Woodstock Artists Association Embarks on Studio Tour

WOODSTOCK — The Woodstock Artists Association and Museum (WAAM) founded more than one hundred years ago and is an art institution that ranks among the most important in the state of New York. This past weekend kicked off their inaugural WAAM Members Studio Tour with remarkable success. The WAAM Executive Director Nichole Goldberg describes, “I was thrilled to present the inaugural WAAM Members Studio Tour. It was a magical experience to walk through the working studios of over 50 artists and witness their creative processes. We look forward to making this an annual event!” 

The concept of touring artists’ studios has been around for years and is becoming ever more popular. There are several such tours in the Hudson Valley/Catskills regions of New York: the Stagecoach Run Art Festival, AMR Open Studios Tour, Upstate Art Weekend, and the Saugerties Artists Studios Tour. Now WAAM has made it part of their mission to connect people with Woodstock area artists and their work in the intimate studio setting.

Organizing such an event is a monumental task, as it requires the organization of dozens of artists and to promote and coordinate. It’s a wonder how WAAM was able to pull this off while running a well renowned gallery with a global reputation. As with any great institution, it’s a sum of its parts and participation. The WAAM community has an impressive list of world class artists including big names that join in from outside their community to be involved. All of these influences and experiences being shared with the world who chose to visit the Woodstock area benefit beyond imagination.

The studio tour had an eclectic variety of art. Some examples as follow…

- Deidre Laughton who was a self-taught artist up until twenty years ago when she and her husband moved to West Hurley was a self-taught artist. Since living in the Woodstock area Laughton has been attending classes at the Woodstock School of Arts and doing online art classes. This studio space was prepared like a professional gallery with her paintings, yarn art, and pottery curated so professionally. Laughton and her husband who also does ceramics were abundantly friendly. The art possesses a very spiritual and tranquil tone that reflects her personality so perfectly. Since taking up art full-time, Laughton has many accomplishments to her credit. On Instagram @deirdrelaughton

 – Tania Kravath is a former NYC public school art teacher who taught in the Bronx. This magnificent sculpture tells why she felt compelled to teach, “Growing up my art teacher saved my life”. Kravath has been living upstate NY for decades working with clay making gorgeous sculptures with such skill mixing in paint colors of soothing blues and browns and textures that blend with the loving images of angelic figure, some representing an elegant embrace that’s unforgettable. While Kravath has a kiln in her studio, she utilizes a friend’s Japanese style kiln in Hunter that adds to the beauty. FB link www.facebook.com/tania.kravath Must see Kravath’s Good Wrestling series. 

– Carmela Tal Baron of Woodstock has an great selection of digital artwork that represents a multitude of imagery including lovely flower bursts with a great eye for color selection. It’s a fabulous example of fine (digital) art.  Baron shares her thoughts on the Studio Tour, “I was gratified by the turnout and by the genuine interest in my work by the visitors to my studio & gallery Art Pod 66. Hopefully, this will engender further interest from the public in learning about the artistic process, in supporting the artists and in enabling their continued contribution to the community.” For examples of Baron’s work see www.carmelatalbaron.com

– Yale Epstein said to be ‘One of the premier stops on the tour’ by one of the visitors. Epstein’s house and yard is an impressive work of art. The red bridge overlooking a lovely pond outside his studio space looks like a dream. Epstein is a vivacious 91-year-old photographer and painter with several incredible books to his credit. The walls and counter tops are flowing with amazing visions he’s captured throughout his lifetime with the most expert composition, color, and carefully mastered skill. Epstein said he had approximately forty visitors over the two-day weekend and enjoyed the experience of having people visit his home. This friendly welcoming tone was all throughout the WAAM Members Studio Tour. The WAAM organizers are assuredly proud to have such a wonderful experience must be something that people mark on their calendars each year. 

This weekend is the final weekend of the WAAM Regional: Spirit of Woodstock comprises 40 works in a range of styles and mediums by artists living within a 50-mile radius of Woodstock. From abstract art to landscape paintings and photographs, works unite as they reflect the boundary-pushing culture of the 1960s. Works on view account for an array of artistic ideas and approaches, through ecologically driven works, socially engaged practices, and artworks anchored in prevailing formal tenets of the time. Overall, the exhibition probes and celebrates the profound and lasting impact of this landmark era on artmaking in the region today.  For more details on the upcoming exhibitions and member artists, see www.woodstockart.org