Since the last County Studio Tour in May 2021, local artists have gone back into hibernation mode. We have been in our studios developing our ideas, nurturing our intuition, and perfecting our skills. Once again, we will emerge this May to share our creative environment and new artwork. This creative hibernation has blossomed into an official two-day event with signs, banners, and a catalogue highlighting the tour’s artists. In the past 12 years we have weathered the elements, pandemics, and furnished many homes with art, all while inspiring new artists to join us. We can truly celebrate over a decade of bringing the arts to Chester County. Nothing is better for those who love and collect great art than these two days in May.The past two years have been, let’s say, interesting. We’ve traversed it all successfully and safely, keeping our studios open and sharing our art with the community. This year has had its own hurdles, but we can move about more freely to exchange a smile with all 165 artists on this year’s tour.
Many new artists have joined us this year, proving once again that creativity continues to grow and blossom this spring in Chester County. Everyone is encouraged to venture throughout the county to share in our creative passion.
These past two years prove that determination endures. We have nurtured our souls, grown creatively and honed our talents. Now that this celebrated weekend in May is at hand, we will be tidying our studios and showcasing new art to present to the public. We look forward to seeing you, and invite you to bring home some of this fresh, local art to enjoy.
This year, 166 artists in 65 studios will exhibit different mediums, such as painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography, clay, glass, paper and fiber. All the artists will be on hand to share their studios, discuss their work, and meet buyers and browsers alike.
The 2022 Chester County Studio Tour is proudly sponsored by Citadel Federal Credit Union; the tour is free and open to the public Saturday, May 14, from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 15, from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Please visit www.countystudiotour.com for a map, artist and studio listings, and the catalogue. Handicapped accessible studios are marked on the studio pages in the catalogue and on the website. Email info@countystudiotour.com or call 610.942.9629 for further information.
Visitors are encouraged to design their own self-guided tour with our new interactive website. By visiting www.countystudiotour.com, visitors can click the “Add to Itinerary” button of their “must see” artists, and have Google Maps plot the most efficient route, providing turn-by-turn directions to each chosen studio. Tolsdorf Oil Lube Express has generously sponsored this option. For those short on time, we have designed “Find 5!” which will find the five closest studios for the visitor. Members of the public can also start with a studio close to their starting point, or anywhere they like, by using a convenient map.
The County Collector Series, sponsored by Otto’s Mini & Otto’s BMW, will again be offered in 2022. The public can collect an original framed 6” x 6” piece of art for the special price of $75.00: the same price as offered 10 years ago! Two-dimensional artists have created original works of art in a simple and elegant 6” x 6” frame, and three-dimensional artists have created special pieces for the County Collector Series. A photo of each work in this series is included in the catalogue and displayed on the website.
The Chester County Studio Tour was created by Jeff Schaller, painter and tour organizer.
