The stage is set for the 7th edition of Fire & Ice, the Alton Mill Arts Centre's winter celebration this weekend.
Rediscover Canadian winter traditions and enjoy spectacular ice carvings, a super snow slide, skating on the millpond rink, and a spellbinding fire sculpture. Try snowshoeing, cross country skiing or fat biking with the experts from Caledon Hills Cycling, or watch ice carvers Winston Uytenbogaart and Chris von Innerebner create a crystal sculpture garden in the Annex Courtyard. Potter Ann Randeraad will demonstrate a raku firing in her outdoor kiln, while blacksmith Ray Schindler will create whimsical ironworks in the Country Forge. Using his tools to hammer, bend and cut, he skilfully transforms wrought iron and steel into unique works of art.
Artist Paul Morin invites guests to tap their inner artist at his open-air ice canvas, and don't miss the interactive photo booth created by Lynda Clare Grant. Pop your face into the painting and snap a picture to share with friends!
Saturday only, experience a Canadian tradition: outdoor pond hockey. Cheer on the teams competing in the Alton Millpond Hockey Classic fundraiser, beginning at 9am. Free skating gets underway late in the afternoon, and continues on Sunday from noon to 5pm. Also on Sunday, a bona fide curling rink will be open, with “rock stars” at the ready to demonstrate their technique and assist novice curlers.
All of this excitement is sure to work up an appetite. Chill out and warm up by the fire with gooey s’mores prepared by Shaw’s Creek Café, a maple syrup snow pop from Love's Sweetness Maple Syrup, and Kristian Warburton's world famous beignets, or enjoy a beer and a bite, hot off the Millpond Barbecue.
Indoors, stop by Gallery Gemma to see their dazzling jewellery. And be sure to enter the Count the Crystals contest. Guess how many crystals are in the jar for a chance to win a beautiful piece of Gemma jewellery.
Alton Mill's upper floor is lined with working studios and art galleries. Studio artists will be conducting workshops and demos to spark your creativity. Learn about the ancient art of encaustic – painting with beeswax. Stop by to “Give it a Whirl” in the Hive, and take home your own art card creations (Studio 201, both days at 1 and 3pm, $20 per person for supplies), or make your mark at the “No Two Are Alike" Snowflake Challenge in Studio 206, where artist CJ Shelton will be building a collective “mandala,” a circular design made up entirely of individual snowflake signatures. No artistic experience is necessary, if you can doodle, you can do it.
Things really heat up Saturday evening when artisan Brian Oates ignites his brand new fire sculpture, entitled “The Emergence.” The match will be struck at 6 pm on Saturday Jan. 23. Bring your cameras to capture the spectacle.
After the burn, if you bleed Blue and White, head indoors to the Hot Stove Lounge Pub Night. With the Leafs vs. Habs game on the big screen, unwind and enjoy casual food and cash bar. Doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets: $20, available at Scotiabank, Centennial and Riddell branch in Orangeville (max. four tickets per person). As part of the fundraiser, the bank will match the purchase value of the tickets sold; Shaw's Creek Café in the Alton Mill (no limit on amount purchased).
On Sunday, CJ Shelton conducts her "Seeing With New Eyes" drawing class. Drop by Studio 206 between 1 and 3pm to see what CJ’s students are up to, and discover how drawing helps one see the world in a whole new way.
Also on Sunday, in the second-floor Falls Gallery, three presentations by Alton Mill artists are scheduled: At 1pm Janet Simmons Sweet, addresses the issue of global warming and discusses the motivation behind her recent series entitled “Recede.” Each painting depicts a glacier, and each has its own story. (30 minutes). At 2pm Sandra Kunz introduces the Messenger Cards, a deck of 43 cards she has created, each one depicting an animal spirit painting that can be used to find clarity and focus, and help with personal evolution. (45 minutes). At 3pm Margaret Pardy explains the technique of scratch boarding, the art of taking away instead of adding to create a painting. Margaret's work has a remarkable realism and beauty. This workshop is an opportunity to create your own one-of-a-kind piece.
Daytime admission by voluntary donation – suggested amount: $10/adult; $5/child; or $20/family.
Free parking and shuttle bus (Saturday only) from offsite parking lots. Activities are subject to change without notice. Weather conditions may affect outdoor programming.
For full details, visit www.altonmill.ca – Facebook: /AltonMill – Twitter: /AltonMillArts
