Art lovers invited to return to the SCA Open Studio Tour
Photo courtesy of Meredith Brower
With a tumultuous two years behind us, the summer of 2022 feels like it holds promise. For some, that return to normalcy arrives with the 19th annual South Coast Artists Open Studio Tour slated for the weekends of July 16-17 and August 20-21, in the South Coast towns of Tiverton and Little Compton, RI, and Westport and Dartmouth, MA.
“It’s been quite a while since anyone has felt safe visiting the private spaces of our friends and artists,” say SCA President Heather Stivison. “And now artists are eager to welcome you back into their personal studios and show you how they’ve been inspired and what they’ve been working on while you’ve been away. Expect some exciting changes and a new shared experience.”
By opening the doors to their private world, art lovers can witness the joy of what it’s like to be an artist. Going inside a studio is the best way to understand the inner workings of a creative life, something that isn’t always apparent when visiting a gallery. Up close and personal is the key, Stivison says.
The annual studio tour explodes on the scene every summer on both the third weekend of July and August. It attracts thousands of art lovers to an idyllic coastal world that is well-loved by visitors from all over. The open studio tour well recognized event that attracts regional attention. Visitors come from all over the east coast to see an amazing variety of artists that range from new artists to nationally-known artists who live and work in this region of New England.
“This region is unique,” Stivison adds. “It’s a blend of rural and coastal living that is both unassuming and sophisticated. From that rare mix you get an inspired way of life that is harmonious for artists and anyone else who chooses to visit.”
The tour, first held in 2004, was organized by Amy Lund, a Tiverton weaver who wanted to share her work with natural fibers on a loom. A small group of other artists joined her on those first few years and soon SCA was born into a non-profit group that encouraged arts education and the actual tour where visitors explore the inner workings of studios across the four towns.
This year that tradition continues as 75 artists open the doors to their studios. Since its inception, the tour has been a free event designed for the entire family. Many of the artists demonstrate their skills so that visitors can better understand just what it takes to fully realize a creative vision. This year the variety of work showing includes paintings, sculpture, pottery, woodworking, textiles, photography, glass, encaustic, watercolor, jewelry, and mixed media.
Visitors can pick up a map from any one of our participating artists or from one of our many Sponsors. You can also view a copy of the brochure online or download our free mobile app!
SCA Members at Weatherlow Farms, Westport MA. Photo courtesy of Meredith Brower.