FM Studio Crawl returns first weekend of October

Mark the first weekend of October on your calendar. It’s the weekend of the Studio Crawl, which takes us all on a wonderful, metro-wide tour of our talented (and often wacky) arts community.

On October 4 and 5, from noon to 6 p.m., more than three dozen working artists open the doors of their studios to the public. You get to see their creative space, their tools and their messes. The artists demonstrate how they do what they do — painters, potters, sculptors, photographers and jewelers. Meet artists who work with wood, fabric, stone and glass.

Always free and open to all, it’s a two day party that’s family-friendly. Each studio is unique, and (at the risk of sounding cliché) the event really does have something for everyone. Kids love the flying sparks and mud, your aunt will appreciate the fine art and it’s a perfect low-pressure date.

At some studios, you can get involved in the process and draw or sculpt or make a glass bead. At other studios, you’ll find cookies or a root beer keg — or a donkey.

Some of the spaces are group studios, like the Indigenous Arts Collaboration in the Plains Art Museum Center for Creativity. Or NDSU’s Renaissance Hall, which houses the School of Design, Architecture, and Art and the PEAR printmaking studio. Over on the Minnesota side, students of MSUM’s School of Art and School of Media Arts and Design will demonstrate what they’re learning alongside the fine art of their nationally recognized faculty.

You’ll need a map to plan your route…and to find out where that donkey lives. The map includes paragraphs from each artist describing their work and studio to help you choose where you might like to go. They’re all very welcoming and encourage you to ask questions. Surprise yourself! Get inspired!

You can find a Studio Crawl map at fmva.org. Or, better yet, find a handy-to-hold printed map at a variety of galleries and businesses around town or from any of the participating artists.