September is here and, as fall approaches, so do the annual studio tours including the Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour and the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour!
The Art Gallery of Peterborough features new abstract pieces by illustrator and writer Eugenie Fernandes, a series from the gallery’s permanent collection guest curated by Wendy Trusler, as well as a selection from the artists participating in the Studio Tour.
Artspace brings us an interesting exhibit of modern sculpture based on Inuit tradition as well as an outdoor dining experience under the Hunter Street Bridge.
If you are looking for a more interactive art experience, the Creative Hands on Festival will be happening in Peterborough Square and, after taking a break in August, First Friday Peterborough is back this month!
First Friday Peterborough returns in September
After taking a break in August, First Friday festivities will be in full swing on Friday, September 6th. Beginning at 6 p.m. there will be art shows and pop-up shops galore around downtown Peterborough.
Drop in and see Johnnene Maddison’s latest series ‘Nearly There’ at Atelier Ludmila. Maddison is perhaps best known for her series of quilts, some of which currently hang in the Canadian War Museum. These pieces highlight the efforts and contributions made by women on the home front in Canada during WWII.
Maddison had first-hand experience of this, having been a small child during the war. She saw the diligent efforts put forth by women of the time, lost her father in the war, and then saw her hard-working mother promptly ousted from her job and left with no recourse when the war ended. A lot of Maddison’s previous work has dealt with women’s rights and related issues. This new abstract approach represents a change in her outlook and artistic practice brought on by a recent illness.
Operated by artistic director Laurel Paluck, the Atelier Ludmila Gallery and The Drawing Room are located on the second floor of the Commerce Building (129 1/2 Hunter St. W., Peterborough). For more information, visit atelierludmila.com.
If you make it up to Atelier Ludmila, also stop in next door at Acme and the Copper Closet and, if you’re lucky, some other studios in the building will be open to the public. Watson & Lou and Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery will be open late with lots to see and do, as will a number of other downtown establishments.
Come on out, enjoy the evening, meet some new friends and see some local talent! For more details, visit firstfridayptbo.com
Dine under the Hunter Street Bridge at Artspace’s Al Fresco
Later this month, Artspace is organizing another of its popular outdoor dining experiences under the Hunter Street Bridge between East City and downtown Peterborough.
Gaze at giant colourful murals as you sip drinks from Black’s Distillery and the Publican House Brewery, and nibble appetizers from Rare Grill house, Sam’s Place, and La Hacienda. Then you can chat with neighbours over a salad of fresh local greens, followed by your choice of herb-marinated chicken supreme from Yorkshire Valley Farms or a mushroom risotto with seasonal veggies from Waymack Farms. All this will be finished off with a sweet treat from Central Smith Creamery!
An excellent way to spend a Thursday evening while sampling the goods of local farmers, local restaurants, and supporting a local arts organization.
The event will take place on Thursday, September 19th from 6 to 9 p.m. under the Hunter Street Bridge, in James Stevenson Park at the end of Steve Terry Way. Tickets are $100 and are available for purchase through Artspace’s online shop at artspace-arc.org/product/al-fresco-dinner/.
Artspace presents Couzyn Van Heuvelen’s ‘Bait’
This installation by Inuk sculptor Couzyn Van Heuvelen investigates traditional Inuit hunting and fishing implements using sculptural form and modern materials.
The artist looks to his cultural background for inspiration imbuing sculptural objects made from glass, steel and aluminum with personal and political meaning while bringing knowledge of Inuit traditions to the audience.
This will be an interesting show, and it coincides with the release of the fall issue of Inuit Art Quarterly which will be available at Artspace.
An opening reception will be held on Friday, September 13th at 6 p.m.. There will be a free artist’s talk to follow on Saturday, September 14th at 1 p.m., featuring a conversation with curator Ryan Rice and artist Couzyn Van Heuvelen.
Artspace is located at 378 Aylmer Street in downtown Peterborough and offers barrier-free access (to all but Gallery 2) and free admission during regular open hours: Tuesday to Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Parking is available in the municipal lot on Hunter Street between Aylmer and George. For more information, call 705-748-3883 or visit artspace-arc.org.
