BRISTOL — Lily Hinrichsen, Karla VanVliet, Basha Miles, Annie Perkins, Reagh Greenleaf Jr., and Rachel Baird — all Addison County residents — set up shop in the ARTSight Studios and Gallery on South Street in Bristol. It’s a shared office, sort of. Each artist has his or her own space in the old house, which used to be home to the police station and doctors offices. Some of the artists keep regular hours, others by chance or appointment.
“While we each have our own studio spaces, we often connect with our community through open studios, workshops, readings and other art events,” explained Hinrichsen. Last year, Hinrichsen and VanVliet came up with the idea to Spring into Art — a way to shake off winter and get creative with local artists. “We literally went knocking on doors,” Hinrichsen said, admitting it’s not every artist’s favorite thing to do. “But the businesses around here get really excited about things like this. It’s good foot traffic for them and a chance for us to show people who we are and where we are.”
The second annual event comes to downtown Bristol this Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Each participating business will display a construction-paper flower made by Deborah Mager-Rickner’s students from Bristol Elementary. Look for these flowers on ARTSight Studios and Gallery, WalkOver Gallery, Art on Main, Yarn and Yoga, Verde Mountain, Honey Lights, Kimball Office Supply, Recycled Reading, Emerald Rose, Tree Goods, Main Street Vintage and Thrift, Community Pottery Studio, Scentsations and LuLu’s Ice Cream.
Special demonstrations and hands-on activities will be plentiful at the event. For example, from 1-3 p.m. at Art on Main artist Theresa Somerset of Precision Studio will demonstrate the traditional art of pysanky, or Ukrainian egg painting. Pysanky are decorated with traditional Ukrainian folk designs using a wax-resist method.
Don’t leave too early, the final WalkOver Cabin Fever Series performance with Jeff Warner kicks off at 8 p.m. in the upstairs concert room at 15 Main St.
Warner is among the nation’s foremost performer/interpreters of traditional music. His songs from the lumber camps, fishing villages and mountain tops of America connect 21st century audiences with the everyday lives — and artistry — of 19th century Americans. Admission for the music show is $15 in advance and $20 day of show. For reservations call 453-3188, x 2.