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One Woman's Vision Information on the current Orange County Open Studio Tour 
Many years ago when Cathy Holt put together the Chatham County Open Studio Tour, it gave her friend Monnda Welch something to think about. "If I ever find the time," she told Cathy, "I'm going to put together an Open Studio Tour for Orange County." Little did she know that opportunity would come knocking all too soon.  Monnda had been making jewelry since 1990. In fact, she recently completed her fourth year as President of the North Carolina Society of Goldsmiths. "I'm a good organizer," says Welch. "They needed someone who could keep things in order, get the newsletter out, make sure dues were paid, that sort of thing." On Mother's Day in 1995, Monnda broke her wrist. Ten days later she tore her rotator cuff. 
For a jewelry maker, these events were devastating, and meant a temporary halt to creating jewelry for Monnda. It opened the door for the initial planning stages of the Orange County Open Studio Tour. Monnda was finally going to have the time to bring all of the elements necessary together to plan the tour. Monnda approached the Orange County Arts Commission with her vision.  "They basically told me it couldn't be done in the few short months I had planned. They dismissed me without giving the idea any seroius consideration." Monnda had a vision, and she wasn't about to let any naysayers stand in her way. She consulted with Cathy Holt, and began contacting local artists to see if they would like to become involved. Her dream began to take form. 
On a shoestring budget that came from her own pocket, Monnda went to work. In the first year, 28 artists paid their $75 apiece to be involved in the tour. This was a great way for the artists to showcase their work in their own studio setting. Over the years, more artists became involved and the Orange County Open Studio Tour became a very successful reality. 
However, Monnda wasn't satisfied to sit on her laurels. She wanted to come up with a way for local area artists to sell their wares on a regular basis, not just 2 weekends a year. She knew that there needed to be a year-round venue for struggling artists, and was determined to make it happened, with or without the cooperation of the county or the town. In December of 1996, Grass Roots Arts was born. 
Initially, Grass Roots Arts set up wherever they could find a place. Tentatively, they sold from the Carrboro Plaza parking lot, with aspirations of moving to Carrboro Town Commons for a permanent venue. Once again, Monnda dug into her own pocket to raise the necessary funds to make it happen. They got their spot in Carrboro, and once a month on Sunday, Grass Roots Arts was set up under the shelters. 
These days though, Monnda isn't doing much jewelry making. Toxic levels of metal that were found in her system forced her to quit her craft and let her body recover from the damage that had been done as a result of her last project, welding metal for yard art. "I was standing over the projects to weld, rather than next to them and working from the side." As a result, toxic fumes were being trapped under the mask designed to prevent such things from occuring. Once again, Monnda's craft was put on the back burner. 
Always looking for new avenues, Monnda has taken on another endeavor, selling real estate. Working for Weaver St. Auction and Realty in both their Carrboro and Pittsboro offices, now consumes most of Monnda's energy. Grass Roots Arts has been turned over to a board of artists and renamed Carrboro Sunday Market, which sets up every other Sunday at the Carrboro Town Commons.  The Orange County Open Studio Tour is in a transitional period, with Monnda turning it over to the Orange County Arts Commission over the next 3 years, they very same board who turned her away 6 years ago. "People just don't realize the huge amount of work involved in putting this thing together," says Welch. "I've watched it grow into a successful annual event. I'm ready to let it go." Monnda Welch has had a huge impact in the lives of emerging and established artists in the Triangle area. She had a dream and she made it happen. The North Carolina art world is much better off due to her extensive efforts and her "never say die" attitude. She now has the time to dabble in a favorite pastime as an astrologer, and is looking for the perfect piece of land to build a house. She's taking a year off from her involvement in local art. Having a vision can be a blessing and a curse. Bringing it to fruition is usually a daunting task. So this year, as you go from place to place, seeing artists in their natural settings, think of Monnda, the individual who made it all happen. Click here to go to The Orange County Open Studio Tour website. BEAUTIFY YOUR HOME AND YOURSELF! BUY ART!! Information on the current Orange County Open Studio Tour Computer Stuff | Downtown Carrboro Map | Events | Prices | Restaurants | UniqueOrn Enterprises 
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