Blue Ridge Vista. Tei Tober, artist
The Beaverdam Studio Tour will return on Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a “bounce back year” after last year’s cancellation in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The two-day event will feature 17 local artists and eight guests across 14 locations in the Beaverdam Valley, showcasing work in ceramics, painting, jewelry, sculpture, textiles, photography, glass, wood and more.
For Tei Tober, this year marks her first time on the tour. “We moved into our place in Beaverdam Run the March before the storm and I am excited to join the other artists in the Beaverdam Valley area,” she says.
Cooking for the Apocalypse. Joanne Bossert, artist. Photo by Audrey Hope Rinehart.
Tober’s approach to choosing subjects is intuitive and emotional. “The scene must speak to me both visually and emotionally,” she says. “If the mood isn’t right, it’s just another pretty place and it doesn’t inspire me to paint it. However, when the atmosphere evokes an emotion, I’m hooked.” Tober will have her art on display in her garage at 44 Clubside Drive.
For returning artist Joanne Bossert, this second year brings another chance to connect with the public. “It is great to have the opportunity to talk to people about what I do and to hear feedback,” says Bossert, who will be at the Beaverdam Run clubhouse with three other artists.
Bossert works across a variety of mediums, often combining them. “Since I work in enamel, fiber and painting, I like to move between the mediums,” says Bossert. “My ideas are specific to the medium that I’m thinking about. For example, my enamel sculptures often begin with a found object that I find interesting and am responding to.”
Her creative process often bridges disciplines. “My woven pieces are often either based in a specific weaving technique, such as double weave or just blending colors and textures to use in another piece,” she says. “I have several pieces where I combined weaving with enamel pieces. I often use painting just to do something different. My work, especially my enamel sculptures, are often expressing my response to what is happening in my life or in the world.”
For more information, maps and artist profiles, visit BeaverdamStudioTour.com.
