BERKELEY — It’s safe to say that after an uncertain start 27 years ago, the annual Berkeley Artisans Holiday Open Studios is well-established as an option for seasonal shopping in a more personal and human manner.
Visiting the 100 professional artisan workshops and galleries on the free self-guided Open Studios tour is akin to a sight-seeing outing to locations around the city that can be enlightening and engaging, in addition to offering gift or home decorating ideas that can’t be found elsewhere.
The tour brings the public face-to-face with the creators of pieces and the space where they do their work, whether it’s a home studio, a repurposed industrial setting or something in between.
This year’s tour opens on Nov. 25 and 26 and continues from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 17.
Open Studios “presents a unique opportunity to meet the artists, to buy original and creative gifts, and to see working craft studios giving viewers a glimpse into the creative process,” notes Susan Brooks, who has been helping organzie the event since its start in 1991. “Many studios are in the same building or are clustered within walking distance to each other.
This much anticipated, popular event is known for the high quality of the work shown.”
Handcrafted fine art and craft pieces available will include “blown glass, functional, decorative and sculptural ceramics, ornaments, menorahs, painted and custom furniture, garden art, floor cloths, one-of-a-kind clothing, modern textiles for home and body, leather bags, many styles of jewelry, art made of up-cycled materials, sculpture, creative lighting, photography, paintings, original and experimental prints, works on paper, mosaics, stained glass and more.”
Some of the artists and creative spaces also offer classes and workshops.
Brooks recalls that at the time the first tour was being planned in 1991 and the participants of the grassroots effort were trying to get that initial map to press, “The Oakland hills fire began raging on that very Sunday. With black skies, choking air and flickering power, we thought what are we doing, trying to pull this off? We felt sad and discouraged for our community. We were amazed that just five weeks later people came out to look in on the artists, and here we are 27 years later.”
As for what’s ahead, “We are looking forward to the years ahead and the next generations of artisans and collectors — keeping the work of the hand alive and viable as a profession,” Brooks says.
A list of participants and a map are available on-line at www.berkeleyartisans.com. Printed maps and directories can be picked up during the event at all participating locations, or at
Berkeley Artisans, 2547 Eighth St., No. 24a.
