The Kirkland Artist Studio Tour (KAST) has quickly become a Mother’s Day weekend tradition in the city, with many artists and attendees returning year after year.

“Having something to do (for Mother’s Day) that is more of an experience is so much more special than things,” KAST artist Kerry Itami said. “The memory of seeing art together is so inspiring and stimulating.”

This year’s KAST, the 14th annual event, will include more than 50 artists at 18 locations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

“The event is an initiative designed to support the arts and the community,” Thea Peterson, who is a KAST artist and a member of the KAST steering committee, said. “It brings the whole community together.”

All of the KAST locations are in Kirkland.

“They are spread throughout the whole city,” Amanda Reeves, development and events coordinator at the Kirkland Arts Center (KAC), said.

The venues include many artists’ private studios, art galleries and local businesses.

“Every studio will do something different,” said Itami, who will be in the KAC’s Skylight Studio during the tour.

One of the highlights for many of the attendees is the opportunity to actually interact with the artists instead of simply walking through a gallery and looking at pieces of art. Itami, who is participating in the tour for the first time this year, previously attended KAST.

“I enjoyed talking with the artists, connecting with them,” she said of the previous events. “People really respond to the art.”

“It’s important for the community to see what their artists are doing,” Peterson, who also teaches at the KAC, added.

“I think anytime people can get a glimpse into the lives of other people, it’s a wonderful experience,” said Joy Hagen, another KAST artist.

These interactions prove to be valuable for the artists as well.

“A lot of us artists do our art on our own,” said Itami, who does abstract paintings with mixed media. “Artists like to open our doors and connect with people.”

The artists participating in KAST 2017 work across a variety of media, including painting, ceramics, fiber art, mixed media, graphic design, glass, photography, printmaking, sculpture and jewelry. Hagen is an encaustic painter, meaning she works with hot, melted beeswax to make her art.

“I started taking classes in 2001, and by 2003, it became my primary medium — I just fell in love with it,” she said. “It’s a very intriguing medium.”

In addition to Itami, Peterson and Hagen, the other participating artists include Vineeta Agarwal, Beverly Ash Gilbert, Betz Bernhard, Shima Bharma, Cheryl Brown, Robin Carnahan, Courtney Cooke, Susan Derrick, Merrily Dicks, Michael Dickter, Crystal Edwards, Chris Fox, Nancy Fox, Sherri Gamble, Anna Geiger, Diana Grant, Julie Hammerquist, Milan Heger, Lendy Hensley, Kei Hirose, Barbara Hostetler, Lyla Jacobsen, P.D. Jensen, Smadar Kariv, Lee Kennedy, Karen Klee-Atlin, Ranu Ladha, Helena Males-Sumic, Ivan Mancera, Jodie Sarah Masiwchuk, Garret Maytum, Kristin Morris, Wayne Pennington, Carol Pierce, Donna Porter, Brandi Reyna, Jill Sahlstrom, Margaret Shapiro, Anne Simernitski, Kristy Swanson, Lynn Trepp, Frances Velling, Michael Velling, Joann Wadge, Coralyn Whitney, Katherine Wright and Vicky Zomenou.

Some of the artists featured in the tour will also be making art during the event.

“There will be all kinds of different things going on,” Peterson, who is a painter and printmaker, said.

On top of the tour, the KAC, which has been organizing the event since 2008, will have food trucks, kids’ activities and live music as part of KAST. The Just Jacks food truck will be at the KAC from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and the Tabassum truck will be there from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Kat &Friends will perform from 3-5 p.m. Sunday and 14 of the artists featured in KAST will be at the KAC for the tour.

Free kids’ activities will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days; supplies including paper, glue and stickers will be available for kids to create Mother’s Day cards.

“It’s a very fun weekend at the arts center,” Itami said.

“There are a lot of things for children to enjoy as well as the moms,” Hagen added.

Admission is free for the self-guided tour, and a map of the locations can be picked up at the KAC or found on the center’s website. Peterson advises attendees to start at the KAC, at 620 Market St., and fan out from there.

For more information about KAST, visit kirklandartscenter.org/KAST.

“Blooming Lotus” by Kerry Itami. Itami will be at the Kirkland Arts Center during the Kirkland Artist Studio Tour this weekend. Contributed photo

“Koi Pond” by Thea Peterson. Peterson will be at Ryan James Fine Arts in Totem Lake during the Kirkland Artist Studio Tour this weekend. Contributed photo

“Tree Lines: Still Waters” by Joy Hagen. Hagen will be at her home studio, OJOY Studio, during the Kirkland Artist Studio Tour this weekend. Contributed photo

Catherine Johnson does a demo during the 2016 Kirkland Artist Studio Tour. KAST 2017 will feature more than 50 artists at 18 venues. LAREY MCDANIELS/Contributed photo