(This Community Post was written by the Arlington Visual Art Studio Tour and underwritten by Embracing Arlington Arts.)
Every September, art lovers roam throughout Arlington County to meet artists in their studios and see their work. The county is dotted with art studios in homes and commercial buildings. One weekend each year, they leap into view.
This year, fifty-six artists will open their studios to the public free of charge on the weekend of September 17 and 18.
The Arlington Visual Art Studio Tour organizes this artful weekend by publishing a guide showing what’s on view where. Whether you like paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints or jewelry, you can find makers of all those and more.
Anyone can pick their favorite art works online, find where they’re made on a custom map, and plan a route. The map will be posted in early September. Printed guides will be available at art galleries and libraries throughout Arlington. Different studios will open each day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The tour begins with a launch party Friday, September 16, from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art, 888 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA 22203. Here you can meet many of the tour artists in one place, while seeing the group exhibit “Take Me to the River”.
The Arlington Visual Art Studio Tour is a joint effort of independent artists and volunteers, supported by contributors including Schnider Investment Group and Dominion Lighting and in cooperation with Arlington’s visual art organizations.