By blogger and guest artist Melanie Kehoss.
This year marks the fourth Arlington Visual Arts Studio Tour (AVAST). On September 25 and 26, 48 artists open their studios to art lovers so they can see inside the artistic process and studios, most of which are rarely open to the public.
The different disciplines include painting, ceramics, metals, photography and more. The weekend event will kick off with a launch party on Friday, September 24 at the Cody Gallery on Marymount University’s Ballston campus.
After going virtual last year due to the pandemic, this marks the activity’s return to an in-person format. The event will follow CDC guidelines with masking, social distancing, and other safety and health measures determined by individual performers.
AVAST is a joint effort of independent artists and volunteers, supported by contributors including Schnider Investment Group and Dominion Lighting, and in cooperation with Arlington’s visual arts organizations. Arlington Arts was a founding sponsor of this new cultural tradition.
This year’s entrants are listed, each with a sample photo and a short description of their work, at this link. AVAST will add a guide with opening times and locations so visitors can self-select which studios they want to visit. Guides will be online, and print versions will be available at Arlington galleries and sponsor locations beginning in mid-September, as well as in studios during the tour.
For last year’s virtual tours, some 40 artists created online video tours that drew thousands of viewers. To give you an idea of what you’ll be able to experience in person again, check out the video montage below.
For complete information on this year’s tour, visit the AVAST website and Facebook page!