The Art Drive – August 12 &13

10th Annual Artists’ Open Studio Tour in Dartmouth and Westport

On August 12-13, 2017 the Art Drive (http://the-art-drive.com/) will hold its 10th annual open studio tour, with 29 Dartmouth and Westport artists opening their studios to the public. Now in their tenth year, this open studio event organized by Dartmouth and Westport artists emphasizes educating visitors in some very unusual and dramatic studio settings, spotted among the area’s villages, lovely farm land and sea coast.

The Art Drive, a juried studio tour, showcases creative and professional works by participating artists, some of the area’s premier painters, ceramic artists, photographers, jewelers, fiber artists, woodworkers, metal artists, and more participate in this annual event. Each year participating members endeavor to improve and enhance the quality and diversity of work offered to visitors. The Art Drive is intended to be a unique opportunity to visit working artists in their unusual and dramatic studio settings and uniquely emphasizes a consistently high level of professionalism and quality.

Art lovers and collectors alike will enjoy a great day trip (or weekend escape) while touring the historic Southcoast towns of Dartmouth and Westport. With only 15 miles separating the studios, visitors will enjoy a scenic drive through this picturesque area with ample time for a picnic lunch at the beach or dinner at one of the many area restaurants.

The Art Drive donates a percentage of their sales to the Lloyd Center for the Environment, a non-profit organization that provides educational programs on aquatic environments and supports scenic, public walking trails through 82 acres of estuaries and salt marshes in South Dartmouth, MA.

What happened to the fish?

Historically, the Art Drive artists created large, colorful depictions of popular species of fish. This year, to celebrate the 10th Anniversary, Art Drive artist are putting their creative energies into a special project – 10” x 10” wooden panels.

Art Drive painters, sculptors, jewelers, metalworkers, fiber artists, ceramicists, and photographers once again are creating unique one-of-a-kind works of art that will be sold in a Blind Box Auction during Padanaram Days, Saturday July 29th. Look for them at South Wharf, 218 Elm Street, South Dartmouth. You can come and see this exciting collection and bid anytime during Padanaram Days from 10am-3pm.   Bidding ends at 4pm during the 10th Anniversary Celebration.

Schedule of Events:

Saturday, July 29
10am- 3pm: Blind Box Auction for Panels
Artists’ panels will be sold during Padanaram Days annual festival.  Come bid any time throughout the day. Sealed bidding ends at 4pm, during the anniversary celebration.

3pm-5pm: 10th Anniversary Celebration! 
All artists, supporters, sponsors, and friends are invited! Join us for wine and light hors d’oeuvres as the Art Drive celebrates its tenth year! The Art Drive would not be possible without your continued support, and we want to thank you!

A special thank you to South Wharf and Farm & Coast Market for hosting our Anniversary Celebration!

Saturday, August 5 
10am-4pm: Pop-Up Preview Sale
Partners Village Store | 865 Main Road, Westport, MA  02790
Items from all 29 artists in one location! Each artist will be represented by an original work of art, available for immediate purchase. Get a glimpse of the work that you will see during the Art Drive, and help support our local artists and the Lloyd Center for the Environment with your purchase.

Credit cards are welcome, and 25% of sales go directly to The Lloyd Center for the Environment for programming throughout the community.

Saturday, August 12 & Sunday, August 13
10am-5pm: The Art Drive!

The Art Drive open studio tour takes place along a 15-mile mapped route through the villages, farmland, and seacoast of Dartmouth and Westport. This unique studio tour of juried artists offers visitors a unique opportunity to visit working artists in their unusual and dramatic studio settings, while emphasizing a consistently high level of professionalism and quality of work.

Artists’ talks and demonstrations, scheduled at 11:00am, 1:00pm, and 3:00pm each day: 
Saturday, August 12

11:00:  Kirt Rebello – Metal Artist Insight into the art and the process

1:00:  Gay Gillies – Mixed media artist Discussion about inspiration and artist’s process, showing of sketchbooks and ideas

3:00:  Lynn Chadwick – Jewelry artist Beach Glass Charm – Lynn will demonstrate how to wrap wire around beach glass, stones, or shells to make a charm from your visit to the South Coast.

Sunday, August 13

11:00:  Susan Strauss – Painter Discussion about abstract art, plus showing of new mono prints and paintings

1:00:  Wendy Goldsmith – Ceramic Artist Wendy will share inspirations and discuss the hand building process.

3:00:  Sandra Hall – 2D mixed media artist “So you want to write a book…” discussion about writing and illustrating a children’s book

2017 Art Drive Artists: Carol Bliven, Morgan Bozarth, Maddy Bragar, Peggy Call-Conley, Beverly Carter, Lynn Chadwick, Sarah Daughn, Deb Ehrens, Gay Gillies, Wendy Goldsmith, Vidar Haaland, Sandra Hall, Sharon Hardin, Nancy Hayes, Michael Hubert, Donna Huse, Roger Kizik, Ellen Langer, Jill Law, Colin McKenna, Dora Atwater Millikin, Barbara Purdy, Marjorie Durko Puryear, Kirt Rebello, Anne Carrozza Remick, Stephen Remick, Jim Sears, Martha Sears, and Susan Strauss.

Art Drive Sponsors and Supporters: Along with the participating artists, the Art Drive is sponsored and supported by many wonderful local businesses! We greatly appreciate our Sponsors: Anne Whiting Real Estate; Bay Coast Bank; the Bayside Restaurant; Buzzards Bay Brewing; Dedee Shatuck Gallery; DSK: Dewing Schmid and Kearns; Farm & Coast Market; FLORA: Flora and Fogilia, Inc; Friends Academy; Howland, Evangelista Kohlenberg Burnett, LLP; Lee’s Market Wine and Spirits; Little Moss; Milbury and Company; R.P. Valois & Company; Running Brook Vineyard & Winery; Sylvia Group; Westport Rivers Winery; William Raveis.

Supporters: College Edge, LLC; Dartmouth Ace Hardware; Dartmouth Dermatology Dartmouth Early Learning Center; Divine Yoga; Folia; Gatlin’s Framing and Photography; Harmon & Robertson P.C.; Norton Gallery; Partners Village Store and Kitchen; The Law Offices of Rusitzky and Russell; The Village Merchant; Westport Lobster.

Eateries, Wineries, and Brewery Support: Bayside Restaurant; Buzzards Bay Brewing; Farm & Coast Market; Little Moss; Not Your Average Joe’s; Partners Village Store and Kitchen; Running Brook Vineyard & Winery; Westport Rivers Winery; Handy Hill Ice Cream; Oxford Creamery; Salvador’s Ice Cream.