About the Tour
The first “Off the Beaten Path” Studio Tour was held on September 17 – 19, 2002. There were 15 studios on the tour, all located within 30 miles of the Court Square in Mountain View. The tour was offered free of charge to the public as it is 9 years later. It was funded by artists’ fees, the sponsorship of local businesses, and lots of volunteer labor! An Artists’ Reception and Art Exhibit has been held each year. This year the reception will be held on September 17th from 7 to 9 pm hosted by the Citizens Bank in Mountain View.
Each year new artists have been added to the tour through a peer review process which considers the type and quality of work produced and the geographic location and accessibility of the artist’s studio. Eligible studios must be within 30 miles of the Court Square in Mountain View and are limited to artists who have private working studios. Seven new artists were selected for 2010. They are: Zack and Malinda Folkers (Leather), Dana Shaffer (Fiber and Tapestry art), Beau Anderson (Flame worked beads and sculpture), Bernie Babak (Knives, Leather), Lee Cowan (Found object art), and Sherman Anderson (Wooden tops). Returning to the tour will be Jerry and Judy Lovenstein, Dona Sawyer, Chere Taylor, Joellen Rosenquist and Ray Warren, and Dwight Havens.
An open studio tour such as this provides visitors a unique opportunity to connect with local artists and craftsmen in their working environments. It allows the visitor to see not only what the artists make but to see how their lives and working spaces reflect and influence their work.
The “Off the Beaten Path” Studio Tour showcases the creative artists in and around Mountain View as well as provides an opportunity for visitors to purchase work directly from these artists. When you choose to buy a handmade product, you are not only buying a unique piece of art but you are supporting Arkansas artists who are making their living creating unique traditional and contemporary crafts with their own hands in their own studios in the beautiful Ozark mountains.
