MANITOULIN—The 22nd annual Manitoulin Art Tour almost didn’t come to pass this year, but thanks to a timely intervention and the assistance of LAMBAC, the popular event will take place on July 15, 16 and 17 from 10 am to 5 pm across Manitoulin Island.
“We were very concerned about this year,” said Art Tour advisor Helen Siksek, who recently moved to Houston, Texas. “We looked for a volunteer coordinator to replace me after I moved, but there was no one stepping forward.”
Enter LAMBAC.
“About three months ago received a call from Michael Addison from LAMBAC and he said ‘how can we help?’” recalled Ms. Siksek.
In short order LAMBAC’s Carolyn Dearing took over and successfully captained the ship along with two volunteer helpers, Christie Pearson-Anderson (President of the Manitoulin Fine Arts Association) and Helen Siksek (MFAA Art Tour advisor). They worked closely together to organize the tour.
“It was three hands clapping,” quipped Ms. Siksek.
“LAMBAC is very pleased to be able to assist the Manitoulin Fine Arts Association with the organization of the Manitoulin Art Tour for 2016,” said LAMBAC manager Mike Addison. “There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes for an event like this and we saw it as an opportunity to get involved and help this volunteer organization pull off another successful showcase for area artists.”
There will be 30 participating locations featuring more than 120 artists this year and the venues have expanded further west on Manitoulin than ever before. “We will have four artists showcasing their work at the Gordon/Barrie Island Community Centre,” said Ms. Siksek. “Not only that, we have Evelyn Lane, who is in her 90s, possibly the oldest artist we have ever had participating on the Art Tour.”
Manitoulin Art Tour brochures and maps are available at most major visitor information centres (Little Current, Mindemoya and South Baymouth) and through some town offices, shops, galleries and artist studios. The brochure contains a listing of all participants as well as a road map to make it easier for visitors to find the artists’ locations.
In addition, yellow and black Art Tour road signs will point visitors towards the
nearest exhibitor where they will be a able to view the latest works of a variety of local
and visiting artists, photographers, potters, weavers and other craft artisans.
See page 11A in this week’s Expositor for a map of the Art Tour or visit www.manitoulinart.com.
