The Gallery Shop & $MART ART Spaces

THANK YOU to all of the local artists and artisans who opened their studios to us last weekend and THANK YOU to everyone who ventured the scenic highways and byways of Garrett County to visit them!

If you attended the Artist Studio Tour, we are asking you take a few minutes for our short survey. Your feedback is an important element in making sure that we can build on each year's success.

Here is a link to the survey: https://forms.gle/E6hmNkMenxpfsZdSA
The survey will be available until August 16th.

It's the last day of Artist Studio Tour! The Gallery Shop will be open until 5pm today. Don't forget to stop in and see our Music on the Porch special exhibit in the Oakland Arts & Entertainment District. Just follow the yellow signs!

It is Artist Studio Tour weekend! Saturday July 27th and Sunday July 28th between the hours of 11 am and 5 pm visit local artists in their home studios and favorite locations. They will have their work to view and shop - many of them have some special Artist Studio Tour only deals!

Get the list of who will be participating and where to find them here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

Also at The Loft Shop this year for Artist Studio Tour July 27th and 28th 11am - 5pm will be Reid Cross.

Reid meticulously hand carves specialty wood pieces to bring a touch of nature into your home. He specializes in woods such as Peach and Cherry as well as spalted wood. Creates memorable bowls, spoons, and serving pieces that also make great gifts!

Reid lives in Accident and is a carpenter by trade and an artist in his free time. This is his first year participating in Artist Studio Tour, so it is his premiere artist event! Reid is also an avid fisherman and attentive neighbor.

Catch the full line up for Artist Studio Tour and download the map here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

This year at The Loft Shop, Stop E on The Artist Studio Tour, Lois McManus of will be set up! You can visit her and shop her gorgeous, unique jewelry July 27th and 28th between 11am and 5pm.

"Ive always felt the urge to express myself a little differently than others. Might have something to do with being part of a large family and trying to carve out my own identity? Dunno ..but it usually means I'm going to take things apart, modify Every.Single.Thing in my path.......experiment endlessly and generally make a lot of noise and dust. I express a love of nature in my work, and am grateful to have followers who feel the same!"

"Although I appreciate trends that influence style, I'm dedicated to my own authentic expression. Ive lived long enough to see a number of trends from decades past return over and over and over again. Having this long view reinforces my hunch that the jewelry I'm creating and designing today will endure and have staying power. My desire is that years from now, your grandkids will hold up one of your pieces from me and ask, This is cool...who made it?"

Get the map and full artist line up for Artist Studio Tour here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

Bobby Croft guest artist at Stop E The Loft Shop for Artist Studio Tour July 27th & 28th from 11am - 5pm.

Bobby Croft is a decorated artist and art educator known for his functional ceramic works. A Frostburg native, Bobby holds his bachelors in ceramics and painting and his masters in teaching, both from Frostburg State. He is in his eighth year of teaching art. For seven years, Bobby taught middle school art in Washington County before transferring to Allegany County where he now teaches elementary art. During his time in education, Bobby has earned a number of honors for his teaching: New Art Teacher of the Year (2017) and Practicing Artist as Art Educator of the Year (2022), both from the Maryland Arts Education Association, and three time nominee for Teacher of the Year (2021, 2022, and 2023).

In his personal work as a ceramic artist, Bobby enjoys creating functional work that can be used every day. Bobbys work is rooted in traditional ceramics with bright pops of color in the glazing. His work has been shown in various galleries and shows regionally. Bobby is continuously experimenting and studying to improve his craft with hopes of opening his own studio and creating a body of work for future exhibitions.

See the map and the full Artist Studio Tour lineup here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

It is Artist Studio Tour weekend!

Saturday July 27th & Sunday July 28th between the hours of 11 am - 5 pm visit local artists in their studios and favorite locations. Many of them have some special Artist Studio Tour only deals! Shop local, support independent artists and find unique treasures for yourself, your friends and family.

Get the list of who will be participating and where to find them here:

Artist Studio Tour - Garrett County Arts Council Artist Studio Tour 2024 JULY 27 – JULY 28 The Garrett County Arts Council showcases our county artists’ working studios annually with our Artist Studio Tour. Residents and tourists are encouraged to travel the scenic byways of Garrett County to meet our local artists, learn about their creative ...

The Loft Shop is tucked into the wilderness of Garrett County. A collection of three buildings houses Sue Arnson 's studio, a guest cottage, and display spaces for her work and fellow artists.

