If a trip to an artist’s studio provides some insight into the artistic process, then trips to 150 artists’ studios must provide an enormous amount of insight.
That’s the appeal of Open Studios, an annual event presented by the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. A huge number of artists open up their studios to visitors for a weekend in the city, located a little over six hours west of Columbus.
This year’s event is set for June 27-29. A kick-off party the first night provides printed maps and schedules.
“It’s a great chance to meet contributing artist and plan your itinerary for the weekend,” says Ida McCall, PR and marketing manager for the museum.
Visitors can take guided bus, bike or walking tours, or use the search function on the mobile-friendly event website, www.openstudios-stl.org, to find their way around.
“So, for instance, if you’re really into sculptures, you can just search for sculptures. Or you can search for a specific artist, neighborhood or type of art,” McCall says. “We’re really trying to provide the tools for anyone who’s interested in discovering more about the artists working in St. Louis, allowing them to see the artists’ working spaces, meet and chat with them.”
Studios and art spaces east of the city’s Grand Boulevard are open June 28, while those west of Grand – as well as those in the larger St. Louis County – are open June 29. Some have after-hours events featuring performances, live music, poetry readings, artist demos, film screenings and other celebrations.
“It’s a very fluid, open weekend,” says McCall. “There’s lots of different ways for locals to enter into this.”
Those looking to bring home a piece of art to remember their visit can rest assured that most artists have their work for sale, offering pieces across all manner of media.
“It really runs the gamut,” says McCall. “The focus is on visual arts, but we also open it to graphic designers and architects. We try to be as inclusive as possible.”
Open Studios serves the local art community with its inclusivity and exposure; last year, more than 170 artists participated.
“It’s a community effort, and there’s such a strong interest,” says McCall. “It really serves to showcase different neighborhoods – ones you wouldn’t expect. There are lots of little hidden treasures in St. Louis.”
Lauren Andrews is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
