2021 Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour
Come to Mountain View in September for the Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour. This free self-guided driving tour showcases the private working studios of artists located within 30 miles of the historic Courthouse square in Mountain View, Arkansas. Now in its 20th year, the tour will take place on September 17, 18 and 19, 2021. On this special weekend over 30 artists in 23 studios offer visitors an up-close and personal look at how and where they create their distinctive pottery, jewelry, painting, photographs, leatherwork, woodwork, furniture, baskets, and much more. Visit with the artists, see work in progress, and purchase locally produced art and crafts directly from the creators on Friday and Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and on Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The tour welcomes 3 new artists in 2 studios this year: Lisa Crews, potter and folk artist; and Doug and Colleen Kraatz, stained glass artists.
Two artists were selected for the 2020 tour which was curtailed by the COVID19 virus. Jeweler Cindy Kopack and leatherworker Janice Clark will be opening their studios to the public for the first time this September.
Returning artists this year are Doris Fountain, primitive folk art; Judi Munn and John Perry, pottery and painting; Ed Alexander, photography and iron furniture; Pam Alexander, jewelry and garden art; Tom and Sage Holland, flame-worked glass beads and sculpture; Owen Rein, furniture and baskets; Mahdee and Peggy Raiees-Dana, woodworking and garden art; Charles and Linda Widmer, jewelry; Liz and Lewie Lloyd, wood and knives; Yun Kim, painting; Mark Moeller, painting; David and Becki Dahlstedt, pottery; Jeanette Larson, weaver; Paul Gillam Jr. and Paul Gillam Sr., woodworking; Maria Smith, flame-worked glass bead jewelry; Joe Bruhin, wood-fired pottery, Blant Hurt, storyteller and booksmith; Freda Cruse Hardison, local historian and author, and Claire Cresco, stained glass.
A free printed Map and Guide to Artists’ Studios will help you travel “off the beaten path” to visit the studios. The Guide is available at the following locations in the tour area:
Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, 409 Vine Street. Hours are 8-5 Monday – Friday. The Guide is also available in the Chamber’s outdoor free literature kiosk.
Batesville Area Arts Council Gallery on Main, 226 E. Main Street. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Friday 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm.
Mountain Home: The Baxter County Library, Hours are Monday – Friday 10 am till 6:30 pm (open Tuesday night until 8 pm); Saturday 10 am till 5 pm; and Sunday 1 to 5 pm.
Calico Rock Heritage and Visitors Center. Hours are Monday through Friday 9 am – 4:30 pm and Saturday 9 am to 4 pm.
Mountain View Area Chamber of Commerce 109 N. Peabody is open 9 am to 5 pm Monday – Friday and will be open on tour weekend Saturday from 9 to 5 and on Sunday from 10 am to noon.
Arkansas Craft School located on the corner of Main and Peabody in Mountain View. Open Friday and Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm on Studio Tour weekend.
Arkansas Craft Gallery, 104 E. Main Street in downtown Mountain View. Hours are 10 am to 5 pm Wednesday through Saturday. The Gallery showcases handcrafted Arkansas art and crafts by members of the Arkansas Craft Guild.
Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas.
Paris Area Chamber of Commerce, Paris, AR. Open Monday thru Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce, Ozark, AR Open Monday thru Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm
Additional locations may be added and will be listed on our Facebook page at facebook.com/offthebeatenpathstudiotour and on our website offthebeatenpathstudiotour.com where you will find information on all the 2021 artists along with an online version of the Guide.
For additional information, call Becki Dahlstedt, tour coordinator, at 870-615-4825 or email becki.dahlstedt@gmail.com.
We look forward to seeing you in September! We’re glad to be back and hope you will join us for this special event.
Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late ’60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit.
Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000.
After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Over the years, Drew has helped the organization meet new marketing goals, such as in- and out-of-state marketing, assuring that all 100,000 copies of their magazines are distributed each year.
In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Drew was featured in several local and statewide publications over the years, as well as the 1997 cover of the Ozark Gateway Region tabloid, along with her then 4-year-old son, Jon. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow.
She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training.
Drew serves on the Arkansas Travel Council Board of Directors, is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs’ current publicity chair.
In March of 2018, Drew was honored with induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry.