Take an Art Drive this weekend

Take the Berkeley Springs Studio Tour  this weekend to indulge in our area's unique beauty, both natural and man-made. As you meander through Morgan County, admiring the wildflowers, lush green foliage, and the rushing of Sleepy Creek, you can stop by a multitude of art studios and see what our local artists are up to. There's nothing like gazing at a beautiful work of art, trying to imagine what inspired the artist, and understanding the hard work that went into a masterpiece; many of the artists offer demos of their work and intensive tours of their studios. For example, walking into the Hsu Studio is like walking into fairyland; there are sparkles of light everywhere as the sun dances over the amazing anodized aluminum works. Best of all, Jean Paul and Carol Hsu offer a guided tour of how their jewelry is made. Or check out Frog Valley Artisans, an artists' collective where you can see high-end metal sculpture, stained glass, pottery, photography, and more all in one place. Warning: after you fully appreciate the work and thought that goes into artwork like this, you may not ever be able to buy mass-produced items again!

"Archaeologists have not yet discovered any stage of human existence without art. Even in the half-light before the dawn of humanity we received this gift from Hands we did not manage to discern." Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn from his Beauty Will Save the World: The Nobel Lecture on Literature

Art is good for the soul. Looking at any kind of beauty is relaxing, inspiring, and revitalizing; it's especially so when you get to meet the artists responsible for the work. So take some time out this weekend for this special opportunity.