The Artists Collective | Spartanburg will give a sneak peek of works by artists participating on the fourth annual Open Doors Studio Tours in the “Open Doors Preview Exhibition” March 10 through April 25 in the group’s Solomon Gallery.
“The Open Doors Preview Exhibition is an opportunity for the public to get an idea of the artwork they will see when visiting artists’ studios during the tour weekend April 25 and 26,” says Beth Regula, chair of the Open Doors Tour and chair of the management board of the Artists Collective. “All 54 participating artists have been invited to exhibit one to two pieces of original artworks in the preview exhibit. It’s a great way for people to decide which artist they want to see more of or which studios they want to visit during the tour.”
Regula noted, “We are so grateful for the generous support of both the Piedmont Natural Gas/Duke Energy Foundation and Spartanburg County of the Open Doors Tour. Their support allows us to further assist our artists in the Open Doors Tour and provide the local and regional community with a wonderful, unique experience through art.”
During the self-guided Open Doors Tour, participating artists will open their studios to visitors to come to see how they produce their works. Visitors can pick and choose which studios to visit and when, on the schedule provided in catalogs produced for the event. They also can view all the participants, their artwork and tips on how to participate in the tour at opendoorstudios.art.
The preview show “is a representation of the broad range and the high quality of art being created across Spartanburg County,” Regula says. “The Artists Collective host the Open Doors Studio Tour and the preview exhibition annually to promote and support artists beyond its membership.”
The works exhibited will include a wide variety of forms and media, including photography, mixed media, jewelry, glass, painting, sculpture, printmaking, fiber art, ceramics and more.
The Open Doors exhibit and the tour are both free and open to the public, she notes.
An opening reception for the exhibit will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 19. A second reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 16. Both are in conjunction with Spartanburg ArtWalk.
“Art studio tours are a unique, fun attraction for all ages – from the seasoned art collector – to the youngest art student,” Regula says. “The focus of the Open Doors tour is to provide both support for local visual artists and to heighten artistic and cultural awareness within our community. Collectors, supporters and the art-interested public will have the opportunity to see how art is created by visiting the artists in their studios all across the county.”
The studios are required to include a “working” artist space. All artists will show their creative process inside their studios, some doing demonstrations.