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Art Trail offers Labor Day weekend ‘journey’

The Chautauqua-Lake Erie Art Trail returns Labor Day weekend, Saturday, Sept. 5, and Sunday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore Chautauqua County while meeting artists in their studios, galleries and special hub locations.

Marcia Merrins, President of the North Shore Arts Alliance, commented, "Chautauqua County is home to seasoned professionals, skilled artisans and talented craftspeople who draw inspiration from the natural beauty that surrounds them. Our thriving arts events are not only well attended, but also make a significant contribution to the local economy."

Presented by the North Shore Arts Alliance (NSAA), the self-guided driving tour gives artists the opportunity to open their studios to the public or exhibit their work in galleries and non-traditional venues. Visitors can discover handcrafted artwork, meet the people who create it, and learn about the inspiration and techniques behind the work.

"After 13 years on the art trail, the excitement never fades. My Busti studio, surrounded by nature and filled with light, is where I create vibrant, layered works that combine abstract landscapes with collage, vintage ephemera and unexpected elements. I'm grateful for every commission, exhibition, friendship and new opportunity that continues to make this artistic journey so rewarding." said Art Trail Artist Nancy Nixon Ensign.

The Art Trail has become an important contributor to regional tourism and the local economy, attracting visitors from throughout New York State, neighboring Pennsylvania and beyond. In 2025, nearly 14 percent of visitors came from outside New York State. Overall attendance increased 20 percent in 2025, while out-of-state attendance rose 21 percent.

The Trail stretches across a wide geographic area, with participating artists from Jamestown to Sherman and Kennedy to Fredonia. While Chautauqua County is well known for destinations such as Chautauqua Institution, many visitors are drawn specifically to the Art Trail because of its accessibility and the opportunity to interact directly with artists.

To encourage visitors to explore more stops -- particularly working studios -- the NSAA has introduced an Art Trail Passport. Passports are available at any Art Trail location, and visitors collect stamps as they travel from stop to stop. Completed passports may be entered into a drawing for gift certificates redeemable for artwork from participating artists. Visitors who have a partially completed passport from the Memorial Day Art Trail are encouraged to bring it along for the Labor Day weekend event. The passport program grew by 24 percent from 2024 to 2025.

The Art Trail also features a network of hubs, making it possible for visitors to meet several artists at a single location. Hubs may be indoors or outdoors and are hosted through partnerships with artists and community organizations. One example is the Bemus Point Library, which provides outdoor space for artists to exhibit while receiving promotional support in return.

This year marks the largest Art Trail yet, with 16 stops featuring 36 artists. The interactive online map, also available in print, includes locations, artist profiles, images and links to artists' websites. QR-code access makes it easy for visitors to find information while traveling the Trail and provides artists with visibility beyond the two annual Art Trail weekends.

Labor Day weekend hubs and participating locations include:

— Fredonia: Thomas Annear and Tom Janik at Thomas Annear Art Studio; Waldo Latimer at Walter Latimer Art Studio; and Marcia Merrins, Ronnie Lafferty, Larissa McConnell and June Burns at Kniti Griti Works Studio; and Sandra Maggio at Sandra Maggio Studio

— Portland: Patrick Stokes, Seri Beeson, Sarah Brown, Brian Millspaw, and Karen Taverna at 21 Brix Winery.

— Lily Dale: D’Arsie Mae, and Gaia Woolf-Nightinall at Sacred Ground Coffee House

— Westfield: Audrey Kay Dowling, David Gregor, Myriam Mayshark,Tim Sivertsen at Portage Hill Art Gallery.

— Dewittville: Jim and Pat Reno at Reno Pottery.

— Mayville: John Gerber, Nancy Wehr, Hank Gerber at The Sheep Barn.

— Chautauqua: Cynthia Norton at Cynthia Norton Studio.

— Sherman: Peter Hamilton at LMNOP Gallery.

— Bemus Point: Jackie Damore and Lisa Summerfield at the Bemus Point Library.

— Kennedy: Janet Mandel at Janet Mandel Art Studio.

— Jamestown: Susan Gutierrez, Terry Lair, Carrie Sheffield, and Katherine Kepner at Key Bank Art House at Edgewater, and Nancy Nixon Ensign at Nancy Nixon Ensign Studio.

The NSAA currently has 104 members and is guided by an all-volunteer Board of Directors whose members bring experience in the arts, education, design, curation, accounting and communications. Artists promote the Art Trail through social media, community outreach and local partnerships, complemented by regional advertising and on-site signage.

The organization's goals are to increase attendance during both Art Trail weekends, boost artist sales, encourage budding artists and strengthen regional tourism by encouraging visitors to spend additional time -- potentially overnight -- in Chautauqua County.

The Chautauqua-Lake Erie Art Trail is more than a studio tour. It invites visitors to explore the county, meet artists, discover new communities, and take home one-of-a-kind treasures created with the very hands of the people they meet along the way.

For more information, artist images, locations and the interactive map to help plan your route, visit https://www.nsaachautauqua.org/art-trail.html online.