The annual Stanislaus Artist Open Studio Tour invites you to step into the creative spaces of local artists – watch their processes, meet their apprentices and learn about new mediums.
But don’t expect these studios to only be filled with fruit baskets for still lives and other such pastoral themes. Instead the free, self-guided event, now in its 15th year, strives to bring in a diverse array of artists and longtime favorites from the region.
“We like to promote some of the new people and kind of build the community,” said Linda Knoll – a mixed media painter, the tour’s organizer and host of studio No. 11. “We’re always kind of looking for more events and more ways that we can connect and make art important for the community.”
This year 58 artists will be part of the official tour, with a few added after the deadline as an added bonus for attendees. Most studios will be found in Modesto, with a few others in Turlock and Oakdale.
The free tour booklets are filled with descriptions of each artist and maps to show where studios are available at local art hubs like Visit Modesto, Queen Bean Coffee Shop and Carnegie Arts Center.
From there, visitors can plan their individual routes, and see as many artists as they can between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m on April 25 and 26.
Each artist is listed in the program next to a corresponding number tourists will find in the guide booklet.
Here’s a look at a few locations, and artists, on the tour in Modesto:
No. 28 – Orphan Glass
Crick Fulenchek, a glassblower in Modesto, is opening his home studio for demonstrations for the first time this year. The unique space, and artist, is inspired by the occult and horror-themes in his work. His studio also reflects that, filled with music and visual art.
Even though he’s opening his studio, Fulenchek wears a full face-covering decorative mask and hood as he works. He places an emphasis on separating his personal life from the art, because he feels that the observer should get what they want out of the experience above anything else.
“It’s really up to the viewer what they put into the mask,” he said. “But that’s kind of the point. And larger than that it really doesn’t have anything to do with the guy or the person. It has everything to do with the product, with the creation. So it’s my fruit that I’m selling, the trees are not for sale, the orchards, not for sale. It’s the fruit…That’s my viewpoint.”
After 10 years of working with glass, he learned that the artform is unforgiving.With glasswork, there are no do-overs. He said it took six years of practice before he got the hang of it.
“It’s not an instant gratification game,” he said, “and for those who would like it to be, I would suggest you do an art that doesn’t explode, OK?”
Over the years, Orphan Glass has become a business known for its high-end products. Fulenchek takes his work on the road to various art shows, but mostly sells pieces online.
Fulenchek said there are not many places where people can work with glass in the area, so he’s looking forward to showing the depth and nuance of his practice, along with his apprentice and other colleagues who will be at the studio for the tour.
No. 30 – Art A La Carte
Tara Serrato, along with four other artists will come together at the home of watercolorist Barbara Garcia, in Modesto.
This will be Serrato’s first year on the tour, but she has been involved in the local arts scene for years and worked at the Stanislaus Arts Council before. Now she is charting her own path as a mobile artist.
Last year, when arts councils across the state gathered at the capitol to advocate for the restoration of $5 million dollars cut from the California Arts Council budget, Serrato saw an art cart for the first time. The vendor had all the supplies ready and accessible for people at the march to paint on canvas tote bags.
Inspired by the idea, she has created her own art cart and offers mobile experiences around the region to help people be creative in a low-stakes and structured way.
“There’s just a lot of negativity or hesitation that people feel when you start talking to them about art,” she said. “Appreciation is one thing, but my thought is (that) you haven’t been given any tools yet. Maybe you’re not going to be a Van Gogh, but you can still enjoy the process of art.”
She takes themes and personalized images, stencils them onto canvas totes and packages paint and brushes that even the most inexperienced artist can play with.
No. 9 – Remontant
Modesto screenprinting artist Chrisopher Garcia works out of his home. Garcia studies psychology, and plans to one day become an art therapist.
He is largely influenced by the duality of life and death. His artist name, Remontant, is in reference to a crop that produces or a flower that blooms more than once in a season. He said the metaphor suits his artistic style perfectly and helps differentiate him, since his own name is so common.
Screenprinting is often associated with mass productions of T-shirts, which is where Garcia got his start. As he’s grown in his craft, he uses the method to produce prints on poster paper and even makes zines.
Above all, he hopes viewers will find their own meanings and connect with his work in ways that he won’t understand.
This weekend, he will offer screenprinting demonstrations and several finished prints. He said he’s honored to be featured alongside so many well known local artists, and connect with the local arts scene.
“I think it’s just important to see energy being injected into something that other people care about,” he said. “It’s not just like, please support and show up to what I do… I want to be able to show up to what other people are doing, and like, amplify the areas’ artists.”
There is no obligation to buy art on the tour, but there will be several opportunities. Painters, glassworkers, screenprinters, watercolorists and interactive art experiences will all have works for sale.
Expect the unexpected
One of this year’s bonus artists will be Gabby Blickenstaff, an award-winning cosplay artist, who recently joined The Orange Door Studio – No. 6 on the map.
Blickenstaff has aspirations to compete in international cosplay competitions, after winning several awards at cosplay and comic conventions across California. Her work has even caught the attention of Adam Savage, the “MythBusters” star-turned cosplay expert.
She has been sewing since the age of 10. She and her grandmother would collaborate on projects every summer and it kickstarted her love of the craft.
She goes by “Cheerfully Morbid” online, where she posts updates about her projects and teaches people how to replicate her sewing or costuming designs.
After moving into Orange Door, she was able to participate in an open house event, in preparation for the official Artist Open Studio Tour in March.
“I’ve never done this,” Blickenstaff said, ”being part of, like a collective and having an actual studio space. It was fun just being able to talk with everyone about what cosplay is.”
Knoll said artists who pay the application fees to join the tour are essentially covering expenses for the promotion of the event. However, it’s not surprising to her that extra artists are popping up as the community continues to grow.
“I think the main thing this year is that we got a pretty good turnout of artists,” Knoll said. “The number is 58 (but) it’s going to be more like 60… There’s a lot to see.”
You can find more information online at StanislausAOS.com.
Vivienne Aguilar is a reporter for The Modesto Focus, a project of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative. Contact her at vivienne@themodestofocus.org.