Artist, Karen Hawkins
“Come to Leicester” Studio Tour in Its 11th Year
The 11th annual “Come to Leicester” tour of artists’ studios will take you through some of the region’s most beautiful countryside from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, August 20–21. This year’s free, self-guided tour, all located just minutes north of Asheville, will introduce you to 19 artists from the area who will be demonstrating and displaying their work.
The tour’s lineup includes potters, doll makers, a quilter, a broom maker, jewelers, painters, a blacksmith, a weaver, a silk painter, a candlemaker, and woodcrafters. Addison Farms Vineyard is the site of several of the new guest artists. Stop by and enjoy a glass of local wine while meeting these talented folks.
This is the second year on the tour for woodcrafter Valerie Berlage, of Lauraine Lillie Studios (named for her two grandmothers). “My favorite aspect of the tour,” says Valerie, “is being able to educate people as to how I make my work. So often at craft shows, someone will come into my booth and say, ‘Is this wood?’ because most of my surfaces are painted or comprised of many pieces…When they get to my studio and see the big table saw, I think it’s an eye-opener sometimes.”
Artist, Valerie Berlage
Six-year tour veteran Karen Hawkins says, “Having people visit my studio and see where I work is a real treat.” While there, visitors can learn about all of the steps that go into making each of her unique figures: the sculpting, painting, costume design, and making of props. She says she loves talking about her figurative artwork. “Because I was a teacher for 30 years,” explains Karen, “I still have that overwhelming need to teach and explain—that is part of my joy.”
While on the “Come to Leicester” tour, you’re invited to stop by the Sandy Mush Community Center (formerly the old Leicester school) at 90 School Road in Leicester, and get a bite of lunch provided by Charles Brown and family.
Brochures with a tour map are available at area galleries, quilt shops, and the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. A tour map and more information about the artists are also available online at cometoleicester.org.
