Studio sessions: A peek inside Modesto-area artist havens

It will be all-access art next weekend across Stanislaus County as artists throw open their doors to allow the public into their studios.

More than 80 artists at 43 locations will take part in this year’s Stanislaus Artist Open Studio Tour on April 23-24, with stops in Modesto, Oakdale, Turlock and more. They will invite patrons into their homes and spaces, some offering live art demonstrations and more.

The annual tour offers a chance for artists to gain exposure and to find buyers along the way for their artwork.

Some of the locations will hold multiple artists, teaming up to present their works in one place. Among those joining others is Gayle Kiser, who participated in the 2015 tour at her Ripon studio but found that fewer people were willing to drive that far. This year, she said, she opted to join fellow artists at the east Modesto studio of Laura Stokes, who is opening her home to not just tour-goers but to four other artists, as well.

“It’s going to be a great deal of fun to have five artists represented in this one house,” Kiser said. “So people can come here and see what’s represented in one stop – one quick stop.”

Stokes has lined up a musician and singer to perform on Sunday afternoon at her home, where Kiser will be joined by jewelry designer Debbi Fountain and siblings Emily Orth, 20, and Luke Orth, 17. And, like at many other stops, there will be snacks on hand for tour-goers to enjoy.

The Orths are neighbors of Stokes who saw an opportunity to show their work, Emily Orth said.

“I actually knew nothing about (the art tour). I just so happen to live across the street from Laura, who works at Mistlin, and she told us about it. I’m just a young student; I’m not even doing art in school, but it’s something I have a passion for, and she (Stokes) knew about that,” Orth said. “This is really one of the best opportunities that’s ever come across to me, and so I just took advantage of it.”

Her mixed-media work will be on display, as will her brother’s sculpture and photography. Orth said she’s mainly looking for the tour to form connections and get feedback from the public.

Fountain’s jewelry is just some of the wearable wares to be found on the studio tour, with about eight other jewelry artists also showing. Other artists will offer sculpture, paintings in various media, fiber art, pottery, photography and more.

For Fountain, the tour also is a chance to spread the word about the art scene in Modesto.

“I’d like more people to come down to the gallery, to the Mistlin Art Gallery down on J Street, and check us out and see the things that we do and what we have to offer, and for people to realize how many people there are in Modesto that are involved in the arts,” Fountain said. “We just have a lot more to offer than I think a lot of people know.”

This will the third year that pottery artist Tammy Jo Schoppet has participated in the open studio tour, an event she’s come to look forward to. She’s created an interactive aspect for visitors at her studio near Beckwith Road.

“The atmosphere of my studio has always (been) about fun, inspiration and learning,” she said in an email interview. Visitors will take a self-guided tour of the steps to throwing on a pottery wheel, glazing and firing in the kiln. Schoppet’s 20-foot “inspiration wall” will be on display, and she’ll offer wheel throwing demonstrations. “I also ask visitors to create a signature nameplate in clay as a way to sign my mosaic guest book,” she said.

A $10 tour map doubles as ticket for the tour, which includes not only studios, but also some gallery venues. Map sales locations include: Mistlin Gallery, Crow Trading, The Chartreuse Muse, The Artist’s Loft, Carnegie Arts Center, Oakdale Chamber of Commerce and Modesto Convention and Visitors Bureau. Maps also can be obtained from the participating artists.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 5:49 PM with the headline "Studio sessions: A peek inside Modesto-area artist havens."