As written in The Leader Newspaper, Fall 2018: Original article
From sunbathed studio rooms overlooking Lake Erie to workshops lit by overhead lights with the smell of smoke in the air the private spaces of artists, spaces of solitude and creativity, tranquility and reflection, will be flung into the public eye this weekend.
Upwards of a dozen such spaces between Wainfleet and Fort Erie will be open to the public this weekend as the South Niagara Artists host their annual fall studio tour, with group members opening their spaces of creativity to the public for a glimpse not only into their work but also the process that moves such work from imagination to reality.
“It’s my happy place, you are surrounded by the creative energy that you yourself give,” said Cathy Peters, whose lakefront studio gives way to a scenic vista of Niagara’s south shore. The basement space, the first stop on the tour, is just as much an escape as an inspiration said the acrylic and watercolour artist breaking out into mixed media.
Art books line the walls and paintings, ranging in their completion from a blank canvas to finished works, sit propped up among paints and brushes. The studio, she said, provides a unique glimpse for the public into the artists process, physically and psychologically, and their unique personalities. Knowing the space, she said, can inform the viewer of the art’s origins and significance.
It’s my happy place, you are surrounded by the creative energy that you yourself give,”
“It’s where we live, where we work, where we share, we play,” said Peters, adding artists opening their studios should be viewed as a bit of a treat given their often-private nature.
“Even my family knocks before they come in,” she said, noting the tour is equally special for artists.
Beyond another chance to showcase their work every purchase comes with a little more meaning, she said, when the buyer has a greater connection to the space it was produced. In turn, the purchase is more personal for the person buying the work.
“It’s this two-way conversation … there’s another level of connection with the art,” said Peters, adding guests on the tour won’t be disappointed with the variety.
Stops range from painting spaces to wood shops to potters’ studios. All mediums and styles will once again be on display for the seventh annual run of the tour.
“We’ve got it all,” said Peters, explaining the participating artists are world class in their talents, be it shaping stone with a chisel or spreading paint with a brush.
The tour runs Oct. 13 and 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, including a complete list of stops, visit www.southniagaraartists.ca.
