Brown County Studio and Garden Tour

Artists, craftspeople and gallery owners in Brown County are expanding their cooperative ventures. Long recognized as a county blessed with unique art heritage, the local artisans are making it clear that Brown County and art are still synonymous as we begin the twenty-first century.

Annual events to celebrate the arts and crafts heritage of Brown County, such as the Art Renaissance Weekend held each September, continue to expand as galleries and arts organizations collaborate to offer seasonal activities.

This is the second year for the organization and advertisement of the Brown County Studio and Garden Tour, to take place June 24 and 25. The addition of a Nashville "Gallery Walk" on the evening of June 24th provides a walking tour as well.

"The idea for the studio tour originated in my kitchen with (artisans) Peggy Henderson and Shelley Frederick," recalled Janet Spears, of Spears Gallery on State Road 135 South. "We were trying to figure out how to bring visitors out to studios in rural Brown County." The success of the annual Psi Iota's Log Cabin Tour may have been one source of inspiration.

No strangers to organizing events for the public, Janet and Larry Spears have traditionally opened their studio for one day each year to anyone who wants to learn the rudiments of working with clay. The Spears came to Brown County in December of 1996. Originally from Columbus, Indiana, Larry Spears made pottery as a hobby before becoming a full time potter in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in the early 1980s.

For the "downtown" aspect of the project, Dixie Ferrer, artist and gallery hostess at Nashville's Honeysuckle Gallery, spearheads the organization of the Gallery Studio Alliance. She reports the gallery walk will be the first of many projects "to decrease the fragmentation of galleries and studios in Nashville." So far, thirty-five galleries and studios that carry two-dimensional or three-dimensional art and that are open to the public are listed in the new association's recently distributed brochure.

The evening Gallery Walk on June 24th, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., includes fifteen galleries and studios. Many locations will have featured artists exhibits, special demonstrations, refreshments, music and gardens. Helium balloons marking all participating sites combined with tour information at the Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Nashville's Chamber of Commerce will guide visitors. There is no charge.

The auto-tour, called the Second Annual Garden and Studio Tour, is "self guided and designed to showcase two of our greatest assets: the natural beauty of Brown County and the talents of our creative people," according to the promotional brochure. Collaborating with the Brown County Herb Society, this year's tour includes private gardens in addition to studios and workshops. Prominent locator signs as well as brochure maps guide visitors along back roads throughout the county. The tour is free.

Locally created arts and crafts available on the Garden and Studio Tour include handmade baskets; fresh flower arrangements; miniature pottery; watercolor paintings; handwoven clothing; original furniture; handcrafted wood creations; acrylic paintings; stained glass art; stone and copper sculpture; handmade and hand painted porcelain pottery; oil paintings; wood, clay and bronze sculptures; and original pottery and stoneware.

Several of the studios included in this year's tour are not usually open to the public. In addition to the opportunity to meet some of the county's artists, those who tour will be able to witness demonstrations of the methods and materials used to create the unique pieces offered for sale.

Those who normally keep to the area's state roads and highways will be charmed by the beauty of the county's less traveled byways. "We were overwhelmed with the positive response last year. We had over 400 people who took the tour," said Ms. Spears. "Many commented that they enjoyed seeing parts of Brown County that they had never before experienced."

Part of the beauty of the Studio and Garden Tour is its surprising flexibility. Since the tour is completely self-guided, visitors have the option to select studios and galleries according to their own interests. With light refreshments at each studio, those on tour can easily make a day of it. After all, Ms. Spears adds, "The only thing the people need to bring is a full tank of gas."

Headquarters for the Brown County Second Annual Studio and Garden Tour are the Artist Colony Inn in downtown Nashville (812-988-0600) and the Story Inn Bed and Breakfast in Story, Indiana (812-988-2273).