By Jesse Jones
Corrales is about to open its doors and studios for one of the state’s most anticipated art events, the Corrales Art Studio Tour.
Now in its 27th year, the Corrales Art Studio Tour (CAST) returns May 3–4 with 84 artists at 35 studio stops, showing work for 50 Corrales elementary students and a festive kickoff reception with music and drinks. Organized by the Corrales Society of Artists, the free, self-guided tour invites visitors to explore working studios, meet artists in their creative spaces and experience the village’s vibrant fine arts community firsthand.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just art-curious, the Corrales Art Studio Tour offers something for everyone. The self-guided tour features work from emerging talent to well-known, established artists, with a wide range of styles and prices. It runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 4–5. Pick up a catalog at local businesses or use the online map at corralessocietyofartists.org to plan your route through Corrales’ creative scene.
Expect eye-catching art at every stop, from handcrafted pieces in clay, fiber, glass and metal to paintings and prints in watercolor, oil, acrylic and photography — spanning styles from contemporary to abstract and representational.
“It’s a very unique opportunity to see how and where art is created,” said Jenn Noel, Corrales Society of Artists board president. “You get to meet the artist and talk with them and get to see them in their personal space where they’re the most comfortable.”
CAST is one of the signature events of ¡Viva Corrales!, a monthlong celebration organized by Corrales MainStreet and the Village of Corrales. Held during the second weekend of the series, CAST showcases the village’s creative spirit. ¡Viva Corrales! launched in 2023 as part of the village’s push for Arts and Cultural District status and highlights local groups and businesses to help residents explore all Corrales has to offer.
“These events have always existed; we’ve just been able to pull them all under a promotion umbrella,” said Angela Gutierrez, executive director for Corrales MainStreet. “The idea behind it is to highlight all these really special things unique to Corrales and for people who’ve lived here for many years, or somebody new. I think there’s still something to discover.”
Because CAST features so many studios, CSA created the Preview Gallery to help visitors plan their route, according to Noel.
The gallery at the Old San Ysidro Church will showcase one piece from each artist, offering a quick visual overview of the tour.
“It’s an opportunity for [people] to mingle with the artists in one place and just kind of get a taste of what each artist is showing, and you can kind of plan out which stops you want to go to,” said Jessi Penrod, assistant director for Corrales MainStreet.
The gallery opens with a public reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 2, and stays open from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, May 3.
Food and wine will be served at the Preview Gallery opening, with wine provided by Corrales MainStreet, one of the event sponsors, according to Noel. She said the group helps create a welcoming kickoff for artists, sponsors and visitors.
The tour features artists at every stage of their creative journey, from emerging talent to seasoned professionals. This year includes 10 new artists, according to Noel.
“Emerging artists’ pieces are always a little bit priced a little bit better,” she said.
To help newcomers, CSA offers a mentorship program.
She said a 12-year-old girl once applied and was paired with an experienced artist who helped her prepare for the show, learning how to price her work, improve composition and set up the display.
CSA also supports adults just starting. “Some people take up art after retiring,” Noel said. “We offer affordable venues like Art in the Park so newer artists can show their work without a big financial risk.”
According to Noel, CSA supports artists, whether they’re emerging artists or if they are established and well-known in galleries. “We try to support artists through every stage, and that could be a starting artist in their 70s, and we will still try to support them any way we can.”
Along with the sample works at the Preview Gallery, art from 50 local students will be on display — 25 from Corrales Elementary and 25 from Cottonwood Montessori. The student work won’t be for sale during CAST, but it may be available at the “Young in Art” show on May 10, part of ¡Viva Corrales! and hosted by the Corrales Arts Center, according to Noel.
As a parent and artist, Noel said it’s important to her that kids have access to creative opportunities.
“I think the younger generation isn’t being exposed to art as much as when I was growing up, just because of different cuts in funding,” she said. “It’s really important to me to continue offering the elementary schools opportunities to show within CAST so they can experience that, ‘I’ve been in a real gallery showing,’ and so I think it’s a nice opportunity that our society can offer them.”
Noel told the Village Council on April 8, she was disappointed the Arts and Cultural District proposal was voted down. She said CSA has the volunteers to run an arts program, but without funding, it’s not possible.
“It’s very worrisome to me that the Village is not willing to fund things,” Noel said, noting Corrales Elementary has gone most of the school year without an art or music teacher.