For 21 years, Camano Island has welcomed art and nature lovers from around the region and beyond to one of the most diverse visual art studio tours in the Pacific Northwest. With 32 studios and galleries, representing more than 40 local artists, the event has become the largest tourist attraction of the year for the small island community.
One of the tour’s original founders and this year’s tour brochure cover artist, Jack Gunter, commented on the popularity of the tour.
“When we first conceived the idea for a studio tour in 1997 we did so with the vision that it might help preserve and protect an arts community, while growing appreciation for the arts in the region,” Gunter said. “Now with more than 40 artists on the tour and thousands visiting every year, it is rewarding to see our vision has exceeded our wildest dreams.”
One reason so many artists have called Camano Island home and so many art lovers continue to make the studio tour an annual event, is the quality and diversity of the art. All of the artists are juried into the event and the mediums represented include everything from ceramics, glass, painting, mixed media, jewelry, photography, sculpture, textiles, furniture, and more.
“The Studio Tour is a celebration of art and our beautiful community,” said Judi Seegert, this year’s tour director. “It is always such a joy to see so many people converge on our community to enjoy art and engage with artists.”
The tour kicks off the Friday before Mother’s Day, with an encore weekend following. On Friday, May 10 the tour opens to the public at 10am and runs until 5pm, continuing with the same hours through the weekend and again the following weekend, May 18 and 19.
A full map and brochure detailing the artists can be found at www.camanostudiotour.com.
About Camano Island Studio Tour
The Camano Island Studio Tour was established in 1997, launching in 1998, and subsequently leading to the formation of the Camano Arts Association. The tour attracts visitors from throughout the region and beyond, making it the island’s largest tourist attraction of the year.
