Two studio tours set for this summer

By Lindsey Pizzica Rotolo

Madeline Falk specializes in portraits of dogs.

Over two dozen artists from Norfolk and neighboring towns will take part in open studio days on Saturdays in June and August this summer. The artists are considering additional dates in the fall. The first open house day will be held on Saturday, June 14. Pending town approval, there will be an information booth set up that day at the Robertson Memorial on Station Place, where maps of the participating artists’ locations can be obtained. Maps will also be available at each participating artist’s home or studio. The June 14 date coincides with the state of Connecticut’s annual Open House Day, which is designed to encourage residents to discover the many resources their towns have to offer. By opening their homes and studios to the public, the participating artists hope to increase public awareness of their various talents and the value they add to the community. They also hope to inspire other artists of all ages. “This is sure to be a great event,” says Jon Riedeman, one of the organizers. “The response has been very positive and it’s amazing to see how many artists there actually are in Norfolk.” The second artists open house date is set for Saturday, August 9, which coincides with the last concert of the season of the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. The information booth will be set up on the grounds of the Battell Stoeckel estate and the event will be advertised in the Music Shed’s brochure for that day’s performances. Jim Nelson and Deanne Chin, staff members of the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, have volunteered their time and talent to support the event. Nelson was disappointed to hear about the closing of the Artisans Guild last winter and had been hoping to do something to support the artists in town. Nelson offered to man the information booth on August 9 and Chin has been instrumental in advertising of the event. The following artists will be participating in at least one of the two open house dates set for this summer: Katie Atkinson, Kim Barbieri, Peter Coffeen, Madeline Falk, Ann Getsinger, Wayne Jenkins, Vee Kausel, Peter Ketchum, Vint Lawrence, Karen Linden, Janet Marks, Arden Mason, Michaela Murphy, Ruthann Olsson, Bridgette & Harry Rallo, Jon Riedeman, Nina Ritson, Karen Rossi, Arne Rostad, Turi Rostad, Ron Sloan, Eve & John Thew, Leslie Watkins and Mary Beth Whalen. The participants offer a variety of artistic creations. For example, Atkinson specializes in illustration, Falk in paintings of dogs, Bridgette Rallo in wearable sculpture, Riedeman in bronze sculpture based on human and animal forms, John Thew in hand hammered copper weathervanes and Watkins in landscape oils and watercolors. Further information on local artists can be found on the town website, www.norfolkct.org/artists.