16 Hands Studio Tour

Contributed by Big Blue Author

Nestled in the hills around Floyd, Virginia is a group of craftsmen you might want to get to know: Ellen Shankin, Brad Warstler, Donna Polseno, Silvie Granatelli, Richard Hensley and Stacy Snyder.

The members of 16 Hands have been friends longer than any of them can remember. In 1998 they got together and started what has become a much-anticipated event in the region, The 16 Hands Studio Tour, occurring twice yearly.  The tour features a wide variety of pottery and woodworking by artists who have distinguished themselves nationally.

These artists have gained notoriety throughout their careers through exhibitions, museum collections, stints teaching at art schools all across the country, and internationally, appearances in literally dozens of exquisite books and publications about American craft and winning 6 National Endowment of the Arts or Virginia Museum grants among them.

The next tour, May 2&3, 2009, has something for everyone. There are many reasons to check it out. If you simply want a good excuse to explore their corner of the Blue Ridge Mountains, or you collect pottery and woodworking and would like to peek into the world of the people who make objects that enrich your life, or maybe you just want an exciting new way to buy some unique gifts, you won’t be disappointed.

It has become common practice with 16Hands to invite artists from around the country to join them for the tour.  “It is wonderful to get to know these creative people who join our tour for the weekend. We host them in our homes and enjoy the opportunity to talk shop and develop friendships.  We get to spend a lot of time around their work, deeply experiencing the beauty of the pieces,” says Ellen.

For the visitor on the tour, it means a chance to see work that has not been exhibited in the region before and an ever changing display to view each time you go. This year their visiting artists are, Mark Shapiro and Sam Taylor who will be traveling down from Massachusetts, Allison McGowan will be coming up from Concord, NC, and Davin Butterfield, a founding member of 16 hands, who married and moved to upstate NY.

With a detailed map from their web site, www.16hands.com, you can wind your way along the scenic drives that connect the studios. Whether riding along the Blue Ridge Parkway or stopping beside the mile long stretch of the Little River, the views and vistas, the woods and meadows are a jump above the mall when it comes to shopping. And there is so much to do in the area. Excellent restaurants and fine B&Bs abound. The Crooked Road highlights a nationally recognized music scene in Floyd with the Friday Night Jamboree at the Country Store, an experience not to be missed.

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