Great Escape: Coastside Open Studios

This Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. from off Highway 92 through Half Moon Bay up Highway 1 to Miramar, El Granada and Moss Beach to Montara, 12 artists will open their studios to the public, featuring the work of more than 20 Coastside artists, a collaboration of The Colony of Coastside Artists (CoCA).

This second annual Open Studios Tour on the Coastside offers visitors an opportunity to see the artists in their studio environments, providing explanations and demonstrations of their materials and art process. Organized by the Colony of Coastside Artists (CoCA), the Open Studios Tour also allows the public to purchase art directly from the artists. 

Ellen Silva, muralist and fine artist, is looking forward to her first year participating in the event.

“I’ve been an artist for 30 years so this is a nice way to celebrate my 30-year anniversary as an artist,” said Silva, an El Granada resident who works in schools with children working on mural projects. “I am also looking forward to meeting more people in my community and having friends and family come to see me in my studio, which is also my home, and see what I’ve been working on right now.”

Pacifica artist Stephanie Hamilton, showing her jewelry at painter Nicole Keating’s studio in Half Moon Bay, says this is her first time partipciating in Open Studios. She plans to work on some designs during the event and does “a fair amount of custom work and am happy to design something perfect for someone,” she said.

Hamilton also hopes the exposure will inspire the public to “fall in love with the lightness and joy of my designs,” she said. When asked why people should visit her at Open Studios this weekend, she answers: “Sparkling drinks, sparkling jewelry, and sparkling company.”

Three of CoCA members will also concurrently participate in the 11th Gathering of Women Artists this weekend along with Open Studios.

"Chris Pritchard and I started the Gathering of Women Artists group years ago with our two daughters Leah and Niki, then 14, as a place for many of us here on the coast to show our work," said Montara artist Tracey Walsh, who organizes the group's event each year.

"Our daughters have continued to show with us as their lives as adults have permitted. Niki, Chris's daughter, is showing with us this time. She is a gifted jeweler like her mom."

By participating in Open Studios, it's "our hope to share with the community the range of excellent art being created right here on the Coast," said Walsh. "Visitors should make themselves at home as they visit the studios. We hope people stay and have a cup of tea and visit with us."

Each year Walsh says she finds herself very thankful after the event:
"So many amazing people come to our door. Just a reminder of why we love living on the Coast, a community of creativity and art — a wonderful combination!"

Here’s a list of locations, directions and days for this weekend’s Open Studios Tour. Total round-trip driving time to every studio listed is less than one hour. See the map here. 

A • Half Moon Bay Art Glass Studio of Douglass Brown

La Nebbia Winery

12341 San Mateo Rd (Highway 92) Half Moon Bay 94019

B • Studio of Deborah Brown-Penrose

751 Kelly Street, Half Moon Bay 94019
Also see the work of Jennifer Clark
The studio is at the corner of Kelly and Johnston,  one block east of Main Street, downtown HMB.
     
C • Studio of Chris Ridgway (Saturday only) 
670 Poplar St., Half Moon Bay 94019
Also see the work of Thom Goodson and Jane Lewis 

D • Studio of Laura McHugh
285 Poplar St., Half Moon Bay 94019
Also see the work of Nancy Struck, Patt Sheldon (Saturday and Sunday) and Kristine Wong (Sunday only)

E • Studio of Nicole Keating
413 Kelly Ave. Half Moon Bay 94019
Also see the work of Stephanie Hamilton

F • Studio of Carl Mehler
712 Toulouse Court, Frenchman’s Creek, Half Moon Bay 94019
To reach Frenchman's Creek from HMB, turn North on coastal Highway 1.  
Take a right turn onto Ruisseau Francais Ave. 
Then turn left onto Touraine Lane and take the second right onto Toulouse Court. 

G • Studio of Carla Brooke
426 2nd Ave., Miramar
Also see the work of Roberta Gelt on Saturday only

H • Studio of Ellen Silva
464 The Alameda, El Granada
To reach El Granada studios, continue North on Highway 1 to Coronado Ave.  
Turn right at the light, proceed to The Alhambra, turn left and continue to Balboa. Turn right on Balboa, go two streets, then right on The Alameda. Third two-story duplex on the right, 464 The Alameda. Go through 2 gates, it's on the ground floor.

I • Studio of Denise Rabius Wehtje
106 Navarra Ave. El Granada
Also see the work of Julie Buelteman
Home Studio Directions:  From Princeton Harbor (Highway 1 and Capistrano stoplight), head east.  
Take Carmel Avenue to the top where it dead ends at San Juan Ave.  
Turn left on San Juan. Park on Navarra at the San Juan intersection.

J • A. Cain Warm Glass
Studio of Aileen Cain
730 Kelmore St., Moss Beach
Also see the work of Ann Hurley
Once in Moss Beach, turn east on California Ave and proceed through 2 stop signs.   Kelmore Street will be the next street.  Take a left and I am the second driveway on the left.

K • Studio of Tracey Walsh and the Gathering of Women Artists (Saturday only ~ 10-4)
565 5th St.  (at La Conte) Montara     
Also see the work of Chris Pritchard , Kristina Lisper, Kathleen Smith, Niki Pritchard–Bell, Karin Fay, Wendy Rotchstein, Stephanie Erskine
 To reach 5th St. turn into Montara from Hwy 1 on to Main St. Turn right (east) off of Main on to Fifth St. 565 is on the left side of the street…up 3 blocks.

L • B. L. Photography
 1168 Date St., Montara
Also see the work of Kathy Watts, Kristina Lisper, Connie Andrews, Linda Theroff
To reach Date St, continue North to Montara on Highway 1.  Turn right onto 2nd St. (across from La Costanera).  Turn right onto Farallone Ave. and then turn left onto 3rd St. 3rd St. becomes Kanoff Ave. Kanoff becomes George St.  Turn left onto Date St. and 1168 is on the left.