Ramping up for the holiday season, you will find a wide selection of Christmas group shows, events, and art/craft markets to attend this December. Another packed First Friday Art Crawl will enliven the streets of downtown Peterborough, and festivities will continue the next evening as Artspace opens the Holiday Toast show, complete with DJs and refreshments.
A new gallery space has opened at The Mount Community Centre, and Black Honey is showing Mark Craighead’s photography, which gives us a fun take on the Christmas season. Ashburnham Ale House will also be hosting a Christmas art show, and The Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio will have ‘The Winter Show’, a member’s show of winter-themed work.
Artspace presents Holiday Toast on December 2
On Saturday, December 2nd, there will be a party at Artspace. Celebrating the holiday season, there’s a group show, top-notch DJs Billy the K and Johnny Q, refreshments will be available and, of course art, will be for sale.
Drop by and see the Holiday Toast show, take in some stellar tunes, enjoy the festive atmosphere and perhaps you will find the perfect Christmas gift while you’re at it. Only $2 at the door or pay what you can.
Applications being accepted for 3rd Annual Artspace Book and Zine Fest in 2018
Applications are currently being accepted for the third Annual Artspace Book and Zine Fest. This is always a cool event, featuring artist-made zines, comics, and graphic novels as well as prints, cards, and a variety of paper arts.
If you are interested in participating, the deadline for applications is December 18th at midnight.
Full table vendor fee is $50, and a half table is $35. For more information and for the application form, visit artspace-arc.org/calls/call-for-submission/
Look out for this event, which will be coming up on February 24, 2018.
Anne Cavanah and Ellen Cowie show ‘Reverence for Life’ at new gallery space at The Mount Community Centre
The Mount Community Centre has opened a lovely new gallery space and right now ‘Reverence for Life’, a show featuring the artwork of Anne Cavanagh and Ellen Cowie, is on display.
Anne is showing a series of evocative figurative work, and Ellen a series of personal intimate portraits in oil and acrylic. The show will be on display until January 14th, so drop by and see it for yourself this December!
The Mount Community Centre is located at 1545 Monaghan Rd. in Peterborough. For more information, call 705-875-5095 or visit www.themountpeterborough.ca.
Christensen Fine Art presents their Annual Christmas Group Show
Christensen Fine Art invites you to come to the opening of their Annual Christmas Group Show. Enjoy some light refreshments and meet many of the artists who show at the gallery.
This show will be on display from Friday, December 1st until Sunday, December 24th. The opening reception will be happening on Friday, December 1st, as part of the First Friday Art Crawl, and will run from 6 to 9 p.m.
Christensen Fine Art is located at 432 George Street North in downtown Peterborough. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit www.christensenfineart.com.
Rebecca Padgett at Star X Gallery
Star X gallery will be showing ‘Crown’, the latest series by Rebecca Padgett. These non-objective works are visually and stylistically interesting responses to the world inspired by vintage fabrics, silhouettes, and open landscapes. This show is going to be great, don’t miss taking in these striking paintings!
Drop by and meet Rebecca at her opening during the First Friday Art Crawl on Friday, December 1st from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m.
Star X is located at 129-1/2 Hunter St. West, 3rd floor, in downtown Peterborough. Regular hours of operation are Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Coeur Nouveau hosts ‘One Big Mob’ Members’ Show
As part of the First Friday Art Crawl, Coeur Nouveau is putting on a members’ group show called ‘One Big Mob’ featuring the work of Paul Cade, Connie Van Rijn, Sarah Gibeault, Andrew Cripps, Paolo Fortin, Ann Jaeger, Joel Davenport, John Climenhage, Michael Green, Mark Reutter, and Andrew MacDonald.
Drop in on the opening during the First Friday Art Crawl on Friday, December 1st from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m.
Coeur Nouveau is located on the 2nd floor of the Commerce Building at 129-1/2 Hunter St. West in downtown Peterborough.
Evans Contemporary presents ‘Temporary’
This December, Show and tell Poetry Series and Bird Buried Press will be taking over Evans Contemporary with a series of workshops and presentations.
Elisha Rubacha and Justin Million, the poets and small press operators behind the series and press, will host pop-up performances, workshops and readings throughout the month, from December 1st until December 30th. On the walls will be a selection of work from artists who have previously shown at Evans Contemporary.
The opening will happen at Evans from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. as part of the First Friday Art Crawl on Friday, December 1st.
Evans Contemporary is located at #2 Banker’s Common in downtown Peterborough. For more information, visit www.evanscontemporary.com or contact Paolo Fortin at evanscontemporary@gmail.com.
Christmas Group show and sale at Acme Art & Sailboat Company
Drop by Acme Art & Sailboat Company to see (and buy) a selection of work by a variety of local artists and artisans, including John B. Boyle, Paul Oldham, Joe Stable, Chey Grieg, Gwyneth Fischer, Robert Atyeo, Jeff Macklin, Beth McCubbin, Bill Batten, and Alex Bierk.
Open as part of the First Friday Art Crawl on the evening of Friday, December 1st, there will be light refreshments and a festive atmosphere from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.
The show will be on display until Saturday, December 23rd.
