Local artists are giving art patrons a unique glimpse inside their creative processes and lives this month.

Organized by the Contemporary Art Museum of St. Louis, the Third Annual City Wide Open Studios event began Tuesday, July 15, and lasts until Sunday, July 20. The event features more than 120 artists from the St. Louis community and surrounding areas.

“It’s completely open to anyone living and working in St. Louis,” said Jennifer Gaby, director of public relations and marketing for the Contemporary. “A variety of types of art are represented.”

The list of participating artists includes painters in watercolors and oils, performance artists, and artists working with video.

The main segment of Open Studios will occur on July 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participating artists will open up their studios to the public, discussing their work with those interested, as well as selling pieces.

“It’s the one opportunity that an art lover can have to interact with an artist one on one: talk with them, challenge them, buy work from them,” said Laura Fried, assistant curator at the Contemporary and one of the primary organizers of the event.

Gaby agrees that art lovers should take advantage of the unique opportunity offered by Open Studios.

“The great thing about contemporary art is that the artists are living so you get the opportunity to talk to them about their work and what they are thinking,” she says.

During the weekend, the Contemporary’s Chief Curator Anthony Huberman will lead a trolley tour visiting a few of the participating studios. TREK Bicycle Store of St. Louis has also organized an all-day bike tour leaving the Contemporary early morning.

When the Open Studios series began three years ago, the St. Louis art scene was primarily underground.

“People in St. Louis weren’t aware of the art being created here,” said Gaby. “They’re surprised by [it].”

In the first year, the series only boasted 40 artists but grew to 90 in its second year. “There were some artists who got more than 100 people in studio in one day so it really raises the visibility of their work,” said Fried.

The Contemporary will also display selected works of the artists until the end of the month as a preview of the artists’ style.
“It gives them kind of an idea of who to see,” said Gaby. “It would take a while to visit all 120 artists.”
Open Studios wraps up on Sunday, July 20, with the Starving Artist Barbeque at the Contemporary beginning at 4 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are $15.
Interested art lovers can pick up a map at the studio of a participating artist, at the Contemporary or by downloading it from either the Contemporary’s website or www.openstudiosonline.org, where more information about the event is available. Entry to all studios is free to the public with out reservation required. The Contemporary is located at 3750 Washington Blvd.