Sue Arnson | Artist Studio Tour The Loft Shop is tucked into the wilderness of Garrett County. A collection of three buildings houses Sue Arnson's studio, a guest cottage, and display spaces…

Stop E on this year's Artist Studio Tour will be The Loft Shop with host artist Sue Arnson ! Visit Sue and her guest artists July 27th and 28th between 11 am and 5 pm.

Sue is attracted to the local landscape and flowers in her work. She occasionally ventures to the abstract. She began as a watercolor painter and has expanded into other medium over the years currently exploring alcohol ink as an art form. Showing folks how art is made, therefore creating appreciation of the arts in especially fun for this retired teacher.

See the map and this year's line up here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

Rhiannon Dodge of will be at Stop L with Four Storm Artists Gallery and Hawks Flight Studio this July 27th - 28th from 11am to 5pm.

Rhiannon works as a civil engineer focusing on water and wastewater projects throughout Western Maryland and West Virginia. "I have always had a creative side and a love for the outdoors, and I found a passion for gardening and pressing flowers in my free time. Creating artwork from the natural world gives me an outlet for my artistic side and a way to admire the natural beauty of Garrett County."

"My work is inspired by the desire to capture the ephemeral beauty of spring and summer in Garrett County. I press both wildflowers from Garrett County and flowers grown from seed in my garden to create collages of color that can be enjoyed year round."

Visit Rhiannon during Artist Studio Tour July 27th and 28th between 11 and 5. For the full Artist Studio Tour lineup and map visit: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

Also at Stop L on July 27th and 28th from 11am - 5pm at Four Storm Artists Gallery and Hawks Flight Studio will be Neal Blizzard of Ruddy Duck Studio.

"From my home in LaVale, Maryland, I got my start as a back yard photographer. My interests are anything in the outdoors. My range of interests have taken me from the bird migration flyways of Cape May, new Jersey, to the Sierra Madre Mountains of central Mexico following the Monarch butterflies into their over-wintering grounds."

"Being retired allows me to spend a lot of time wherever the outdoors takes me, be it swamp, woods, stream, or other outside venues. I am able to watch and wait to capture the perfect image at the perfect time."

"I am always seeking to learn more to enhance my craft. I have taken several workshops at Sanctuary Studio, and spent many hours reading and practicing to improve my skills and techniques. I strive for color and sharpness to make the image pop. I also enjoy the skill and art of digital photography in post processing."

"Combining images and drawing on graphic and digital arts to compose and create captivating images of the outdoors, birds, wildlife and their habitat."

For the Artist Studio Tour lineup and this year's map: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

Learn more about and this year's Artist Studio Tour Stop L from this gorgeous video from Mark Stutzman highlighting this event!

Find all of Mark's videos showcasing this annual event & this year's Artist Studio Tour Map online here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

https://vimeo.com/863192964

Four Storms | Artist Studio Tour Caroline Blizzard and her family make up Four Storms Artists Studio. Their wilderness location near Swallow Falls State Park is a perfect getaway for patrons and…

Artist Studio Tour Stop L: Visit Caroline Blizzard of Four Storm Artists Gallery and Hawks Flight Studio July 27th and 28th from 11am - 5pm.

Caroline’s professional photography is chiefly focused on her passion -- the outdoors. Her subjects are often birds of all types, as well as bears, foxes, and other creatures of the wild, or waterways and walkways in forests and glens. She owns and operates Hawks Flight Studio, and previously the Four Storm Artists Gallery. She has been a featured photography exhibitor at numerous area festivals and shows, including Garrett County Arts Council’s SEYMOUR Fine Arts Exhibit, Art in the Park, the former GCAC Heritage Craft Show, and many more. She has most recently, along with glass artist Julie Turrentine, developed an installation of photography and glass shining a light on the climate crisis. The installation titled, For the Love of Birds, 365 Birds on the Brink, has been hung at several nature centers including Deer Haven Nature Park and The Grange Audubon Center.

Fun facts about Caroline:
"I am crazy for birds & I have a passion for vintage cast iron cookware!"

See the map and all of this year's Artist Studio Tour Stops here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

Grab your art supplies and join us in the $MART ART Classroom for Artists' Third Thursday in the Oakland Arts & Entertainment District today from 11am to 1pm! Artists of all skills welcome!

Joining Deep Creek Pottery at Artist Studio Tour Stop K this July 27th and 28th between 11am - 5pm is Crimson Shamrock Fibers.

