Sierra Art Trails 2009 Catalogs Now Available!

Sierra Art Trails 2009 Catalog – Hot off the Presses  – Showcases Outstanding Regional Artists

CLICK HERE to order your 2009 catalog today.

Excitement is building as the first weekend in October draws near signaling the Sierra Art Trails - Yosemite Foothills Open Studio Tour, Oct 3 – 4^th, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily, rain or shine. Now in its 7^th year, Sierra Art Trails is the single most-anticipated arts event in the Yosemite foothills, attracting an estimated 2000 art lovers into the area. Participant foothill communities include: Coarsegold, Oakhurst, North Fork, Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Catheys Valley, Mariposa, Yosemite Lakes Park, O’Neals and Nipinnawasee.

Admission to the tour is $18, and includes the annual Sierra Art Trails catalog, a lovely full color spiral bound publication that serves as a “ticket for two.” for the event weekend.  Catalogs are available at a number of regional locations. A list of catalog locations is available on the Art Trails web site at www.sierraarttrails.org  

This year’s catalog features three detailed driving maps and a sampling of the 88 artists chosen, among them: painters, photographers, jewelers, sculptors, fiber artists, ceramicists, glass artists, woodcarvers, and more.  

Tour routes lead art enthusiasts into private homes, studios, galleries, workshops and businesses where they may peruse exhibits, observe art in the making and purchase work directly from the artists.

Sierra Art Trails founder Jonathan Bock, of Oakhurst, explains, “This is an opportunity to meet some of our finest artists in their workspaces. This is a juried event and the selected artists are masters of their discipline. The tour has become a yearly vacation event for many people. It’s an outstanding chance to visit the Yosemite area, enjoy the beauty of autumn, stay in comfortable lodgings and eat at our many fine restaurants.”

Sierra Art Trails is a non-profit organization that supports working artists and artisans by promoting and showcasing their work through the annual studio tour, as well as other events throughout the year.  

Proceeds from catalog sales contribute to awards and scholarships presented by Sierra Art Trails each year. Since 2003, the organization has distributed over $8000 to art students, school art programs, and organizations involved in the visual arts. “Our goal is to benefit working artists, encourage art education in our area, and benefit our communities by establishing a reputation for the region as an arts destination,” says Bock.  

Major sponsors of this year’s tour are Yosemite Sierra Visitor's Bureau and K-Jewel radio 99.3 FM.