This upcoming Memorial Day weekend (May 28-29, 2016) is your opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant arts culture of Vermont through the Spring Open Studio Weekend. Every year since 1993, the artists and artisans of Vermont have opened their studios to the public to share their work, their points of view, and their skills. The self-guided Open Studio tour features work from glassblowers, jewelry makers, printmakers, potters, furniture makers, weavers, ironworkers, painters, sculptors, quilt makers and wood workers. Many galleries will host gallery talks and feature special exhibits in conjunction with this event.
Open Studio Weekend is a state-wide celebration of the visual arts. Participant studios display bright yellow signs along the road to guide visitors to their location. The Vermont Crafts Council publishes a free map which is available throughout the state at Tourist Information Centers, galleries, and studios. This information is also available online at the Vermont Craft Council’s website. Plan your visits to meet artists whose work you admire, to explore art of a select type, or to explore some of the villages and backroads of Vermont. Don’t forget to ask the artists you meet where they’d suggest you go next — whether it’s a place to eat, another artist to visit, or a local attraction you just shouldn’t miss.
If visiting from out of state or out of the area for this event, select lodging that provides a central base of operations for a given location. In the Burlington area, you might choose the Comfort Inn & Suites for a convenient downtown location or the Essex Resort & Spa for a nearby, but out-of-town setting. Artists in Woodstock and eastern Vermont are accessible from Lake Morey Resort, if you are looking for a location with full resort amenities, or the Quality Inn at Quechee Gorge, for a location that is easily accessible to major highways. Staying in Manchester allows easy access to all of southern Vermont. Consider the new Taconic in Manchester for truly luxurious accommodations, or the historic Wilburton Inn which has its own sculpture garden on property, part of the Museum of the Creative Process. For a traditional Vermont country inn experience, consider the Landgrove Inn. In addition to award winning dining, Landgrove Inn is also the location of the InnView Center for the Arts, which hosts world class multi-day visual arts workshops Spring thru Fall.
Open Studio Weekend is a rare opportunity to view extraordinary art and talk with the artists. Many studios are not open to the public at any other time. What a perfect time to buy that special wedding gift or something for an upcoming birthday. (Or even something for yourself.) Each piece takes on even more significance once you talk with the artist and hear the story behind the art.
The Spring Open Studio Weekend is sponsored by the Vermont Crafts Council and the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing.
For more Information: