By Kate Bartlett
This Memorial Day weekend, May 23rd-24th, marks the North Shore Arts Alliance’s 18th annual spring Art Trail. This unique event is held twice per year, once in the fall (Saturday & Sunday of Labor Day Weekend) and once in the spring (Saturday & Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend), bookending the summer season. It is designed to showcase local artisans and inspire creativity in Chautauqua County while fostering community and commerce.
The Art Trail was created in 2008 by the North Shore Arts Alliance (NSAA) as an opportunity for artists to showcase their art in their studios. Since its inception 18 years ago, the Art Trail has gained momentum and grows bigger every year. “It started strictly as an open studio event on the north shore of Chautauqua Lake” says Melissa Meyers, Vice President of the North Shore Arts Alliance and Co-Chair of the Art Trail event. “We’ve grown to include art galleries and hubs throughout Chautauqua County and typically feature around 30-35 local artists.” The hubs allow for more than one artist per location, not only making it more convenient for guests, but also increasing exposure to merchants and affording the opportunity for artists to connect and foster a sense of community within their specific location. “It’s great for guests and artists alike to connect at these events,” explains Melissa. “These relationships create the opportunity for us to promote each other, increasing our exposure and ultimately increasing foot traffic during the event and promoting tourism to the area.”
This spring, 30 artists will be showcasing their art in their studios or at hub locations throughout Chautauqua County. “We have a great variety of artists that will be showcased at various locations,” says Melissa. “It’s a great opportunity to get out and support the artists, while offering a unique glimpse inside some unique and inspiring spaces.” This year, the Art Trail includes unique locations like Sacred Grounds Coffee House at Lily Dale and the Chautauqua Institution (no gate fees on these dates, open to the public for Art Trail). “These locations are particularly interesting in that they’re not always open to the public. They’re great destinations, incredibly inspirational and offer the opportunity to make a day, or two of the Art Trail.
The North Shore Arts Alliance has put together an interactive map (available online at www.nsaachautauqua.org/art-trail.html) to help research and plan ahead. Guests can view each location on the map, click on a pin to see which artists are featured, and learn more about each artist and their type of art by clicking on the link to the artists websites. “We’ve found this to help guests plan the best route, as well as learn what type of art is of interest to them,” says Melissa. “It’s also a great tool to learn about local artists in the area.”
Passport cards will be available for guests to have stamped at each location, with the chance to win a gift card that will be redeemable with any participating artisan. “It’s a fun way to get people involved, and encourage them to visit more locations,” says Melissa. “We’ll have several prizes available and guests do not need to visit all locations to enter the drawing.”
The NSAA recognized the opportunity to include young artists in this initiative and has created a brand new Emerging Student Artists Program, inviting local high school artists to participate in the Art Trail. “Students will have the opportunity to network with professional artists and learn about exhibiting their work at an art event,” explains Melissa. “They can gain experience answering questions from visitors, exploring display options, learning about sales tax certificates, and hearing firsthand from experienced artist vendors. This is a chance for students to see what it takes to display, and potentially sell, their work in a real-world setting.”
Students from Westfield High School will be at the Sheep Barn, 5115 Morris Road in Mayville, and students from Jamestown’s AP art program will exhibit at the Key Bank Edgewater Art House, 712 W. 8th Street, Jamestown for the Memorial Weekend event on May 23rd and May 24th. This initiative will offer free participation helping to foster the next generation of artists while deepening community engagement with the arts.
The Art Trail allows guests to meet and connect with local artists, often watching them create art and/or tell the story of their pieces. “Not only are customers supporting local merchants along the Art Trail, but they can make a personal connection with the artists. It becomes so much more meaningful when you know the story behind the art” explains Melissa.
More information and sample images of the artists’ work, explore the interactive map
https://nsaachautauqua.org/art-trail.html, visit nsaachautauqua.org and follow on social media @ North Shore Arts Alliance.