Tuesday, November 6, 2012 11:32 am

There’s something new going on at the Studio Tour this year! Scheduled the weekend before Thanksgiving Friday-Sunday, November, 16-18, 2012, it promises something special for everyone.

With 39 artists located across eight studio sites tour-goers will have three days to take in a variety of finely-crafted artwork from ceramics, jewelry, and wood design to this year’s newest media addition: painting. Other opportunities for the touring public include the addition of three new studios: Eva Berg’s Everich Farm in Christiana, Bill and Judy Heim’s Red Oak Pottery in Lascassas, and Elizabeth Bray Jewelry on Main Street in Murfreesboro.

As newly participating studios the three are excited to join and share the Studio Tour’s tradition for celebrating the craftsmanship of the working artisan through demonstrations offered to the community at each location. When asked, Elizabeth Bray commented, “I hope to teach a little about metalworking techniques … and to share with the community my passion for the processes involving fire, metal, design, and the creation of wearable art.” Demonstrations will be ongoing at each site offering residents the chance to visit the workspaces, observe the involved processes, ask the artists questions, and to acquire keepsakes and gifts available for purchase.

“Along with the new studios adding two-dimensional media artists such as painters and photographers seemed like a natural progression for us this year, stated Eric Snyder,” chair of the Tour’s organizing committee with the Stones River Crafts Association. “We are always looking for ways to keep the Studio Tour’s rich tradition of fine crafts as our focus while also exploring the community’s interest in artistic variety as offered through the many ways art is constructed today,” Snyder concluded. Look for painters Susan Truex and Mary Miller Veazie to join jeweler Dolores Weaver at Studio S Pottery, painter Mark Jackson at Red Oak Pottery, and photographer Tamarin Salazar at Popcorn Studio Pottery.

The Studio Tour and all demonstrations are open and free to the public. The hours are Friday & Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m.-5 p.m. For more information visit: www.ArtStudioTour.org or call 615-542-6368.