MANITOULIN—Exhibiting in the Manitoulin Fine Arts Association (MFAA) Manitoulin Art Tour is always a great experience for artists, providing not only a chance to show off their work to potential patrons, but also an opportunity to meet and chat with a wide range of art lovers from across the globe.
This year’s event was another great success, according to the artists and LAMBAC Art Tour coordinator Carolyn Dearing. “I think it was a success again,” she said. “There were numerous artists and lots of visitors coming to take part in communities across the Island.”
Ms. Dearing took on the coordinator’s role when it appeared that there was no volunteer to take over when the previous coordinator moved to Houston, Texas. Ms. Dearing noted that the Manitoulin Art Tour is “a great economic driver for communities all across the Island” and that should the MFAA need LAMBAC’s services to coordinate next year’s event they would be happy to lend a hand.
The average art tour venue sees a fair number of visitors, but there are also periods of quiet. “They seem to come in spurts,” laughed long-time contributor Lorraine Loranger of Bay Estates. This works out well for the artist, as she uses much of the down time between visitors to work on her latest creation, a finely detailed pencil drawing of a fox in winter.
Diane Glasby was set up inside and out at the South Bay Gallery and Guest House. Coming from an Ohio family with deep artistic roots, Ms. Glasby pretty much has oil paint in her blood. “I have pretty much always painted,” she admitted, her statement backed up by the quality of her works on display.
A little way up the road in Manitowaning, Mira Jones represents a younger up-and-coming artist. A found art piece, featuring beach glass and an amazing assortment of orphaned keys woven into a marvelous found art mobile was set up outside the Debajehmujig Creation Centre along with a range of Ms. Jones’ watercolours, photography, sculptures and jewellery.
Photographer Peter Baumgarten is familiar to most readers of The Expositor, which has had the pleasure of publishing a number of his outstanding works over the years. “Every photo has a story,” noted Mr. Baumgarten. In one work, a pair of swallows are setting up shop in a roadside birdhouse, flanked by a ‘keep out no trespassing’ sign. “I had passed that birdhouse so many times over the years, I always thought to myself ‘if only there were birds’,” he said. One day he saw a bird flutter to the post. “I parked my car and waited there about 20 minutes for the shot,” he recalled. “What you don’t see is the lady putting her laundry on the line wondering to herself what the guy with the camera hanging out his car window was up to.”
Dani Ortman knows textiles, having studied patterns from across the globe, and she utilizes her vast knowledge to create stunning original works of art masquerading as scarves. Each scarf creation shows her meticulous control of her craft, but even for a master weaver each work represents many hours of craftsmanship to create. Although she has literally travelled the world in her pursuit of her craft, Ms. Ortman has settled firmly into her new home in Sheguiandah.
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- Petra Wall prefers mixed media, but has also dabbled in pen and ink and pencil sketches. In 1995, simple-form rock carving and photography were initiated. Ms. Wall has historically been drawn to the human form and has always enjoyed the spontaneity and the subtle nature of watercolours the most. photo by Julie McIntosh
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- North Channel Arts artist Gail Meehan with her oil painting ‘Northern Reflection.’ photo by Robin Burridge
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- Ursula Hettmann’s wood-lined shop and studio on the scenic shores of Dominion Bay houses a unique collection of her silver jewellery embellished with stones and beads and her “design quality” clothing for larger women, including flowing linen pieces from Europe and her own hand-tailored and subtly decorated sweatshirts. The pottery of daughter Antje Gagne is also featured. photo by Isobel Harry
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- Dani Lynn Redgrift poses with her award winning photography on display at the Island Jar in Little Current. photo by Robin Burridge
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- Julieanne Steedman with her watercolour and acrylic paintings, cards and textiles at the Outpost General Store in Little Current. photo by Robin Burridge
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- erin-blyth reddie stands with her ‘naturescapes,’ which combines natural items found on Manitoulin with haiku poetry, at the Oriole Arts Studio and Gallery at The Mutchmor in Providence Bay. photo by Robin Burridge
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- Duncan Pheasant’s painting ‘The Journey to Manitoulin Island,’ an acrylic on canvas, was a crowd favourite at the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation throughout the art tour. photo supplied
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- ‘Whispers’ depicts an old eerie home that artist Julie Glaude discovered on a drive in the Green Bush with her partner. photo by Robin Burridge
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- Susan Cairns of Espanola with her watercolour ‘Perfect Day in Thomas Bay,’ ‘Dinosaur Driftwood and her photograph ‘Taking Flight.’ photo by Robin Burridge
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- Artist Andrew Gallagher stands beside ‘Grace Lake’ at Timberlane Rustic Lodges on Saturday. The painting received an honourable mention a the LaCloche Art Show. photo by Julie McIntosh
