MANITOULIN—There are over 50 exhibitors taking part in the 25th annual Manitoulin Art Tour and their locations stretch to all corners of the Island, making the Art Tour one great way to explore Manitoulin.
“Our exhibitors are all over the Island, from Meldrum Bay to Little Current, from Gore Bay to South Baymouth and they are all wonderful,” said organizer Marian Hester. “I am particularly pleased that we are going to the far western part of the Island this year.”
The Meldrum Bay Inn and Restaurant is on the art tour this year, as is the Meldrum Bay Marina, where the works of Paul and Tracey McAlister will be on display. Mr. McAlister is a photographer whose works “capture the wonderful world in which we live,” while the acrylic abstracts of Ms. McAlister and 3-D interior accent pieces show the beauty and energy of Manitoulin Island.
“We have a number of new exhibitors this year,” noted Ms. Hester, “including Christine Mick, who will probably be familiar to many people through her unique and popular stained glass effect painting workshops that are zenful and addictive.” Ms. Mick’s workshops are featured at the Island Jar in Little Current and her work draws inspiration from her Algonquin roots, native culture and art. Ms. Mick’s work will be displayed in her in Silver Water home studio.
The Cove, a new art gallery in Kagawong, will be a fresh stop midway between Little Current and Gore Bay, where the work of Fran Mills and Willa Wilson will be on exhibit. “Fran’s work encompasses up-cycling and re-purposing and she is very creative with her found art,” noted Ms. Hester. “Willa does a lot of work in print making.” Ms. Wilson studied her artform at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, but is an Ice Lake expat who has returned to her Island roots. Along with the new venue in Ontario’s prettiest little village is the venerable Manitoulin Art Tour staple Edwards Art Studio in the historical Old Mill on the waterfront.
In Manitowaning Debajehmujig Storytellers are once again on the map, with Madonna Aeschlimann’s incredible exhibition featuring 13 working mothers of Manitoulin and in Providence Bay the art of the late Jack Whyte is featured at the Mutchmor Gallery.
When it comes to a diverse range of art forms and subject matter it is hard to top the famed Perivale Gallery, where Shannon McMullan continues the legacy of her parents with one of the finest galleries in the province.
With 37 locations spread across Manitoulin there are too many artists to list here, but each brings with them a great reason to travel the length and breadth of the Island this weekend. The Manitoulin Art Tour runs from July 19 to 21 from 10 am to 5 pm. Brochures are available at The Expositor office and the many venues across Manitoulin.
