PRESS RELEASE
For IMMEDIATE Release
Media Contact: Laura Abrams, 214-232-2206

4th Annual Art In The Hood
Studio Tour Coming Feb. 4, 2006

DALLAS, TEXAS (Dec. 12, 2005) -- The fourth annual Art in the Hood Artists’ Studio Tour and Sale is scheduled for Saturday, February 4, 2006, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The “Hood” Tour takes visitors into artists’ private studios in the East Dallas areas of Pleasant Grove, Parkdale and Urbandale, all located south of Interstate 30 and east of Fair Park.
In 2006, Art in the Hood will introduce three new studios on the tour: potter Carl Spoto, painter Robyn Lark Wakefield and painter Niyada P. Crossland.
“These new artists add quality to our tour and help bridge the gap between stops, improving the flow of the event,” said sculptor Laura Abrams. “We invite everyone to join us to see some unique artwork, meet the artists, and discover this colorful and historic part of town.”
Several artists on the tour have invited guest artists to appear at their studios, adding variety and flavor to the day’s artistic offerings. Guest artists will include Monique Jannette and Shelly Long at the studio of sculptor and restoration specialist Michael Van Enter. The Sunshine Man, another guest artist, will return to Laura Abrams’ studio, and polymer clay artist Patricia Dillingham will appear at the studios of Valery Guignon and Robin Hawke.

Also, ceramicist Mark Epstein and glass artist Nancy Thompson will return to the tour.
Hot-glass blowing demonstrations will take place during the day at the most outlying tour destination, BA Glassworks, the studio of Brad Abrams. Guest artists Deanne Eskeridge and Chris Lake and mixed media artist Rita Barnard will exhibit their work at BA Glassworks.
“Our neighborhoods are culturally diverse, and we hope to show the larger Dallas community what a variety and wealth of artistic talent reside in this area,” said Abrams, whose work will be exhibited on the tour.

Long-time resident and photographer Roy Cirigliana says he has watched this East Dallas area grow and evolve during the past 30 years, yet it remains an area open to all cultures living and working side-by-side. “It has always been a secret haven for artists, because of the beautiful old trees, an original pecan ‘grove,’ hilly terrain and affordable housing, all within proximity to downtown,” said Cirigliana, who also is participating in the tour.
The tour is self-guided, so there is no specific order to follow when visiting artists’ studios – you may visit each studio or choose a few. For more information about the tour, visit www.artinthehood.com or call 214-232-2206.

BACK