SPECIAL TO THE BEACON
Peek behind the scenes to see 22 artists’ working spaces in the DeLand area. These West Volusia artists will open their private working studios to visitors for the annual “Off the Beaten Path” Florida Arts Tour. The event is free and welcomes visitors of all ages.
The tour is a self-guided event, with patrons planning their own itinerary. Descriptions of the artwork, street addresses and a map are available at the tour website ArtsTours.org. The website allows visitors to browse lists of artists and follow easy interactive maps on their phones from tour stop to stop.
Studios on the tour will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, March 2, and Sunday, March 3. Studio locations are in DeLand, Lake Helen and Orange City. Five guest artists are also participating in this year’s tour, bringing the total to 27 artists.
Every year, art patrons, collectors and curators, as well as families, are welcomed into the studios to meet the artists in their work environments, watch demonstrations, enjoy light refreshments, and shop for unique original works of art.
The varied offerings include paintings, sculptures, textiles, jewelry, ceramics, woodworks, photography, printmaking and illustration.
“The tours have been growing rapidly in popularity every year. After a couple of quiet years due to COVID restrictions, people are once again getting out, exploring and discovering new ideas,” said John Wilton, facilitator of the event.
Additional information is available online at the event website ArtsTours.org.
