The Salt Spring Studio Tour

Opening the doors of local artists' studios

Gulf Islands Tourism: porcelain cups made on Salt Spring Island

Porcelain cups by Byungjoo Suh of Odyssey Studio & Gallery

The year 2010 marked the 20th anniversary of the famous Salt Spring Studio Tour. Armed with a user-friendly map and led onward by iconic black sheep signs, visitors have enjoyed following self-directed tours that bring them straight to the heart of artistic activity on the island for more than two decades.

Studios found on Salt Spring create a multitude of fine handmade products, from artisan cheese and bread to ceramics and textiles. The unique blend of island living and contemporary sensibility is underscored by the personal element that comes with meeting the artists in their own workspace.

Studio tour coordinator Vaughn Walters agrees that along with quality crafts, it's the personal part of the experience that most visitors cherish.

"People love to watch the artists work. They can examine the products closely and in many cases learn about the process used. They may even find treasures to take home with them."

The Studio Tour map provides information as to the types of crafts available at 33 participating locations and includes the opening hours for summer, shoulder and winter seasons. Visitors can find candles, clocks, clothing, flowers and plants, wool and other fibres, food, furniture, glass, herbal products, home decor, jewellery, paintings and prints, photography, pottery, quilts, sculpture, textiles, wall art, weaving, wine and wood products.

Outdoor patios give guests the chance to linger over coffee or picnics at Salt Spring Island Cheese or Salt Spring Vineyards. Seekers of further relaxation will be satisfied by Sacred Mountain Lavender and Solace Organic Spa. Countless other locations offer the opportunity to find a meaningful piece of art or even a cute souvenir.

Walters notes, "The studio tour is so popular that 50,000 maps were distributed in 2009. There are visitors coming from all over the world."

Don't expect to be crowded out, however. With the maps placed firmly in their own hands, visitors direct tours according to their individual interests and timelines.

As one recent visitor describes, "For me it is a very intimate island and art adventure . . . I love the real experience, such as a wood turner leaving his lathe behind while the fragrance of wood shavings still hovers in the air, or the splatters of paint on an easel in another artist's conversation."

Salt Spring Studio Tour maps can be found on BC Ferries, the tourist information office and at various marinas and accommodations. Many accommodations will have an onsite copy of the Studio Tour Book, which is available for sale at local book stores. The map can also be downloaded from www.saltspringstudiotour.com.

— Elizabeth Nolan