NEWS FROM THE TRAIL

June 2006 - More Than Gold in Them There Hills!

 

We are proud to announce the 4^th annual Sierra Art Trails open studio tour.  The show takes place Saturday and Sunday October 14^th & 15^th, 2006 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and showcases over 100 fine artists & artisans.  Sierra Art Trails is held in beautiful Eastern Madera and Mariposa Counties, with viewing locations in more than a dozen communities.  Nearby attractions include Bass Lake, the exciting Chukchansi Gold Casino, the California Mining Museum, and majestic Yosemite National Park.

 

The mission of Sierra Art Trails is to support working artists and artisans by promoting and showcasing their work, to foster the visual arts and art education in the area, and to benefit the community in general by establishing a reputation as an arts destination.

 

Participating artists welcome the public to their studios, homes, workshops & galleries during this very special event.  Art adventurers can enjoy & purchase art in a relaxed atmosphere, meet the artists, learn what inspired them, and watch techniques demonstrated.

 

Visitors will be treated to a diverse selection of works in many media.  This year’s show includes oil painting, acrylics, watercolor, pastels, photography, and mixed media.  Three-dimensional arts include metal, wood, and stone sculpture, ceramics, glass, and hand made paper. Fine crafts are also part of the show, including utilitarian pottery, exquisite handcrafted jewelry, beadwork, mosaics, gourd art, and even custom boat building!

 

In order to participate in Sierra Art Trails, visitors must first acquire a tour catalog.  The catalog acts as a “ticket for two” for the show. The catalog includes a short description of each artist, a sample of their work, artist contact information & detailed maps to all artist destinations. To obtain your catalog or for further information, please contact: www.sierraarttrails.org, sales@sierraarttrails.org, or phone Stellar Gallery @ (559) 658-8844.

 

In addition to supporting working artists, Sierra Art Trails raises money to support promising art students and art education.  A portion of proceeds from the show is set aside for Student sponsorship and scholarship programs. The Student sponsorship program allows a number of young artists, grades 3 through 12, to participate in Sierra Art Trails free of charges. For every $200 received toward the program, SAT is able to sponsor one student. The entrance fee is waived and the student is given $100 toward art supplies “We hope to inspire and educate promising young artists by including them in this community-wide professional art event,” said Co-Chairman Ellen Hurst.

The student scholarship program benefits the continued education of promising high school students. Over the past three years, Sierra Art Trails has raised $5,000 for student scholarships. Co-Chairman Jonathan Bock states, “As we grow, it is our hope to include funding for public arts and grants or professional working artists as well.”  Individuals or organizations interested in contributing to the event can contact Sierra Art Trails at 559-658-8844 or by email at admin@sierraarttrails.org. Contributing sponsors receive a mention in the tour catalog, and other benefits based on the amount of their contribution.