BAINBRIDGE ISLAND 2022 WINTER STUDIO TOUR

Margaret Millmore | Posted on November 22, 2022 |

The Winter Studio Tour is coming soon: Dec. 2, 3 & 4. With 46 juried artists, this art event offers quality, hand-crafted art, where you can meet the artist and buy directly from them. This is the 39th year for the Winter Tour, which will take place in five local studios and community halls, with 46 regional artists.

This free, self-guided tour takes place from 10am to 5pm each day, and you will find a variety of art mediums, such as jewelry, pottery, paintings, fiber, mixed media, photography, and glass.

The artists pulled out all the stops this year, creating new works, incorporating new methods, styles, and raw materials. Some of the unique artforms include: detailed paper cut designs, whimsical fairies and frogs, Nuno felted wearables, tall metal water towers, steam-bent wood, and repurposed metal yard art.

Brochures can be found around town, and details are on the Bainbridge Island Studio Tour website. The site includes a Featured Artist page with artist interviews, videos, and behind-the-scenes photos of the artists in their studios, hard at work. It’s a great way to see some of the “magic” and hear what the artists are thinking, and what inspires them. Each week a new artist is featured, and the archives have past interviews and videos.

Studio Tour manager Dinah Satterwhite says, “I am so grateful to work with these super talented artists! There are so many great stories of customers finding exquisite art for their homes and businesses, and gifts of course. I love seeing the joy on their faces finding such unique, original art, and getting to meet the creators!”

There are many new artists in the Tour this year, including Kori Arruda of “Double Z Creative,” a family project. Using a CO2 laser, look for beautifully designed ornaments that reflect the clean, simple, Pacific Northwest. Using natural wood, acrylic, sterling silver and jute, the final pieces showcase the collaborative design in a unique and colorful way.

Also new this year is photographer and batik artist Melissa Bixby. Her Alaskan heritage is reflected in her incredible batiks and photos of sea creatures. “I use large sweeping strokes, bright blended colors and defining textures, to share my vision of not only majestic sea life, but all of our natural world from which I draw inspiration.”

Many other artists are new to the winter event, along with over 30 seasoned Tour artists. Some of them include Mary Edwards, with semi-precious jewelry; Dixie Armfield, with fused & stained glass; Victoria Julien-Gary, with upcycled slippers, boots, and bags; Eileen Sorg, with colored pencil over watercolor; Sophie Frieda, with oil paintings; Sydni Sterling, with acrylics; Kaaren Brooks, with sculptural and functional pottery; Leslie Newman, with contemporary abstracts; and Howard Julien with steam-bent wood.

Five studios and community halls are participating this year, including Elemental Furnishings’ studio owned by wood/paper/metal artists Kathryn LaFond and George Brooks, The Filipino-American Hall, the Masonic Center, the American Legion Hall, and the Grange Hall. Each location has five to twelve artists, all there in person to share their art, their stories, and their inspirations.

For details on each artist and the studios, including a map, check out the brochures which can be found at regional shops, the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce, or call to request one by mail. Downloadable maps and brochures can be found on the website: www.bistudiotour.com. Tour Manager Dinah Satterwhite can be reached at 206-842-0504.