Vermont Crafts Council Spring Open Studio Chester Area Art Loop

Not to miss during Vermont Crafts Council Spring Open Studio is the "gang" who bonds together year in and year out in southern Windsor County. Working together to present our varied and talented group of painters and special artisans to attract visitors to our area, we begin by doing pickup of the familiar yellow advertising pieces and then showcasing the group in one of Vermont's premier welcome centers, Guilford. Displayed there with our literature we try to create a beacon to visit Chester and its surrounding towns like Andover, Grafton, Weston and Ludlow. Where to start?

Now in its 20th year, Tsuga Studios on Goldthwaite Road off Route 11 West is a great starting place. Nick Kekic is a remarkable blown glass artist who offers demonstrations and a showroom full of beautiful decorative and functional blown glass.

New to the group is Diane G. Bell on Maple Hill Road in Weston. Diane's Watercolor Gallery includes area landscapes, both matted and framed, as well as original note cards taken from her paintings.

Next, be sure to visit Robert Sydorowich on East Hill Road with lots of new paintings in watercolors and oils displayed in a restored nineteenth century barn. Bob is a longtime Open Studio member with a large following.

Just over the line toward Ludlow from Sydorowich's place, Rich DeTrano will be demonstrating and offering his unique woodturnings and hollow vessels again this year.

Janie Marie Dumas, owner of Little Cricket Photography, is located at 22 Smith St. in Ludlow. She is new to Open Studio this year, but a must-visit photographer. Her offerings are bold, dramatic, detailed macro photographs.

Next you can head south on Route 103 into Chester's historic Stone Village and catch the magical faces, fancy outfits and braids, curls and ponytails at the stone house gallery of doll maker Bonnie Watters. Here kids activities and sharing of the process are highlights. Look for the beautiful stained glass sign, Bonnie's Bundles Dolls.

When finished with cloth dolls, you can head toward Grafton on Route 35 and meet Conrad Delia. Not new to Open Studio, Conrad specializes in 18th century reproduction American Windsor chairs and tables, all handcrafted of wood harvested from his property. His tools and techniques are those used in the 18th century and finished with non-toxic milk paint.

You can pick up the group's area map with Nos. 150 to 155 and 162 at any of these studios or download it at http://www.bonniesbundlesdolls.com/open%20studio.html.

Just follow the familiar wayfarer yellow signs to each of the fine Windsor artists' studios

Memorial Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 25 and 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.