BRATTLEBORO — Where can you go to see blown glass, woodworking, ceramics, circus, dance, painting, music, food, film, furniture, garden sculpture, jewelry, books, bodywork, jams, candles and more, all under one roof?
This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Nov. 30 through Dec. 2, a self-described “mad gang” of artists, musicians, bakers, cooks, circus performers, and craftspeople of the Cotton Mill open their studio doors for the 11th annual Open Studio event.
This celebration features the work of many artists and artisans, and promises something of interest for all ages. Visitors can meet the artisans in their studios, score beautifully handcrafted gifts for the holiday season, and enjoy live music, entertainment and demonstrations.
Parking and admission are free.
“The great feature redeeming feature of this tour is [that] everything is right here in the Cotton Mill,” says ceramic artist Natalie Blake of Fulcrum Arts. “Unlike almost every other craft tour, when you get to see the insides of artisan studios you do not have to burn a lot of fossil fuel going all over the countryside checking them out.”
The old factory space of the Cotton Mill, with its labyrinthine halls, can sometimes be a little daunting to newcomers. So this year, the tour is providing a welcome center, next to the parking lot at the loading dock and festooned with Christmas lights, to help visitors find their way and make the most of the weekend's offerings.
Many craftspeople will have their fine works on display, including Greg Goodman's impeccably crafted custom furniture, James Takaki's fine ornamental metal sculpture, and T. Breeze Verdant's rare-wood marquetry.
Visitors can also see and buy extraordinary blown glass by Randi Solin, Natalie Blake's beautiful tile seconds, and Stephen Proctor's large-scale stoneware vessels.
Then there are finds that one might not expect on a craft tour, such as Venus of Vermont's cosmetic potions and Michael Poster's documentary photography projects.
Visitors also can enjoy live music at the Vermont Jazz Center, or film magic by Mutsu Crispin and the Center for Digital Art.
Weary after a day of wandering? Massage therapist Rachelle Ackerman will be on hand to flex visitors back into shape, with donations going to Hunger Free Vermont.
At New England Center for Circus Arts, visitors can follow how circus performers learn their craft, thanks to a concise and free instruction. As well, down the hall is Luminz Studio, where visitors can take a free dance class.
Then there's the food. Visitors can taste delicious granola at True North and the delightful jams and jellies of Side Hill Farms. Big Picture Farm will offer goat dairy, and farmstead confections.
Looking for a more substantial meal? It'll be Robin Scudder and her gourmet lunch wagon to the rescue.
According to Natalie Blake, each of the three days of the sale, beginning at 10 a.m., will deliver a different flavor.
• Friday, until 7 p.m., is career day, when the public - and particularly high school students - are invited to observe craftsmen at work, and get a glimpse of how they operate a small business.
• Saturday is what Blake calls the “bang up” day, with enormous crowds exploring the Cotton Mill until 6 p.m.
• Sunday will be quieter, she said, but there will be more time to get to talk privately with the shops' owners and watch their craft demonstrations until 5 p.m.
Blake says that the Cotton Mill, which is owned by the Brattleboro Development Credit Corp., began as a haven for artisans over a decade ago when Randi Solin opened Fulcum Arts there.
“When others saw her energy to make it happen, they figured it was all right to move there,” says Natalie Blake. “In fact, the open tour became an extension of Solin's open house days at her store, when other business thought it would be a great time to tag along.
“This is a tenant-driven event. We all get together for this annual affair. I am helping with the marketing. Other are doing things like designing the website or making sure the flow through the building works well.”
Blake said that a big difference in the Cotton Mill tour “is that we have expanded the horizon of what can be on an open studio. There is so much going on. There is going to be a very wide variety of events, and great food too. We want the community to know who we are and what we do here.”