"STUDIOS BY THE SEA"

Believe it or not, Open Studio is only a month away (the first three weekends in October), so break out those comfy shoes and start building up your stamina. The Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County announces that the Calendar/Guide to this year's event (including a handy fold-out map) will be available as of this Friday, September 3, at discerning outlets countywide. Art lovers can take this self-guided tour of artists studios from Davenport to Watsonville on their own, but the truly savvy will pick up the calendar first; the map is essential for plotting a relatively sane course through the 300+ artist's studios on view, and the calendar (with its thumbnails of every single participating artist's work) will make sure you don't overlook someone fabulous.

To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this venerable art event, CCSCC has commissioned an original linocut from printmaker Liz Lyons Friedman to decorate this year's calender cover. No medium is left behind in Liz's gorgeous image, "Studios By the Sea" —painting, drawing, ceramics, pastels, sculpture, printmaking and photography are all included in her vivid and intricate design, along with the sun, the sea, and the redwoods of Santa Cruz County. (And if you know Liz, you can be sure she's got a bunch of grapes and a wine glass in there somewhere!)

Liz's cover image has been made into a commemorative poster, which will also be available as of this Friday ($30 signed and numbered, or $20, unleaded). Check out the CCSCC Open Studio web page for details. Liz will also do a poster signing later in September at the York Gallery, but more about that later.

Out of over 300 artists in this year's event, why was Liz chosen for the Silver Anniversary poster? She's the only artist in the county to have participated in OS every single year since it began in 1986. Talk about intrepid!