CFN – The On Common Ground Studio Tour this year is set for Saturday Oct. 15 and Sunday Oct.16. The studios will be open 10-5 both days. Once again, our local artists and artisans are prepared to show you why this studio tour has such a good reputation, both for the quality of the art work displayed and also for the many interesting demonstrations that are ongoing throughout the weekend.
There are 23 artists and artisans featured this year, conveniently housed in 10 stops, on a route through south-eastern Ontario. Our
website, www.ocgstudiotour.ca, provides information about the artists and artisans with photographs of their work, and has a new and
improved map that can be easily printed. We also have a beautiful brochure, in full colour, that is available through local businesses
and the tourparticipants.
For more information about the tour, or to request information about obtaining our brochure, please call the friendly and bilingual Monique O’Brien, who is a potter on our tour.
Her phone # is 613-989-5426.
Participating on the tour this year for the first time are five artists.
Dianne Grant, from Reid’s Mills has created a collection of small tables and plant stands.
Rod Muir, from South Mountain will be showing fine art black and white landscape photographs. They capture the rich textures, subtle details and defining shadows that highlight our natural environment. Moving from the darkroom to a digital workflow has allowed him a higher level of control. Using both techniques, all images are printed to the highest archival standards.
Thecla and Herman Kluck from Spencerville have unique sculptures and art work for home and garden. For the most part, their pieces are whimsically created from recycled found objects, gentle in spirit and with a sweetly humorous aspect.
Dawna Marquette will be familiar to many of our visitors as she has worked as a hairstylist for many years in Mountain. She has moved on to a new “take” on adornment, making jewelry, eclectic one of a kind pieces. She has advanced her techniques to include silver-smithing and stone setting with colour always a priority for her.
Hélène Watelle designs jewelry, blending her artistic sense and scientific knowledge, with semi-precious stones and Argentium. Last
year Hélène joined ArtScene, a cooperative gallery in Spencerville.
This year she has explored transparent enamel on silver and copper, using techniques like cloisonné and plique à jour.
Tim O’Lett will be participating in the tour for the fourth time. In his previous career, he spent decades devoted to photojournalism,
often in high pressure situations, most notably the Olympic Games. Now self employed, he takes photographs only of what interests him. He has tried the traditional thematic approach, but found it too restricting. Now he shoots to please himself, whether it is abstracts of nature, local colour, or real-life farm action. If the photo resonates with someone else, then he is doubly content. All of his
giclée photoart is printed on canvas with archival-quality inks. His gallery is open Sundays at his South Mountain Studio, as well as for
the whole studio tour weekend. Graciously, this year, once again, he has contributed one of his photographs for the cover of the brochure, and he also photographed the artists’ works shown on the brochure.
Rain Kazymerchyk, another of the returning artisans is pleased to open her studio this year with the renovations completed. New items in Sterling Silver filigree with elements of gold, opals, ammolite, precious or semi precious stones, will be presented. Rain will donate a portion of her sales at this year’s studio tour to Village Kitten Rescue and the Rideau Valley Wildlife Centre.
Janet Whittam has participated in every one of the October On Common Ground Studio Tours. In fact, over 15 years ago, it was her idea to start this local event as a way to show her work to her neighbours in the Morewood area. Janet is a weaver of cloth and baskets and has been constantly refining her techniques and developing her product line.
This year she is showcasing more weaving in cotton, silk, bamboo yarns and recycled materials.
There have been a lot of changes in the tour over the years, but what is constant is the surprising number of very talented artists and
artisans who are quietly working away, studios nestled down the highways and byways of our community.
For more information on all of the exhibitors, and to see examples of the work to be found at each stop, please consult the website,
www.ocgstudiotour.ca. Consider yourself invited to attend as many of the open studios as you are able to visit. The wide variety of
techniques, materials and products insure that there will be something of interest for everyone. If you have not yet attended one of our studio tours, this is a perfect year to come out. And if you have been one of our visitors in the past, you are always welcome to return. We are looking forward to seeing you in October.
