By Page H. Gifford
The fifth annual studio tour will showcase local fine art and craftsmanship Oct. 17 and 18, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can explore work ranging from woodworking and jewelry to photography, printmaking, mixed media and painting.
Returning artists include Wayne Cain, with his intricate stained glass; Eileen Butler, with mosaics and bold, colorful collages; Mary Jane Cathers, with one-of-a-kind woven designs; and Mary Beth Pfeiffer, with fiber art and beaded jewelry.
Painters include Lyndsay Nolting and Linda Staiger, who has added ceramics to her work. Susan Edginton draws in charcoal, colored pencil, pastel, and other media, often depicting dogs and other animals. Diane Wilkin and Alyce Walcavich will show their printmaking, Mike Harrison will showcase ceramics, and Duffy Dillinger will present her sculptures.
Woodworkers Chris Nothnagle, Jim Wilkin, and Dennis Meyer are also returning. Carol Sorber uses flameworking to create delicate, iridescent glass pieces, while Dale Sharon Nomura will show her jewelry designs.
James and Dianna Roberts return for their second tour with photographs of nature. Pictures from a recent trip to Watkins Glen State Park in New York’s Finger Lakes region capture deep gorges and rushing waterfalls nestled in the woods.
New to the tour is Tania Saumell, whose work includes bright pop-art paintings and mixed media. Gillian Ruffa works with metal and fabric. Describing her jewelry on Facebook, Ruffa said she has explored texture as a surface decoration in sterling silver and copper, but has more recently focused on colorful patinas.
“I apply a variety of solutions and materials to the copper, which results in infinite possibilities. I love the thrill of unveiling the pieces to see the intricate patterns created,” she wrote.
Kim Critzer, another newcomer, creates art through Red Dirt Farm and Studio. The self-taught artist works in acrylic, watercolor, soft pastels, and other media.
“I paint abstract, folk art, and naive styles. I also enjoy creating collage and assemblage art, incorporating vintage and found objects,” she said. “My styles often incorporate bold colors and joyful themes centered around my love of nature.”
Lisa Daniel is also joining the tour for the first time. Like Critzer, she is self-taught and drawn to whimsical subjects and bold colors. Critzer’s work tends toward abstraction, while Daniel’s is more grounded in realism.
“This is my first year doing the studio tour. I’m excited to get involved,” Daniel said. She will show her work alongside Edginton at Cunningham Creek Winery, where she currently has an exhibition.
“I have gotten a lot of great feedback on my quirky style and have sold some pieces,” Daniel said. The one drawback to participating, she added, is that she won’t be able to take the tour herself. “There are so many talented people in the county.”
For the tour, Daniel plans to show a wider range of her work, including commissioned portraits of people, pets and horses. She also participated in Linda Staiger’s Looking Back, Seeing Now portrait project and is delighted to show some of those pieces.
As a first-time participant, Daniel said she has discovered how much work goes into the event, from the artists’ preparations to the tour board’s planning and communication. “We all hope you enjoy it.”
