All about the SOMA ARTISTS STUDIO TOUR

Come view our two towns’ dynamic art scene up close! Now in its 16th year, the annual Artist Studio Tour will be held Saturday November 2 and Sunday November 3, 2019. Artist studios and group venues are open from 11am to 5pm each day, and special exhibitions will be located throughout both towns.
 
This community-supported event provides tourgoers a rare opportunity to enter artists’ studio space and view finished pieces and works in progress, speak directly to artists, and start or grow an art collection of their own. More than 70 emerging, mid-career, and established artists will be participating, and several group exhibitions will be on view in venues like the Skate House, on Mead Street next to the duck pond in South Orange, and 1978 Maplewood Arts Center on Springfield Avenue.  
 
Most artists on the tour are offering works for sale in a variety of price ranges for both the casual and serious collector. As a special treat, two local art collectors are opening their homes to tourgoers. Pat Bell’s edgy collection, well known for its focus on the art of the now, will feature local artist Luis Alves Collage. Artist Judy Targan will show her own stylized landscapes in her studio, while her exquisite collection of contemporary American art will be on view in her South Orange home.
 
The Studio Tour is free, and there’s no need to register in advance. The event website (www.studiotoursoma.org) lists all participating artists and their locations, so you can plan your tour. It also includes an interactive map that lets you filter by theme, medium, and other options. Paper maps will be available at participating venues and businesses throughout both towns, including Pet Wants, 67 S. Orange Ave, South Orange; M-F 10-7, Saturday 9-6 and Sunday 11-5, and at Maplewood Municipal Building/Town Hall, Recreation Dept., 574 Valley St, Maplewood, M-F 9 to 4:30.
 
The South Orange Maplewood Artists Studio Tour was launched in 2003 by volunteers seeking to shine a light on the vibrant community of artists in our towns. Visiting artists in their studios is a wonderful way to learn about their creative process and at the same time inspire your own. This much-anticipated event is a mainstay of our community, an ideal opportunity for locals and out-of-town visitors to get to know friends, neighbors, and working artists while also viewing and purchasing unique pieces of art.
 
The SOMA Artists Studio Tour is organized by volunteers and the South Orange Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs in collaboration with Maplewood Department of Community Services. It is sponsored by the generosity of local friends and businesses, including Natalie Ferrell, Patricia A. Bell, Victoria Carter Team, Eventage, Maplewood Mercantile, Mona Lisa Framing, JESPY House, Sew Leana, Able Baker, Geralyn’s Art Studio and Gallery 103, Liv Breads, Maker + Muse, SOPAC, the Bread Stand, BuyRite, and Stella Luna.