Artists and galleries in Barto, Boyertown, and Oley will open their spaces to the public for the fourth annual Fall Into Winter Tour the weekend before Thanksgiving, Nov. 22 and 23. Featured along with fine art and fine craft are two venues offering the artistry of Mother Nature: food and beverage products from the area’s orchards, gardens, and farms.
Participating artists and galleries include the founder of the studio tour Linda Rohrbach Austerberry and her friends Ken Burton, Gail Fronheiser, Joe Hoover, Kathleen Farnsworth, and Angela Colasanti in Barto; in Boyertown, Studio B Fine Art Gallery featuring Bob and Sandy Wood-“New Stuff” in Paint and Clay, Frecon Farms and Other Farm Brewing Company; Dancing Tree Creations Artisans Gallery and Studio showcasing over 200 American fine crafters, Taylor Backes Glass Studio and Gallery, and in Oley, Clay On Main.
The Fall Into Winter Tour was started in 1979 by well-known potter, Boyertown Arts & Activities Alliance member, and former Boyertown art teacher Linda Rohrbach-Austerberry who held an annual open studio at her farm during the weekend before Thanksgiving. In 2010, other artists, studios and galleries became part of her annual event.
The seven stops include gift-able items, fine art, home decor, and local culinary art and beverages. All work is for sale. There will also be special events at several locations; tour-goers are encouraged to visit http://studiobbb.org/fall-into-winter for the latest details, a complete list of participating artists and events, driving directions, and tour map.
New to the tour are Frecon Farms and Other Farm Brewing Company. The Other Farm Brewing Company is a nano-brewery located in the building which once housed the historic Boyertown Brewery, Other Farm Brewing Company is brewing classic beers with hops grown locally offering many brews for distribution in Pennsylvania.
Brendan O’Connor, spokesman for the company notes, “Our beers often work so closely to mother nature that they follow in the footsteps of the annual profile offering taste variations akin to wines and ciders. We’ve sourced our favorite ciders, wines and meads from artisans right here in Southeastern Pennsylvania.”
“It’s an adventure we’ve embarked on by working alongside our family and friends because we believe that connecting good food, great drink and quality community programming will enrich us all in the end,” he continued.
Frecon Farms has been growing some of Pennsylvania’s finest tree fruits since 1944. For 3 generations, the Frecon family has built their lives around providing guests the best fruit and produce, whole foods and fresh-baked goods through our retail store, farmers’ markets, gift baskets and scratch bakery.
During the tour, visitors will receive a ticket at each venue they visit and another ticket with purchase that can be entered into a special drawing for hand-crafted items donated by the participating artists or venues.
“I love how this has grown,” offers Rohrbach-Austerberry. “We have so much fun with this every year, and I’m really looking forward to sharing our work with everyone who stops by.”
Lyn Camella of Dancing Tree Creations Artisans Gallery and Studio suggests, “Finish your holiday shopping early with everything from pottery and glass to paintings and jewelry while supporting the talents of local artists in your communities. “
The hours of the tour are 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Maps of the tour sites are available by e-mail, Facebook, on websites of participating venues, and at participating studios.