Acme Art and Sailboat Company is located at 129-1/2 Hunter Street West, 3rd floor, in downtown Peterborough. Hours of operation are Thursday to Sunday from 12 to 3 p.m.
Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio presents ‘The Winter Show’
A detail from ‘Out in the Canoe’ by Daniel Marlatt, will be on display as part of The Winter Show at Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio. (Image courtesy of Daniel Marlatt)
This December, Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio will be feature an appropriately winter-themed show. Though we have yet to see any actual snow on the ground, this will be one way to experience a bit of winter as we approach Christmas.
The opening reception will be held from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 3rd.
The show runs until Friday, December 22nd, and then again from Wednesday, January 3rd to Monday, January 22nd.
Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio is a not-for-profit artist’s co-operative, located at 420 O’Connell Road in Peterborough. Hours of operation are Wednesday to Sunday from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.kawarthaartists.org.
Winter Craft Sale at The Monocle Centre for the Arts
The annual art and craft sale is on at The Monocle on Sunday, December 3rd. Drop in and see what treasures you find!
The show and sale featuring some new and some familiar local artisans will open at noon and continue until 5 p.m. Admission is free.
The Monocle Centre for the Arts< is located at 140 Simcoe St. (Upper) in Peterborough. For more information, call 705-875-5442 or visit themonoclecentreforthearts.com.
Focus Fair at Catalina’s on December 9 and 10
Traditionally held at The Spill (which is now closed), the annual Focus Fair art and craft show has a new location this year: Catalina’s in downtown Peterborough.
This year’s show features unique items handcrafted by local artists, bakers, gardeners, and crafters including Lucky Jackson, Aurynge & Lemony, Urban Tomato, Keeterella, Burnin’ Beads by Kira, Trailblazers, Bill Reddick, Shannon Taylor, Three Sisters, Sugar Daddy, Random Pretty Things, Manon Gagnon, Magic Bean, Stoney Lake Textiles, Nade Nixon, Martha Comfort, Spark Box Studio, and Jackson Creek Press.
The show runs on Saturday, December 9th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday, December 10th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Catalina’s is located at 131 Hunter St. W. in downtown Peterborough.
The Finer Things Show & Sale is also happening on Dcember 9th at George Street United Church, offering shoppers an opportunity to check out both locations.
Finer Things Show & Sale on December 9
Before or after you go to the Focus Fair on Saturday, December 9th, drop by the 3rd annual Finer Things Show & Sale at George St. United Church in Peterborough.
This curated show and sale features a variety of hiqh quality, handcrafted, and finely created works from artists and artisans in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Vendors at the show include Aitken & Hyde, Bella Grey Jewellery, Blossom Pea & Critter Co., Brad Copping, Brianna Gosselin, County Preserves, Coral Door Studio, Christy Haldane, Christianna Ferguson, David Hickey, Frolic Art & Design, Hardwinter Bread Co., Messervey Works, Olive Cedar, Pax Jewellery, L’Imaginaria, Little Bird Designs, Modelia, Sandy MacFarlane, Stoney Lake Textiles, Studio Luma, Sweetsong Herbals, and Sunshine Pottery.
Hard Winter Bread Co. will be running a pop-up cafe where you can relax and enjoy a tasty treat while you shop. The show and sale runs from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $2 (free for children under 12).
George St. United Church is located at 534 George St. N. in Peterborough. This is an accessible location, with an elevator and accessible washrooms on-site.
Check out Watson & Lou and Meta4 Gallery during First Friday Art Crawl on December 1
On Friday, December 1st, during the First Friday Art Crawl, Watson & Lou will host five local fashion experts and their wares. Drop in, get some expert fashion advice, and celebrate this Christmas in style! The event features Honey House Clothing Co., Mixtape Vintage, Statement House, Dead Daisy Vintage, and Keetarella.
One more art space will be open during the First Friday Art Crawl. If you haven’t already, or even if you have, be sure to stop by Meta4 Gallery and see their new gallery and studio space.
Watson & Lou are located at 383 Water St. in Peterborough. For more information about membership and upcoming workshops, please visit www.watsonandlou.com.
Meta4 Gallery is located at 164 Hunter St. W. in Peterborough. For more information, e-mail info@meta4gallery.ca, call 705-874-9444, or visit www.meta4gallery.ca.
Mark Craighead shows his photography at Black Honey
This December, Christmas meets cyborgs and aliens at Black Honey!
If you drop in for a coffee or tasty dessert, you’ll be sure to notice the Christmas-themed photography of Mark Craighead. Mark’s photos are filled with pop culture references that will thrill the hard-to-buy-for nerd or movie buff on your Christmas list.
Black Honey is located at 217 Hunter St. W. in downtown Peterborough or find them online at blackhoneydesserts.com.
Ashburnham Ale House hosts a Christmas Art Show
If you happen to stop in for a pint or dinner at the Ashburnham Ale House this December, you’ll see the walls decorated with a selection of work by local artists.
This restaurant is always supportive of the arts, with rotating shows throughout the year. The Christmas show will run from Monday, December 4th until Monday, January 8th. A great reason (or excuse) to have a nice evening out!
Ashburnham Ale House is located at 128 Hunter St. E. in East City, Peterborough. Visit ashburnhamalehouse.ca for more information.
