The beloved Tahoe Art League (TAL) Studio Tour is back for the 2021 season, providing art aficionados with six days of studio time spread over two weekends from July 30 to Aug. 1 and Aug. 6 to 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants can view colorful, vibrant and varied crafts displayed by the artists who created them.
Studio Tour
July 30-Aug. 1 & Aug. 6-8 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
South Shore
This year’s TAL Studio Tour will be featuring 21 artists at 11 locations, most of them in the heart of South Shore. The tour is pared down a bit this year due to pandemic concerns; most of this year’s participants have been involved in the tour before.
“Typically, we have about double the number of artists as we will have this year so we’re not sure what to expect for attendance, but the artists all promote it through their own networks. I’ve personally had a lot of inquiries about when it’s happening this year,” says TAL Studio Tour chairperson Connie Clark, who adds that in the past, around 500 people per day were on the tour.
Clark says to expect favorites such as Yvonne McGrath, Donna Reid, Walt Stevenson and LoRita Ungar.
“There are a lot of different artists who do different things. Rande Szromba is a jeweler who will be featured in the Upper Truckee/Meyers area [Studio 1: 1995 Kickapoo St.], and Donna Reid, silk screener Walt Stevenson and Barbara Gustafson will be at Donna’s house [Studio 15: 3764 Woodbine Road],” Clark says.
Kelly Smith Cassidy will be showing her welded bronze and copper sculptures at 961 Lakeview Ave. near El Dorado Beach and Nina Major (featured on our cover) will be selling her watercolor landscape paintings and silk scarves at her home on 907 Rainbow Drive.
“One of the places will be at my house on Washington Avenue; I have a huge backyard with nine artists there, a few who specialize in painting, drawing, pottery — including a jeweler,” Clark says.
Clark is a photography, mixed media and printmaking artist; this will be her third year participating in the tour.
TAL Studio Tour will be using its passport program, which allows attendees and art collectors the chance to win prizes from the artist participants.
“Prizes will be shown at the individual studios from the artist contributors themselves. We want to see if it increases the number of people that go to each studio to look at what’s in the drawing,” Clark says.
Every five studio visits, as well as every $100 spent on art, earns an attendee a stamp.
While the 2021 Studio Art Tour map is now online, Clark suggests that anyone new to the tour should start at the gallery and pick up the map there.
“My advice is to get a map to see the list of artists and examples of their work. These maps should be available at various businesses. And go to the ones closest to the TAL Art Center. There are a couple in Nevada, a couple in Meyers — they’re spread out. But if you are new to the tour, start at the art gallery and work from there,” Clark says.
Fortunately, because the tour is smaller this year, it should be easier to get around.
“Have fun, enjoy yourselves, get an idea of the variety of art. This is a fun way to talk to the artists and see what inspires them. And it’s an opportunity to get outside, see demonstrations and meet the artists and hear them talking about their work. Bring the whole family; we even serve wine,” she says.
TAL Art Center’s gallery is currently open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | (530) 544-2313, tahoeartleague.org
Download the Studio Tour guide
Kayla’s Tips for Tacking the Tour
- Give yourself lots of time. I visited 10 studios in four hours in 2019, but it wasn’t long enough; I rushed through some of them and blew right by some that I really wanted to see. Get there early and plan on dedicating the full day to visiting as many studios as you can.
- I came in from the northeast side, so it made sense to go to the one in Zephyr Cove on the Nevada side first, before I got into South Lake Tahoe. If it makes sense for you, try to catch one or two studios on the way in.
- Consider renting or bringing a bike when doing the in-town stops. It’s easier to get around and nice to not have to sit in traffic going from stop to stop. If you see something you like, though, try to buy it right then and just go back and pick it up later if you need to.
- Remember to get your passport stamped.
- Visit Walt Stevenson’s studio (Studio 9: 3764 Woodbine Road). His silk-screening demonstration is pretty neat to watch. But be careful, you might get a little paint on you.
