Debbie Croft: Special Sierra trails lead to artistic discoveries
More than 100 artists will participate in this year’s Sierra Art Trails Open Studio Tour.
In the past few years I’ve enjoyed the privilege of meeting some of these gifted individuals, and seeing their artwork in person. Those who appreciate art in any form will not want to miss this rare opportunity.
From Oct. 4 to 6, from 10a.m. to 6p.m., visitors are given entry into the studios of professional artists and artisans. Not only that, but driving along mountain roads and through some of California’s most scenic areas on an early autumn weekend is refreshing to body, mind and spirit. The following are some of talented people whose work will be featured:
Studies in still life feature colorful marbles or the morning’s first cup of coffee. And portraits of everyday people capture real-life moments on the football field, boxing ring or stage.
This outdoorsman is a fourth-generation Mariposa native. He and his family have been involved in timber sports for many years and are proud to be a part of preserving the time-honored skills of the lumberjack.
She now spends her days creating baskets from pine needles, telephone wire, yarn, feathers, other found objects from nature, and paper shreds of poems she’s collected. Her handmade paper consists of weeds, leaves, bark, dried flower petals, cotton and hemp.
Beautiful fiber quilts combine her unique papers, tiny photographs of her own garden’s floral offerings, calligraphy and molded paper hearts and seashells.
His portfolio includes photos taken in the dead of winter in Yosemite and near the Tetons, on the beaches of California and Hawaii, and in the national parks and palaces of India. He writes a photo blog, has written several books and teaches workshops.
The Sierra Arts Trails tour this year encompasses three smaller trails winding through the Sierra Nevada foothills’ communities of Coarsegold, Yosemite Lakes Park, North Fork, Oakhurst, Ahwahnee and Mariposa.
Entrance to the tour is $18 for two, and provides a catalog with a directory of artists, studios, maps and all the information needed to make the most of your weekend. Call (559)658-8844 or visit www.sierraarttrails.org to order a catalog or learn more.
Debbie Croft writes about life in the foothill communities. She can be reached at composed@tds.net.
This story was originally published September 27, 2013 at 4:14 PM with the headline "Debbie Croft: Special Sierra trails lead to artistic discoveries."