Washington County Open Studios Tour

Author: Chris Goldthorpe

  • Open Studios Registration Update

    At this time of uncertainty it is impossible to predict what the situation with regard to the Covid-19 virus will be in October. We are still accepting registrations for the Open Studios Tour and applications for the mentorship program until the end of March.
     
    We will revisit the situation before the catalogs would need to be printed and if the tour needs to be postponed till next year we will offer refunds of the registration fee to any artists wishing to drop out. We will continue to promote tour artists on social media. The deadline for photos may end up being extended, please contact us if you need more time.

     

  • Artist Registration is now Open

    Registration for the 2020 Washington County Open Studios Tour is now open, the last day to register is March 31st. More information can be found here.

    We are also accepting applications for our student mentorship program. The last day to apply is March 31st. More information can be found here.

    If you have any questions please use our contact form.

  • Call to Artists 2020

    Washington County Artists Open Studios Tour
    October 17 & 18, 2020

    The eleventh annual Washington County Artists Open Studios Tour is an opportunity to share your creative space with your community, to educate about your process of art making, and to develop professionally. The tour is open to artists over 18 years of age, with a working studio located within Washington County, Oregon.

    Artists must agree to be in their studio workspace and prepared to show and demonstrate part of their art making process to the public during all open hours of the tour, 10am-5pm. All work shown must be original and made by the studio artist. Sales are limited to original work or reproductions of the artist’s original work.

    Participating artists will be listed with a photo of work and artist information in a printed catalog, on the web site, and may be featured on social media sites, in local media and advertising for the event. Participating artists are required to attend meetings, support fundraising and are encouraged to volunteer on one of the organizing and facilitating committees. The tour is a project of the Washington County Art Alliance, a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

    Online registration opens March 1, 2020 and closes March 31, 2020.
    Registration and additional information can be found here.

  • Artist Registration Dates Announced

    Registration for Artists and Galleries for the 2020 Open Studios Tour will open on March 1st and close on March 31st. 

    If you are considering joining the Open Studios Tour as an Artist or Gallery or would like to learn more we encourage you to attend our January planning meeting. The meeting will be held on Sunday Jan 19 from 1-3 at the Beaverton Community Center,  12350 SW 5th Street, Beaverton, OR 97005. Everyone is welcome to attend. We will meet in the VOSE room. 

  • A message from our chairman, Peg Falconer

    It’s a reflective time of year, and reflection, thoughtfully engaged, nearly always leads to gratitude. I’m grateful for a gazillion things right now, but foremost is Earth, this beautiful astronomical body that we call home. -Mary Purpura, Struggling Goddess*

    I am fortunate that part of my living is made via being a gardener. This gives me an outlet for creative energy, nuts and bolts environmental action, and uninterrupted moments of reflective time (that’s what weeding is all about!)

    Lately I have been thinking about art, art making, and Why We Do It. Art matters on many, many levels. Here is a short list of what that means to me:

    1.Art matters because it gives a voice to the artist. Sometimes there are things that can’t be expressed with words. The words elude us, or seem insufficient, or are taboo. Making art allows an artist to speak where otherwise they may be silent.

    2. Art matters because someone might be listening. They are able to respond and say yes, or even no, to what the artist is saying. It doesn’t matter; the point is that the artist has not spoken in a void; the art has resonated with another human being and a connection has been made.

    3. Art matters because we need beauty. To be deprived of beauty would make our souls starve. Some artists, myself included, feel compelled to just put in words or in ink or paint or wood or metal something beautiful. We enjoy the process and being inspired by the beauty experienced in our natural world. We love it when, again, another person responds in kind.

    In short, Art is a communal event. It is never about creating for oneself and only for oneself. It is an act that becomes part of the Greater Good. It does not exist in a moment in time, but rather continues to connect people, ideas, and moments of gratitude for as long as the art exists. It does not have to be in a gallery or a public square to do this—ALL art is ultimately communal.

    Mary Purpura, who composed the opening quote, is also an artist, although she probably does call herself that (a subject for another day, “who is an artist?”) She creates spaces and opportunities for others to heal. I cannot think of a more meaningful reason than that as to Why We Do It: for others.

    In October 2020, Washington County Open Studios will be presenting their 11th Annual tour, gathering people, sparking conversations, healing and sharing the joy of beauty. And now you know why.

    *to read more of Mary’s inspiring writing, visit her at  https://www.strugglinggoddess.com/#/blogs/ and subscribe to her blog. You will be glad you did!