Beginning Jan. 12, the five-day Arts to Zion Art and Studio tour will offer an up-close introduction to artists and their work processes at more than 20 studio and gallery locations throughout southern Utah.
This year, more than 60 artists are expected to participate in the tour, taking art enthusiasts through galleries, museums, and artist studios for the purpose of viewing art and interacting with featured artists. Locations are open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day with special events in participating communities. Featured hubs include St. George, Springdale, Kayenta, and Leeds.
“The tour circuit is designed to connect the various artist hubs throughout southern Utah and to offer a unique opportunity for participants to observe and interact with artists, learn about their creative processes, and to be enriched and inspired,” said Bobbi Wan-kier, Arts to Zion founder and board chair. “We are thrilled that nearly all of the galleries in Washington County are participating, making this year’s tour a lively opportunity for art enthusiasts.”
Pairing live music and festivities lends to this year’s theme, “The Sounds of Art.” In St. George, opening night features Dixie State University art students paired with live jazz at the DiFiore Center from 7 to 10 p.m. Jan. 13 features the Art on Main/St. George Gallery Stroll from 6 to 9 p.m. On Jan. 14 in Springdale, afterhours festivities include live music and a gallery stroll with appetizers served to ticketholders at 9EAST, Café Soleil, and Zion Brew Pub from 4 to 8 p.m. Jan. 15 features a fine art and music walk between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Kayenta Art Village. On Jan. 16, the Silver Reef Museum offers plein air artists and live music from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be musicians and book signings involving the history of the region at this location.
“Each special event adds a festive, cultural element to the tour,” said Melynda Thorpe, tour publicity manager and Arts to Zion board member. “We hope all art enthusiasts, students, and appreciators will step out and take advantage of this significant opportunity to support local artists and experience firsthand the enrichment that art and music add to our lives and communities.”
Tickets to the tour are $10 and may be purchased at Gallery 35 in St. George, Juniper Sky Gallery in Kayenta, Silver Reef Museum in Leeds, and the Zion Canyon Visitor’s Center. Tickets are required for the full tour experience and include a punch card marked by visiting tour locations. Completed punch cards qualify ticketholders for prize drawings including overnight stays at local hotels like Crescent Moon Inn in Kayenta or Best Western Coral Hills in St. George.
The tour map and a schedule of events are available online at artstozion.com. Additionally, each participating artist will contribute a work for sale or silent auction on display at Gallery 35. Auction and sale items close Jan. 16 at 3 p.m.
Arts to Zion is an arts advocacy organization established in 2012 and committed to providing experiential art events within southern Utah that are both arts-centered and culturally-based. This year’s event celebrates the sixth consecutive year of the Arts to Zion Art and Studio Tour in southern Utah. All operations, administration, and supplies for the tour are supported by ticket sales and a portion of the silent auction proceeds.
The purpose of Arts to Zion is to facilitate plein air events, studio tours, and cultural events such as historical lectures, musical performances, literary events, and arts-related film screenings and to make cultural events accessible to the local community and tourists by providing maps and online services, recommending museums, and providing gallery display opportunities for local artists.
The Arts to Zion Showcase at Gallery 35 is located at 35 N. Main St. in St. George. A complete schedule of tour events and information about purchasing Arts to Zion Studio Tour tickets are available at artstozion.com, by calling (435) 216-2651, or at one of the ticket sales locations.
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