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GOSHEN – Think of it as the largest art gallery you’ve ever visited.
The popular Round About Goshen Studio Tour is back for another season, featuring more than a dozen artists displaying their artwork at eight locations around town. The self-guided tour is scheduled for Oct. 8 and 9 and will feature painting, jewelry making, quilting, photography and mixed media. Many artists will also demonstrate their techniques.
Amy Breakell, president of the Goshen Business Circle, said the group has sponsored the event for the past three years because the organization recognizes that artists are also businesspeople. She is donating space at 18 North St. for eight artists or artist collectives. Seven other artists and vendors will host visitors on their own turf, she said.
“The tour is free, and it’s to promote the arts community. It’s a community vitality event. We are trying to spark interest in all the goodness in Goshen. There’s a lot of it that people don’t know about,” Breakell said.
All destinations will be within a three-mile radius of the town center, she said. Visitors may begin at any location and choose their own route. A studio tour sign will be posted at each location, shown on an interactive map on the GBC website.
Lori Barker started the studio tour in 2005 with her husband, the late Ernest Barker, as a way to gain recognition for Goshen-area artists. Lori Barker works with photography on metal, painting and other media. Ernest Barker taught art at the Gilbert School in Winsted and was known for his painting, woodworking and sculpting.
For years before spearheading the tour, the Barkers had been showing their artwork twice a year at their home studios in West Goshen, often inviting other artists to join them.
“I wanted to have more artists involved,” Lori Barker said. “In 2002, we had five other artists at our house, but not as a tour. In 2005, we started the Goshen open studio tours.”
She said artists often have few resources to bring attention to their work. “We had no other outlet other than craft shows and trying to find a gallery. We needed to network and have connections. Even if you don’t sell something, you’re always getting somebody in your space making connections,” she said.
Breakell said, “It’s a celebration of art for the community. It’s a time to celebrate the creativity and bring awareness that (artists) are here.”
Artists showing their creations at 18 North St. will be Anne Marie Papineau, showing etched and painted crystal glassware, fine art originals and prints; Tammie Valentine, showing and demonstrating graphic design; Don Sexton, oil on canvas or mixed media on paper.
Also at 18 North St. will be Paula Bush, showing jewelry made of semi-precious gemstone beads, collage prints of the Zodiac signs and Oracle Cards; Lori Barker will have photography on metal and partnership painting; Randy Parker is showing wood crafts; Betsy Gentile is featuring her works in mixed media; and Goshen Star Quilters Guild will display their artistic quilting.
Other artists and locations will include Christine Mitchell, IrnGrlArt, showing and demonstrating sculptures “and other whimsy” from recycled metal pieces, 102 North St.; Steven Soklin, Some Kind of Art Gallery, multimedia, 325 North St.; Karen Ostrom, Sterling and Sea Stone, showing and demonstrating sterling silver jewelry at 52 Hill House Road.
Also, Nodine’s Smokehouse is offering free samples of gourmet meats and cheese, at 39 North St.; Micky Jensen at Blue Amazon Studio is showing and demonstrating works in oil, acrylic, mixed media and sculpture, at 280 East St. South. Northern Farm & Forestry LLC, Wood Crafts by Randy Parker is featuring a pumpkin painting activity at 59 Old Middle St.; and Sunset Meadow Vineyards will have chocolate and wine pairings and live music at 599 Old Middle St.
The self-guided Round About Goshen Studio Tour will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. A post-tour meet-and-greet will be held Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. at 18 North St., where visitors can mingle with the artists and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. For more information, go to the website or call 860-689-3959 or visit www.goshenbusinesscircle.com/goshen-studio-tour.
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