Did you know there are artists living among us? On Saturday, Sept. 7, ten artists throughout Issaquah will be opening their home studios to the public in Issaquah’s first Open Studio Tour. Organized by Ali Marcus of Happy Time Studio, the goal of the tour is to connect artists and art enthusiasts. “Let’s get to know our neighbors, show some support, inspire, and be inspired,” shared Ali.
The driving tour will take you throughout the Issaquah community, and lead you to experience a variety of types of art and learn about the artists’ processes. Two stops on the tour are in Issaquah Highlands. The Open Studio Tour is funded by the Issaquah Arts Commission and 4Culture.
Katie Weaver is an acrylic painter with a home studio in the Daphne Park neighborhood. Inspired by the nature around her, she paints using stamps, stencils and brushes. Fun fact: Katie usually creates sets of two paintings likely because she has an identical twin! Visit Katie’s home studio during the tour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to see her art, talk about her creative process, and stamp your own notecard to take home! She’ll also be selling a selection of original works, and everyone who visits gets a notecard featuring an original print of one of her paintings to take with them (in addition to the one you make)!
Get a sneak peak of Katie’s work on her Instagram.
John Riziki is a singer-songwriter living in the Kirk Park neighborhood of Issaquah Highlands. You may have seen John at one of the Issaquah Highlands Open Mic Nights, playing at this year’s Juneteenth Market at Blakely Hall, or sharing his voice at other venues around town. John’s songs, performed while he plays the acoustic guitar, are meaningful and full of feeling. He’ll be performing on his porch during the Open Studio Tour from 12-4 p.m., so be sure to stop by for a listen!
Follow John on Spotify.
In addition to Katie and John, if you follow the tour around the greater Issaquah area, you can visit with Woodturner David Lutrick, Storyteller Divya Rajan, Glass and Sculpture Artist, Linda Schnell. Also on the tour you’ll see Clown, Mick Holsbeke, Visual Artist (with public art throughout Issaquah Highlands) Milenko Matanovic, Painter, Norman Elder, Fiber Artist Sarah Polster Tribble and Visual Artist Sonali Bhasin.
If you visit at least 5 of the artists during the Open Studio Tour, you can enter to win a $500 raffle prize! Each artist will give you a secret code, and to enter the raffle just email at least five codes to the organizer by 11pm Sunday. The prize is a gift certificate to an independent music or art retailer to get supplies to help you create your own art! Learn more at https://www.happytimestudio.com/raffleprize.
I’m looking forward to seeing all the studios on the tour and hope to see you there!
Lily Pinkston is a Wisteria Park resident, ninth grader at Issaquah High School, member of the HY Board, and an art enthusiast.
