Art enthusiasts in the city had the opportunity to see work from local artists and some artistic ensembles last week. The local artists showcased their pieces, from abstract acrylic pieces and bronze sculptures to artisan jewelry, during a two-day event.

The Art Junction studio tour, which took place on April 18 and 19, gave art lovers an inside look of the spaces where artists go to create their works of art. Located at 500 West Paisano St., the studio was established 14 years ago.

Art Junction includes 34 spaces available for rent. It also includes a black-and-white and color photography darkroom. The studio is a part of the El Paso Art Association.

Erin Galvez, a local artist and director of the tour, said the studio started off as an open-floor establishment without any walls.

“Over the course of the first five years, walls were built, doors were added and areas were partitioned,” Galvez said.

Glaze said the studio gives its renters 24-hour access to their spaces to have a “secure place to craft their work.”

“It’s like a small community of creatives working alongside each other,” Galvez said. “We also have a large space that can be rented for teaching or hosting events appropriate for this place. For example, I believe a photography club meets here monthly. We have weekly figure-drawing sessions and a weekly textile class that meets here. I have even seen someone who was taking head-shots for models utilize the space for his services.”

Galvez said the tour brought in 240 guests.

“It was a great success,” he said “We had people of all ages and walks of life. It was representational of the individuals that presently rent the studios. We had traditional landscape oil painters, portrait painters, contemporary acrylic painters, large-scale drawers, socially engaged mixed media artists, textiles, bronze sculptors, Chinese brush painters, jewelers, photographers, a graphic designer, a canine-outfit crafter. It is very diverse.”

The artists who rent out spaces and work at Art Junction are also diverse, Galvez said.

“They range from people in their 20s to people in their 70s We also have retirees, full-time artists, students, teachers; its a really amazing little community.”

The Art Junction is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. For more information, visit www.elpasoartassociation.com.

Jose Soto may be reached at [email protected].