GUELPH – Thousands of art lovers flooded Quebec Street in Downtown Guelph for the 17th annual Art on the Street on June 23.
Presented annually by Guelph Arts Council and Downtown Guelph Business Association, Art on the Street is Guelph’s largest outdoor exhibition and sale.
Each year, over 80 established and emerging artists showcase their works in temporary, open-air studios.
Painters, potters, blacksmiths, jewellers, glass blowers, wood carvers, textile artists, photographers and more are represented.
Ballots for the People’s Choice Award are distributed, collected, and counted by volunteer Art Angels, and a trio of judges, all arts professionals, make the rounds to make choices for the Best in Show, Honorable Mention, Best Booth and Emerging Artist awards.
Winners include:
– People’s Choice Award: Dawn Anderson of Vaughan who loves to capture life’s moments in pastel and paint;
– Best in Show: Gina Duque. Duque’s mixed media work explores biological systems and their hidden structures;
Honorable Mention – Annette Kraft van Ermel. Kraft van Ermel’s work layers oil paint, wax, and charcoal, and celebrates the beauty in the familiar;
– Best Booth – Nicole Gagnon Wooden Designs. Gagnon hand-selects wood for her modern, eco-conscious wooden jewellery and accessories;
Emerging Artist – Beyond Relief Designs. Artist Brendan Lancaster pulls relief prints from hand-cut lino blocks;
Highlights if this year’s Art in the Street event included:
– wandering musical performances by Tragedy Ann, Lucio Raggiunti, Brent Rowan and Sandy MacDonald;
– juggling workshops run by Contemporary Circus Arts;
– young creators selling their wares at The Mini Makers Market, organized by The Children’s Art Factory; and
– downtown art walks, guided by artist collective Ahmri + Abby, and featuring several art venues
City of Guelph Artist in Residence Mallory Tolcher showcased her #GuelphMovesMe project.
Artists interested in applying to Art on the Street 2020 should contact Guelph Arts Council in January, sign up for Arts Blast e-news at guelpharts.ca or connect with the arts council on Facebook or Twitter for event updates.
