Eight local artists in Falmouth will open their private studios to the public on Saturday, November 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as part of the annual Falmouth Open Studio Tour. The event offers residents a rare opportunity to see artists at work in their own creative spaces and discover the vibrant artistic community that exists in their town.
Deena Ball, a landscape painter and organizer of the tour, will be opening the doors of her unique home studio, which consists of two converted horse stables. "It's somewhat different seeing an artist in their own space," said Ball, who will provide painting demonstrations and chat with visitors throughout the day. Guests will have the chance to see her works in progress, browse the shelves full of books that inspire her creations, and experience her artwork in the context where it was made. "There's some texture on some of my watercolors, and I let visitors touch it. I don't think a gallery owner lets them do that," Ball explained.
Ball first organized the studio tour three years ago after participating in a similar event outside Philadelphia. This year's tour features eight artists working across five different studios, with some artists sharing spaces when their individual workspaces aren't suitable for visitors. The participating artists represent diverse mediums, including a woodworker, a potter, and an abstract painter.
Lisa Ferreira Jones is opening her garage studio, called Ember Grove, where she creates custom nature-inspired light fixtures through both metalsmithing and handmaking paper. Now in her third year participating in the studio tour, Ferreira Jones believes that seeing her workspace and tools helps people understand the labor involved in her creations. "I think visitors really get to connect with the story and the process behind it, and that builds on the connection and the sentimental value of buying something that somebody crafted," she said. "You really get the raw, behind-the-scenes process."
On Saturday, Ferreira Jones will demonstrate her papermaking process to visitors, showing how she embeds Maine botanicals that she has harvested by hand into the paper slurry. Meanwhile, portrait and documentary photographer Tricia Toms will welcome visitors into her home studio, where they can pose in front of a small set and view a sampling of her work. Toms, who typically takes portraits across locations in southern Maine, is also offering a raffle for $300 worth of her photography work, with all proceeds supporting the Falmouth Food Pantry.
"I want the whole visit to be interactive. I want people to feel comfortable touching and looking at the artwork. I want them to meet me. I want them to support the food pantry," said Toms. The photographer emphasizes the community aspect of the event, noting how it helps residents discover local talent. "Some people discovered, 'Oh, we didn't know there was a photographer in our community,'" she explained.
The tour serves multiple purposes for both artists and the community. For artists, it's an opportunity to showcase their work and let residents know about local creative services available right in their neighborhood. "We're really trying to get the word out about the arts and fine craft community, and letting the local community know that we're here, and you can support us, support your neighbors, and also just to bring awareness that the arts are here," said Ferreira Jones.
Beyond promoting local business, the event strengthens community connections and builds pride in Falmouth's creative scene. "I think that some of it's a source of community pride, in a way. We have all these people doing these cool things that live here," Ball observed. The personal interactions between artists and visitors create lasting impressions on both sides. "I took away more than I gave, in a weird way. Meeting so many people is so gratifying," Toms reflected. "It's just so nice to just meet people and share the love. I mean, art is such a unifier."
While Falmouth might not be widely recognized as an artist community, local creatives are actively working in barns, garages, and living rooms throughout the town. The Open Studio Tour reveals this hidden creative network and provides a platform for artists who typically work alone or occasionally with clients to connect with their neighbors and potential customers.
Those interested in participating in the Falmouth Open Studio Tour can use the provided map with addresses to all participating studios or look for blue and white balloons outside studios on Saturday. For questions about the event, residents can email Deena Ball at deena@deenasball.com.
