WHITEFISH FALLS—It has been quite a run for Little Current artist Cliff Jewell, going from being an occasional dabbler in the arts before his retirement seven years ago to featured artist at the famed La Cloche Art Show a few short years later.
As featured artist at the La Cloche Art Show in Whitefish Falls, Mr. Jewell will be conducting a workshop for aspiring artists where he will pass on some of his favourite techniques utilizing glazes. Despite his quite obvious talent as a painter, Mr. Jewell admits to being a bit nervous about that portion of his featured artist duties. “I have never done anything like that,” he laughs. “It will be something different for sure.”
Mr. Jewell has always painted, but it was something he did sporadically. “When the mood struck me,” he said. Now, he dedicates a good part of his day, every day, to working in the studio he built next to his home. “I usually start around 10 o’clock in the morning,” he said. “I stick to it until around 4 or 5 pm. COVID really set things back a lot, but I am getting back into my routine.”
The artist is also supplying a painting for the annual La Cloche Art Show raffle which, given how popular his work has been to date, will doubtless be a popular draw to the show in and of itself.
The raffle prize is Mr. Jewell’s ‘North Channel Freeze-up,’ a 10 x 20-inch acrylic painting on canvas, framed and valued at $550.
Mr. Jewell will also be taking part in this year’s Manitoulin Art Tour.
“Cliff is remarkable,” said La Cloche Art Show organizer Sue Morin. “I am so looking forward to showing off his talent and dedication to art. He will be great at helping artists get into the field.”
This year’s La Cloche Art Show is already shaping up to be a real winner, with art still coming in. The pre-registration period for artists ends on June 3, along with the reduced fee of $25. Final date for submissions is June 10 and the full registration fee will be $30 after the early bird period has passed.
Ms. Miron said that she finds there were two approaches to the pandemic by artists. “One was ‘I can’t go anywhere and am locked in the house’ and the other was ‘I don’t have anything to do,’” she said. The result was that when things started to open up a bit last year a lot of artists didn’t have things to submit. “This year is different.”
The La Cloche Art Show is a juried event and art sale, that means the works that make it into the show must pass muster by some very accomplished artists and will be available for purchase. One of those artists doing the judging this year will be Mr. Jewell. “That’s another thing they have me doing,” he said.
Another big plus for this year’s show is that the artist reception on opening night will be back, this year catered by Prepped Manitoulin.
The Church Mouse Café will be hosting an event to help fundraise for the Whitefish Falls community hall, with all proceeds going to the Rainbow Country Recreation and Development Association.
The La Cloche Art Show will be open daily from 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday, July 1 to Saturday, July 8 at the Whitefish Falls Community Hall. Admission is free, but bring your wallet or purse because you will want to bring home some of the amazing art on offer.
