Behind the Veil

Artists tend to be a solitary lot.

-Or at least, such is the perception. Stereotypes abound: the pale, unshaven man who spends all his days feverishly painting in his attic studio, or the unsociable and scruffy-looking painter working alone on a windy seaside cliff.

This solitude, I believe, often indicates not misanthropism but fear. The act of creation can be deeply personal. The artist walks a tightrope of courage across a seething firepit of devouring self-condemnation. Creation often requires psychic nudity: the artist's mind, even soul, is stripped bare - how vulnerable one is at that time!

It can be terrifying to allow another to witness this process.

And yet ... This weekend, over thirty-five artists in the Tri-Lakes area are not only going to allow you to see them work, many are also opening their private studios for your edification and enjoyment! They shall draw back the curtain of isolation which shields them from the world's gaze, and allow you in.

The Third Annual Tri-Lakes Area Artist at Work Studio Tour begins Friday, 9/25/09, and continues Saturday, 9/26, and Sunday, 9/27. This tour is self-guided: pick up a booklet with information and directions, decide what interests you most, and go there. Booklets are available at all Sponsor locations, as well as local Chambers of Commerce and Studio Tour Central, the Adirondack Artists' Guild on Main Street in Saranac Lake. You can also download one from the website, here.

Once you have the booklet, you can participate in whatever way you wish. Many artist demonstrations are being held within walking distance of each other in the villages, so that you can choose to park and walk to them; others are in the outlying areas such as Rainbow Lake or Childwold. You could decide that a particular medium interests you most - say, ceramics or metalwork - and visit all the artists working in it. All venues will be clearly marked with yellow-and-black "Artist at Work" and directional signage.

Do be sure to check the booklet listings if you hope to see a particular artist; not all are demonstrating each day. And when you visit an artist, be sure to sign the visitors' register before leaving. And then, return to this blog and post a comment: share with us who you saw, what you learned, how you toured - and whether you caught sight of an artist's soul.