The annual Toe River Arts Studio Tour returns June 2-4 to showcase the diverse range of art in the region.
The art is as diverse as the artists with the tour featuring the work of glassblowers, jewelers, printmakers, potters, fiber artists, ironworkers, painters, sculptors and woodworkers.
Artist studios offer a glimpse into the dynamic processes used to create a finished piece. Every artist has their own way of telling a story, inviting visitors to ask questions, hold their work and share a moment.
Studios are as unique as the artists.
Some are a building off to the side of the house, across the field or down the road or right off the main road or down a gravel one-lane.
Some are two stories with a gallery space or small and cozy with a table set up or cleared off for display.
There are others that devote a corner to each artist sharing the space.
There are 88 studios and 10 galleries to visit. Both Chambers of Commerce in Yancey and Mitchell counties provide information on lodging, eateries and other local events for those making a weekend trip. Explore Burnsville is the event sponsor.
The Toe River Arts Studio Tour is a free, self-guided journey of the arts. The arts adventure through Mitchell and Yancey counties takes visitors along the meandering Toe River, across its many bridges, around barns, acres of fields and miles of forests all while visiting the studio artists who often take inspiration from the mountains they call home.
The June Studio Tour Exhibition opens in the Kokol Gallery in Toe River Arts’ Spruce Pine location at 269 Oak Ave. on May 13 and runs through June 4, 2023.
This exhibition gives visitors an opportunity to have a glimpse into each studio and plan their route.
It’s also a place to begin the tour or take a break from a day of non-stop art and artists. Normal gallery hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the Studio Tour. A “Meet the Artist” reception is Friday, June 2 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
“Every year is unique,” said Kathryn Andree, Toe River Arts exhibits coordinator. “The artists change and the work evolves. I’m always excited when the boxes arrive—to see a new artist’s work or the evolution of a more seasoned artist.”
The participant shows are the biggest exhibits during the year, averaging over 150 pieces on pedestals, tables, and walls, with a few bigger pieces relegated to the floor. They are the most diverse, with media ranging from 2-dimensional to glass, clay, wood and fiber.
Guide booklets are available later this month. For more information, call 765-0520 or visit toeriverarts.org. Toe River Arts is a non-profit organization that has been connecting the community with the arts for more than four decades.