Year after year, the artists at the heart of the Elora Fergus Studio Tour keep raising the bar for originality, officials say.
The 2017 tour is no different, with a wide range of work from renowned painters like Barry McCarthy and Joel Masewich to marquetry expert Stephen Haigh to encaustic artist Supria Karmakar.
The free, self-guided tour brings together artists and art lovers over two fall weekends in late September and early October.
The historic township of Centre Wellington, an hour’s drive west of Toronto, provides the scenic backdrop, with 36 artists showcasing original works and drawing on the beauty of the Grand River and surrounding landscapes as inspiration.
Among them are eight glass artists working in a variety of techniques including stained glass, mosaic, blown glass and glass painting. Given that glass is super-trendy right now, there’s never been a better time to enjoy the tour, officials say.
After a brief hiatus, Alma-based glass artist Jerre Davidson is delighted to be returning this year with new work inspired by her recent artist’s residency in Scotland. She creates layered glass landscapes using glass powders and granules as well as sculptural kiln-castings using the age-old technique of lost wax casting in glass.
Davidson says the area has been a lure for artists since A.J. Casson visited and painted the Elora Mill in 1929.
“2017 will be a special year,” she said. “The variety of types of art and medium is unparalleled in studio tours.”
And Kathi Kuti Harding, who creates one-of-a-kind, whimsical miniature sculptures from her studio just south of Fergus, is rightfully impressed by the calibre of artists this year, many of whom have pieces in collections around the world. She says the short time spent shuffling between studios will be well worth the effort.
“Great art comes from the heart and soul,” she said.
“The Elora Fergus Studio Tour artists don’t skimp in their efforts. I’m looking forward to being inspired. It’s always thrilling to see what the artists have been creating during the last year, the favourite themes and new explorations.”
New to the tour this year are Jane Burgess and Amelia Kraemer, (encaustic), Roxanna Matamoros and Stephen Cole (painting), Dianne Kennedy Cruttenden (weaving) and Melanie Schaffer (stained glass).
The official opening – at the Elora Centre for the Arts on Sept. 14 from 7 to 9pm – will showcase a piece from each artist, and visitors can also fill out a ballot to get $250 off any work of art.
The 31st annual Elora Fergus Studio Tour takes place from 10am to 5pm on Sept. 23 and 24, and again on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
Visit www.elorafergusstudiotour.com for details and a tour map.
