A group of 18 artists are hosting the seventh annual Markleeville Artists Open Studios Oct. 3 and 4. The fall color of Alpine County and the stunning work of local artists create an absolutely free "Concert of Color," the theme of this year's show.
Guides are available at the Woodfords Store and the Markleeville Chamber of Commerce. You may plan a route and time at your convenience, since all studios will be open both days from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Each open studio is well marked with a yellow banner and parking is accessible. All art is for sale. There are four artists open studios in the Woodfords area.
Evelyn Yonker's working studio shows her interest in "many kinds of art and in sharing experience and knowledge with others," Yonker said. Her home was built around her studio, which has expansive views of the Carson Valley. This year she is selling hand-painted silk scarves and shawls, along with pastel art, watercolor, and sculpture.
The other Woodfords artists offer park-like settings along with their open studios. Ida Glazier opens her watercolor studio, with work focusing on her love of ranching and horses, at the historic Fredericksburg Ranch. Linda Merrill owns the charming B&B where her oil paintings of Alpine County and Carson Valley will be available. Susan Flakus displays her striking metal sculptures in a wooded glen along the Carson River.
Traveling toward Markleeville, along Highway 89, there is a studio full of organic and natural fiber, wearable art from Dianna Mitzner.
Charles Muench is turning the Itildo Realty Office in downtown Markleeville into an art gallery for the open studio tour. Muench has studied internationally, now teaches workshops across the states.
"Painting is eminently fascinating," he said. "Brushstrokes are the footprints of the artist's emotions."
Peter Chope and Sandy Baenen share a working studio on Montgomery Street, with a panoramic view of Raymond Peak. Chope's watercolors capture the contrasts in color and shape of the Sierra Nevada and Arizona desert. New paintings include "Potholes," "Pleasant Valley," "Hope Valley," and "Desert Bloom." Beanen's work includes watercolor and note card pictures of the nostalgic life of Markleeville.
Ten artists have open studios in Markleevillage, which is two miles from downtown Markleeville off Hot Springs Road. Jeff Brees works as a full-time artist, operating Gardenworks which makes high quality topiary frames for residential and commercial gardens. Jan Brees will also sell her art, a collection of birds created from natural stone and life-like metal leaves.
On Timber Lane, Todd Branscombe and Kaye Jobst host a collection of Branscombe's photographs, which include close-up pictures of wildlife and artistic renditions of local sites. Jobst has been making pine needle baskets for 20 years, and will have an impressive display of them this year.
Just around the corner, Russel Ketenjian offers wood-fired ceramics, paintings and musical sketches.
Climbing Pleasant Valley Road, on Pinion are studios with Carolyn and Mark Vaughn and another with Richard Shokouh. The Vaughns' studio features Raku pottery, which is both artistic and functional. Shokouh creates self-illuminating light boxes by mixing painting, mosaics, and stained glass.
One street up, "Off Her Rocker" studio offers jewelry, gift baskets, recycled furniture, and assorted organic goods.
Suzanne Barr's studio is at the very top of Pleasant Valley. Her show is titled "For the Birds," which is a collection of her pottery designed for the garden.
Among the sponsors of this year's studio tour are the following places for refreshments and/or lunch: Sorensen's in Hope Valley, Hope Valley Cafe and Market in Woodfords Canyon, Woodford's Station on Old Pony Express Road in Woodfords, The Deli in downtown Markleeville, the Markleeville General Store in downtown, and The Wolf Creek in the renovated Alpine Hotel.
