Gulfport’s ArtJones Open Studio Tour Celebrates Fifth-Anniversary with Largest Roster of Fine Artists to Date

Fine Arts Collective unveils inaugural scholarship and emerging artist program

Gulfport, FL – The ArtJones Open Studio Tour celebrates its five-year anniversary as a premier artists collective on Florida’s Gulf Coast this December 4-5 with its largest roster of fine artists to date, a growing emphasis on emerging artists and the unveiling of a scholarship designed to welcome underrepresented voices in the arts community. The event has become a must-see on the region’s abundant holiday arts calendar for its intimate look inside the working studios of some of the area’s finest artists.

After a scaled-down version of the showcase event to reflect COVID-19 last winter, the 2021 ArtJones Open Studio Tour returns with 30 fine artists, including four emerging artists and the group’s first ArtJones Scholarship Award recipient. Artists will be spread throughout 12 working artist studios across Gulfport in an event easily navigated by car, bicycle or on foot.

The event takes place on Saturday, December 4th from 10am-5pm and Sunday, December 5th from 11am-4pm.

ArtJones founder Brenda McMahon announced the inaugural ArtJones Scholarship Award during May’s celebration of the two-year anniversary of her namesake gallery on Beach Boulevard and aims to use the annual Studio Tour as a platform to welcome creative emerging artists in the region: “As we celebrate our fifth year at ArtJones, we are thrilled to unveil both our emerging artist program and a new scholarship to give a platform to underserved voices in our arts community. All of these artists are on an ascent in their career and we’re excited to help celebrate and guide them while also giving back to the community,” says McMahon.

The ArtJones Scholarship Award was made possible by the support of local art patrons and Gene Seidman of ARTRA Worldwide.

Fused-glass artist Michelle Ingram is the recipient of the inaugural scholarship: “I am very happy to be the first recipient of the ArtJones Scholarship. It ‘s always exciting for an artist to have their work recognized by their peers and I’m honored to show my glass art in the company of some very amazing artists,” says Ingram.

Of the 30 participating artists in this year’s event, 17 are making their ArtJones debut. Newcomers Esther Aall, Patricia Burrows, Mary Ellen Clagget, Eric Folsom, Janet Folsom, Joshua Gibson, Jack Hill, Denny Howard, Amy Howell, Margaret Foy Meinhart, Molly Rohrer, Paula Roy, Deserie Valloreo, Steve Verenicin, Judith Villavisanos, Curtis Whitwam and the aforementioned Michelle Ingram join ArtJones veteran fine artists Diane Bragg, Larry Busby, Cynthia Dill, Jila Davoodi, Ray Domingo, Doug D’Souza, Berkeley Grimball, Elizabeth Neily, Nancy Poucher, Jack Providenti, Monika Watson, Melissa Zodda and McMahon in a lineup of fine and emerging artists representing nearly all mediums of visual art.

Ceramic artist Esther Aall, one of the group’s new members, is especially eager to share her work in the arts-loving community in Gulfport, saying, “I am thrilled and honored to be invited to partake as a guest artist and display my ceramic creatures in Gulfport for the first time!”

“I have not been this excited about the ArtJones Open Studio Tour since it first began,” concludes McMahon. “Our expansion of the professional artist base, along with our emerging artist program and our new scholarship puts this tour and our professional arts community exactly where I envisioned it 7 years ago when the seed of this idea began taking root.”

For more information on the artists and to download a brochure with a map of this year’s ArtJones Open Studio Tour, please visit ArtJonesStudioTour.com and social media outlets:
Facebook: @WeAreArtJones
Instagram: @ArtJonesGulfportFl

About the organization: ArtJones is an independent artist-run collective. The rotating list of artists is selected by invitation.

Please Direct All Media Inquiries To:
James Briggs
Owner & Creative Director: Carroway + Rose
Briggs@CarrowayRose.com
843/501-9128
@CarrowayRosePR