Studio Tour brings visitors to town
“It’s been a gathering of neighbors and old friends,” said Susan Feagin, standing among her hand-painted ceramics at Speckled Dog Pottery on Saturday afternoon.
Feagin was among the 60 plus artists who opened their studios to visitors – and friends – for the Toe River Arts Annual Studio Tour this past weekend.
“Friday was a very good day,” said Jo Ann Townsend. Townsend manages the Toe River Arts (TRA) gift shop in Spruce Pine. “People were excited to be out, actually going to studios and visiting people.”
Last year the annual event, which allows visitors to meander the back roads and highways of Mitchell and Yancey counties, visiting working studios and galleries, was held virtually due to COIVD-19 concerns. This year, the event was moved from the first weekend in December to the second weekend in November. The sunny skies and mild temperatures provided a warm welcome for tour participants, as did the artist themselves.
“There has been a mixture of out-of-town visitors and locals dropping in,” said Townsend. The TRA gallery is a natural stopping place for participants, allowing them a sampling of works by the artists on the tour. A percent of purchases from the gallery supports TRA and their events, including the tour.
For artists such as Feagin and Robbie Bell, whose work is displayed at the Speckled Dog Pottery in Bakersville, the tour is fun and upbeat. And the sales were good.
“Last year I sold a lot of work to folks out of the area with the online tour,” said Feagin. “This year it has been people I know. People from Spruce Pine and Bakersville…friends.”
Feagin said it’s easier to make a connection with shoppers when they can see the work, meet the artist, hear about the process.
“People enjoy seeing how it’s made,” said Feagin. “And, we can recommend other artists and galleries. It’s wonderful to see people in person…. it seems like it’s been forever since we’ve seen our friends.”
Jill Edwards of Market on Oak in Spruce Pine said having people in town for the Studio Tour has definitely impacted business at the Market. “Everyone enjoys seeing the creativity and talents of the artists,” said Edwards. “The change in date of the event was good. We’re seeing people from out of town and our regulars.”
The Market on Oak features work by more than 125 Western North Carolina artists. Started by the Michell County Development Foundation to help create jobs and strengthen the educational system while promoting tourism, proceeds from the sale of merchandise goes to the local artists as well as scholarship for Mitchell High School students.
“I’m happy to see people out and about,’ said Edwards, stressing the importance of such events for local businesses and artists.
For Sally Morgan Guerard, the tour gave her the opportunity to showcase her new studio – Guerard Annex. Past tour participates have made Guerard Studios in the Toecane Community a regular stopping place. Judson Guerard is known for his quick wit and warm welcome, as well as his skill at glass blowing. Salley is known for her intricate one-of-a-kind doll sculptures.
The restrictions of COVID allowed the Guerard’s time to work on a studio expansion, adding the Guerard Annex, which houses Sally’s dollmaking studio as well as her newest creation a broom-making studio.
Sally said the tour is a good event and artists depend on it. “We constantly need to be finding new ways to draw people in,” she said. “The tour has done that. Most people like the date change from early December to early November.”
Sally said getting the word out and bringing new people on the tour is important. Many of the artists participating on the tour have done so since its inception 29 years ago. “We’re getting old,” said Sally. “It’s important that the next generation of artists have the same support that we have had.”
Nealy Andrews, executive director of the Toe River Arts, said the immediate feedback they received about the date change has been positive.
“We’re sending out the participating artists/galleries a survey this week, and we will know more once we receive these responses,” said Andrews.
“The tour is extremely important because of the exposure the artists and galleries receive and the revenue they raise, especially as we head into the winter months,” said Andrews.
It also important for the local economy. With hotel rooms booked and wait times for restaurant seating, expanding the tour brings much needed revenue to area businesses and increases the county’s sales tax revenue.
As to importance to the artists, “It is almost critical,” said Linda Powell, a Studio Tour committee member. “We have come to count on the Toe River Arts Studio Tour to, not only help our revenues, but also strengthen community ties. It brings us together in a world that seems to be doing otherwise.”