San Juan Bautista resident and watercolor artist Gayle Sleznick
has participated in the San Benito County Open Studios Tour for the
better part of 15 years.
Over the four years that Aromas resident Andrea McDonald has
created pottery, she has shown her work in several venues, but this
is her first year in the tour.
San Juan Bautista resident and watercolor artist Gayle Sleznick has participated in the San Benito County Open Studios Tour for the better part of 15 years.
Over the four years that Aromas resident Andrea McDonald has created pottery, she has shown her work in several venues, but this is her first year in the tour.
And Hollister resident Dale Yarmuth, in his fourth year of the tour, enjoys introducing people to his collection of watercolor, pencil, pen and ink creations.
The variety of artists showcased in this year’s tour reflects the diversity of the work featured, including sculpture, pastel, pencil, crayon, charcoal, woodwork, glass work, photography and Hispanic tile mosaics.
Just as the name suggests, the San Benito County Open Studios Tour is an invitation to the public to the artists’ studios – which often are their homes – to view their work, ask questions and watch them in action.
Both professional and amateur artists are featured, as is work created by San Benito and Anzar high school students.
Because there’s no middleman, the pieces generally sell for significantly less than in a gallery. Although visitors are welcome to purchase art that catches their eyes, the artists also have another goal in mind: to connect people to the work.
“For me, buying is a bonus. This is the time we get to clean up our studios and just have fun,” Sleznick said. “The work is done, and it’s so enjoyable to just show people around. I finally have a studio I absolutely love, and it’s so nice to be able to invite people in and show them around.”
Thirty artists are participating in this year’s show, following a pattern of steady growth the show has seen over the past few years.
The tour launched in 1991 and was renamed the Silicon Valley Open Studios Tour in 2000, which caused many of the artists who said they no longer felt represented by the organization to bow out. But since the name was changed back a year later, participation has grown significantly.
Keeping the focus local is one reason McDonald said she enjoys the tour.
“It’s a very personal show. It’s not as big as some of the other open studios tours, and that makes it a little more intimate,” she said. “I think the artists really focus on this area. I know my work reflects some of the natural flora of this area.”
One of the most unique aspects of the San Benito County show is that many of the artists’ studios are located in picturesque, charming settings that are off the beaten path. Another draw is the wide spectrum of artists and work.
“We really have a spread of artists represented,” said Sleznick, who has been painting for more than 30 years. “Some people haven’t painted very long at all, and others have painted for quite some time. There is some excellent talent. Most people think you have to go to San Jose or Santa Cruz or Monterey to find that, but it’s right here in our own little county.”
Being able to view the art in its native setting helps make it more real to people who usually attend gallery viewings, the artists said. And, by meeting the artists, people are better able to understand the idiosyncrasies of the work.
“I really enjoy talking to the people about my art and the medium. It’s definitely more of an up-close-and-personal experience,” Yarmuth said. “They can ask questions, and there are a lot of people around, so they can take their time and see each painting in much closer detail.”
If you go…
The San Benito County Open Studios Tour will take place from 10am to 4pm April 23 and 24. Admission is free.
A listing of the studios and maps are available in Hollister at the YMCA and Starbucks, in Aromas at Ducky Deli and Ingram Realty and in San Juan Bautista at Galleria Tonantzin.
Maps also are available at the artists’ studios and online at www.sanbenitoopenstudio.com. The event is presented by the Aromas Hills Artisans.
