9th Annual Brown County
Studio and Garden Tour

June 22-24, 2007

photo and story by Chris Gustin

The 9th annual free Brown County Studio and Garden Tour is June 22–24, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. The event is part art fair and part garden tour. Studios are situated throughout the county, surrounded by interesting topography and vegetation. Visitors can begin at any part of the county and drop in at as many studios and they want.

Tour members are celebrating “100 Years of Arts and Artists” in Brown County. The centennial celebrates the anniversary of the founding of the art colony by T.C. Steele in 1907.

Most of the 17 studios will have their gardens in full bloom for the tour. Many of the artisans draw inspiration for their creations from nature. Artists will be demonstrating their craft. Some interactive sessions invite the visitors to take part in the making of the artwork.

2007 participating artists:

•Michael & Jennifer Burt, Burt Studio (stained glass and jewelry)

•Dixie and Dick Ferrer, Ferrer Studio II (acrylic and oil paintings, mixed media collage, “Artful Spirits” sculptures)

•Chris Gustin, Homestead Weaving Studio, (woven rugs and clothing)

•Joan Haab, Country Mouse Weaving, (woven chenille clothing)

•Joe and Peggy Henderson, Hickory Hill Studios and Gallery (sculptural clocks, furniture and accessories, contemporary and traditional baskets, gourds)

•Anabel Hopkins, Les Nympheas Studio, (oil and pastel landscapes)

•Dean Howard, Barzillai Forge (forged steel and copper blacksmithing)

•Lynn Lynch Hughes, Memories to Keep, Ink (pen & ink and colored pencil)

•Amanda W. Mathis, A.W. Mathis Primitive Painting (primitive painting)

•Anne Ryan Miller, Anne Ryan Miller Glass Studio (stained glass with metal overlay)

•Cheri Platter, Faerie Hollow Pottery (floral porcelain and stoneware)

•Judy Prichard, Oak Grove Pottery (terra cotta and stoneware)

•Greg Schatz, Schatz Studio and Gallery (stoneware and porcelain)

•Larry and Kyle Spears, Spears Gallery (pottery and fine art photography)

•Sandy Taylor, Godly Glass (stained and etched glass and calligraphy)

•R. Thomas Tedrowe, Tedrowe Furniture Studio, (wood furniture and decorative objects)

Mindy Weddle, Carmel Ridge Clayworks (functional salt/wood-fired stoneware and porcelain pottery)

•T.C. Steele State Historic Site is again serving as headquarters.

The tour is self-funded with help from some generous sponsors.

In 2005, the tour organization established a member-supported art scholarship program.

As part of the Art Colony’s centennial activities, studios intend to feature artwork from local mentored students.

Brochures and maps are available in Nashville at the Visitors Center and Chamber of Commerce; in Bloomington at all Bloomingfoods locations; Story Inn Bed and Breakfast in Story; Cornerstone Inn in downtown Nashville; Brown County Winery on State Road 46, many area businesses, and all artists’ studios.

For more information visit <www.BrownCountyStudioTour.com>.