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- Judy Boyd of Little Current with her watercolours ‘Abandoned Dory’ and ‘Red Morning’ at the Anchor Inn Hotel. photo by Robin Burridge
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- The Alzheimer Society Sudbury-Manitoulin, North Bay and Districts display for-the-art-tour showcased work made by clients in the organization’s art therapy program. The program provides clients with an opportunity to express themselves creatively. photo by Robin Burridge
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- At Susan’s in Gore Bay, owner Susan Garlock, right, chats with Joanne Arthurs of Little Current about the quilt on the wall, by local award-winning quilter Myra Tallman, which Ms. Arthurs decided to purchase. Susan’s stocks a wide selection of handcrafts and her own inventive recycled glass pieces which she cuts, sandblasts and etches herself. photo by Isobel Harry
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- Diane Glasby with her oil works at the South Bay Gallery and Guest House. photo by Michael Erskine
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- Richard Lathwell of Lobo Loco Alpacas in Sheguiandah. The farm is a local source of sustainable fibre products with a small studio containing a carding drum, spinning wheel and loom where various fibre art and craft is exhibited and available for sale. photo by Michael Erskine
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- Peter Baumgarten was on-site at the Assiginack Museum showcasing his photography. Peter’s work has been published in Canadian Geographic and Digital Photo Magazine. photo by Michael Erskine
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- Rochelle Neal’s Periwinkle Studio is nestled in periwinkle gardens and lush woods on Monument Road on Lake Mindemoya. The retired public health nurse who was born in Mindemoya is a member of the Botanical Artists of Canada and uses vivid watercolours to depict natural scenes in light and moodier tones. Photo by Isobel Harry
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- Shannon McMullan (centre), owner and curator of the Perivale Gallery, now in its 35th year, discusses art books with Lee Alexander of Hamilton and Julie Edwards of Fort Wayne, Indiana, both long-time summer residents at Silver Lake. Ms McMullan, whose gallery showcases ‘masterworks’ in paintings, sculpture, glass and pottery, welcomed over 100 visitors to her forested setting on the first day of the Art Tour and added that “sales were amazing.” photo by Isobel Harry
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- Mira Jones makes art when not living out of a backpack and travelling the world. She works mixed media which includes everything, even dirt. Mira’s art is a glimpse into a foreign world into which many people never venture. photo by Michael Erskine
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- Exhibiting their accomplished work indoors and out at Lynsart Studio on Big Lake were long-time artist friends who have been showing together “for about 20 years.” From left: Linda Williamson, painter in oils and mixed media, whose home and gallery were the setting for the Art Tour show; Ellen Lewis, artist in wood and fabric, watercolours and pen and ink, started the LaCloche Art School 31 years ago; Leslie Morin, of Mindemoya, acrylic painter; Lynda James, potter, bakes her striking pots, jugs and plates in a kiln in her studio on Big Lake. photo by Isobel Harry
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- Lorraine Loranger’s home/studio displays her multi-media art of birds, wildlife and scenic landscapes. Her exploration along the shores of Manitoulin Island, the Northern Boreal forest and Canada has inspired her creative endeavours of impressionistic art. photo by Michael Erskine
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- Four working artists at the Gore Bay Harbour Centre take a break on the waterfront verandah of the large complex housing studios, galleries and shops. From left: Lynne Gerard, painter and calligrapher of Ravenseyrie Studio and Art Gallery; Lynda Noe, fibre artist of Scissors and Silk; Maggie King-Roi, glassier of The Glass Studio; Heather Young, all-media visual artist of HY Creates. photo by Isobel Harry
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- Glenna Treasure’s pottery studio is situated on beautiful Bike Lake, just east of Mindemoya. She creates original pieces of functional pottery using unique glazes. After retiring Glenna found her passion for pottery and has spent many hours perfecting her craft. photo by Julie McIntosh
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- Textile artists Dani Ortman at her studio in Sheguiandah. The Canadian designer hand weaves luxury scarves and fine textiles. photo by Michael Erskine
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- During the Art Tour, a drive through the heritage farmlands of Barrie Island brought rich rewards at the Community Centre, which participated for the first time in the event, also hosting a cafe. Showing their work were: Mary Anderson, the organizer, who depicts whimsical animals and landscapes in fabric; Laurie Howard, with her vividly painted folk art on weathered boards; Donald Harry Roberts, painter of moody landscapes on canvas and board; Enid Runnalls, who accepts commissions for her soft watercolour and acrylic paintings; Helen Siksek, acrylic mixed media painter of water landscapes. Pictured is Evelyn Lane, an artist of Barrie Island who, at 92, still paints on her kitchen table, has had two shows at the Gore Bay Museum and a book published about her folk-inflected paintings of, as she explained, “what I see around me.” photo by Isobel Harry