Lori Wall and David Moran live and work on their 120 acre farm in Eglon, WV, where they raise Suri alpaca and Wensleydale sheep for the fiber industry. Lori is a former Materials Engineer and program manager. She learned to knit and crochet as a child and took up weaving in 1993. David is a retired Naval Architect and College Professor. He is now a full time farmer and consultant. Both Lori and David spend as much time as possible creating woven, crocheted, braided and marbled designs.

Visit Lori and David at the Artist Studio Tour Stop K this July 27th and 28th between 11am - 5pm and get the opportunity to shop their creations!

You can view this year's Artist Studio Tour map and the full line up here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

Also on the Artist Studio Tour at Deep Creek Pottery Stop K on July 27th and 28th between 11am and 5pm will be Creations!

Artist Connie Pardini describes her artwork and her journey as follows:

"Entirely self-taught, I fell in love with metalwork very soon after discovering a talent for jewelry making. As I learned various metalwork techniques, making jewelry led to making larger decorative items: ornaments, mobiles, small figures & scenes. Sterling silver and copper are my favorite mediums, along with other metals/'found objects' such as vintage flatware, horseshoe nails, hardware, coins. I also like to add in natural elements such as pebbles and driftwood, creating one body of work with a rustic, whimsical, nature-influenced theme. Inspiration comes from the outdoors, usually along one of my outdoor walks: trees, branches, mushrooms, plants & weeds, animals; I'm also guided by simple geometric shapes that can be seen in most everything if you just look."

"While I've always been creative, I didn't find my real talent and passion, aka "what i want to do when I grow up", until I was 37. My whole journey began when my young daughter's plastic-beaded stretch bracelet, give to her by a friend, broke: she cried, I vowed to fix it. A trip to the craft section of the local department store, some online searches, reading, experimenting, more experimenting, a conversation with a neighbor "you could sell your work", a visit to Garrett Arts' Gallery Shop......one thing led to another, step by step, and here I am!"

Get the Artist Studio Tour map and full lineup online here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

Deep Creek Pottery is Stop K on this year's Artist Studio Tour.

Ron and Lorie of Deep Creek Pottery have been making pottery for many years. They offer handmade pottery both functional and decorative pottery. They own and operate a shop/studio in McHenry, Maryland. They offer pottery classes, mosaic tile creations, canvas painting and pottery painting as well as handmade goods. They are open year round and will be open 7 days a week from 10-7 during the summer months.

If you can't make it in July 27th & 28th between 11am and 5pm for Artist Studio Tour, give them a call to stop in another time. They do birthday parties, bachelorette parties, paint nights, and even summer camps!

We recommend making it out during Artist Studio Tour, since they will be joined by some very talented guest artists this year!

Get the map and full line up here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

Nancy Ensor will also be set up at Stop O in the Alpine Lake Lodge this July 27th and 28th from 11am - 5pm.

She says, "My art journey started when I was old enough to read the newspaper and saw an ad advising me that if I could draw the image shown I should submit my entry to win thousands of dollars. I'm not sure how many entries I sent in during the next few years but I never got a call saying I was the winner! Even so, art was always a part of my life, whether it was making clothing for my family, thinking up creative ideas for a grade school science project, painting a mural on the kids bedroom wall, or creating that cool Halloween costume."

"In 1998 after all my children were grown and on their own, I joined the local art association in Harrisburg, PA and signed up for art classes through my local Township. It just happened to be a watercolor class that met once a week for 8 weeks at a time and I never missed a class for about 10 years! I was so excited about "creating" that I branched out into acrylics, screen printing, pottery and jewelry making. I finally settled down into acrylic and watercolor painting as my primary medium with photography as my "hobby" art."

"I was introduced to Iconography in 2009 and have "written" over 30 Icons since then. These Icons tell the stories of religious figures throughout history, with the first Iconographer acknowledged as Luke, one of the 12 Disciples. I now teach Iconography classes, where I share the treasure of this ancient art form with my students."

Find the map and the rest of the Artist Studio Tour lineup here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

This year at Artist Studio Tour, you can see Debbie Michael at the Alpine Lake Lodge Stop O July 27th and 28th 11am - 5pm.

Debbie is a lifelong artist, who has painted on walls, furniture, and clothes as well as canvases and panels. She has participated in the National Christmas Show and the Maryland Christmas Show exhibiting and selling her one-of-a-kind sculptures. Debbie says, "As an encouraging word to other artists--I failed my sculpture class in college."

