The ALTA Arts Collective is holding a captivating two-day event Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 14 and 15, that will showcase the vibrant and diverse artistic talents of Altadena and Pasadena.
The sprawling event, ALTA Art Tour, offers art enthusiasts and the local community a chance to visit the creative spaces of local artists, witness their artistic processes, and gain insight into their inspirations.
“Local artists will open their studios to the public and let the public in to not only come and see how they work, but see their creative space,” Suki Moon Pie, Chairperson of the ALTA Arts Collective, said.
“Folks can purchase directly from the artist – and each location is going to have several artists. We do have a few that are solo locations, but for the most part, each location will have one to four different artists to view. So I think that compliments basically the ecosystem and the landscape of the art community throughout Pasadena and Altadena.”
The ALTA Arts Collective is a community organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the arts in Altadena and surrounding communities. Through exhibits, art tours, and collective efforts, they seek to connect local artists with the community and foster a vibrant scene. The organization values camaraderie, promoting social and emotional well-being while building a supportive environment for artists to flourish.
Some of the original artwork that will be shown during the tour include paintings, sculpture, ceramics, photography, and more. ALTA Art Collective there will be 41 artists in 17 different locations participating in this event.
Suki said she and other Altadena artists were basically talking about how the art events that were common in Pasadena and Altadena before 2020 were no longer happening, even after the COVID-19 shutdown.
“There wasn’t anything else going on, and when we would go out in the community, we would be asked, because we were involved with other art entities in the area,” she said. “We went back and forth just trying to figure out how we would make that happen. And then in March of this year, another group of artists were starting to talk about bringing back the arts and invited us to the table, basically.”
That initial round of talks led to a mini-tour around May which wasn’t much publicized. The event this weekend will be a much larger activity, she said.
“Our goal is to be able to spotlight local artists, to engage the public in artistic experiences and facilities, networking and collaborating, and just maintaining a strong online presence, aspiring to host events throughout the year to support these artists and actively seeking the community’s input,” Suki Moon Pie said. “We will probably be doing a survey after the tour. We’ve done a poll within the artists of what people are looking for, and we’re probably going to do at least two tours a year, springtime and fall.”
The ALTA Arts Collective’s vision is to ignite the spark of artistic expression, fostering a nurturing space where artists flourish. They aspire to become a prominent force, inspiring innovation and forging connections within and beyond their community.
Beyond traditional galleries, they plan to democratize art, taking it to unexpected places for everyone to enjoy. Art tours, showcases, and events are on the horizon, offering exposure to a broad audience.
The ALTA Art Tour is free, making it accessible to all. Visitors are encouraged to visit the ALTA Arts Collective’s website, https://altaartscollective.com/, for a complete list of participating artists and studio locations. An interactive map on the site provides turn-by-turn directions available each day of the tour.
