish Elser and photographer Tobe Robbins will be displaying their work along with Bagley.
Fabric artist and painter Nan Drye will host the second stop on the map at 4621 N. McDonald Road. Potter Linda Garratt, jeweler Sandy Mooney and painter and stained glass artist Isaac Smith will present their work, and Jeff Harris and Denny Young will show raku ceramic techniques throughout the weekend.
Calligraphy artist Jan Kruger will be welcoming visitors at the third stop at 4810 N. Sunnyvale Road where singer-songwriter Cheryl Branz will be performing.
At the fourth stop, 2105 S. Meadowview Road, mixed media artist Denise Bowles will be showing her work alongside painters Melissa Cole, Fabian Napolsky and Nadine Kay Sherman.
Potter Lezlie Finet will be sharing her studio space with painters Linda Christine and Vicki West, jeweler and lampworker Lisa Moss, multidiscipline artist Dian Zahner, paper flower artists Nathan and Mary Eberle and origami artist and sculptor Patti Reiko at 13902 E. 32nd Ave. Blues musician Tracy Carr will perform.
The last stop is at artist Sami Perry’s studio, 11717 E. Viewridge Lane. There you can enjoy the view with furniture artist John Luppert, potter Liz Bishop, photographer Linda Lowry, painters Darrell Sullens, Dianne Lemley and metal sculptor Fred Pottratz.
The opening reception and the studio tour are sure to be a hoot. You can’t go wrong with good food, stimulating conversation, entertainment and visually stunning creations. All of the artists work hard to open others to the possibilities of dreams made concrete via art.
“At my studio, we may even wear costumes,” Bagley said. At all of the stops, artists will be showing how you, too, can free your inner artist.