Fall Studio Tours, Gallery Exhibitions & More!

Fall Studio Tours, Gallery Exhibitions & More! - theHumm October 2019

By Miss Cellaneous

Loonie Banks at the Almonte Potters Guild

Do you remember when children saved pennies in a piggy bank? Well the Almonte Potters Guild is going back to that time with an exhibition of “Loonie Banks”. The money containers in this show run the gauntlet from elephants to fish, houses to masks, heads and more. The exhibition starts on October 1 and runs until October 31. A vernissage will be held on October 4 from 6–8pm. The Potters Guild is located at 95 Bridge Street in Almonte. Find more details at almontepottersguild.com .

Strévé Presents Animale

Animale is the new exhibit for the month of October in the Strévé Design Studio Boutique Gallery in Perth. This show sees four local artists interpreting their favourite subject in four very different styles! The word Animale is derived from French and Latin spellings, and the show includes not only wild and domestic mammals but also birds, butterflies and insects.

Wildlife artist Kristi Bird has been painting for thirty years in Ontario and is passionate about her subject matter. Kristi creates a surreal background or fantasy element to her acrylic paintings, so that the viewer is left with a sense of belief in the positive. A prolific painter, she has pieces in private collections across Canada.

Caroline Evans grew up in England next to a large woodland and pond with which she became intimately acquainted. She is strongly attracted to wild landscapes and to signs of change in the natural world. Her style is realistic, although odd flings of fantasy and imagination creep in from time to time in her oil and acrylic paintings. Her work hangs in homes and offices in Wales, England, New Zealand, the USA, Canada and Italy.

Jenn Raby’s works explore many African animals, primarily in batik and watercolour. Every piece of artwork is a journey that she takes with her heart, body and sense of wonder. Jenn has been working in batik and painting for more than forty years. The batik process can best be compared to watercolour, but is much less forgiving. Catch this talented artist before her works are seen in Ottawa at Wall Candy — the juried show taking place at Landsdowne Park at the end of November.

Dayle VanAlstine is a multi-media artist who feels blessed to have recently followed the life-long pull of art to find where it will take her on a serious level. Most recently she has discovered a fascination with working with wool; sculpting the rovings into art dolls and two-dimensional works. There is a child-like innocence to her felted rabbits, sheep and butterflies.

All four of these artists are members of the Rideau Lakes Art Association. Jenn Raby and Caroline Evans are founding members of Perth Art Works. Animale runs from October 4 to November 4. Meet the artists on Sunday, October 20 from 2–4pm in the Gallery, which is located at 64 Gore St. East in Perth (behind the TD Bank). For more information, visit strevedesign.com .

Expressions of Art

Thirty-one local artists have been selected to participate in this year’s Expressions of Art Show and Sale hosted by the West Carleton Arts Society. This show, which has been celebrated annually for more than 25 years, will be held on Thanksgiving weekend (October 11–13) at the Carp Agricultural Hall.

The opening reception will be held on Friday, October 11, and will feature musical guests Kate Weekes and James Stephens. Refreshments will be served and there will be a cash bar. Attendance and parking are free, and the venue is wheelchair accessible. The show runs on Friday from 7–9pm, on Saturday from 8am to 4pm, and on Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Established in 1988, the West Carleton Arts Society (WCAS) is an active, non-profit volunteer organization of vibrant, talented visual artists and fine crafts people. For more information, please visit westcarletonartssociety.ca .

CANADIANA II at Sivarulrasa Gallery

From October 11 to November 17, Almonte’s Sivarulrasa Gallery is delighted to present CANADIANA II, bringing together three talented artists from Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Alberta.

The exhibition includes new drawings and watercolour works by Toronto-based artist Jane Irwin, inspired by her artist residency in the village of Tilting on Fogo Island, Newfoundland in the fall of 2018. Based in Port Royal, Nova Scotia, artist Susan Tooke’s new paintings focus on woodlands and wilderness areas on Canada’s East Coast. Providing a counterpoint to these two artists is Edmonton-based artist Gillian Willans, who creates paintings of domestic interiors that reflect her personal history as well as her research into the historical tradition of genre painting.

Everyone is invited to meet the artists at the vernissage on Saturday, October 19 from 3–6pm. The gallery is located at 34 Mill Street in Almonte. For more information, please visit sivarulrasa.com .

Fragments of Canada’s History

Richard Gill is currently preparing for his 47th annual show at Bittersweet Gallery in Burnstown. Entitled Fragments of Canada’s History, it will feature clay relief representations of 50 seminal events, such as the one pictured here of Princess Diana on the steps of Parliament. The show continues to October 14 in Richard’s studio at Bittersweet Gallery, where his ongoing work and that of over fifty Canadian artists can be seen year-round. The gallery is open daily from 11am to 5pm, and you can find details and directions at burnstown.ca/bittersweet .

Red Trillium Studio Tour

The Red Trillium Fall Studio Tour returns on October 26 and 27, showcasing the studios of some of West Carleton’s most talented artists and artisans. Just twenty minutes beyond Kanata, into the scenic countryside around Carp, Dunrobin and Kinburn, you will be welcomed at studios featuring paintings, jewellery, pottery, glasswork, basketry, handweaving, designer clothing and fine art textiles, as well as at a unique local winery, Kin Vineyards. Artists will be on hand to discuss their work and tell you about their inspiration!

One of the stops on the tour is St. Mary’s Church, where in addition to meeting several artists, you will be able to enjoy a light lunch prepared by the Church’s women’s group. The nearby Heart and Soul Café also welcomes visitors with great breakfast and lunch options.

Visit redtrilliumst.com to download a brochure and map and for detailed information about the artists and craftspeople at each studio, or find the tour on Facebook or Instagram.

Jean Morrow —theHumm Came Out to Morrow - theHumm October 2019

By Sally Hansen

Art… and Soul

It was time to check out the artistic chops of another member of the amazing Almonte art scene. A relative newcomer to the community, Jean Morrow has opened her solo art gallery as part of her stunning Thoburn Mill condo overlooking the Mississippi River. Her art also brightens the walls and nicely complements Deborah Arnold’s supremely appropriate stone sculptures in the main corridor of this remarkable building. After several iterations of renovation since the historical......

Fall Studio Tours, Gallery Exhibitions & More! - theHumm October 2019