The studio tours.... Great idea.

I wonder if if would be more supportive if it were held in one of the parks. Anyone wanting to tour them would involve lots of driving and figuring out where each one is.

Having it in a central location would bring more people. There are people who just want to show off what they create. There could be two tiers of pricing for tables - tents. One tier for those who want to exhibit. Another for artists that want to sell.

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

I wonder if if would be more supportive if it were held in one of the parks. Anyone wanting to tour them would involve lots of driving and figuring out where each one is.

Having it in a central location would bring more people. There are people who just want to show off what they create. There could be two tiers of pricing for tables - tents. One tier for those who want to exhibit. Another for artists that want to sell.

You are describing the art and music walk which was held on October 15th.  The great thing about the art studio tour is that you can see the artists at work in their own studio.  For those who don't want to travel, there are group exhibits at 1978, the DeHart Community Center, and other venues throughout both towns.

joan_crystal said:

 The great thing about the art studio tour is that you can see the artists at work in their own studio. 

Problem is, ya didn't. The artists were in their front yards, under tents. Nobody was working IN their studio.

This was true during the worst of COVID when so many of us were avoiding indoor activities.  Not sure it is completely true now that COVID poses less of a threat for most and so many indoor sites are face covering optional.  Could it have been that you just happened to pick those who were out of doors?  ETA:  I did not attend the Art Studio Tour this weekend so can't speak about this year through first hand experience.

As joan_crystal said, Art Walk already exists, and Studio Tour is a different vibe. But you are right that many artists will set up in front of their houses, rather than inside - I was showing at Studio Tour and I don't have a studio for what I do (Weird & Creepy Digital Photography) so there's nowhere else to do it. My wife, a collage artist, doesn't want people traipsing through our tiny house to see her studio.

This year was a bit different than most. It was so successful at getting artists to sign up that there were nearly double the amount of artists from when I used to follow the tour in the late-noughties, so hopefully we had an increased turnout. Certainly yesterday we were consistently busy and I sold a few prints and everybody walked away happy. In fact I did better yesterday than I've done sometimes at Art Walk. One year I won 2nd prize and sold nothing.

It’s tough coming in second with a score of nought….

ridski said:

As joan_crystal said, Art Walk already exists, and Studio Tour is a different vibe. But you are right that many artists will set up in front of their houses, rather than inside - I was showing at Studio Tour and I don't have a studio for what I do (Weird & Creepy Digital Photography) so there's nowhere else to do it. My wife, a collage artist, doesn't want people traipsing through our tiny house to see her studio.

This year was a bit different than most. It was so successful at getting artists to sign up that there were nearly double the amount of artists from when I used to follow the tour in the late-noughties, so hopefully we had an increased turnout. Certainly yesterday we were consistently busy and I sold a few prints and everybody walked away happy. In fact I did better yesterday than I've done sometimes at Art Walk. One year I won 2nd prize and sold nothing.

Visitors ....  I anded up having time at 3:00 and I made just three stops. 

One exhibitor on a side street had one attendee + me. A second had none. A third, on a busy street had three attendees + me.  --- Happy for him.

A side issue, I don't know how much importance you want to put into this but having 50 or 75 people driving through town is an environmental concern. Park the car and walk in the park, not so much.

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

Visitors ....  I anded up having time at 3:00 and I made just three stops. 

One exhibitor on a side street had one attendee + me. A second had none. A third, on a busy street had three attendees + me.  --- Happy for him.

A side issue, I don't know how much importance you want to put into this but having 50 or 75 people driving through town is an environmental concern. Park the car and walk in the park, not so much.

I'm not arguing with you, just posting my experiences, and that I don't agree we need another big centralized art show in a park. 

Memorial Park Conservancy has done a few events where they invite artists to paint in the park while visitors walk around and view the work in progress.  A very different kind of vibe from what you are suggesting.  

I liked the scheduling better when the artists' studio tour was in June. Early November is a busy time of year, especially when it coincides with the fall break for the school district.  A lot of people go out of town.

I've been on the tour since it started but took a few years off during Covid.

I also liked it better in June. I'm rarely busy as I'm on the edge of South Orange above Wyoming and people tend to visit houses grouped together. 

When they made it 2 days I suggested they do Maplewood one day and South Orange the other but there was big resistance. We have the option of only doing one day but that's a gamble so I do both.

I shared my space with my step-daughter who does exquisite jewelry and the first day was dead but to my surprise the next day was very busy.

Artist's also had the option of showing one piece at 1978 Gallery.

I do think having 100 artists makes it impossible for guests to visit many studios. I do open my studio and although there are not many serious collectors, I get a chance to meet some wonderful neighbors.

Our art is up on the website and we can put up links to our own websites.

Might be nice to have a local holiday pop up.