Since the spring, artists in Saugerties have been busy figuring out schedules, checking out new applicants and working their way to this coming weekend's sixth annual Saugerties Artists' Studio Tour. It's a great event.

A total of 25 professional artists working in a variety of media will be opening their studios to the public this coming Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Maps for the free self-guided tour will be available at the two Partition Street galleries showing participants' work, Smith Hardware on Main Street and the Saugerties Chamber of Commerce kiosk by McDonald's across from the Exit 20 northbound Thruway entrance, as well as other area business locations. Things kick off with a reception for an exhibition of works at Opus 40 on Friday evening. And all is easily previewed and prepared for, with more maps possible, at www.saugertiesarttour.com.

Among those participating are Barbara Bravo, pottery; Allen Bryan, photography; Ellen Perantoni, realistic landscape painting; Anita Barbour, painting, origami; Mikhail Horowitz, collages, assemblages, monoprints; Gus Pedersen, furniture; Leslie Bryce, functional outdoor sculpture; Istar Schwager, collages, prints, mixed media; Polly Law, illustration, collage; Raymond J. Steiner, landscape painting; Steve Crohn, painting; Tad Richards, monoprints; Michael Ciccone, sculpture; Brunie Kandora, aquatint etching; Debra Lavaggi, batik; Jeff Schiller, sculpture; Sue Sammis, photography; Jemerick Art Pottery; Howard Goldson, abstract painting; Marsha Kaufman-Rubinstein, ceramics; Carol Zaloom, linocut printmaking; Shelley Davis, mixed media, photography, objets d'art; Ruth Edwy, painting, photography; and Jesse Reimer, outdoor furniture.

As for shows, the Michael Nelson Gallery at 115 Partition Street in the village center is currently hosting local sculptors' work, with photographs of the artists in their working spaces; while across the street at Shelley K Gallery at 110 Partition Street will be painters, printmakers and photographers. Altogether, the two are exhibiting a total of 18 local artists over the coming month.

The Nelson show includes work by five sculptors: Michael Ciccone, Alex Kveton, Gus Pedersen, Jesse Reimer and Jeff Schiller. The Shelley K exhibit includes pieces by Carol Zaloom, Barbara Bravo, Tad Richards, Shelley Davis, Ellen Perantoni, Steve Crohn, Ruth Edwy, Debra Lavaggi, Howard Goldson, Susan Sammis Goldson, Istar Schwager, Helen Kaufman and Jemerick Pottery.

Opus 40, located off Glasco, headed towards Woodstock (look for signs), holds its reception for all the participating artists on Friday, August 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information on all shows, the tour and Saugerties artists in general, visit www.saugertiesarttour.com or call (845) 246-7101, (845) 246-5250 or (845) 246-7493.