Art Gallery of Peterborough features ‘Painted Words’ by Eugenie Fernandes
The latest exhibit of new work by acclaimed children’s book illustrator and writer Eugenie Fernandes is a study of colour, texture, and composition. Combining the written word with abstract colourful compositions, the series is intuitive and open to poetic interpretation.
There is an interactive element to this show as well, and the audience is invited to participate. If you wish, you can respond to the exhibit by adding to the poetry wall or creating your own composition by adding to an ever-changing collaborative textile piece.
This exhibit will be on display until Sunday, September 22nd.
The Art Gallery of Peterborough is located at 250 Crescent Street in downtown Peterborough and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. It offers free admission, barrier-free access, and a gallery shop. Parking is available in the Del Crary lot. For more information, call 705-743-9179 or visit agp.on.ca.
The Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour in Peterborough and Lakefield on September 21 and 22
Artists in the region are getting ready to open their studios to the public for the upcoming Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour, which is happening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 21st and Sunday, September 22nd at locations in the City and County of Peterborough and in Lakefield.
It’s an opportunity for the public to visit artists where they live and work. All artists on the tour have been juried. Studios and galleries will be open to display a rich diversity of arts and crafts, including fine art, ceramics, glass, jewellery, sculpture, wood, fibre, metal and printmaking. This is a self-guided tour and admission is free to all locations.
The Art Gallery of Peterborough is currently featuring work from all participating artists. Drop by to see what the region has to offer, and grab a studio tour map!
For more information, visit agp.on.ca/events/kawartha-autumn-studio-tour/.
The Apsley Autumn Studio Tour in North Kawartha on September 21 and 22
You can enjoy a full weekend of art by heading to North Kawartha for the 26th annual Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, which also takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 21st and Sunday, September 22nd.
The free self-guided tour features 24 artists and artisans in 12 studio locations in the Apsley area, located midway between Peterborough and Bancroft.
This year’s participants cover the gamut of the visual arts, including painting, jewellery, glass art, woodworking, sculpture, fabric art, pottery, photography, and metalwork. As well as seeing their work, the tour provides you with the opportunity to meet the artists in person.
For more information on the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, visit apsleystudiotour.com.
‘a quiet that stays’ features a selection from the Art Gallery of Peterborough’s permanent collection
‘a quiet that stays’, a selection from the Art Gallery of Peterborough’s permanent collection, focuses on the power of small moments as we encounter them in our lives — experiences that are somehow poetic or beautiful, yet made of the everyday stuff of life.
Drawing on personal experience and research, guest curator Wendy Trusler (who currently works as the Public Art Facilitator for the City of Peterborough) has worked closely with gallery curator Fynn Leitch to carefully select a series of images to reflect the theme of the show.
This exhibit will be on display until Sunday, September 22nd.
The Art Gallery of Peterborough is located at 250 Crescent Street in downtown Peterborough and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. It offers free admission, barrier-free access, and a gallery shop. Parking is available in the Del Crary lot. For more information, call 705-743-9179 or visit agp.on.ca.
Creative Hands on Festival comes to Peterborough
Dye a unique ornament gourd at the Kawartha Gourders table, one of several hands on activities at the Creative Hands on Festival from September 13th to 15th. (Photo courtesy of Creative Hands on Festival)
The Creative Hands On Festival, a new festival of makers, is coming to Peterborough Square in downtown Peterborough from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m from Friday, September 13th to Sunday, September 15th.
There will be demonstrations and short workshops available to the public, as well as handmade items on display. Various guilds will be in attendance, including embroiderers, spinners, weavers, potters, gourd artists, wood carvers, knitters, and visual artists.
This not-for-profit volunteer-run event is a great opportunity to see what is happening in the community and surrounding area. If you are interested in joining a guild or taking up one of these activities, there will be people you can talk to and learn from, as well as lots of inspiration.
Hosted by the Artisans Centre Peterborough, the Creative Hands On Festival will located on the first floor of Peterborough Square (where the winter Peterborough Regional Farmers’ Market is held).
Friday, September 13th is seniors’ day, with gift bags for the first 50 seniors, as well as door prizes and silent auctions. On Saturday and Sunday, there will be a children’s craft table and all through the festival a café will be raising funds for mental health.
For more information, and to sign up for classes, visit www.creativehandsonfestival.ca.
