It’s such a big and spacious area, with roads seemingly going off to nowhere and residences tucked among the trees, that one can understand how artists could get lost while living and working in Clark County, Washington.
Not so much lost, but more so little-known: Clark County Open Studios, the nonprofit Artstra, galleries and other arts happenings exist to help the artists north of Portland survive and thrive. The Open Studios tour will be followed in mid-November by the Washougal Studio Artists Tour; see below.
When Clark County Open Studios started 13 years ago, it was meant to uncover and identify the many artists from Vancouver to La Center to Washougal and the rest of the county.
“We had this hidden art community,” said Jennifer Williams, Clark County Open Studios director and Artstra board member.
When Williams joined the cause, “I had just met some artists, who were working for 20 years here, and they had no idea of who each other were. … (Open Studios) has helped create an incredibly strong art community in Clark County now, and it’s growing; I think I know all the artists now.”
Fifty-one artists are involved in the 12th annual Clark County Open Studios, which takes place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 1-2. Fifty artists are annually selected by jurors, and the 51st this year is the first emerging artist scholarship recipient, Ana Gabriela Honsowetz.
As with Portland Open Studios, which was held on two weekends in October, the participants in Clark County Open Studios attract visitors to their studios and workspaces to observe the work environment, hear from artists, and watch the creators at work — and, more likely than not, some sales take place. Unlike the participants in Portland Open Studios, many of the Clark County artists live and work in rural settings.
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So, it’s imperative to acquire a location guide through Art at the Cave, 108 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver, where participating artists have been displaying work, or from an artist or gallery. Map and information are also available on the Artstra website — artstra.org/open-studios.
Artists near and far are taking part in Clark County Open Studios — from downtown Vancouver, just on the north side of the Interstate 5 Bridge, to east to Washougal, to north to the far reaches of Ridgefield and Battle Ground, and even to jewelry maker Barbara Bureker’s place at 37703 N.E. 137th Court, La Center.
It’d be tough for somebody to visit each site in two days; perhaps close proximity, passion, and interest might be the guide.
Williams said that many Clark County artists had listed themselves in the past as “Portland artists” because they wanted to identify themselves with an art community.
“We’re not that drive-through community that we used to be,” she said of Clark County and its public displays of artistry — such as murals — and promotion of local artists.
Jill Mayberg and Ann Cavanaugh have been involved in Clark County Open Studios from the start. A mixed-media artist, Mayberg has long been part of Art in the Pearl during Labor Day Weekend in Portland and been featured on OPB’s Oregon Art Beat. She’s located at 3401 K Street, Vancouver.
A drive up Washington State Route 503 north takes you to Cavanaugh’s place at 25605 N.E. Cooley Road, Battle Ground. It’s rural, near Lewisville State Park, and Cavanaugh has welcomed daughter Megan Andrews as her partner with Clark County Open Studios. They work in kiln-formed fused glass.
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“It’s an amazing event that happens in Clark County,” Cavanaugh said. “There are so many good artists that I don’t think people realize live here. I love that people have come to the studio.”
Cavanaugh has many visitors, and actually leans on friends to help accommodate visitors during the tour: “One thing that people find when they come to the studio is that it’s very welcoming and they get a lot of attention. We have really three spaces — main space, annex and gazebo, where we’re putting outdoor stuff.”
Clark County Open Studios features all authentic spaces — no pop-ups — and some of them have great aesthetics.
Larry Holt and daughter Jessica Joner show off their historic barn off the Salmon Creek Trail by Klineline Pond, 317 N.W. Bassel Road, Vancouver. Holt is a welder and jewelry maker, Joner is a ceramics artist and painter.
“They’ve restored the historic barn, and it’s just fabulous,” Williams said.
Williams is also an artist, a mixed-media painter who uses maps, and she’ll open her space again at 5304 N.W. 234th St., Ridgefield.
Organizers keep the number of participants in Clark County Open Studios to 50 (or 51 with the emerging artist) because it’s a one-weekend event. The limit makes it manageable and “it keeps it fresh,” Williams said. There are many artists who show their space every year, and some newcomers.
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About 80% of Open Studios visitors come from Clark County, Williams said, but maybe more exposure for the event means more people venture up from the Portland area?
A lot of people visited the Open Studios gallery at Art at the Cave, said manager Sharon Svec, a textile artist who has participated in Clark County Open Studios in the past. All artists were asked to show their best art.
“It’s our most well-attended show of the year,” Svec said.
Washougal Studio Artists Tour
There’ll be another opportunity to visit and experience artist workspaces in November in Clark County.
The self-guided Washougal Studio Artists Tour, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15-16, features 23 artists in fused glass, textiles, pottery, sculpture, jewelry and mixed-media at 14 locations in the Washougal, Wash., area.
“Many studios will feature community art projects, encouraging visitors to add their own artistic touch,” publicity says.
Visitors can enter to win the Treasure Trove Basket, filled with art and goodies donated by participating artists.
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“The tour is about more than viewing art — it’s about connection, inspiration and community,” artist Tamara Dinius said. “We love opening our doors and inviting people into the creative process.”
It’s free to attend, and open to all. Sales will take place. Maps and artist profiles are available on the event website, washougalstudiosartists.org/2025-holiday-art-market.
I went last year. As a non-artist I really enjoyed seeing their creative space and hearing a little bit about their creative process. They were all kind and generous with their knowledge and processes.