Oracle – Oracle, an art center for more than 50 years, is again showing its hospitality to locals and visitors alike as the town artists and artisans welcome the public to their annual Studio Tour; this year, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, April 11 and 12.
Stop by the Visitor and Welcome Center, 1470 American Avenue, across from the Fire Station, to pick up a self-guiding map and see examples of work by participating artists. The tour hours are between 10 a.m. – 5 p.m, both days.
Purple roadside directional signs will lead you through the oaks and hillsides to the studios and historic ranches and barns where you can see and buy work directly from the artists. You will find paintings in oil, watercolor, acrylic, encaustic and pastels, sculpture in steel, found objects and clay, functional and art pottery, custom wood furniture, landscape photographs, handmade books and botanical papers. There is jewelry with semi-precious stones in sterling silver and vermeil, lace tapestries, quilts, decoupage candles, fabric wall art, glass work and gourd craft.
Five artists will show at the Triangle L Ranch: Sharon Holnback (glass and iron), Susan Daigneault (beekeeps and copper), Anna Maria Dickinson (oil painting and blocks); Karen Medley (clay and art cards) and Elvia Schwenke (bottles, boxes and jewelry).
At Sunset Vista Studio Betty Thompson and Carol Coonis will show oil paintings. Acadia Ranch Museum will feature work by Belinda Kirkpatrick (acrylic and watercolor), Glennda Neff (pottery), Laura Stiltner (bird feeders, ceramics, jewelry) and Rich Vokoun (gourd craft).
Chris Holleman’s studio will show his clocks and lamps of native Arizona woods and Huntting Jessup’s presentation boxes and metal sculpture. Karen Guss and Patty Guertin will show watercolor, pastel and ink work in the Guss Studio. Gloria Mork and Eileen Bonk will be at Tuesday House with wall hangings and quilts. Carolyn Blair will show her paintings and decorative pieces at her studio.
Four artists will show work at the Creighton Studio: Judith Walsh in encaustic and jewelry, Diana Creighton in oil painting, Joel Nilsson in pottery and Ned Creighton in whimsical steel sculpture. Susie Cochran will show stoneware, watercolors, beargrass baskets and more at Susie’s Studio. At the Cowlin Studio, Barbara Cowlin will show water-reflection and other paintings in acrylic and Jim Cowlin will show his landscape photographs.
Rancho Linda Vista, the original art community, will have clay sculpture by Joy Fox, intaglio printmaking by Andrew Rush and metal cutout sculpture by Gary Swimmer. Across the road, the rammed-earth home of Quentin Branch and Julie Szekely is itself a constantly evolving sculpture.
The Wilson Art Barn will showcase Jill Caid (watercolor), Pat Hardin (landscapes), Carolann Small (fabric hangings and postcards), and Vonnie West (watercolor and acrylic). Colin Budd’s studio will feature his wheel-thrown porcelain and other pottery and Alicia Bristow’s jewelry and acrylic art.
For more information, visit online at www.oraclestudiotour.com.