Five artists members are opening their studios/galleries for the first three weekends in November and December. The hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

The participating locations will be: Kniti Griti Works, 42 Rosalyn Court in Fredonia; Apfel Art Studio, 107 Main Street, in Silver Creek; Portage Hill Art Gallery, 6439 Portage Road in Westfield; Reno Pottery, 6007 Centralia-Hartfield Rd. in Dewittville; and Susan J Gutierrez, 20 W. Third St. Suite 11, in Jamestown.

All will be compliant with state COVID-19 regulations. Visitors should be sure to bring a mask and safe distance!

¯ Kniti Griti Works — Kniti Griti Works reflects the Imagination of artist Marcia Merrins. Footed bowls become a palette for her whimsy as well as beloved personalities.

From Kniti Griti Works by Marcia Merrins in Fredonia.

These bowls instantly capture the viewer’s sense of humor and awe because the carefully designed legs and feet with bowl atop can so closely capture human personality. There’s not a face in sight.

The footed bowls are thematically based on interpretations of popular footwear designs or well known characters. They express attitude without a face. They can be functional, holding practical things, yet quirky. They can be customized so anyone can have their unique footed bowl.

Raku firing and wood firing are two of the most exciting processes in ceramics. The random action of fire on clay produces subtle uniqueness that is only found in nature. You can find delightful animals fired both ways.

In addition, you will find other unique functional works and raku fired pendants.

Marcia Merrins’ studio is a garage bay and her gallery, a garden shed. They are nestled in the lovely woods surrounding her home. You can call anytime at 716-672-4275 or 716-665-1221. Kniti Griti Works web site is knitigritiworks.com

From Kniti Griti Works by Marcia Merrins in Fredonia.

¯ Reno Pottery — We have been working with highly decorated porcelain for about 40 years. It is food safe, dishwasher safe, microwave safe and oven safe. Come and see it all during this Holiday Shopping Event.

Reno Pottery can be reached at 716-753-6464 or via its web site at renopottery.com

¯ Apfel Art Studio — Artist and author, Anne Apfel, works with the creation of digital art to create art prints, books and jewelry. She offers meditation, healing, poetry and children’s books. It is often fun to combine a print with a pair of earrings or a book with a print as a gift. Apfel Art and 2VoicesPublishing works with Artist and Painter, Andrea Piedmonte, the mother of Anne Apfel, using her paintings that are sometimes digitally enhanced to create print options. Originals sold by Andrea Piedmonte. Inquire for information.

Anne studied meditation and healing on the Big Island of Hawaii. Andrea studied at SUNY Geneseo with Richard Beale and with various artists in Europe and America over her lifetime of work. Anne creates Healing Prints of Reiki Symbols that enhance the energy of a room. One of her most popular items are the Reiki Journal and Meditation Journal. Anne also works with clay to create clay face and bead jewelry necklaces that are strung with natural fibers of bamboo or hemp. The printmaking venture started when Anne asked Andrea to allow her to photograph some of her unfinished paintings for book covers. I was fascinated with the many evolutions a painting goes through, and to me the beginning stages of my mother’s paintings were already beautiful pieces of art. I didn’t want to lose them, so I would sneak into her art room, and photograph them.

Former Las Vegas DJ, George Thomas Apfel is in the workroom in the back of the house creating wood frames for the art. You may see Anne’s son Curtis in the workshop as well. Our house elf, here to take flying lessons.

A dish from Reno Pottery.

Apfel Art Studio can be reached at 716-803-9540 or Ganne.apfel@gmail.com

¯ Portage Hill Art Gallery — Portage Hill Art Gallery has been representing the work of many regional artists throughout the year as our mission to support local artists since we opened 38 years ago. That mission continues today. During the fall and winter you will find Donald and Audrey here on Saturdays and for these special event NSAA weekends, you will find us open also on Sunday afternoons for those six weekends of special gift buying fun!

Portage Hill Art Gallery specializes in artwork originals and also has print bins of paintings, mixed media works and photographs. Many of the works at the gallery are based on the regional environment. In addition to the art work hanging on the walls, there are handmade blown glass, jewelry, hand bound journals, wooden pieces, sculptures and lots of pottery from many artists to choose from for unique gift giving. This year the gallery is also adding Portage Hill Gallery “Square” Gift cards to the choice of options for gift giving.

Portage Hill Art Gallery is the home studio of Audrey Kay Dowling. On the premises she creates one of a kind and functional pieces of pottery, hand rubbed and painted block prints and mixed media pieces along with watercolor, gouache and oil paintings. Many options of original vases created by Audrey, block prints of local woodland scenes, mixed media pieces that share her love of the local birds, and abstract and more realistic paintings in watercolor and oils are her specialties for gift giving.

Come and discover how the beautiful environment of woods, creeks, lakes and rolling hills have inspired regional artists! We are located on Route 394, halfway between Mayville and Westfield.

Paintings from Apfel Art Studio.

Portage Hill Art Gallery can be reached at 716-326-4478 or portagehillgallery.com

¯ Susan J Gutierrez Studio “Through my art I try to capture the life and energy that surrounds us in this region. My paintings are a way to share an experience; a recollection; a moment,” Gutierrez said. “I hope that my paintings can be a conduit for viewers to recall a memory or transport them somewhere familiar.”

Offered are hand painted wood jewelry, original regional landscape paintings and framed prints

The studio is located on the second floor above Crown Street Roasting Company.

Susan J Gutierrez can be reached by phone at 969-5741 or susangutierrez.wixsite.com/papercrane

Art from Portage Hill Art Gallery.

North Shore Arts Alliance works on behalf of artists in Chautauqua County. We are home to artists representing painting, photography, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, fiber arts, wood, and mixed media. Visit nsaachautauqua.org and join this vital, vibrant group in your community or call 665-1221 for more information.