Village Gallery of Arts in Cedar Mill will host live artist demonstrations Oct. 17–18 during the Washington County Open Studios tour. The 16th annual countywide event opens roughly 50 studios and galleries to the public for a weekend of watching local artists work.

The volunteer-run nonprofit drew more than 150 visitors during last year's Open Studios weekend, making it the gallery's busiest stretch of the fall season, according to a gallery announcement published Saturday, Sept. 12, by Aleksa Wood.

For the two-day tour, shifts of three artists will rotate through the gallery's classroom, demonstrating their creative processes and fielding questions from visitors. The demonstrations run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, an hour earlier than the gallery's usual 11 a.m. opening time. Volunteer hosts will greet visitors at the door.

The gallery has not yet announced which artists will demonstrate.

Village Gallery of Arts sits at 1060 NW Saltzman Rd., next to the Cedar Mill Library. The nonprofit is a 501(c)(3) organization staffed entirely by member volunteers and receives no taxpayer funding. Its regular hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Across Washington County, the Open Studios tour gives residents a chance to step inside private studios and watch painters, sculptors, ceramicists and other artists at work. The Washington County Art Alliance organizes the annual event and publishes a map guide listing all participating locations.

Residents interested in volunteering at the gallery during the Open Studios weekend can contact Amy Mower at [email protected] or Chris Kondrat at [email protected].

Upcoming community events

Washington County Open Studios tour — Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at studios and galleries across the county, including Village Gallery of Arts, 1060 NW Saltzman Rd., Cedar Mill. Free admission. Details at washcoart.org.