Take Yourself Somewhere Interesting
Take yourself
somewhere
interesting.
A solo art date at the Tannery.
Wander through studios. Meet the makers. Notice what draws you in.
There are afternoons when I want to get out of the house, but I don’t want to organize an entire social production to do it. I want somewhere to wander. Something to look at. A conversation I couldn’t have planned.
This weekend, the Tannery Arts Center feels like a good place to start.
On Saturday and Sunday, October 10–11, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Tannery will open the studios and creative spaces of 16 artists for Santa Cruz County’s Open Studios Art Tour. There’s another opportunity October 17–18, too. See the event details.
You can go alone. Take your time. Let yourself linger in front of something without worrying whether the person beside you is ready to leave.
A place where people
make things.
The Tannery sits on River Street in Santa Cruz, on the grounds of a former leather tannery. Its history reaches back to the nineteenth century, and five original buildings were preserved when the site became an arts center.
Today, the campus includes 100 artist loft residences, 28 working studios, galleries, dance and music spaces, and the Colligan Theater. There’s also an outdoor History Wall where you can learn about the people and industry that shaped the place. Explore the Tannery’s history.
I like the idea of spending an afternoon somewhere people have made room for their creative lives. Somewhere you can ask how a piece began, what materials went into it, or what happened along the way.
A few artists to
get curious about.
Start with a little curiosity about the people who create here.
Sarah Bianco
Sarah’s Apricity Gallery has confirmed Open Studios dates for both weekends. A fine artist and decorative painting contractor, she creates murals, commissioned paintings, and portraits of figures in motion.
You may recognize her Jump In mural at Scope Park downtown, with local children suspended above a golden Santa Cruz coastline.
Visit Apricity ↗ · See her workCarol Eddy
Part of the Tannery’s studio community, Carol creates hand-built ceramic vessels and sculpture. Her practice also includes travel sketchbooks, with prints of those drawings available through her studio.
A question to carry with you: what did she notice that I might have walked past?
Meet Carol ↗Melissa West
Listed among the Tannery’s Studio 125 artists, Melissa makes linoleum block prints with humor and strong opinions.
Her work offers another way into an afternoon of looking: follow the image that makes you laugh, then look a little closer.
About her prints ↗ · Visit her websiteThese are highlights from the Tannery’s broader studio community; Sarah’s 2026 dates are confirmed above. Check the current Open Studios guide for individual participation and stops, and explore the Tannery studio directory. Decorative artwork on this page is abstract illustration, not the artists’ work.
Make an afternoon of it.
Wear something you feel good walking around in. Give yourself enough time to get distracted.
If you’re unsure what to say to an artist, start with whatever you actually want to know:
- How did you make this?
- What made you choose those colors?
- Which piece surprised you most?
You don’t need an impressive interpretation. You can simply say, “I keep coming back to this one.”
Maybe you’ll find something you want to bring home. Maybe you’ll leave thinking about a color, a texture, or a conversation. Maybe you’ll feel like making something yourself.
That’s enough reason to go.
An invitation
to wander.
Art, conversation, and a little time to follow your own attention.
Event details ↗- When
- October 10–11 & 17–18, 2026
11 a.m.–5 p.m. - Where
- Tannery Arts Center
1010–1070 River Street, Santa Cruz - Admission
- Free · Part of the countywide Open Studios Art Tour
- Getting there
- Parking lots at the north and south entrances, plus bike parking. The Riverwalk connects the campus with downtown for walkers and cyclists. Directions ↗
Take yourself somewhere interesting.
Give your curiosity a little time to lead.