| Aug 21, 2008


Feature Article - August 21, 2008

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Feature Article - August 21, 2008 Upcoming Studio Tours

Craft Inroads Studio Tour

Sundance Studio Tour

Inroads Studio Tour - A Solid Tradition with Surprises

The 16th Annual Inroads Studio Tour takes place on Labour Day weekend. This year’s tour features over 27 artists in 20 different studios.

New to the tour this year are fused glass artist Ken and jeweller Linda Brandley at the Joyful Beader Studio and Gallery in Verona.

The tour features several hubs, one of which includes five artists showing in three waterfront studios in the Parham Tichborne area.

Laurel Minutillo is a popular jeweller with a studio on Eagle Lake. Woodturner Nick and Jeweller Annette Hally have a studio at Maple Grove Estates on Bobs Lake, and artists in glass and silver Ron and Susan Wulf will be joined by mixed media artist Julie Druker at the Bridesmill studio, a unique property on the Bobs Lake road.

A bit further to the north painter Carol Pepper will be re-joining the tour after an absence of several years at her home studio on he Ducharme Road near Road 38.

Painters Donna Larocque and Bonnie McLean (who have recently opened the Artimesia Gallery in Westport) are located not far away at St. Georges Lake, and down the Shibley Road is the studio of woodturner Ken Waller. A bit further up Road 38 is the turn-off to Martina Field's printmaking studio on the Tryon Road.

Right in the middle of the village of Sharbot Lake, Algonquin artist and new tour member Mitchell Shewell will be showing hand-made native crafts at his home/studio.

Over on the Tom Fox Road near Mountain Grove, potter Lisa Moses will show functional work and miniature pieces at Stoneflower Pottery.

In Arden, the Arden Artisans, potter Joanne Pickett (Arden Pottery), Batik artist Sarah Hale (Arden Batik) and painter Judith Versavel (Gallery on the Bay) will welcome visitors to studios that attract visitors all year long.

Joanne Pickett will be joined in her studio by Rysha Colp, a pyrographer whose does finely detailed wildlife representations, and Sarah Hale will host Dave Johnston, with whom she has co-authored a book of historical photos of Arden.

Up on the Henderson Road, painter Ursula Ossenburg will once again be hosted by the Kirk Kove Resort on Gull Lake.

North of Snow Road on Highway 509 lies the picturesque studio and Alpaca ranch of wood turner Hanne Quigley.

Along Highway 7 towards Maberly are the studios of photographer Paul Shuster on Zealand Road, and painter Lisa Rissanen on the Armstrong Road.

The MERA Centre in McDonald’s Corners will host four individual artists and two couples this year, including: weaver Ellen Good, twig furniture and crafts workers David and Bonnie Jehu, mixed media artist Claude Lemay, mosaic artist Sharon Ripley, weaver Heather Sherratt, and home decor artist Mavis Wade and her wood carver husband Mickey Wade of Acorny Acres.

Near Fallbrook, at the Fall River Forge, Mark Gavrock will be demonstrating the backsmithing art, and he will have a variety of work for sale as well.

Finally, over at Balderson, is a new member of the tour, acrylic painter Linda Turner, who has translated her fascination with horses into an art.

The Inroads tour has established an enduring reputation thanks to the quality of the artistry on display, the natural beauty of the locations, and the interest generated as the artists demonstrate how they create their works.

The tour is free, and guides are available at all local retail outlets. For information, visit www.inroadstour.ca or call 613-335-2073.

Sundance Studio Tour – Art and the Environment

How can you enjoy a day out, support 16 artists, tempt your taste buds with a scrumptious lunch from the "Greenest Restaurant in Canada” and listen to live music? Join us Labour Day Weekend in Maberly, Ontario!

The theme this year for the Sundance Studio Tour is "Art and the Environment". We welcome seven new artists to our tour this year, bringing our total to 15, plus a mystery guest. Our new artists include Jean Pierre Schoss, who received a Platinum award for recycled art recently. He uses recycled oil and propane tanks to create spectacular animals, furniture, abstract creatures and landscape art. Danyne Kerr uses recycled copper in her art which includes candle holders, table decorations and combined with wood and glass, some unique art features. Scott Switzer uses natural stone and a creative edge in his birdbaths, sundials, benches and tables. Alice Hinter rescues old chairs and furniture from the landfill and creates dramatic art, colorful and whimsical one of a kind "Funk-tional Furniture". Lanark artist John Schweighardt entered the art community recently with functional designs, an age old method of hand "stone splitting" to create unique bowls and candle holders.

Resident artist Carmen Allen will be showing some unique use of recycled dinnerware at this years show, along with her spectacular, natural look of blended stained glass and metal. This year we also welcome jeweler Stephen Clark whose creativity on wood and metal Is unique. Photographer Diane Laundy brings a very distinctive approach to the photo-canvas, images of mystery and beauty.

Returning this year are Marilynne Gowan with a new selection of garden art, Dawn Burham with a new series of plates and platters to complement her bowls, Doug MacDonald with his popular cast stone creations, Bill Neddow who received an award in England this year for his wood turnings, and our popular local artist Gary Barr who portrays our heritage in dramatic watercolours.

Loretta Moore returns for her second year with originality in traditional rug hooking. How could we not forget Kathleen and her decadent French and Belgian Chocolate truffles, including sugar-free varieties.

All of the artists are spread out over an acre and a half of beautiful gardens and a short wooded trail. Many of the artists are displaying their work in covered timber frame shelters. Carmen's husband Cam will be welcoming everyone to their home, which includes a solar-powered water reclamation system collects the rain water off their roof. This irrigates the flower beds and the three ponds spread around the gardens.

Paul and Michelle from the Fall River Restaurant were recently acknowledged as the "Greenest Restaurant in Canada". They will be serving locally grown/raised meals with an organic flavour.

Returning for their second year are Anne & Chris with their world music on flute and classical guitar. Known as "Caccia" they received numerous applause last year from the lunch patrons.

Expanded parking facilities are planned for this year, as are electric powered shuttle carts for those that need this convenience or want to save the short stroll from the parking to the garden studio sites.

Come join one of the largest single gatherings of studio artists in Eastern Ontario. For more info, please go to www.sundancestudio.ca

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