The Elora Fergus Studio tour launched its brochure for the big event this fall, and it is clear members have to consider some changes.
Spokesman and artist Barry McCarthy said when the tour first started there were about 16 artists and craftsmen who were opening their studios, often in their homes, to the public. People obtained a map and could visit the artists where they created.
Today, the brochure and map that lists the artists and explains how to reach them has expanded to 16 panels.
The tour is scheduled to run four days over two weekends, but with so many artists, it looks like people who want to visit them all will have to be quick to accomplish that.
“We’ve been around about 24 years,” said McCarthy, himself a painter in oils and water colours, many of them from Waterloo and Wellington County.
The tour will run from Sept. 25 and 26 and again on Oct. 2 and 3.
And while the tour carries the name Elora and Salem, McCarthy noted there are artists participating from Alma to Belwood. Some take a drive to reach, and others are within walking distance of each other.
“This is a really bubbling community of artists,” McCarthy said.
The tour features everything in the way of drawing and painting to glass work and etching and fibre works to contemporary mixed media, pottery, photography and wearable art.
“It’s growing,” McCarthy said of the tour. “People are added all the time.”
The tour will run a contest this year that will not only track what is attractive to visitors, but also give them a change to purchase a favourite art work from artists on the tour.
Visitors can pick up a ballot at the first studio they visit, mark off each studio they visit and drop off the ballot at either the last studio they see or the Elora Centre for the Arts.
On Oct. 18, a winner will be drawn. That winner will receive a voucher worth $250 to spend on at one, or a combination, of studios on the tour.
The brochure launch was held at the Wellington Artists’ Gallery and Art Centre on County Road 29, southeast of Fergus.
From July 31 to Sept 4, members of the Elora Fergus Studio Tour offer a preview, Mosaics of Artists, of what will be on display and for sale during the Studio Tour.
Tour members invite everyone to the opening reception on Aug. 5 from 7 to 9pm. Throughout the preview, there will be tour brochures and the artist on duty will help with orientation.
Check the tour in advance. at wellingtonartistsgallery.ca and elorafergusstudiotour.ca.
