WASHINGTON COUNTY — The “Arts to Zion Art and Studio Tour,” a self-guided adventure through the best art galleries, museums and private studios in Washington County, kicks off Thursday and continues through Jan. 18.
Now in its fifth year, the tour has become a premier event for art enthusiasts and features the breathtaking talent of Washington County artists who create in a wide variety of styles and mediums – right in their own homes and galleries.
The tour is a county-wide celebration of art designed not only to showcase local artists but to create a dynamic art destination where people come to buy art, similar to Sedona, Arizona or Santa Fe, New Mexico, Bobbi Wan-Kier, the tour’s founder and coordinator said.
There are so many artists in Southern Utah who send their work out of the area to be sold, Wan-kier said adding that to her it is akin to sending away our own blood.
A transplant to Southern Utah – she moved to the area from Chicago, Illinois, about six years ago — Wan-kier said she knew about Zion National Park and hiking but was absolutely surprised to find such a large community of artists. So one of the main objectives of the “Arts to Zion Art and Studio Tour” is to help people view the area not only as an outdoor recreation spot but also as a place to come enjoy and purchase quality art.
“Why didn’t I know this was an art community? I couldn’t believe it,” Wan-kier said. “It was a big part of why I got involved because I couldn’t believe that I didn’t know that this existed.”
Wan-kier believes that Southern Utah has the potential to be just as good if not better than art destinations such as Santa Fe, New Mexico, or Laguna Beach, California, she said. It is just a matter of being seen.
The 2016 tour will feature approximately 18 private home studios where guests can have an intimate look at the artists at work. The studio tour is $10 and guests receive a punch card and a map of the homes as well as the museums and galleries involved in the tour.
The “Parade of Home Studios” will have two schedules; Schedule A and Schedule B.
- Artists on Schedule A will be open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday, closed Sunday.
- Artists on Schedule B will be open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, closed Thursday.
Schedules are included on the map.
Tickets are available starting Monday at the “Arts to Zion” Showcase located at 35 N. Main Street in St. George. Tour guests can also register for tickets online.
Guests who register for tickets online will receive two punch cards for the price of one.
Participating galleries and museums are free to the public but don’t include after hours or VIP events.
VIP and after hours events
Ticket holders will have access to several after hours events throughout the tour including special meet-and-greets with the artists, food discounts and private parties.
For a full listing of events click here.
Art on Main
The regular monthly “Art on Main Gallery Stroll” will be held Friday in conjunction with the tour. “Art on Main” begins at the St. George Art Museum, 175 E. 200 North, St. George, and continues down Main Street. Friday’s event will end at the recently renovated Electric Theater Center, 68 E. Tabernacle Street, where the Arrowhead Gallery will celebrate its grand opening.
Festivities will continue into the night with a by-invitation-only party at the Difiore Center. To receive your invitation, inquire at the Difiore Center, 307 N. Main Street.
Silent auction
A silent auction of participating artists’ original artwork will be held throughout the tour at the “Arts to Zion” Showcase, 35 N. Main Street, St. George. The auction will end at 3 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 18.
Proceeds from the silent auction will directly benefit artists and art organizations in Washington County.
Other noteworthy events during the tour include the following:
- “Painted Parks Exhibition” at the St. George Art Museum beginning Jan. 16, which includes three dozen impressionistic pieces by Erin Hanson of national parks in the region
- “Kayenta Art Village Fine Art Walk” Jan. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- “Silver Reef Museum Plein Air” event and book signing Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Artists have been part of the framework of life for a long time,” Wan-kier said. “I want the community to know what ours have and how really diverse they are.”
• S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T •
Event details
- What: Arts to Zion Art and Studio Tour
- When: Thursday-Monday, Jan. 14-18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. “Parade of Home Studios” will have two schedules; Schedule and Schedule B, included on the map
- Artists on Schedule A will be open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday, closed Sunday.
- Artists on Schedule B will be open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, closed Thursday.
- Where: Various private studios, galleries and museums in Washington County, see map
- Cost: “Parade of Home Studios,” $10 | Gallery and Museum Tour, free
- Tickets: Two-for-one ticket registration can be found online, individual tickets and maps will be available at “Arts to Zion” Showcase, 35 N. Main Street, St. George
- Additional information: After-hours artist events and prize drawings will be available to ticket holders
Resources
- Arts to Zion | Website | Facebook | Two-for-one ticket registration | Gallery and Museum Map
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