The Chesterton Art Center and local businesses will be hosting ARTour 2011 on Saturday, August 27 from 10am to 3pm. Local artists will be showing and demonstrating their work at various businesses in the downtown area, as well as at the Westchester Twp. History Museum and the Chesterton Art Center. Many of the businesses will offer special incentives and offers during this year’s ARTour. Participating stores and eateries will display a green diamond shaped sign stating “Artists at Work.”
Just west of the European Market, 4th Street Emporium will be hosting watercolor artist June Krsek. Visitors can watch Dick Church create his watercolor paintings at Tonya's Patisserie, while across the street Butler Winery will host watercolorist Judy Reid, and offer a free wine tasting. Jan Stewart, who works in clay, will be demonstrating at the Chesterton Art Center. The Westchester Township History Museum located at 700 W. Porter Ave will feature oil painter Susan Nolan. She will be demonstrating her painting techniques from 1-5pm.
Just across Broadway from the European Market, Brainstorm Computers will host artist Su Sheldon demonstrating in oils and acrylics. At Mega Beads, visitors can join Darlene Livingston in creating a one-of-kind greeting card, using rubber stamps and adding beads as embellishments. Red Cup Cafe will host Carrie Coslov, a painter of water birds. Holly Jackson invites visitors to stop in at Holly Jackson Studio on Second St., where she will demonstrate oil and acrylic painting. On Calumet Avenue Marjorie Crawford will be opening her Coffee Creek Studio to the public, where she creates oil and watercolor paintings. A few doors south on Calumet Rd. visitors can stop in The Flower Cart and watch artist Denise Bildilli create flower paintings in acrylic. At Hugh's Small Engine Repair, Ewell Lovell will demonstrate the art of blacksmithing.
Spike and Buddy's will feature acrylic artist Ken Goodman, and at Lucrezia's and Good to Go Deli Sandi Church will demonstrate traditional wool rug hooking. Just steps away at 109 W. Porter Ave., Suite 1, visit Stephanie Swanson in her studio to see how she creates her one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. Maps will be available at the Art Center and at the participating businesses. For more information, please contact the Chesterton Art Center at (219) 926-4711.
Photo: Watercolor artist Dick Church is shown demonstrating his painting techniques at Tonya’s Patisserie during last year’s ARTour.