Harlem Valley: Arteast Open Studio Tour

Participating artists from Pawling, Holmes, Patterson and Wingdale will open their studios to the public on October 6th and 7th, from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.

The northern tour, including stops in Dover, Amenia, Millerton, Pine Plains and Millbrook, will take place on October 13th and 14th from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.

The drive between studios will incorporate beautiful Dutchess county scenery at the peak of the leaf season.

Photographers, painters, print makers, mosaic designers, sculptors,
fiber artists and mixed media artists will be on hand to discuss how a
particular piece came to be made, their inspiration and the techniques employed. Art lovers, collectors and leaf peepers are invited to meet the artists, see their work and purchase directly from the artist's inventory.

An artist’s reception will be held on Saturday, October 6th, from 6-9
P.M. at Brady Brook Falls, 38 Akindale Rd., Pawling. A sampling of the work from the open studio tour will be on display. At 7 P.M. the film "ArtSpirit" a one-hour documentary chronicling the rich history of
Provincetown, Massachusetts as the oldest art colony in America, will be screened, marking the film's New York debut.

The group of artists and local business owners worked with Benjamin Krevolin, executive director of the Dutchess County Arts Council, in 2005 to define a new arts corridor in eastern Dutchess. The ArtEast brochure, published in 2006 and updated in 07, further defined the area with listings of artists, galleries, bookstores and many arts related locations.

Mr. Krevolin is enthusiastic about the activity he sees in the Route 22 corridor. He states, "The ArtEast Open Studio Tour represents a great step for the communities of eastern Dutchess County. For too long the cultural riches have been overlooked and it's great to see that the artists, who care so deeply about their communities, have stepped up to the plate to bring attention to this wonderful corner of the Hudson River Valley."

Mr. Krevolin continued, "This project also demonstrates the effectiveness of public funding for the arts. With a small one-year grant originally secured in 2005 with help from former State Representative Pat Manning, this group of arts organizations, artists, and citizens, has created a lasting initiative which is continuing to generate business and development opportunities for all the communities of Eastern Dutchess and has created many new possibilities well beyond the initial project."

This free event will take place rain or shine.

For additional information call Lonna Kelly 845-855-1676 regarding the October 6th and 7th open studio tours or Tilly Strauss 845-373-7813 for the October 13th and 14th open studios.

A map will be available by download from www.arteastdutchess.com.