Every year, the Prescott Studio Tour opens its doors to the community, offering a treasure trove of local artworks and artists practicing their craft. But savvy studio tourists always include the “Roughrider Leg” of the tour, where a host of wonders await. Yavapai College’s Visual Arts Department will present a broad palette of creative expression – including artists, demonstrations and more – as part of the Prescott Studio Tour, Friday, October 6 through Sunday, October 8 on YC’s Prescott Campus.

The Prescott Studio Tour is a countywide, open-door celebration of creativity in our community. This year, the free, three-day event will feature 61 artists, 45 private studios and another 30 artists in five separate arts centers – and Yavapai College is thrilled to be one such center.

Just off Sheldon Street, adjacent to Prescott’s historic downtown, Yavapai College will proudly showcase its talented students and instructors across various artistic fields like Ceramics, Metal Sculpture, Jewelry, Lapidary, Woodworking, Woodturning, Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking.

“The Studio Tour is a venue to show off our student work and the community that is working in our art labs,” YC Visual Arts Professor Laura Bloomenstein says. “Students and Instructors will be showing artwork and demonstrating in the ceramics lab between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on all three days of the Tour.”

The ceramics lab is just one of the YC locales that allows patrons to experience the art and the creative process, as well. “My passion for woodturning is an outgrowth of my appreciation for woodworking and the unlimited possibilities of making one-of-a-kind pieces,” says 3D Art Instructor Dean Humphries, who will host woodturning demos every hour of the Tour. “I discovered that turning wood gave me a sense of intrigue because I never knew what mother nature may have given me.  Will the wood grain accept what I’m trying to make? Will the tree give me a unique feature I never saw in the rough form? The possibilities are endless.”

But it’s not just about looking – YC students’ exceptional artwork will be available for purchase, and they'll be demonstrating their techniques throughout the Tour. It's an interactive and educational experience for art lovers of all ages, giving patrons a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship behind each piece.

The Prescott Studio Tour is free, and runs Friday, October 6 to Sunday, October 8, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., at galleries and studios from Prescott to Prescott Valley, Williamson Valley, Paulden, Chino Valley and Dewey. For a full breakdown of events and maps to help plan your tour, please visit the Prescott Studio Tour website at: www.prescottstudiotour.com. For complete information on Yavapai College’s Visual Arts offerings and a schedule of demonstrations, please visit: https://ycvisualarts.com/studio-tour-at-yc.