Also at Stop O in the Alpine Lake Lodge July 27th and 28th will be wildlife photographer Ron Miller.

Ron Miller was born and raised in the Ozarks in Missouri. He spent 32 years working for the National Park Service at various parks from Alaska to our national capital. Ron is an avid outdoors man. He is enjoying retirement and Alpine Lake by capturing photos of local wildlife.

You can see the map and the rest of the Artist Studio Tour lineup here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

This year we have a brand new stop at Alpine Lake Lodge as we sneak just across the state line into West Virginia. Stop O features 4 artists at the Alpine Lake Lodge in Terra Alta and you can visit July 27th and 28th between 11am and 5pm.

One of the artists that will be set up is Barbara Gall, who makes quilts and other quilted or embroidered items. The members of Sew Together meet weekly to work on individual and collaborative projects. They are quilters, both hand and machine as well as embroiders. They not only produce quilts but quilted bags, clothing and home decor items.

Check out the rest of the Artist Studio Tour lineup here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

This year at Grant's Mercantile in the Grantsville Arts & Entertainment District (Stop A) for Artist Studio Tour, we will be hosting guest artist Bud Precht alongside artwork from our other local artists and artisans.

Bud will have stained glass suncatchers and panels using lead cane and/or copper foil techniques. Designs include flowers, birds, geometrics.

Dr. Precht was a college professor for 31 years and taught mapping, conservation, physical geography, and Earth and environmental science. He conducted and published research on the spatial patterning of plants and animals. His interest in 3-D art and up-cycling dates to his childhood building things from materials on-hand. His early interest in architecture nearly lead to a different career choice before discovering cartography and biogeography. He has always been fascinated by the interplay of light between interior and exterior spaces, which grew into his practice in stained glass.

You can chat with Bud at Grant's Mercantile Saturday, July 27th and Sunday July 28th between 11am and 5pm during Artist Studio Tour.

Check out the full line up for Artist Studio Tour here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

Rachel and Bud Precht Art | Artist Studio Tour Father-daughter creative team, Rachel and Bud Precht

Another artist you can find at Stop H on this year's Artist Studio Tour is Bill Hentosh of Hentosh Photography. Stop by July 27-28 from 11am - 5pm to visit Bill as well as Barb and Joan!

William (Bill) Hentosh, originally from Ohio, he has been a resident of Garrett County since 2012. Hentosh retired from Mineral County, WV in 2016, where he was the Director of Emergency Management and the 911 Center. Hentosh has been a member of the Garrett County Arts Council (GCAC) since 2017 and he has served on the Board for the GCAC since June of 2018. Hentosh has been involved with landscape and nature photography for 45 years and displays his work at the Garrett Arts Council Gallery and the Deep Creek Lavender Farm in Accident, Maryland. He has also instructed a digital photography course at Garrett Community College during 2018. Hentosh has served on the Reading Station Board since 2021 and has assisted the agency with obtaining grant funding to support the functions and special programs offered by the Reading Station for the community based literacy program.

Catch the full lineup for this year's Artist Studio Tour and the map here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

Also at Stop H in McHenry this July 27th and 28th from 11am - 5pm is Barb Omholt of Barb's Baubles.

Barb has been designing jewelry for the past sixteen years and participating in craft shows in Garrett County, New York and New Jersey. Some of her other passions are crocheting, quilting, flower arranging and basically any form of handcrafted items.
Her creations are usually donated to either hospitals, family and friends.

Barb is a pastor's wife for almost 50 years. She and her husband Tom have pastored in New York, Washington D.C. and now as a interim in Oakland. They love to travel, relax on the beach, boating and just make memories with our son, Tom, family and friends.

You can see the rest of this year's Artist Studio Tour line up and the map here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

The host artist at Stop H on this year's Artist Studio Tour is Joan Chaney of Quilts and More! You can find her on North Ridge Road in McHenry on July 27th and 28th between 11am and 5pm.

Joan has lived in McHenry for 35 years, and has been quilting for 30 years! She started out making queen-sized hand quilted quilts at arts and craft shows with miniature quilts in the frames. Joan will also be a guest artist at Spruce Forest Artisan Village from May-August 2024.

Get the full Artist Studio Tour lineup and this year's map at:https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

For Stop B on this year's Artist Studio Tour you can visit watercolor artist Susan S. Johnston in Friendsville! Stop by July 27th & 28th between 11 am and 5pm to see Susan's studio, chat with her about her various techniques, and see an in person demonstration of how she works!

