On August 21-22, 2012 starting at 12PM and going until 5PM the 11th Anniversary of Artsi’s Open Studios on Shelter Island will take place featuring the best of Shelter Island artists.
Liz Hartman a spokesperson for Artsi said, “Artsi has been together eleven years. It is a group of artist who all live on Shelter Island who in general support each other and sometimes do other events but Artsie is a main event. They have done it every year these last eleven years except for last year when everything got blown apart because of Covid.”
Ms. Hartman explained, “The open studio is the big event and every year artists all over Shelter Island open their studios for people to come in and look at their work , talk about their work, and buy their work if they want.”
To find out where to go she said, “There is a map available online at artsi.info and this map points out all the different locations so people generally drive around from studio to studio. On the website there are thumbnails of all the artist and tells you which ones are participating in the show and there is a map to download so it is all very easy. Not everybody does all of them, because that would be a lot. However it is a fun opportunity because there is something very magical about seeing an artist in their studio where they create the art. Not to mention having a one-on-one conversation about the art with the artist. Kids often come with their parents and it’s a great experience for them as well.”
So it is a sales thing? No not really as Ms. Hartman pointed out, “It is really fun, there is no sales pressure but the artist of course would like to sell their works but it’s truly not the main thing, it’s really about getting their art seen and celebrating each other as well as bringing art to Shelter Island.”
The idea of following a map to go to studios has a scavenger hunt type of feel and is an excellent way to see the island. The fact that it is “free,” yes “free as in no charge,” alone is enticing. Ms. Hartman reiterated; Everyone should come. It is over two days so if you can’t do it one of these day you can do it the next day, it’s 12-5PM. This is my third or fourth year being affiliated with Artsi.” She would not say who might be her favorite Shelter Island artist for obvious reasons but she did say, “Now I haven’t been to all the artist studios and some of the artist change every year, there is a group of them pretty much do it year after year, but there is change. Katherine Hammond is chair of the committee and she someone’s studio to check out.”
When asked about perhaps becoming an Artsi artist Ms. Hartman said, “Not anyone can join Artsi there is a process. Ms. Hartman explained, “To become a member of Artsi there is a group that inspects submitted work and it isn’t a question of being academically trained in art, but, they do want people who take their art very seriously and pursue it as a fulltime activity whether they are just in retirement or whatever but not just a once a week do a little doodle sort of thing.”
It all sounds like fun for the whole family plus a day or two on Shelter Island during the summer is always magical.
