After 22 years of organizing and producing the Fargo Moorhead Visual Artists Studio Crawl, glass artist Jon Offutt is stepping down from his role as the event's managing director. This weekend's studio crawl marks the final event he will produce, bringing an end to more than two decades of dedication to the local arts community.
Offutt has been both the mastermind behind the annual event and often its most recognizable face. While he has been just one of more than 30 artists opening their creative spaces to the public, his glass workshop, The House of Mulciber, has consistently served as a major highlight. Visitors flock to watch him create colorful works of art through live glassblowing demonstrations that showcase the fascinating creative process.
The FMVA Studio Crawl runs for two days, allowing artists to open their creative spaces and give the public an intimate glimpse into their artistic processes. The event takes place Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. and is completely free and open to the public. For his final event as producer, Offutt is hosting special demonstrations at the top of each hour and offering free root beer on tap until the keg runs dry.
Participants will discover a diverse array of artistic disciplines, including painters, printers, potters, photographers, sculptors, jewelers, fashion designers, and many more. Visitors can observe these artists working in their personal creative spaces, gaining insight into various artistic techniques and processes. For those interested in seeing multiple artists in one location, several group spaces will be participating, including Aptitude in West Acres, various studios at North Dakota State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead, and the Indigenous Arts Collaboration at the Indigenous Association in Fargo.
To participate in the studio crawl, visitors can obtain brochures and maps by visiting fmva.org or picking them up at participating locations including the Plains Art Museum, Rourke Art Museum, or the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County. The event represents a unique opportunity for the community to connect directly with local artists and experience the creative process firsthand.
In related arts news, the Lake Agassiz Wind Symphony will present their season premiere on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at Horizon Middle School. Music Director Warren Olfert will lead musicians through works by composers Percy Grainger, J.S. Bach, Oscar Navarro, and Ralph Vaughan Williams, celebrating composers whose styles adapted to the changing world around them. This concert is also free and open to the public.
Offutt's retirement as managing director marks the end of an era for the FMVA Studio Crawl, though the event itself will continue under new leadership. His contributions to the local arts community over more than two decades have helped establish the studio crawl as a beloved annual tradition that connects artists with the broader community.
