A diverse group of about 40 “Kindred Spirits” will put on the 13th annual Tokeland-North Cove Art Studio Tour & Auction next Saturday, May 4.
Local artists will open their studios and share space with others looking to show their work. Public displays and demonstrations will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 12 locations, including several new additions.
North Cove photographer Marcy Merrill is rejoining the tour after a few years away. She’ll be showing her new book of photos, called “Mudlurking,” as well as an array of artifacts she’s discovered in the muck along the Chehalis River.
“I’m excited to have her back,” said Judith Altruda, who handles the event’s publicity. “She’s bringing in examples of what she’s photographed, and that makes it a touchy-feely-looky kind of thing.”
Altruda is among the artists opening their studios to the public, as she has been doing since the event’s inception. She’s a metalsmith who gathers sea glass and black stones from the beach, setting them in silver and gold jewelry. For this show, she’s featuring sea glass she discovered on the coast of Italy.
Her daughter, Sophia Anderson, also will display her work at that location. The Evergreen State College senior paints portraits of her Shoalwater Bay tribal ancestors on wood reclaimed from houses that washed away at nearby North Cove.
One of the studios that will open its doors to the public is Elements Glass in North Cove, where Jeremy Bartheld will give live glass-blowing demonstrations throughout the day. He’s also hosting stone sculptor Pierre Mollinet, who’s coming down from Port Orchard to show his unique works.
Renowned driftwood artist Jeffro Uitto also will open his Knock on Wood studio to the public. He’ll share his space for the day with metal sculptor Yoseph Admz and Rick Wilcox, who creates glass float assemblages.
In addition to several other local studios, four public areas will become art galleries for the day. At the Namscac Heritage Museum, Earl Davis will demonstrate indigenous woodcarving of Shoalwater Bay. The Tokeland Hotel will host several artists in its lobby, while Shoalwater Pottery will demonstrate pot-throwing at the adjacent Cap’s Tavern. And the Nelson Crab & Seafood Market at the Tokeland Marina will have several artists on display.
Other artists demonstrating their crafts throughout the day will be Robin Spady, who’ll be working with a loom at Shoalwater Bay Tribal center; and Marguerite Garth, who will be doing encaustic (hot wax) painting at her Tokeland studio.
Free maps pinpointing all participating locations are available in advance at the Georgetown Station Library, the Tokeland Hotel, Nelson Crab and the Westport Visitors Center.
After the tour, the annual wine-tasting and art auction will be held at the Tradewinds by the Bay Hotel & Conference Center, 4305 Pomeroy Lane in Tokeland. Artists participating in the studio tour are donating pieces to be auctioned, with the proceeds to benefit Ocosta High School’s art program.
“We always try to give back, to nurture the next generation of artists,” said Altruda. “That’s what we’ve been doing since the beginning.”
The doors will open at 5 p.m. The silent auction will begin at 6 p.m., followed by a live auction at 7. Entry is $20, and admittance will be adults only (21-plus). Premium box wines, craft beer and local eats will be served.
For more information on the tour or the auction, find the event page on Facebook or call 360-267-2326.
(Courtesy photo) Barbara Sampson’s paintings and ceramics will be shown at Judith Altruda’s studio.
(Courtesy photo) Shoalwater Bay tribal artist Earl Davis draws on his heritage to carve replicas of bowls, house posts and other items previously fashioned by his ancestors.
(Courtesy photo) Photographer Marcy Merrill, known for her interesting perspectives on coastal discoveries, will have a display at Cap’s Tavern next to the Tokeland Hotel.
