A dozen artists will open their working studios to the public during the self-guided Moab Artists Studio Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 1 and 2, and again the following Saturday, on Sept. 8. It’s an occasion to meet the artists, see where and how they create art and view collections of their work. And, it’s an opportunity to buy artwork directly from the artists.
You can meet the artists beforehand, and get a taste of what they do, at a reception during the Moab Music Festival’s opening night concert on Friday, Aug. 31, at Star Hall. Just outside of Star Hall, at Sun Court, the artists are showing samples of their work 30 minutes before the 7 p.m. concert, and again during intermission.
“People can also get maps, brochures and check out the artists and see what they offer,” said Yrma van der Steenstraeten, one of the participating artists.
The studio tours include a variety of media like acrylic, oil, watercolor and pastel paintings, ceramics, photography, woodcarving, sculpture, and jewelry.
This will be van der Steenstraeten’s seventh year as a tour participant. She works mostly with oil paints, but has recently started to add metal and wood to her canvases to give her work a “steampunk” flavor, she said.
“It’s fun because you’re at home — you can show everything,” said van der Steenstraeten. “I’ll have my jewelry out — I do that on the side.”
In addition to van der Steenstraeten’s paintings, prints, notecards, and wire and beaded jewelry, she will have boxed Christmas card sets for sale during the event. Additionally, she’s offering something new this year — the opportunity to put together your own set of eight general notecards for a box set that can be given as gifts.
Also on the tour is La Sal artist Sandi Snead’s studio. Known for her plein air landscape paintings, this year she’s showing new works — oil and pastel paintings of animals — including cats, buffalo and owls. She will bring at least 50 of her paintings to a friend’s home-based studio in Moab, 195 E. 100 South, where she’ll setup during the tour.
Although Snead typically sells some of her artworks during the tour — especially her cards and prints — “It’s more just for the exposure,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for people to see a large body of work.”
In addition to drawings and paintings, the studio tour will include wood, metal and stone sculpture; functional and sculptural ceramics; collage art, jewelry and more.
Deborah Hughes is another La Sal artist who makes the trek to Moab to show her impressionistic photographic pieces. For the tour, she’ll share a space at Desert Sun Ceramics with other participating artists, Karen Chatham, Barb Gregoire and Joanne Savoie.
Hughes creates artistic photographs by combining “intentional camera movement” with multiple exposures, layering images on top of one another to create what she calls an “impressionistic look at the desert.”
In addition to framed and matted pieces, Hughes said she will have copies of her three books for sale — one a book of poetry and photography, one of her impressionistic work and a book of landscapes.
People attending the Moab Music Festival are encouraged to visit the artists’ studios between acts. Some of the evening concerts will take place at Red Cliffs Lodge and Sorrel River Ranch — not far from van der Steenstraeten’s Castle Valley studio. She encourages people to come out early for the concerts in order to have time to stop at her studio first.
“Not only do people see where I work, they see the environment where I get inspiration — the landscape where I live,” she said. “People can ask how a painting came along (and) the idea behind it. (The tour) is definitely a fun thing.”
Other participating artists include Helen Becker, Nick Eason, Sarah Hamingson, Tim Morse, Robin Straub and Phil Wagner.
Download a brochure and map to all of the studios at: moabstudiotour.com/map/ and look for printed maps at the Sun Court reception on Friday or at the artists’ studios during the tour.
Moab Artists Studio Tour invites public to view work spaces and collections
“Not only do people see where I work, they see the environment where I get inspiration — the landscape where I live.”
When: Sept. 1 and 2, and Sept. 8; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Moab and Castle Valley artists’ studios
Reception: Friday, Aug. 31, at Sun Court, located beside Star Hall, 159 E. Center St., 6:30 p.m.
Information and map of tour locations: moabstudiotour.com
Cost: Free
