Reminiscing about Portland Open Studio Tour
What started out as a newsletter turned into random (rambling) thoughts on Portland Open Studio Tour:
I have been participating (with a few years off here and there) in this event for close to 15 years (including several major life moves and studio situations). I have served in many leadership capacities over the years from being a community leader in my neighborhood to participating on the board and helping build the education/internship arm of the program that brings in young artists into real working studios. I love all the people and community I have met over the years--many have become lifelong friends.
I remember the days of selling a ‘calendar’ of artists and the growing pains to transition that to a paper map--some pretty heated board meetings back then--but all in the spirit of serving the artists and the tour. And then came all the technology integrations; websites, GPS, social media accounts and a now a free app (no more paper map either)—quite an accomplishment for a volunteer led organization of artists wrestling it’s way into the fast-changing landscape of digital marketing and outreach. The structure of the organization has also changed from a few rag tag artists pulling off a small community art event into a sophisticated, community oriented non-profit. I am proud of all the hard work and thousands of hours those artists and supporters have commited (and still do) to make this thing happen every year—even during the pandemic (and now I feel kinda old in my reminiscing).
As an extrovert I love the energy of the engagement and the hustle of the event even though I hate getting organized, doing all the set-up and super cleaning the studio, but I can’t wait for the party atmosphere it creates. Each year I get more and more ambitious and now spread out into the yard with ALL my art and throw an after hours party for my friends and supporters. (I am still working on this year). Many people have found me and my art through the tour and have been inspired to take my workshops and purchase their first ‘real art’ during the tour. Parents bring their children and it allows the kids to watch me make the work (even help), actually touch the art and ask all the questions. Sometimes they buy a piece of their own to start their very own art collection. How is this not inspiring?
Many long-time ‘tourists’ now explore their own art path due to the inspiration they have found from the variety of artists over the years and have proudly become part of the tour themselves. Finding a community and a truly supportive resource in an ever competitive and digital world is priceless. For some artists this is the first or only time of year they show their art publically and for those of us that are full-time artists it can be one of the most important events to keep our studio practices up and running . As artists, we are all in different stages of our careers or art explorations and witnessing how we all come together to create something vibrant and ever changing keeps me coming back!
Obviously I hope to see you during the tour. Always the 2nd and 3rd Weekend in October! https://portlandopenstudios.com/
Come with curiosity and leave with inspiration—and some ART!
-Kel
