Nearly 30 artists in Bonny Doon will have their artwork on display this weekend as the fourth annual Bonny Doon Studio Tour — colloquially known as DoonArt — is set for July 26 and 27.
Linda Levy, one of the organizers of the yearly event, said that DoonArt is designed as a way of showcasing the art and artists of Bonny Doon — as well creating greater awareness of the mountaintop community itself.
She said that 29 artists — including painters, sculptors, photographers, and glass artists — will be hosting displays of their artwork, as well as offering demonstrations of their creative processes, at 19 studios throughout Bonny Doon.
“There’s a pretty big diversity of work, so there’s something for everyone,” Levy said.
She said that support for the Bonny Doon-specific event grew when the community’s artists found attendance sparse during their open-studio events as part of the annual county-wide Open Studios Art Tour.
“It’s hard to get people out here for Open Studios,” Levy said, adding that Bonny Doon’s remote location, combined with unpredictable autumn weather, is a factor. “October can be pretty iffy up here — it’s not the best time to be touring Bonny Doon.”
After three years, she said, awareness is growing.
“I had people last year that said that they have lived in Santa Cruz for 25 years and had never been to Bonny Doon,” Levy said. “There’s a lot of artists out here.”
One such artist is Laurie Spray, who operates Bonny Doon Fused Glass along with her husband, Joel Spray.
The Sprays will have their functional and art glass works on display, and their large studio will be open for art aficionados.
“We have six kilns and a large studio where we teach classes,” Laurie Spray said.
Spray, who creates pottery molds for her glass pieces, said that she will be leading demonstrations on the way she creates her fused glass pieces.
“I think (DoonArt) is a great way to let people know that there’s artists here in the mountains,” she said. “This is the once-in-a-year time to open the studio.”
The free, two-day event will take place between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
More information, as well as a complete map of the participating studios, can be found at http://bonnydoonstudiotour.com/
