I was just out in BC for a long needed break, enjoying the beautiful spring gardens of the coast, and finding some time for lazing about and checking out some of Victoria’s open studios. It’s such a great idea that I wish we did this more back home, having afternoon open houses/studios where you can meet artists, enjoy yummy cookies, and see some fantastic work that you might not otherwise find in the shops and galleries. Of course it’s always nice to have that direct interaction with makers, finding out interesting tricks of the trade and seeing how different people work – plus it fuels my snoopiness about how others studios are set up, which in turn can also fuel studio envy…

This is the work of Ester Galac who is a lovely clay artist I met on the studio tour. She had beautiful works with a variety of elegant glaze choices from subtle blue to bronze glazes and interesting forms incorporating inspiration and materials from the coast. You can check out more of her work on the BC tourism website.

I think this open studio format of exposing the public to artwork is interesting. Not only does it provide a relaxed casual setting for viewing art, but is also allows the direct interaction between maker and user of an object. In craft communities we often talk about a need to educate audiences about the importance/value/excellence in craftsmanship of the crafted object and this format presents a less didactic or formal approach as compared to a gallery setting. I know lots of artists who do this individually, hosting their own open studios which is great, but there was also something nice about an organized tour of multiple studios all in one day where you can float in and out of spaces enjoying a day of conversation and beautiful art here and there around the city…