Small Town News

SVAC calls artists to participate in tour

---

The Sedona Visual Artists' Coalition has announced a call to members and all area artists interested in participating in the 13th annual Open Studios Tour.

The tour, which has earned the Sedona Chamber of Commerce designation as a Sedona Signature Event, is scheduled for Friday, April 29, through Sunday, May 1, and will feature the work of some of the Verde Valley's finest artists.

Artists interested in participating in the annual event are invited to the kick-off informational meeting, from 6 to 7.30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at the church at 54 Bowstring Drive in Sedona. Open Studios co-chairpeople Mike Upp and Julie Talbot will discuss the history of the event, participation guidelines and answer questions.

"This is a can't miss meeting for interested artists," said Upp, a clay artist whose Cornville studio has been open for visitors participating in the tour for the last three years. "The event has grown in stature each year with attendance up each year."

Last year's event hosted several thousand visitors, both local and from all around the country, Upp said, adding that the event has room for 55 participating artists and that the goal of the event is to take its place as one of Sedona and the Verde Valley's top five annual events.

The annual Open Studios Tour also helps with fundraising for several SVAC programs, including its high school scholarship program as well as its Inter-Generational Mentoring Program where members bring the fine arts into the schools.

Upp described Open Studios as a fun and entertaining event where visitors are invited into the homes and studios of working artists to actually see and learn about how paintings, sculpture, jewelry, glass and ceramic pieces are created. Artists from throughout the Verde Valley open their studios over three days so that visitors will have enough time to visit all the studios on the tour which encompasses sites in Sedona, the Village of Oak Creek, Cottonwood and Cornville.

"The diversity of the participants' medium and styles is wide ranging and the visitors are encouraged to ask questions as they encounter working artists," Upp said.

The wide-ranging offerings by participating artists offer an exciting and satisfying way for visitors to gain insight into artistic practices by seeing artists' pieces at various stages of completion. Visitors can participate in a true artist-at-work experience with an up close and personal look at demonstrations in progress as well as learn about the variety of artist's tools — from brushes, canvas, paper, paint to kilns — used to produce the artworks on display.

Contact Upp at (503) 789-4437 or mjupp10@gmail.com for more information about the Oct. 15 meeting and Open Studios.

Sedona Visual Artists' Coalition is 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational, charitable and inclusive organization welcoming artists at all levels while providing a sense of belonging. Membership benefits include participation in the Fall Exhibit and the annual Open Studios Tour, committee participation and a web page on the SVAC interactive website. Visit the group's website or email president@sedonaartistscoalition.org for more information.



Copyright 2015 The Camp Verde Journal, Camp Verde, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

More from The Camp Verde Journal