April Knox was living in Indiana and working as an artist when she participated in a type of art show she hadn’t heard of before.
“It was called the ‘Rural Studio Art Tour,’” Knox said, describing an event in which artists opened their studios for people to visit and observe them working. “It was a fabulous way of networking with the community and getting artists exposure,” she continued, adding that it offered an avenue outside of galleries for displaying work. “People like to come in and see what you’re working on.”
Since moving to Alaska a dozen years ago, Knox has harbored the idea of doing something similar in Fairbanks. Now, in tandem with Alyssa Petit, art director and community manager for Fairbanks Brand Studio, she’s making it happen for the first time. The Fairbanks Art Studio Tour will take place May 2–4, and Petit, who has been handling the organizational end, couldn’t be more enthusiastic.
“I was so excited when April reached out,” Petit said, adding that those who buy tickets for the event will be able to “go see where artists do it. Go see their process, invest in the artist. I’m very thankful to be working with April on this.”
The two women have been planning the studio tour since November, when Knox approached Petit about creating an event that would allow Fairbanks art patrons a chance to drive around town and to outlying areas, meet different artists personally, observe how they create their work, and view pieces ranging from paintings to thread design, glass art, pottery, and more.
“It’s a self-guided tour,” Knox explained, saying there will be signs posted at each studio so visitors can easily find them. “People can go around and visit the artists and buy our work if they want to, or just make connections.”
The Fairbanks Art Studio Tour kicks off from 5–10 p.m. Friday with a First Friday event at Gather, a downtown community space operated by Fairbanks Brand Studio. Works by all participating artists will be on display, with contributors who don’t have openings elsewhere around town present to meet the public. “It will basically just be like a celebration,” Knox said. The First Friday portion will be free for all who wish to drop in.
Over the next two days, those who buy tickets — either online or at the First Friday opening — will have the opportunity to visit studios in town and in surrounding areas spanning from Moose Mountain to Two Rivers. West-end studios will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, while east-side studios will welcome visitors Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Studios in Fairbanks proper will be open both days.
General admission for the tour is $50. VIP packages are priced at $75. Children 12 and younger can attend for $15. All attendees will receive lanyards, a tote bag, and a map of the open studios. VIP participants will also receive gift cards, greeting cards, stickers from the participating artists, and a free drink sponsored by HooDoo Brewing Company. There will also be a raffle for original artworks from four artists. General admission passholders will receive one raffle ticket, while VIP ticket holders will receive five.
Knox and Petit’s friendship dates back to when Petit first saw Knox’s paintings at 2 Street Gallery and was immediately impressed. She invited Knox to plan something for Gather. Knox taught an oil painting class there and pitched the idea of a studio tour.
“I just threw it out there,” Knox said. She told them, “This is something that I think Fairbanks would love, and I’ve really been trying to get it going. But I’m a painter and I need to spend most of my time painting.”
For Petit, originally from Kansas, Knox’s idea aligned perfectly with her vision of what Gather can offer Fairbanks. “April had so many great ideas and saw the space how I see it, as an opportunity to do cool things like this,” she said. “We’re very community-oriented and really want to do what’s best for our community while being sustainable as a business.”
Petit’s background is in assisting people with graphic design and management, helping them fully realize their ideas by creating broad-scale brand identity. “Instead of just a logo,” she said, “it’s everything behind it too.” This is what she brought to Fairbanks Brand Studio when she was hired by Isaiah Mangum, its founder and creative director.
She described Fairbanks Brand Studio as an “ecosystem of brands” that works through a variety of platforms, including Gather and Fairbanks Made, which sells locally designed and printed apparel and stickers. The studio also operates the fairbanksalaska.com website.
For Knox, Petit’s experience was the perfect fit for her vision. “Alyssa’s been the one doing all of the heavy lifting with creating all the material,” she said. “I mean, we both worked hard with contacting artists, but she’s been the one organizing everything.”
The two reached out to over 40 artists they know, and 16 were able to participate this year. Joining the tour is free for the featured artists, with ticket sales covering printing, promotion, and other operational expenses. “Artists are free to sell their work without having to pay a commission to anyone,” Knox said.
Both Knox and Petit hope to make the Fairbanks Art Studio Tour an annual event, with an application process open to all artists interested in participating. “There are people who want to do it next year,” Knox said. “This is something that artists want to do. And they also believe in what we’re doing.”
The Fairbanks Art Studio Tour takes place May 2–4. Tickets can be purchased online at fairbanksalaska.com/artstudiotour or during the First Friday opening from 5–10 p.m. at Gather, 714 Third Ave.
David James is a freelance writer who lives in Fairbanks. He can be emailed at nobugsinak@gmail.com.
