Artists Open their Studios for a Weekend of Art | Hamptons Art HubHamptons Art Hub

This weekend, a rarity on the East End will occur--a diverse group of artists open their studio doors to reveal their artwork, art practice and the spaces where art is being made. Allowing a first-hand look at artists who paint, sculpt, photograph, work with fabric, clay or digital mediums, this weekend reveal takes place on Shelter Island on August 15 and 16, 2015 when select members of ARTSI hold their annual Open Studio event. The self-guided tour is free and online maps are available to make planning easy.

Jana Sheinker.

The ARTSI: Artists of Shelter Island open studio event is only one of three artist-run events that provides an intimate look at the inner workings of making art on the East End. Another other is the Clay Art Guild of the Hamptons's Back Roads Clay Tour which held its second event in June 2015 and presented nine studios in Sag Harbor, Water Mill, Bridgehampton and East Hampton. The Artists Alliance of East Hampton holds its long-running artist studio event on Columbus Day Weekend. Previously, they offered a second event that was held in July.

Roz Dimon with Buda. Photos by Kasia Rejzerewicz, 2014.

One distinct advantage to the Shelter Island studio event is proximity--all artists participating are within a short drive making it possible to see all 15 studios in one day. (By comparison, it can easily take an hour or longer to travel from Southampton to East Hampton in summer).

Kathy Hammond. Photo by Christine Matthai.

Also making the Shelter Island open studio tour unique is the island itself. For "outsiders" or those not immersed in Shelter Island life, the tour also allows the experience of life on a small island that goes beyond traveling Route 114 from one ferry to the next, dining at one of the restaurants or having fun at Wades Beach.

Megan Hargrueter.

Like its neighbors on the North and South Forks, Shelter Island has a vibrant artist community that is mostly under the radar. The tour does not aim to reveal all of the artists making work on the island, but a diverse section of those artists willing to present their work as it appears outside of gallery or museum walls.

Olive Reich.

Emily Rose Larsen (Print) in her studio.

This year's Open Studios artists are Janet Culbertson, Roz Dimon, Katherine Hammond, Megan Hergrueter, Emily Rose Larsen, Liss Larsen, Diana Malcolmson, Bob Markell, Olive Reich, Joe Reilly, Susan Schrott, June Shakten, Jana Sheinker, Peter Waldner and Mike Zisser.

Bob Markell.

Liss Larsen.

To preview some of their art and learn about the artists, click here to read a four-part series.

Part of the fun is taking a look at the wide range of studios on the tour. Some artists have stand-alone studios while others work from a room in their home. The presentations on the tour varies--some artists set up exhibition-style areas with art installed on walls or set upon easels with additional works available for browsing. Others leave their spaces au naturale--what visitors see is the real setting where the work takes place. Other artists present a combination.

Susan Schrott.

Visitors may also find artist hard at work when they arrive. Peter Waldner--a four-year veteran of the tour--likes to stay busy during the two-day event.

Another high point for visitors can be discovering art and making it part of your collection or home. One of Waldner's favorite exchanges was when a nine-year-old boy fell in love with a three-dimensional work and found a way to purchase it over the course of the weekend. After repeat visits to look at the work (with his friend, his mother and his father), the artwork was purchased after a price break and committment to save his weekly allowance was secured and the boy took the work home with him. Pleased and proud of his purchase, Waldner received photos of the new collector and the art installed in its new home, located among trophies and childhood possessions.

Peter Waldner.

Other favorite moment was when another three-dimensional work depicting a breakfast meal made its way to a Connecticut restaurant after being purchased as a gift by a family member, recalled Waldner.

"That really is the best part of the tour, for me," he said. "when the art finds a new home with someone whose meant to have it."

______________________________

BASIC FACTS: The sixth annual ARTSI Open Studio Event will be held on Shelter Island on August 15 and 16, 2015 from noon to 5 p.m. each day. Free. For a map and information, visit www.artsi.info.

______________________________

"ARTSI Artists Revealed: Janet Culbertson, Katherine Hammond and Roz Dimon"

"ARTSI Artists Revealed: Megan Hergrueter, Emily Rose Larsen, Liss Larsen & Bob Markell"

"ARTSI Artists Revealed: Diana Malcolmson, Joe Reilly, Susan Schrott & June Shatken"

"ARTSI Artists Revealed: Olive Reich, Peter Waldner, Mike Zissner & Jana Sheinker"

_____________________________