Artists have all heard some version of “I wish I could see inside your head,” and these studio tours may be the closest some folks in San Marcos will get. The second annual San Marcos Studio tour returns from April 5-7, giving visitors some pre-eclipse inspiration over the weekend in artist’s private workspaces.
A kickoff event at MotherShip Studios will bring guests together with local artists, and sample some of the work they can seek out when the tour begins. This should also be a good opportunity for meeting other art lovers (or even the art-curious) in an informal setting, with chances to meet up again over the weekend.
Studio tours — for the uninitiated — can be anything, as long as an artist is showing off their workspace. Sometimes they are set up as informal galleries, and sometimes there’s little finished work in sight. Some artist studios are located one after another in communal buildings, while others are right inside an artist’s home.
The real benefit, besides satisfying nosy artistic urges, is getting to talk to the artists about their process. Most who sign up are excited to explain how they work in the room where it happens. Many are also happy to show unique works that haven’t made it into official shows yet; These works may be too fringe, or the artist simply hasn’t decided what to do with them yet.
The MotherShip, which organizes the tour, is promoting the participating artists right now on Instagram. Each, identified with their tour stop number and one or two photographed works, has provided a quote or a short biography. Among them are Jamie Ruth Barnard’s nearly abstract landscapes, Arthur Simon’s high art rocks with eyes, and Jasna Boudard’s immersive photo and video works.
So far, it looks like that’s the only public list of participating artists, but a map will eventually be provided for easy navigating. A call for event hosts listed some potential activities: “scheduled demos, interactive workshops, studio parties, cookouts, guided tours, bike/walking tours, performances, live music, film screenings, and more!”
All artists living or working within San Marcos and Martindale city limits were invited to apply, so this broad group could contain anything. The submission form is closed for this year.
The San Marcos Studio Tour is free, but visitors may also donate to Mothership Studios, starting at $20 once or $5 monthly. More information about the tour and its organizer is available at mothershipstudiostx.com.
