North Delta artists are joining forces to make it easier for art lovers to see their work.
It’s called Studio Stomp: North Delta Art Tour.
The Oct. 5 and 6 event will showcase the work of 25 artists at eight studios and galleries throughout the community.
One of the stops along the tour will be Lyon’s Pride Studio and Gallery, the home of Marilyn Lyon, who runs a custom framing business and represents other artists in her first-floor gallery.
Lyon’s framing duties began keeping her so busy several years ago that she quit her full-time job, hoping it might also give her time to paint.
It didn’t, quite.
“The framing has really become all-consuming in may ways, so I live vicariously though a lot of these artists,” she says. “Every time they bring (the studio) a new piece, I get excited. It’s amazing how many talented people there are out there and nobody sees their work.”
Lyon, who runs annual garden art parties at her place, says the idea for the tour was brought up at a local artists’ meeting.
“I approached Watershed (Artworks) and said we’ve got to do this as a group. There are so many great artists in Delta.”
She explains that in general, art galleries are scarce, making it difficult for artists to display their work.
(Painting by Georgina Johnstone.)
“Taking it to the streets is the next best thing. This is the sort of thing that can really draw people in.”
Organizer Dave Stevens, a retired teacher and artist, says the project is a cooperative effort and represents a wide range of North Delta artists.
It won’t be just painters, but will include woodworkers, jewelers, fabric artists, potters and other artisans.
“They’re all in a different place, trying to make it work.”
Although the majority of the tour’s stops will be private homes, Watershed Artworks and the North Delta Potters Guild, which share the artSpace building, will be a central hub of the event.
At most of the studios, there will be hands-on demonstrations by artists, and visitors who make every stop will have brochures stamped, making them eligible for prizes.
Five per cent of sales during the Studio Stomp will go the Delta Hospital Foundation.
For details about locations and the artists involved, visit http://deltastudiostomp.com/
