This weekend, 16 local artists and crafters will display some of the most desired works in the area in the 13th Annual Southeastern Delaware Artists Studio Tour (SEDAST) on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 23 and 24, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Coastal Point • FILE PHOTO
Damon Pla is one of 16 local artists and crafters to be featured in this year’s SEDAST event.
Tour-goers will have the opportunity to visit private and public studios of the artists, from Fenwick Island to Dagsboro and everywhere in between, housing some of the most elite artworks around, all at no cost.
Artists display their newest and favorite works, whether using oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolors or giclées. They capture both images that they themselves have witnessed and experienced, and others that they can only cherish in their dreams.
Some may take a fancy to the folk art illustrations of Ralph Semsker, while others will admire the watercolor and oil creations from locals Barbara Deitrick, Anne Hannah, Jennifer Carter and Ellen Rice.
While paintings are the focus of most of the artists on the tour, they are by no means the only spectacle to admire. From glass-blowing by Justin Cavagnaro and Philip G. Adkins and pottery by Kim Doughty, to one-of-a-kind woodturnings by Tom Frey and lavish hand-weaving by Amy Kaufman, there is no shortage of talent throughout the tour.
This year, there are three artists welcomed as SEDAST’s featured talents. The bright, colorful scenes from Aubré Duncan, prominent pastels of Theresa D. Richard and expressive acrylics of returning abstract artist Jonathan Spivak will all grace the tour with their presence.
“There’s just a great assortment of painting and crafts,” said Damon Pla, an artist featured on the tour whose paintings, giclées and murals have earned him region-wide recognition. “The different forms of art really give people a great sense of variety. There are multiple tastes offered on the tour that anyone can enjoy. There’s a very good mix of flavor.”
The subjects of the paintings run the gamut, from floral scenes to serene seascapes.
“I think, all in all,” said Pla, “every artist makes some sort of attempt to mock, replicate or copy the environment in which they live. We happen to live at the beach, so a lot of the time, that comes out in us.”
Meanwhile, some veteran SEDAST participants, such as Tara Funk Grim and Laura Hickman, rely heavily on their travels to brew inspiration for their pieces.
Each year since 2000, SEDAST participants have taken part in the Art-in-the-Hat Raffle, a fundraiser designed to help assist art programs in local schools. One work or craft is donated by each artist to the raffle, with proceeds going straight into the community.
“The money is given right back to the art programs in all of the schools throughout the Indian River School District,” noted Pla. “We help them out wherever we can. If a program needs money for a pottery wheel, we’ll help fund that. We want to make sure we meet those needs. The next generation of artists is so important today.”
Tickets, priced at $10 apiece or $25 for three, can be purchased at any studio the days of the tour, for any artist’s work. Sponsors, donations and general funds have also helped ensure the tour’s return each year.
The free tour itself always generates an abundance of art enthusiasts, collectors and those simply wanting something to do.
“There have been attendants coming since Year 1,” said Pla. “We definitely see new faces each year, but we always have a handful who come back to take a look at what we have done since last year. It’s great to embrace the community we have here.”
Information, including artist bios, raffle details and maps for the free, self-guided tour, are available online at www.artstudiotour.com.