Susan S. Johnston’s activities in the arts since graduating from Westminster College with a BA in Arts Education, 1973, have included teaching art in the public schools,
working as an illustrator and feature artist in a national publication (HousePlant Magazine,1992-94), working as an an adjunct faculty in painting, conducting painting workshops, and volunteering in historic downtowns to bring more arts programming to communities. Her paintings have been accepted in regional and national shows where she has garnered numerous awards. She has added these shows and awards to her credits: Pittsburgh International Aqueous - Merit Award;
Audubon National Art Show 2019 -First Place, Norristown, Pa; 2019 Westmoreland Art Nationals, Greensburg, Pa; 40th International Juried Exhibit Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, Lancaster, Pa; Wills Creek Contemporary International, Cumberland, Md. Also,Two “plein air” paintings were exhibited with the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society at Fallingwater, fall of 2020. Johnston presented a solo show of her “Arbor Series” in the spring of 2021 at Gilchrist Art Museum, Cumberland , Md. She is a signature member of the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society and has served on its board since 2018. She is also a member of the American Botanical Society and her focus has been to make the viewer aware of the precious ecosystems we live with and need to protect.

For the full Artist Studio Tour line up and this year's map check out https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

We have another brand new stop this year on the Artist Studio Tour and this one really ROCKS. 🤣

Clark's Gemworks is family duo of rockhounds (Ron and Nick Clark) who lived in Montana for almost 10 years collecting rocks and gems from around the northwest. They are currently back east in Maryland, relatively closer to their hometown near Philadelphia. They still collect when they can. Any piece they have, they designate where they found it, if they found it. Not every type of stone is naturally or easily found in the United States, of course.

Ron (the Father) does a decent bit of the event coordinating and more of the craft jewelry, while Nick (the son) does most of the social media and online store upkeep, making more of the fine jewelry. They both can and do make all types of jewelry, however.

If you want to know more about this dynamic duo, you should check out their rockhound Youtube - Clark's Gemworks.

Visit them during Artist Studio Tour July 27 - July 28th between 11am and 5pm on Mosser Road in McHenry at STOP I. Check out the rest of the Artist Studio Tour line up and get this year's map here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

Robert Caron of Equidel Art will be participating in this year's Artist Studio Tour! You can tour his home studio in Accident and chat with him about his painting process.

Robert describes his work as, "Some of my paintings are from direct observation, particularly still life paintings, but most are from photographs. I choose subjects for which I am personally inspired."

His process is meticulous as he explains, "Each painting is done in layers, starting with a quick sketching and underdrawings, underpainting, imprimatur, multiple color layers using a variety of techniques such as glazes and scumbles to build up the colors and details, and finishing touches, with final details, highlights, and refinements to enhance the overall composition, adding texture, refining edges, adjusting colors and adding any necessary final touches to bring the painting to completion." If you are looking for a chance to see a master at work, make sure to stop by Caron's Accident studio July 27th and 28th between 11am and 5pm!

You can find details on the full line up as well as a map of all of this year's stops here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

A brand new stop this year for Artist Studio Tour: Waste-Not Want-Not Woodworking!

Brian Ramsey in Accident will be participating for the first time on this year's Artist Studio Tour. This July 27th and 28th between 11am and 5pm make sure to stop by and see him at Stop C!

Brian creates different and varied things with recycled, reclaimed, salvaged, found and locally sourced materials. Lately he has been doing woodturning. He says that he really enjoys woodturning because, "I am bringing and discovering something inside the wood for others to see."

Ramsey grew up in rural Minnesota and is a farm boy by nature.
Beside Minnesota, he has lived in Florida, Nebraska, Guam and Maryland. He has been working with wood since he was a pr***en. After eight years in the USAF, and over 30 years of government service, he now has the opportunity to pursue his dream of woodworking as a profession. He has built a wide variety of things, tables, chairs, guitars, thumbpianos, cajons, cutting boards, to even french doors!

Get the full line up for Artist Studio Tour here: https://garrettarts.org/artist-studio-tour/

It's a First Friday Giveaway! Pin Wheels & Poppies!

In lieu of a First Friday workshop for July, we have some free gift for you as you shop local in the Oakland Arts & Entertainment District this weekend!

Enjoy Northern Middle School Student Julie Bolyard's artwork, and then take a pin-wheel or a poppy! Snap a selfie with the Banker's Alley bump out or the Butterfly wings by artist Jason Liggett sponsored by the Junior Women's Civic Club!