South Bay artists to open their studios for visitors
Name and format are new this year
By Shari Kaplan
Taking its cue from the changing of the millennium, one of Northern California's largest open studios events has changed both its name and its format.
Originally known as Open Studios of Santa Clara County and recently renamed Open Studios of South Bay Artists, the annual event is now known as Silicon Valley Open Studios. This year's 14th annual self-guided studio tour, presented by the nonprofit artistic entity Silicon Valley Visual Arts, includes artists from Santa Clara County, as well as neighboring San Benito and San Mateo counties.
Another change for 2000 is the event's timeline. No longer are some areas' artists assigned one weekend to exhibit, while other artists are given another weekend. Instead, participating artists' studios will be open to the public on both weekends of SVOS, which runs April 29-30 and May 6-7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Artists will participate in the following cities and towns: Belmont, Burlingame, Campbell, Cupertino, Foster City, Gilroy, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, Montara, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Pacifica, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Jose, San Juan Bautista, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Stanford, Sunnyvale and Woodside.
Participation has risen this year to 334 artists at 226 tour sites; among the artists are painters, sculptors, potters, stonemasons, photographers, printmakers, fiber artists, glass blowers, jewelers, a metalsmith and wood-workers. Some artists' studios are in their homes or garages, while other artists rent private studios or share spaces with kindred creative spirits.
According to SVVA Board member Lisbeth "Liz" Kraft, Open Studios presents an amalgam of artists--students, amateurs, emerging professionals, mature professionals, teachers and others--all eager to share the spirit of communication with the public through their interpretation and use of the visual arts.
"Because the works shown in this event are not juried or judged by peer artists, the visitor is the one who becomes the judge!" Kraft adds.
Artists showing in the Saratoga area are Carolyn Johnson, Edith Kallman, Sharon Lips, Judith Marshall, Linda Hansen Mau, Marylin Mori, Richard Osborn, Mel Rabedeau, Mariko Suzuki, Richard Waltonsmith and Yoju.
Free maps are available at The Mitre Box, 20605 Third St. One hundred-page catalogs, which contain artist biographies and art reproductions, are available for $15. For more information, call 650.941-5337 or visit www.svva.org on the Internet.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
