RAAC’s 18th Annual Fall Art Tour: Combining the Best of the Old and New
Rappahannock County’s talented artists are busy creating new artwork in a wide range of genres for this year’s Fall Art Tour, November 4th and 5th, 10 am – 5 pm.
Visitors will enjoy four new studio artists as well as their long-time favorites. There is much to be excited about in this 18th year with the joining of the best of the old and new features of the always fantastic Tour weekend!
Return of the Main Tour Gallery!
This year the impressive gallery display returns to the Washington School after a 3-year hiatus. Representative artworks from the 28 studios and 8 galleries on the Tour will be displayed together in all their colorful glory. The Headquarters Gallery used to be the event’s starting point to pay admission and receive a map for the self-guided Tour. This year, admission is free and maps and information are available at the door and in advance on the Fall Art Tour website.
The Tour Gallery will serve as the ideal place for both first-timers and seasoned Tour-goers to view the skill and creativity of Rappahannock’s fine artists before making the rounds of individual studios and galleries. The remarkable breadth and depth of the local artists’ work will be on full display with paintings in all genres and mediums, furniture, drawings and engravings, sculpture, stained glass, ceramics, mosaics, photography, printmaking, woodworking, jewelry, bookbinding, and glasswork.
In addition, the collaborative works of talented student artists will be displayed on the walls as in prior years. Art teachers and their students in four county schools have produced extraordinary creative works that give pleasure to visitors from near and far. The comprehensive Gallery display will certainly be welcomed back as a visible celebration of the importance of the fine arts and the connections they make throughout our entire community and beyond.
Highlights of the Self-guided Tour
The Tour will have 36 studios and galleries, featuring more than 80 local artists, with four new artist studios. Look for the profiles of the new artists in an upcoming October issue of the RappNews, and upcoming Tour newsletters! The fact that new artists join the Tour each year is a testament to the robust and growing artist community in Rappahannock. It is a rare treat to be invited into the studios of Tour artists to see where they work and to learn about their creative process. It is also meaningful to have an opportunity to take home a piece of art with an understanding of the artist’s inspiration and technique.
Art Tour Website and Newsletter
During the pandemic, RAAC developed a Tour website with an attractive and user-friendly gallery presentation. Many of the 1000+ Tour visitors have used this site to acquaint themselves with participating artists and their work and to plan their self-guided tour in advance. Artists and galleries have reported that this has made for large weekend crowds of informed and enthusiastic visitors.
Whether you’re a devoted fan or new to this event, you’ll want to sign up to for the Tour newsletter to get the news and updates emailed to your inbox. Sign up here.
Plan Your Own Tour
A downloadable tour map will be available on this website in late October and will also be emailed in the Tour newsletter. Maps will be available on the Tour weekend at the Main Gallery, the Rappahannock Visitors Center, and other local businesses.
Tour Photography Contest
We’re excited to announce our new Fall Art Tour photography contest, and we can’t wait to see your photos! Send your images from the Weekend for a chance to have your photo published in the Rappahannock News. Look for all details in an upcoming Tour newsletter!
The Rappahannock Association for Arts and Community (RAAC) is looking forward to welcoming all visitors eager to explore and experience the artistic and scenic wonders of the Fall Art Tour!