This fall’s Pembina Valley Studio Tour will again offer a unique way to explore the region through its art.
And organizers are hoping visitors who come out for the self-guided tour the weekend of Sept. 14-15 might have the chance to see a bit more variety of artists.
Organizing committee chairperson Margie Hildebrand noted the tour could be a little different this year with some of the core of artists either not participating or choosing to be part of group exhibits.
“It would be good then for us to get some more new people in there,” she said last week as the April 30 deadline for artists or galleries to register drew near. “We would love to get some new faces and some new studios involved, and it can take in a wide region.”
It’s been going now for over two decades, but the Pembina Valley Studio Tour always offers reasons for people to come back again and again.
There are usually at least a new artist or two, and the familiar faces who are there most years always have new work to show, noted Hildebrand. She encourages any artist who has not been part of the tour before to consider it.
“All of the main galleries are always involved … so it’s the individuals who we need more of now,” she said. “It’s a great way for people to see your work who wouldn’t necessarily come across you otherwise. People are interested in seeing new artists.
“You could put some paintings up in your garage or your living room. You don’t need to have a special studio. You can put your stuff up however you might be able to display it,” Hildebrand noted. “Some of the artists do some kind of demonstration during the tour or sometimes even have something that people can try to do.”
Hildebrand noted they had made a master list of participating artists from 2015 until the present, and she estimated the total came to around 70 or more artists who have been involved at one time or another, so there is a great pool that they can potentially draw on for the 2024 tour.
“There is a lot of talent all over this region,” she said.
There are usually over two dozen stops across a wide region, including locations in Emerson, Altona, Winkler, Morden, Carman, Miami, Darlingford, La Riviere, and Pilot Mound.
The variety of galleries, studios, and homes will be open that Saturday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and the Sunday between noon and 5 p.m.
Brochures will be available at various locations a little closer to the weekend, including Gallery in the Park in Altona, Winkler Arts and Culture, and the Pembina Hills Arts Council in Morden.
The charge to participate as a tour stop is $75 for individuals or $125 for galleries and groups of artists in one location.
You can register and find more information online at www.pembinavalleystudiotour.com.
