The work of an artist is always personal. Their response to the world in which everyone lives, takes a variety of forms: paintings, photographs, ceramics, sculptures, fabrics. Now here is an opportunity to see and visit the personal, and often private, places where artists live and create their work, and get to know the artists themselves.

The North Shore Arts Alliance is pleased to present the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Art Trail Memorial Day weekend (May 24-25) and again May 31-June 1. The CLEAT Weekend Open Studio Tour will feature 25 artists inviting the public into the spaces where they create their works.

Tours take place all four days between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Artists from communities located all along the Lake Erie shore and down to Sherman give visitors a chance to travel the lush scenery and rolling hills of Chautauqua County and beyond.

“CLEAT is hugely important in a lot of ways; first and foremost it creates a coherent and marketable identity for professional artists in our region. It gives artists and the community a unique opportunity to view new and original works of art in the artist’s studio, allowing them to learn about the creative process first-hand,” said CLEAT coordinator and artist Tom Annear.

This year’s tour includes eight new artists. The expanded tour will now open the doors to sculptors, a textile artist and an encaustic painter, in addition to photographers, ceramicists, painters, jewelers, wood turners, stained glass and other mixed media artists.

New artists to get to know are textile artist Cynthia Norton, sculptors Dale Anderson and Kirsten Engstrom and painters Jeremy Daly-Griffen, Robert John Holland, Stephanie Brash, Tim Sivertsen and Al Newman.

During the studio tours, visitors are invited to watch ceramics and jewelry demonstrations, see paintings and drawings in various stages of completion, and again, view the inspirations where artists live and create artwork. Hands-on demonstrations include opportunities to make hand-pulled prints and to manipulate photo film. The studios, many of which are usually only open to visitors by appointment, will welcome visitors throughout each weekend.

In addition to the artist studios, 19 sponsors will have their doors open for guests highlighting more galleries, artful businesses, local attractions and additional dining and lodging options. Visitors will find plenty of places to stop, eat, stay overnight and peruse quaint shops full of unique artifacts.

For a list of participating artists and sponsors, visit www.chautauquaarttrail.com. The site provides images and background information on the artists, a Google map of the studio tour locations, and a downloadable printer-friendly version of the brochure.

Call 679-9254 for more information.

The Chautauqua Lake Erie Art Trail is the signature event of the North Shore Arts Alliance, a not-for-profit co-operative marketing, promotional and membership organization working on behalf of artists in Chautauqua County.

The Arts Alliance seeks to foster an environment where art strengthens Chautauqua County’s image, economic vitality and quality of life.