With around 50 local artists set to display their work later this month, art aficionados will have plenty to enjoy as they take in the fifth annual Langley Art Studio Tour.
“This is so exciting — we have got such a wealth of talent in Langley and outwards,” said Felicity Holmes, a Brookswood artist and new addition to the event’s organizing committee, which includes co-founder Deborah Strong, Jeanette Parkes of The Loafing Shed Glass Studio, Murrayville artist Donna Leavens and fellow Brookswood artist Sasha Moye.
“It’s a nice way to get two solid weekends where people can come from all over in a lovely rural setting and see some fantastic art.”
On the scenic tour — which takes in both country and city — one will find painters, potters, glass artists, jewelers, wood turners, photographers, sculptors and others, who will be opening up their studios to offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the creative process. Many are sharing their studios with one or more guest artists.
This year’s event, which runs the last two weekends of September (Sept. 21-22 and Sept. 28-29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), will have nearly 50 juried artists and artisans — the largest number of participants in the tour’s five-year history.
Some are returning favourites from previous years, while others are brand-new to the tour.
And once again, it will be an exciting mix of mediums and styles, promises Holmes.
“From the realistic to the wild, abstract and everything in between, we’ll have it all on this tour.”
Joining this year’s event are sculptor Elaine Brewer-White and painter Serge Dubé (see related story, page 19) — both have recently opened studios in Langley.
Art demonstrations and learning opportunities continue to be an important element of the tour. Artists will be demonstrating their work on an ongoing basis and are happy to talk about their approaches and techniques.
Some have scheduled specific times when they’ll offer demonstrations or mini-workshops.
“It will be an excellent way for visitors to learn about the various mediums and connect with artists who offer instructional classes and workshops,” noted Holmes.
There will be far too many artists to see in one day, so Holmes is hopeful that visitors will make good use of the four tour dates to see as much as they can.
“Please come on board and support your local artists,” she said. “It’s so hard to make a living as an artist, and so many people doing this put their heart and soul in their work. It is nice to be appreciated.”
Visitors will be able to find Holmes on the map. She will be displaying her local landscape paintings and calming misty scenes brought to life with acrylics.
“It’s a lovely way of promoting yourself in a local group,” she said. “People come to you because they are interested in seeing your work — that just really makes it more personal.”
Lori McPhee, a Langley artist whose acrylic works are both collected privately and corporately around the globe, looks forward to being a first-time participant in the tour this fall.
After spending several years promoting her work at a gallery in White Rock, she’s looking forward to reconnecting with her Langley clients.
“It will be nice to touch base and let them know I’m back in town,” said McPhee, who recently signed on with the Fort Langley Artist Studio.
“If you don’t keep promoting yourself, people will forget about you. That’s what makes this tour so unique — it reminds people that hey there’s so much talent here in our own community.”
Vehicle transportation is an absolute must to cover the distances involved in the tour. Enjoy Tour and Travel will schedule a bus tour on at least one of the four days of the event.
For a list of participating artists and studios, visit www.langleystudiotour.ca. The Langley Art Studio Tour is also on Facebook and is a registered Culture Days activity (www.culturedays.ca). Tour maps will soon be available for download and will also be available for pickup at a variety of locations in and around Langley City and Township (check website for locations).