HopArts this weekend

Seventh annual arts tour through Richmond and Hopkinton October 13-14
Rain or Shine, 10 AM - 4 PM

Fabrics at the Carolina Fiber and Fiction Center

By Will Collette

I look forward to HopArts every year. Each year, Hopkinton and Richmond artists organize this weekend excursion that takes you around and about our area to visit the shops and galleries of some terrific local artists.

Regardless of your taste or budget, it's very unlikely that you'll come home empty handed. The tour includes painters, weavers, glass-blowers, potters, woodworkers, jewelry makers whose styles range from high-end serious to whimsical.

Taste is so personal that rather than try to point you toward any particular artist, you should look for yourself by viewing samples of the artists work on the HopArts website.

Pottery with wampum inlay by Brenda Hill

Download a map and plot out your route. You'll see several addresses with numerous artists - those stops are especially productive. For Charlestown residents, one good starting point is the Octagon House in Carolina, home of the Carolina Fiber and Fiction Center where you'll find beautiful fabrics and also get to see the inside of that wonderful house.

New on the tour this year is the House of Two Fires, listed as #1 on the map and the only site located away from the cluster of other artists on the tour. The featured artists at the House of Two Fires are all Native American - Brenda Hill, Dawn and Endawnis Spears. I know Brenda Hill's work as a potter, being the proud owner of one of her pots purchased a couple of years ago.

If we have a nice weekend, this tour is the perfect weekend escape. But even if it's pouring down rain, the HopArts tour is not to be missed.