by Devon Pettengill
This coming weekend, McGinty's Gallery at the End of the World and the Underground Arts Society will host its first Altadena Artists Home Tour, featuring
25+ local artists displaying their work at 11 homes. Tour hours are 10 AM -5 PM Sat., June 26, and 10 AM-3 PM, Sun., June 27.
The tour will feature artists working in all media, including pottery, assemblage, painting, jewelry, mixed media, bookbinding, and photography. Tour tickets are $8 per person, and will go on sale starting Fri., June 25 during the Gala Opening event at the Gallery, 6-10 PM. Tickets may also be purchased throughout the weekend, and include a catalog and a map.
The Gala Opening will also include the start of a silent auction featuring art donated by artists on the tour, which will continue throughout the weekend. Proceeds from the auction will go to support the Gallery and its mission to create a community-based venue for artists and the public to unite in appreciation of art and creativity.
Gallery owner Ben McGinty has hoped to host an artists home tour in Altadena for quite a while, having seen similar events in other cities. He believes having such a tour is important to recognizing the wealth of creative people that make their homes in Altadena. The variety of artists on the tour also reflects Gallery at the End of the World's egalitarian brand of art patronage.
"I think that [tour attendees] will realize that Altadena is a Mecca for artists," McGinty says. "It'll bring awareness that around each corner they're going to be able to find someone who does something really unique and interesting."
The Gallery enrolled artists to participate through an open call on this blog and through word-of-mouth in the community. McGinty hopes to see twice as many homes on the tour next year.
Gallery at the End of the World will be open throughout the tour, 9:30 AM-5 PM on Saturday and 9:30 AM -7PM on Sunday.
You can reach the Gallery at the End of the World at (626) 794-8779.
