(10/18) Are you ready for the 14th Annual Foothills Artists Studio Tour this year? That's right, the time has come for the Fairfield area art event of the season taking place the weekend before Thanksgiving, November 20-21, from 10 - 5 p.m..
Eleven artists in five studio locations will showcase original paintings, pottery, sculpture, furniture, woodworking, photography, printmaking, pastels, fabric arts, enamels, and jewelry. Experience the creative spaces where these artists bring their work into being and have the opportunity to buy directly from the studio floor.
This multimedia experience allows you to view the beauty of the southwestern Adams County countryside while getting a taste of what the local art community can offer and supporting local artists. An added bonus is all of the tour sites are in or adjacent to historic homes.
Here's a look at the artists showcased in the tour!
At Eden Farm in Fairfield, Geoff Grant, a fine art photographer whose soft and painterly styles include landscapes, candid portraits, architecture, and street photography. "I love landscape work, especially atmospheric work...I also do candid portraits of people when I travel to capture them in their surroundings, especially to showcase different cultures so that you have an understanding of the person and the place." Prints, both black and white and color, will be on display and for purchase during the tour. Geoff is familiar face in the local arts community and has been in several shows, including Frederick's the Delaplaine and NOMA galleries, and the ACAC in Gettysburg. In addition, he has participated in the Foothills Studio Tour for approximately eight years.
When asked why you should come to experience this event for yourself, Geoff said, "It's a lovely drive in the Fairfield/Cashtown area, and you get to see some terrific homes at the same time." He also commented on the importance of this event to the local art community, "Local artists often have a sense of place, and while they are showing in other venues, like at Adams County Art Council or local galleries, this is a great opportunity to see their work in their home."
Showing along with Grant at Eden Farm, is J—h Ricci, an extremely talented fiber artist. Her creations of sculptural vessels, wearable fiber art & tapestries will be on display that weekend. Recognized nationally for her art, she has won numerous awards. J—h is self-taught in hand bead-weaving and recycled paper techniques. In addition, she creates unique jewelry and paintings in oils and acrylics. J—h sells her work at a national level and teaches at various local art education centers.
A longtime artist and contributor to the Foothills Studio Tour, Jack Handshaw of Fairfield, will be returning this year and bringing his 35 years of experience with him. As a potter, his works are done in all clay forms, focusing on reduction-fired glazed porcelains, though he has recently returned to raku. During the tour, he will be offering redware. His one-of-a-kind porcelains and other unique ceramic items will be for sale on the studio tour.
Sharon Pierce McCullough and Michael McCullough are showing together in Cashtown. Sharon is a painter and sculptor of abstract and minimalist work. In addition, she is an internationally recognized artist, children's book author, and illustrator. Michael is a visual artist of abstract paintings whose work has been featured in various galleries and museums. In addition, his work is held in national and international collections.
Ann Ruppert is another artist returning to the studio tour. At her studio at Windborne Farm , her jewelry designs and other artwork including pastels, oils, watercolor, and colored pencils) will be available for viewing. Her artwork focuses on nature in all its forms and will be for sale during the tour.
Joining Ruppert at Windborne Farm, is Rod Stabler, a fifth-generation woodworker, and retired cabinet maker, will showcase his skill in one-of-a-kind hand-turned bowls and vases composed of unusual and colorful woods. Stabler and Ruppert collaborate on many pieces as well.
Guest artist, Laurie McKelvie, is also showing with Ruppert. Her artworks capture the light and color of the world around her using pastels. Others artists appearing at Windborne Farm included Anne Finucane and Judy Pyle.
Finucane's medium involves printmaking and other fine art. She is a longtime organizer for arts organizations in the Chambersburg area, and her work has been accepted into juried exhibitions throughout Maryland and even in New York City. In addition, she has been honored with one-person shows throughout Franklin County.
Judy Pyle creates fine jewelry in hand-fabricated silver, and torch-fired enamels on copper and fine silver. During the studio tour, you'll be able to see her new enamel pieces that are wearable sculptures. A life-long art educator and a practicing artist, her most recent small sculptures Ñ enameled items and other found objects Ñ have been juried into national exhibits.
Geoffrey Thulin, a painter specializing in bold animal imagery, landscapes, and abstracts work will be on display at his Blue Orchard Studio. He works primarily in watercolor and gouache. This year he has been working on a series of zodiac paintings, all of which will be on display. He has been a veteran of the tour for 6 years. When asked for a comment on the importance of this event both for the artist participating and the community, Thulin remarked, "I have been thrilled to be part of the Foothills Artists Studio Tour since 2015, and it has become a highlight of my year.
ÒBeing an artist can be and often is a solitary pursuit. To be part of a vibrant and evolving group of artists feels more like a collaboration, and that is very important, at both a personal and societal level, especially in our present times. Organizing an engaging art tour is a creative endeavor that we enjoy pursuing together. Not only are the Foothills Artists a group of good artists, they are a group of good people. In addition, the tour is, and always has been, a great opportunity to meet new people and to greet older friends."
The tour is self-guided and may be completed in any order. The website, www.foothillsartists.net, includes a map of each studio's location and street address and links to each artist's individual website. It also contains photos of the artist's current works and biographies.
The Foothills Artists ask that visitors please wear face masks inside the studios and homes. For those interested in making purchases, checks, and cash are welcome. Credit cards are accepted by most, but not all, artists.
