THERE IS little information on what we now think of as "artists" from the early days of Roxbury. The first settlers were no doubt too busy with their own survival to ponder the esthetic life. The soil in the hills was unfriendly and unyielding in the beginning, except for the huge rocks used for foundations and old walls marking ancient boundaries. It was a hard life, and the artistry can perhaps be seen in the practical and clean angles of the houses, still standing after almost two centuries.

Deborah VanNess demonstrates pottery techniques in Roxbury for visitors as her son watches at last weekend’s studio tours around Vermont. Photo by Sue Nevins, The Northfield News In the 1800s, things began to change in an unexpected way. A form of serpentine known as Verd Antique was discovered in Roxbury and the quarry industry was born. This green stone, found in few places in the world, was mined and used to produce beautiful buildings and monuments. Later in the century, master watchmaker Jonas Hall designed a set of tools, which would revolutionize the watch repair industry, and this creation led him to open a plant in Roxbury which produced them. The parts of the watch tool are themselves a work of art: the larger staking tool is often decorated with gold leaf at the bottom. The smaller, specialized tools are slender and fine cylindrical items, resting vertically on a wooden base and covered by a glass dome. Watchmakers today are still aware of Hall's great contribution and the antique watch tools are a collector's item.

With such an auspicious and eclectic, "artistic" history, (yet little known outside of town) it is only fitting that Roxbury today would be home to creative talent. During the Open Studio Weekend, several residents displayed their works and officially participated in the weekend, putting Roxbury on the Vermont Studio Tour Guide map that was distributed statewide.

The Community Hall was a central location where six artists showed their passion and ability. Photographer Bill Armstrong, who built a house off the grid in town and splits his time between Roxbury and New York City, had photographs which displayed his specific style of using color and unusual focusing techniques.

Native son Forrest Twombly showed a selection of starkly beautiful black and white prints of apple trees, which he made as a logo for a local orchard. He creates his prints using a linoleum block, the modern version of the wood block printing method used in earlier times. The process begins with a design which is carved into the linoleum block in reverse. He then rolls ink onto the carved block with a special roller and presses it onto paper, "like a giant rubber stamp" he explained. Forrest learned his art while attending art school and experimenting with many different mediums. "It became my favorite.... it's tactile. I like the quality of the result. It's more exciting, more dramatic when you've spent that kind of time and effort," he says, referring to the design and carving process that must take place before the print is made. Forrest, who has been back in Roxbury for about 18 months, earns his living as a carpenter and enjoys making prints in his spare time, some of which are commissioned.

Honorary Roxbury resident Anne Schaller, who lives just over the line in Northfield, had a vibrant and eye catching array of landscape paintings, impressive in size as well as in colorful scenery. However, her unique mosaic wall hangers made from old sap taps and broken pottery and glass also reminded the public of the artist's home and at least some of her inspiration. Proving that talent is a family affair, Anne's husband Arthur, a professor of architecture at Norwich University, displayed a collection of his multi-colored collages.

Ed Pincus, professional photographer and philosopher turned filmmaker and gardener, brought four of his large photographs off the mountain and into the old building, and it was only fitting that the pictures were of residents from circa 1990. These were just a few from his collection of about 150 shots that he took in his early days in town.

Writer and activist Jane Pincus, chose to show a number of her paintings which focused on issues and events that have affected or inspired her over the years. The works, which are collages using acrylic paint, were born of political situations, Native American myths and social issues. "All have stories," she said quietly when asked about the paintings, "They express my passion for justice." The collages, at once colorful, busy and questioning, drew the viewer into the scene and deeper into the story. But in case one took anything too seriously, Jane had unwittingly reminded her public of the whimsy to be found in life, as she used one of her beautiful paintings to prop open the front door of the center.

Jane noted that the Roxbury Selectboard was very supportive of her effort to make place in town for artists without space to display their work. This was the first year that Roxbury was "on the map" for the annual Vermont Studio Tour, which is in its 18th year.

Outside the bustle of downtown Roxbury, three miles back toward the Lost Nation, Deborah VanNess lives on property that once hosted a mill on Flint Brook. A stones-throw away from the old mill foundation is Deborah's work studio, Flint Brook Pottery, where she has been creating "artistically inspired functional pottery" for 14 years. On temporary display in her studio were various attractive, sturdy and reasonably priced coffee mugs, bowls and plates, all microwave, dishwasher and oven safe. Deborah provided several demonstrations of the clay throwing and trimming process for visitors during the weekend. Though she works as an assistant manager at the Artisan's Hand Craft Gallery in Montpelier, her own work is what she refers to as "my identity job." For now, Deborah's work is sold at the Artisan's Gallery but she plans on expanding in the future.

Deborah's studio assistant Vicki Rainey also had some of her work on display. She uses white clay and often includes a tint and a stenciled, inspirational quote. Vicki, who originally focused mainly on quilting, also makes unique pincushions with quilters in mind. Her various works are can be seen in more detail at her website: sites.google.com/site/chippingstonecottage/

Photographer Josh Axelrod and Painter Linda Maney had their work set up at Josh's barnturned studio on Webster Road. The studio itself was reminiscent of the Inn at the Round Barn in Waitsfield, only cozier and more welcoming. Painter Linda Maney, who uses watercolor, acrylic and some oil, is inspired by color, mood, motion, fire, windows and moons. She has always had a love of painting but was unable to spend much time until she retired from the corporate life. "Painting's not something I can dabble in. It's a passion," she says. She has been "painting in earnest" for about nine years, after being inspired by people and events around her. Her husband and soul mate Larry encouraged her 100% and bought her a watercolor kit for Christmas one year. A former co-worker, also an artist, told her to pursue her goal of painting. Perhaps the biggest event in her beginning career was when a stranger bought a painting she had at an art show at the Chandler Theatre in Randolph. After sharing these inspirations, Linda was reminded of a contest she had won as a Brownie, for a painting she called "Fruits of Niagara." She recently found the child's art in her mother's old house. "I couldn't believe my mother had saved it all these years," she observed. She summed up her love of art and life with advice for everyone: "If you have a passion, go for it."

Professional photographer Josh Axelrod, who has lived in Roxbury for almost two years, shows his all film photography in various galleries throughout Vermont and elsewhere. On this weekend, his studio in the barn, which he opens by appointment, was decorated with large photographs of special moments in nature captured by his lens: a lone horse in a snow-covered field, long mane blowing in the wind; the flowers on the end of a garlic scape, always removed by the attentive gardener before blooming and rarely seen. Setting Josh's handsome and thoughtful photographs apart from others are his frames which are made from antique architectural, salvaged wood from all over New England. Josh also spends about six months a year participating in photography shows throughout the East Coast with what he calls his "portable gallery." Though it may sound like a hectic schedule, he says that it's a rewarding one because, "I love making the connection with a person who likes my art."

On this Saturday evening, Josh and his wife Misse also hosted a gourmet dinner among the works of art, which was prepared by Chef Charlie Graham of Claire's Restaurant in Hardwick. The focus of the dinner was to merge the couple's interests: art and local food. Misse is the owner of Flavors from the Field, a business she created which sells gourmet rice and couscous, flavored with garlic, tomatoes and herbs grown on her Roxbury farm. She wholesales the products to co-ops throughout Vermont and also sells them at the Waitsfield Farmer's Market. The menu featured cuisine from local farms and was mostly prepared on sight in the farmhouse kitchen. The cost of the five-course meal was $50, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the Roxbury Roots group, which focuses on locavore ideals and living. The couple hopes to have another "on farm dinner and gallery experience" in the fall.