Colors of Chico

A photo essay on the 25th anniversary of Open Studios Tour

By Melanie MacTavish

This article was published on 10.24.13

Justin Cooper (left) and Carob Bradlyn in front of their studio on Martin Street. <br> PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

Justin Cooper (left) and Carob Bradlyn in front of their studio on Martin Street.
PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

Justin Cooper, outside his studio doing a live painting of one of his robots. <br> PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

Justin Cooper, outside his studio doing a live painting of one of his robots.
PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

“Raven Number 5,” by Susan Kirk. <br> PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

“Raven Number 5,” by Susan Kirk.
PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

Susan Kirk holds a basket of her hand-painted ceramic beads that she uses to create garden sculptures. <br> PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

Susan Kirk holds a basket of her hand-painted ceramic beads that she uses to create garden sculptures.
PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

Ceramic artist Jana Lawton paints glaze on a bowl at The Art House sculpture garden and art studio she shares with her husband, sculptor Dave Lawton. <br> PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

Ceramic artist Jana Lawton paints glaze on a bowl at The Art House sculpture garden and art studio she shares with her husband, sculptor Dave Lawton.
PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

Mingling in the garden with George Koszis’ fountain sculptures. <br> PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

Mingling in the garden with George Koszis’ fountain sculptures.
PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

East Second Avenue was overflowing with artists and their works. <br> PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

East Second Avenue was overflowing with artists and their works.
PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

“Chicken Pox,” a gourd sculpture by Claudia Dussault-Howell, featuring a glass head made by her son, Pete Howell. <br> PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

“Chicken Pox,” a gourd sculpture by Claudia Dussault-Howell, featuring a glass head made by her son, Pete Howell.
PHOTO BY MELANIE MACTAVISH

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Open Studios Tour
The art walk continues this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26 & 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit www.chicoarttour.com for artist info and tour map.

Of all the Artoberfest events, the Open Studios Art Tour is the best bang for your buck, as the Chico Art Center brings a good chunk of the area’s art scene together by creating a map of artist studios (more than 80 this year) for our arts-exploring pleasure. This past weekend marked the 25th year of the annual event, and the early fall weather cooperated in creating the perfect conditions for taking an art walk. To celebrate the anniversary of the longstanding community event, CN&R photographer Melanie MacTavish took the tour last Saturday (Oct. 19) and captured the color of the day.

The tour continues this weekend as well, with most of the artists on the map opening their doors for two more days of visiting. Go to www.chicoarttour.com for details.

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