Local artists to open their studios to Tour (By Dave Roberts)

Local artists to open their studios to Tour
by Dave Roberts


Discovery Bay artist Samantha Brown, seen here with her daughter Sydney and one of her paintings for children, is one of 36 artists participating in next week’s Artists’ Open Studio Tour.
Photo by Richard Wisdom
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A painted chandelier by Jenny Floravita
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A sculpture by Crystal Lockwood, one of 36 artists participating in next week’s Artists’ Open Studio Tour.
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“Brideship” by J. Robert Griego.
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A painting by Bill Weber.
slideshow There is much to love about the suburbs versus the city: larger, more affordable homes; safe, family-oriented communities; parks and youth sports; nearby U-Pick orchards and the Delta. But one drawback is that there is not a lot of live music, theater, ballet, opera or art galleries.

But there are artistic things happening in East County. Next weekend it will be possible to spend two full days visiting local art studios, meeting the artists, watching them in action, viewing their works and perhaps purchasing a few objets d’art.

The annual Artists’ Open Studio Tour has grown this year to 23 venues from Pittsburg to Discovery Bay, drawing the participation of 36 artists specializing in acrylics, watercolor, digital photography, children’s art, clay, oil, aqueous mixed media, jewelry, hats, pastel, colored pencil, painted glass, bronze sculpture, ceramics, metal, stone, stained glass, pottery, Chinese brush painting, wood, fiber arts, graphite, charcoal, hand-knit fiber, silks and cashmere.

“I just want people to know that there’s a lot of talented people here,” said Samantha Brown, a Discovery Bay artist participating in her first tour. “It’s not just suburban families and housewives and retired people (in East County). There’s a lot of amazing, community-focused artists.”

Brown, who combines painting and graphic design with word-based imagery for children, is new to the local art scene. A little more than a month ago she went out for Chinese food at a Discovery Bay restaurant, where an art show and sale sponsored by the Discover Art League was taking place. Before she knew it, this stay-at-home mom not only had joined up but was setting up a Web site for the group and helping design the brochure and publicize the artists’ tour.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” she said. “My husband calls me the hardest-working unemployed person. I just love the artists – they are so talented. I hope I can be up to par (as an artist) – they are just so amazing. I am a little disappointed that I can’t go to all of the other artists’ studios.”

Brown’s work will be on display in her living room and include a variety of digital prints and paintings, much of it featuring letters, numbers and words to appeal to children – “I call it learning art,” she said. She’ll also offer projects for kids on her front lawn, providing tables and materials for youngsters to create their own masterpieces.

The studio tour takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17. The 14-hour window makes it possible for true art lovers to visit all 23 studios as long as they don’t spend more than 36½ minutes at each location and are able to teleport between venues. By the end of the tour, the tourist will likely have gained a much greater appreciation for the wide variety of art and artists in East County.

“There’s a perception about Discovery Bay and Brentwood and this whole area that people are stodgy and everyone has a boat; there’s not a lot of culture or things to do,” said Brown. “I was completely overwhelmed when I met with the members of the Discover Art League and others participating in this tour. There’s such a wealth of artists. I thought I was alone – the only one who has to create or die – and there’s so many people who share that passion and are trying to do things in this community.”

For more information, including maps to the studios, go online to www.artistsopenstudiotour.com or e-mail Jack Gaughan at jack@artistsopenstudiotour.com or call 925-513-3863.

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