Nicky Ruxton (Left) will be displaying her works at Mike Kendall’s studio in the historic Benicia Arsenal. for this year’s Open Studios on May 5 to 6. (Photo by Peg Jackson)

By Jean Purnell
Special to the Herald

Over 90 artists and galleries are participating, and many of said artists have been preparing for months for the big event: it’s Benicia Open Studios, taking place on May 5 and 6, one of the largest, most widely advertised opportunities for the artists to exhibit their work, discuss their creative ideas and their approach to making art, and to sell their art directly to visitors from all around the Bay Area.

Benicia has long been well-known for its diverse and active artist community, which includes painters and sculptors, glass blowers, and ceramists, mixed media and textile artists, jewelry makers and watercolorists. The weekend event brings thousands of visitors to Benicia to view and buy art, watch art-making demonstrations, talk directly to artists, and make new friends. Many art collectors, gallery owners and curators also come to Open Studios to discover new artists and to meet them in the creative environment of their studios, as well as to check out all the new artists exhibiting in the many galleries in Benicia.

On Saturday, May 5, participating studio hours will be 11 am to 7 pm (expanded from past years); Sunday, May 6, hours are 11 am to 5 pm. This is the fourth year Arts Benicia is partnering with SolTrans to offer a free shuttle service that runs throughout the weekend taking visitors from the numerous Arsenal artists’ studios up and down First St where many galleries and artists’ studios are located.
Now in its 26th year, Open Studios is Arts Benicia’s most highly attended annual event with attendance exceeding 4,000 in past years. The event brings an in-flux of visitors to explore boutiques, antique stores, restaurants and cafes during their weekend in Benicia. Admission is free and open to the public.

This is the second year Arts Benicia has produced a full-color catalog that features all the participating artists and galleries and includes way-finding maps and the SolTrans schedule. The catalog is not just an important guide to the many artists and their locations, but serves as a keepsake from the event and a guide to the resources of Benicia’s artist community.

Arts Benicia is also hosting a raffle with a number of exceptional artworks as prizes, including a sculpture by Mike Kendall and Betty Kendall; a signed poster by Roy De Forest, an etching by renowned printmaker John Paul Jones, and other items. The raffle will benefit Arts Benicia’s education programs.

“Benicia Open Studios showcases all of Benicia and its welcoming and family friendly community. We not only promote the artists and galleries, but our restaurants, boutiques, and antique shops,” Celeste Smeland, executive director of Arts Benicia, said. “I love when visitors say to me , ‘Wow, I’ve never been to Benicia – what a great place!’ And I couldn’t agree more. Benicia is a very special place.

“It’s important for our guests to realize how many locations there are to visit, and how easy it is to get to them on foot or via the SolTrans shuttle,” she added. “We hope they will start at the Arts Benicia gallery to get their catalog and use our preview exhibition as a way to map out the day. It’s also an opportunity for newcomers to find out more about our exhibits, classes, and programs. We have volunteers ready to greet visitors and answer their quesBenicia Open Studios is the result of many artists, businesses, and galleries coming together to partner with Arts Benicia to showcase our artist community. In addition to the Arts Benicia gallery which showcases a sampler of the artists’ work, the following galleries are also participating as sponsors or hosts: HQ Gallery, 621 Gallery, Little Art Shop, Benicia Plein Air Gallery, Gallerie Renee Marie, Once Upon a Canvas, Jen Tough Gallery, Happy Life Pottery and Gallery, and Epperson Gallery (in Crockett).

Local businesses are also serving as hosts to artists. Long-time Open Studios host IronHorse Home, located in the Benicia Arsenal on Grant Street and also accessible from Jackson Street, is hosting six artists: painters John “Billy” Selig, Vicki Dennis, Steven Andresen, and Ebba Navas, textile artist Barbetta Lockart, and digital media artist Barb Duvall. In the downtown area, Jennifer Negrete, maker of Eva Knox jewelry, is hosting Grant Kreinberg, photographer, at the Collektive, just off First Street, while Milinda Perry Salon and Gallery, on D Street, just off First Street, is hosting painter Geri Arata. Estey Realty, at the end of First Street near the waterfront, is hosting an eclectic group of artists: photographer Peter Antrim, mixed media sculptor Mark Van Norman, textile artist Alexa Day, jewelry maker Cheri Mendieta, and painter Cherol Ockrassa. Local artist Jerrold Turner, is hosting “DaGroup,” a large group of plein air painters at his home on East L Street. Open Studios catalogs will be available at host locations.

A number of other businesses have served as sponsors to provide support for the event which provides visitors an opportunity to experience not just the artwork but Benicia itself – its many stores, restaurants, taverns and, of course, its gorgeous waterfront location.

Sharing is caring!