Bucks County Artists Open Doors to Students to Educate, Inspire and Impact

DOYLESTOWN, PA, April 30, 2011 (Press-News.org) Elephant's Eye Bucks County Artist Studio Tour, has begun preparation for its fourth annual tour and Education Day in 2011. Each year, Elephant's Eye kicks off the tour with a preview day that welcomes middle school, high school, and college student groups to tour the nationally and internationally acclaimed artists' studios. They have the opportunity to interact directly with the artists through hands-on experience, dialog and demonstrations. In 2011, Education Day will be held on Friday, May 13.

Over two weekends in May, a selection of Bucks County, Pa.'s contemporary artists open their studio doors to the public. The tour showcases two- and three-dimensional work in various media, including oil paintings, photographs, sculpture, pottery, turned wood and more. This year, the tour is open to the public over the weekends of May 14-15 and May 21-22.
In 2010, the tour hosted over 200 students from 10 schools. The tour hopes to expand its outreach in 2011 by inviting additional groups from underserved school districts. Generous public funding will greatly influence their ability to provide bus transportation for these students.

The educational aspect of studio visitation is at the foundation of Elephant's Eye founder, Lisa Naples' vision. "I want the tour to give the sort of access to enthusiastic, established artists that I longed for as an art student when my creative energies were just budding," said Naples. "These experiences can really launch a lifelong love for art."

Education Day provides the rare opportunity for students to experience the "behind the scenes" work of contemporary Bucks County artists. The program is organized by one of the tour's artists, John McDevitt.

McDevitt, a metal sculptor whose studio is located in New Hope, Pa., said, "I'm encouraged by the student's rapt stares while I demonstrate how I work with steel and other metals in my art. Their enthusiasm and interest is really what Elephant's Eye is all about."

The following artists are slated to participate in the 2011 Tour: ceramic artist Lisa Naples, photographers Michael A. Smith and Paula Chamlee, wood turner David Ellsworth, bead artist Wendy Ellsworth, collage artist Stacy Speer Scott, painter Alex Cohen, metal sculptor John McDevitt, sculptor Lewis Pruitt, abstract painter Pat Martin, Deborah Bruns-Thomas who makes works on paper as well as lighting, and the multifaceted artist Devin Bird.

While collectors have the opportunity to buy artwork directly from artists during the tour, the experience of Elephant's Eye is foremost aimed at art education. To make a donation, please visit http://www.elephantseyetour.org and click on "support the tour" or call 215-340-0964 for more information.