Painter Linda Rinearson remembers the first customers who bought her creations years ago: A young couple moving into a new home and a father and his 9-year-old daughter seeking a Mother’s Day present. The Newton resident said she hopes her work still makes them happy as she looks forward to meeting more art lovers at the 26th-annual Newton Open Studios on April 29-30.
Rinearson is one of 138 artists who will be participating in the event this year — an impressive number compared to 2022, when 80 people took part. “That’s a dramatic increase,” said Claudia Fiks, director of Newton Open Studios. “People are energized, excited.” Yet it is still fewer than the 150 artists who showed their pieces pre-pandemic in 2019.
Last year the multi-location event was held in June so more exhibits could be held outdoors to ease fears about Covid.
“It was a transition year,” said Fiks.
Rinearson, who will be showing her work at The Neighborhood Club, a group space located at 24 Berkeley Street, said she is “almost giddy” with anticipation to see friends and regular customers as well as meet new art enthusiasts.
Both Fiks and Rinearson said the two-day event is a great chance for first-time shoppers to own original works of art as well as hand-crafted, functional objects like mugs, vases, jewelry and more.
“The prices are more reasonable at Open Studios,” said Rinearson, a watercolorist who is featuring images of French rooftops this year.
“You can buy things at Newton Open Studios that nobody else in the entire universe has,” said Fiks.
Focus on the artist
Fiks, who has been Open Studios co-director since 2017, is the sole director this year after longtime leader Ellen Fisher stepped down.
Fiks said she is excited “to see some artists who are coming back to Newton Open Studios … and new artists” this year who are using a wide range of media.
In addition to the weekend event, there are ongoing exhibits featuring Open Studios creators through the end of April at both City Hall (1000 Commonwealth Avenue) and NewTV (23 Needham Street).
Focusing on helping new and established artists, Newton Open Studios has offered professional development workshops on how to create an artist’s statement, navigate social media, and organize exhibits, among other topics.
Fiks said the exhibits and workshops are part of the efforts to help those who make their livings as artists, as well as make their creations more accessible to the public.
For example, since February the Open Studios has featured one artist on Instagram each Friday who has been challenged to create five pieces that are each under $500.
That effort is “part of lowering the barrier for people to start buying art,” said Fiks.
Finally, the public can view the work of Open Studios artist Julia Cseko, who received a Newton Cultural Council grant to create an installation at City Hall this month, according to Fiks.
Newton Open Studios will take place April 29-30, from 11AM to 5PM each day at various locations throughout the city. Visit NewtonOpenStudios.org for an interactive map of showing all locations, as well as lists of artists by name, by genre, and by media.
