It’s taken about four decades, but Ruidoso – all of Lincoln County, really – has become quite the destination for artists and art lovers alike.

Evidence of this blossoming is on display Aug. 7-9 during the 12th annual Alto Artist’s Studio Tour.

Nineteen artists at eight studios in the Alto area will have their wares and creations on display, enabling art collectors to learn the personal stories behind these most personal of creations.

“I’ve been here since 1976, but I’m reclusive,” said Lay Powell, an artist who was there when the foundations of the current Ruidoso art scene were laid. “I don’t really get out there, but for the studio tour, for three days in the year, I open my home and it’s fun.”

Powell was one of the founders – along with Sherry Witt – of the Ruidoso Art Festival, then known as Art In the
Pines. Shortly after that started, Powell noticed a marked disconnect between artists and creators of crafts. It really came down to how much people were willing to pay for the handmade creations.

Powell, who moved to Lincoln County from Taos, was familiar with the studio tour format – in which artists welcome patrons directly into their studio and sell their artwork directly – and decided to transplant it here. The Ruidoso Art Loop was born, and since then two others – and a possible third – have been established.

“It’s blossomed from there,” Powell said. “We’ve almost over-developed, but we’re proud of how it has grown.”

It’s not like Ruidoso was bereft of artists before the 1970s – The Hurd-Wyatt family was already well established in the Hondo Valley – but unless an artist had a gallery or working agreement with one, there was really no way for them to sell their work.”

Enabling artists to converse directly with patrons – to tell them the stories behind certain works of art, to haggle and eventually make a direct sale – is the key to why there are so many similar tours throughout the year.

“I tried going to the stores to sell my work,” said Sid Hilburn, a retired graphic artist who now makes jewelry. “But they marked it up so much, no one could afford it. Now they’re getting it at wholesale price, and I can get direct feedback.”

Art for sale is widely varied – from jewelry to sculpture to painting and everything in between.
Powell has tried his hand at all of them.

“I do multi-media work,” Powell said. “Art is a difficult game right now, and people have money tied up in a lot of different things. There’s not as much expendable cash right now, so I’ll try to sell what I can.”

Free to the public, the Alto Artist’s Studio Tour runs Aug. 7-8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Aug. 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is also a preview party at the Spencer Theater Aug. 6 from 5-7 p.m.
For more information, visit www.altoartistsstudiotour.com.

ALL ARTWORK PHOTO COURTESY OF ALTO ARTIST’S STUDIO TOUR