photo by Jenny Peterson

Kathleen Wiley stands in front of her “skyscape” oil paintings at Art Central Gallery. Wiley will open her home and studio to guests during the Open Studio Tour.

Five Summerville artists will let people peek into their private homes and studios next week to see art works on display and live art demonstrations, all for a good cause.

The second annual Open Art Studio Tour presented by Art Central Gallery will be held on April 17, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Five artists’ homes and two galleries will be open to attendees, and people can weave in and out of each location at their leisure.

A map of the homes and participating studios is printed on each ticket, and proceeds go towards the Summerville Meals on Wheels organization, which provides home-delivered meal service to the elderly and others in need.

“Last year, we raised enough money to feed one person for an entire year,” said Kathleen Wylie, a featured artist who will open her home for this year’s event.

The studios are no more than a 15-minute drive from Summerville’s downtown area. There will be live painting demonstrations at some of the homes, and the Silver Pail Pottery Studio will do live pottery firings at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. There will also be light refreshments in each location.

Yvonne Rousseau, another featured artist this year, has invited her young art students into her home to work on their own art that day.

“My whole house is where I paint,” Rousseau said. “Whatever room is inspirational. Whatever gets the most light.”

“There’s a fascination as to what an artists’ home and studio looks like,” she said. “People really enjoyed it last year.”

Rousseau said attendees will see several of her acrylic “works in progress,” both inside her home and outside in her yard.

Wylie said her art is inspired by the outdoors.

“My gardens really get inspirational with butterflies and birds,” she said. “I’ve been working on a series of skyscapes. The Lowcountry landscape lends itself to dramatic skies. It gives you endless possibilities.”

Wylie is especially excited about the partnership with Meals on Wheels for this event because she used to deliver meals for the organization when she lived in North Carolina.

Meals on Wheels representatives will be on hand at each location to give more information about the organization and its work.

Each weekday, Meals on Wheels delivers meals to approximately 175 people throughout Summerville, Sangaree, Lincolnville, Givhans and North Charleston.

The organization is funded solely through donations from organizations, individuals and fundraising events.

“It costs $1,000 to feed one person for one year,” said Betsy Luke, executive director of the Summerville Meals on Wheels.

“It’s a wonderful event; we need all the help from the community we can get,” Luke said. “It was a lot of fun last year; we had a wonderful time.”

Tickets cost $15 in advance and can be purchased at the Art Central Gallery on 130 Central Avenue. Tickets can also be purchased the day of the tour at one of the participating studios for $20.

For more information about the event, call Art Central at 871-0297. For more information about Meals on Wheels, or to donate to the organization, contact Betsy Luke at (843) 873-8224.

Contact Jenny Peterson at 873-9424 ext. 216 or JPeterson@journalscene.com.

Journalscene.com ® is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Journalscene.com ® does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not Journalscene.com ®. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.

Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by reading our terms and conditions, and then signing up below!

• Santee Cooper announces 2012 refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper announces organizational changes in operation and finance departments
• Santee Cooper employees pitch in on Day of Caring
• Aerial herbicide treatment on lakes under way
• Santee Cooper Board Authorizes Rate Study
• Santee Cooper announces refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper, Florida Municipal Power Agency enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units
• Santee Cooper, Duke Energy Carolinas enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units 2 and 3