By Kate Bartlett
This Memorial Day weekend marks the North Shore Arts Alliance’s 16th annual Art Trail, Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26. The Art Trail is held twice per year, once in the fall (Labor Day Weekend) and once in the spring (Memorial Day Weekend) in efforts to bring a unique art experience to the community.
The North Shore Arts Alliance (NSAA) is a non-profit group of artists residing in Chautauqua County. The group was founded in 2007 and membership currently consists of approximately 135 highly skilled and professional artists and their supporters. The Art Trail was created in 2008 as an opportunity for artists to showcase their art in their studio twice per year. Since its inception 16 years ago, the Art Trail has gained momentum, evolved and grows bigger every year.
This spring 27 artists in 12 locations will be showcasing their art at their studio or a hub. “Originally the Trail was strictly a Studio Trail. This by its nature limited the scope of the Art Trail. We’ve created artists ‘hubs’ over the years, allowing artists to gather in groups for convenience’s sake,” says Melissa Meyers, Co-chair of the Art Trail and board member of NSAA. “Not all artists have studios, or easily accessible studios, so these hub locations grant all artists the opportunity to participate. It’s also convenient for attendees as they can view more than one artist at one location.”
The Art Trail is a driving route, in and around Chautauqua County. There is an interactive map of all participants and locations online at https://www.nsaachautauqua.org/art-trail.html. One can also click on this QR code to view the interactive map.
Under the Hub tab online, there is a list of locations. Each location lists the artists that will be at that stop, and there is a link to the artists’ website so a viewer can click on it to see what kind of art each artist does. This is helpful in planning a route around the Art Trail.
“Every year is different,” says Melissa. “The show is ever changing with its participants and their artwork. We’ve gained several new artists over the years, and you will find some are on this year’s Trail. Additionally, the artists pieces evolve and change over the years; it’s great to see what each show brings.”
Attendees can obtain a passport card to collect stamps along the way with the opportunity to win prizes upon completion. “This is the 3rd year we’ll be doing the passport program. It’s a fun way to incentivize guests to visit more artists locations. Each location also has a printed paper map providing a visual map of the locations on the Trail.” Upon completion of the stamped passport, guests are entered into a raffle to win gift cards that can be redeemed with any participating Art Trail artist. The dollar value of the prizes vary depending on how many locations a participant goes to.
Melissa considers herself a visual artist, with a variety of pieces including acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, oil, alcohol ink, and abstracts. She creates pictures of landscapes and of local landmarks, such as the Stow ferry and the Lenhart hotel among other paintings. Her art will be featured at the Roger Tory Peter Institute Hub with three other artists, Susan Guiterrez, an acrylic painter, Debbie Penley, a fiber artist, and Carrie Tredo Sheffield, a mixed media artist.
Artists profiles can be viewed online at https://www.nsaachautauqua.com. Popular hub locations include Portage Hill Gallery, Pearl City Clay House (indoor site), Kniti Gritti Works in Fredonia, which is also a working artist studio. New Hub locations this year are Truffle Honey Eatery on Rt 394 , Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, and 21 Brix Winery in Portland. First time participants in a Hub are Waldo Latimer, a wood artist, with many other first-time artists exhibiting at established hubs.
It’s a great opportunity to get out and support the arts, while offering a unique glimpse inside their studios. Melissa, along with the other artists, enjoy getting to know members of the community and answering their questions. “It’s so interesting to hear people’s questions, and I love explaining what I do. It’s a great opportunity for those who are curious about the arts to learn something new.”
The Art Crawl attracts visitors from far and wide, including Colorado, Ohio, Pittsburgh and Buffalo; however, the majority of attendees are Chautauqua County residents. The event is free and open to the public, rain or shine. For more information visit https://nsaachautauqua.org/ and follow on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
(Cover painting by Ellen Pacquette.)