14 Spring 2017 mattersmagazine.com 15 O On the first weekend in June it’s not unusual to see hundreds of residents walking from one artist’s studio to another, viewing, purchasing and talking about art. The annual South Orange and Maplewood Studio Art Tour, a local tradition, not only showcases the thriving arts scene but satisfies the interests and passions of our arts- inclined residents. But making the leap from visiting local artist’s studios to exploring the Manhattan gallery scene can be more than a little daunting. Maplewood fine artist Jody Lee Drafta hopes to change all that. Her new business, Art Gallery Circuit, is meant to introduce people to the galleries of Chelsea and the Lower East Side in an accessible and lighthearted way. While it’s not likely you’ll meet the artists, or even buy the work, Drafta does hope that residents will walk away with the same sense of joy and enthusiasm that they get from the SOMA tour. “I’ve been doing art tours for friends for years; I would choose the NYC galleries I thought were really good galleries and call it my ‘art gallery circuit.’” As an artist herself – her own media are sculpture, drawing and photography – she adds, “I’m in a position to knit together the world between artist and the ‘art-curious.’” A typical tour with Art Gallery Circuit takes two hours and explores between six and eight galleries, all within the same walkable neighborhood. Whether your tour includes just a few other visitors or as many as a dozen, every experience feels intimate and personal. Drafta hands out itineraries and brief descriptions at the start of the tour, but then makes the art come alive with a brief talk in front of each gallery. Her commentary may include a bit about the artist’s inspiration, the materials used, or even why the artist is a rising star. Although she is a former university art professor, Drafta never lectures, instead turning the gallery visit into a fun, interactive experience. “I’m available for questions and will also get the gallery staff member involved if necessary,” explains Drafta; she wants visitors to engage with the art at their own pace and to feel comfortable asking her anything. While it might be intimidating to ask a stranger, “Why are those weird hanging macramé ropes considered art?” no question is off limits to Drafta, who has a knack for making the most outlandish pieces seem inspiring and clear. Drafta also wants to help people feel comfortable returning to the Inside Story Jody Lee Drafta helps “art-curious” residents discover the contemporary art scene BY JOANNE FISHER Jorinde Voigt is a 39-year-old German artist based in Berlin who works principally in drawing. She is represented in major public collections and teaches conceptual drawing and painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. Jorinde Voigt, A New Kind of Joy - Study (5), 2016-17 © Jorinde Voigt. Courtesy David Nolan Gallery, New York. Paul Chan, Le Baigneur 1, 2016. Courtesy the artist and Greene Naftali, New York SERVICE  KNOWLEDGE  EXPERTISE Broker / Sales Associate 973-214-4636 Susan.Blodgett@cbmoves.com Sales Associate 973-219-8865 Virginia.Spiegel@cbmoves.com Susan Blodgett, ABR Ginny Spiegel @WeKnowNJRealEstate 145 Maplewood Avenue Maplewood, NJ 973-378-8300 MAKING HAPPY HOMES  EVEN HAPPIER. MAKING HAPPY HOMES  EVEN HAPPIER. 19 South Orange Avenue, South Orange 973 821 5145 “A toy store for grown-ups.” New Jersey Monthly BEST of NJ 3 YEARS RUNNING SOUTH ORANGE’S DESTINATION FOR GREAT GIFTS Let us help you put a smile on someone’s face! We carry a stunning and varied array of Polish Pottery - We don’t think like other stores. There’s a reason we were named Retail All-Star of the Year by Gourmet Insider Magazine.