As the summer of weekend cottage trips and family barbecues finally comes to an end, it’s time to kick off the prettiest season of the year by browsing a wide range of artwork from local and visiting artists during the 30th annual Apsley Autumn Studio Tour.
Celebrating three decades since its founding as a community event to promote local arts and artists, the free self-guided tour is using the theme “30 Years in the Making.” Running Saturday, September 16th and Sunday, September 17th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the tour allows you to explore artwork from 30 different artists in 11 studios across North Kawartha Township. From Chandos Lake to Tallan Lake and Loon Call Lake, many of the studios are tucked away in inspiring, scenic locations.
The Apsley Autumn Studio Tour covers a range of artistic disciplines including jewellery making, landscape and abstract painting, pottery, felting, metalwork, and more. Local artists will be sharing their studios with some visiting artists who either have cottages in the region or who have come up from the city to round out the disciplines.
Participating artists will be on-site at their studio locations, giving you the opportunity to interact with them, ask questions, and purchase original pieces made specifically for the tour.
“The whole mandate of the studio tour is to foster creativity in the area,” explains Susan Rankin, treasurer of the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour and one of the participating artists.
A resident of Apsley, Rankin has been a glass blower for three decades and is well known for her floral vessels. During the first studio tour in 1994, she along with fellow artist Brad Copping had just moved to Apsley and chose to open up the glass studio for visitors, officially becoming part of the tour the following year.
Thirty years later, she will once again be displaying her vessels and sculptures at the Jack Lake studio she shares with Copping (Studio F on the tour). Throughout the weekend, other visiting artists will also be displaying their works in the studio while Copping does hourly glass-blowing demonstrations.
“It’s easy enough to spend at least an hour at our stop alone,” she explains, adding that she has an acre of perennial gardens that guests are free to roam. “It’s great because every location on the tour is different.”
This year, two new artists have been juried into the tour: emerging pyrographer Aubre Scott and glass mosaic artist Joeann Pearson (Studio H on the tour). New members are granted entry by a rotating jury of members who determine if the work fits into the tour and, for those wishing to feature their studio, whether it is accessible to the large group of visitors who enjoy the tour every year.
“The tour is very good quality and it’s been recognized for that quality for years,” say Rankin, adding that it features a wide range of artists, from established professionals to emerging artists like Aubre Scott. “The professional artists on the tour really help foster the emerging artists.”
To help plan your tour weekend, the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour is once again available on the free Toureka! app, created by local software developer Brad Carson, which you can download from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Using the app, you can read all about the individual artists, select the studios you most want to visit, see how far away they area, and create an interactive map to follow right within the app. For those without reliable cell service, the map can be used completely offline. You can even use the app to explore the many exceptional eateries within the surrounding towns to add to your personalized map, allowing you to plan out your entire day.
“You can sort of pick the studios that you really want to see and then once that’s done, your map comes up and you can start wherever you want,” explains Rankin. “The app will get you from one studio to the next studio to the next studio. It’s really a cool technology.”
If you prefer, you can also download and print the a tour map.
In addition to the demonstrations at Rankin’s studio (Studio F), two other studios (Studio H and O) will be offering demonstrations throughout the weekend, giving you the opportunity to learn even more about the artists, the inspiration behind their artwork, and the techniques they use.
“When you get to meet the artists and hear the story of how a piece came about, it’s just so much more enriching,” notes Rankin, adding that the artists don’t always have the opportunity to connect with art enthusiasts if they’re always working alone in the studios. “You work so many hours in your studio by yourself so to really see people appreciate the work and to see that it’s meaningful to them is very uplifting.”
Since the first tour in 1994, the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour has seen upwards of 400 visitors each year, with a lot of repeat visitors year after year.
“We’ve noticed that a lot of the people that come out will do one group one year and then they’ll do another group the next year,” explains Rankin. “They keep coming and we create great friendships with the visitors who come out.”
The following compilation of all the artists and artisans participating in the 2023 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour is categorized alphabetically and includes disciplines and the studios where you can find them, as well as a link to the studio tour map.
Rachel Conlin (Artisan Wool & Soap, Studio O)
Raising sheep introduced Rachel Conlin to creating with wool from hand-spinning and dyeing their fibres to felting. Completely self taught, Rachel makes unique and wearable accessories from nature’s materials and all wool creations are made from sustainable and renewable wool fibre
Read more about Rachel Conlin.
Brad Copping (Visual Art & Glass Art, Studio F)
Working from his home on the edge of the Canadian Shield, Brad Copping maintains a successful practice as both a sculptor and a functional glass blower, often traversing the line between. At this year’s studio tour, Brad will be showcasing sculptures made for the exhibition “Drawn From Wood,” which was a response to the Maple Syrup Residency, and work from the undula (latin for little wave) series, which explores form, surface, and light within the blown and carved glass vessel.
Read more about Brad Copping.
Jacques Deslauriers (Woodworking, Studio L)
Jacques Deslauriers is a self-taught woodworker who uses only wood from dead or fallen trees. Gnarls, insect holes, and spalted wood are his materials of choice. He is always ready for a creative challenge of any size.
Read more about Jacques Deslauriers.
Valerie Foster (Fibre Art, Studio E)
Valerie Foster has been sewing for over 40 years starting with clothing for herself and her family, which eventually grew into a children’s clothing home business in Calgary. After moving to Saudi Arabia in 2000, she brought her seamstress skills into the practice of machine quilting. Valerie enjoys the mathematical aspects of quilting. She has grown to also love the practice of free motion quilting. Since 2005, Valarie and her husband Ted have spent the bulk of her summers at Chandos Lake in Apsley. Valarie and Ted repatriated to their log home on Chandos Lake in 2015.
Read more about Valerie Foster.
Mary Ellen Gerster (Painting, Studio H)
Mary Ellen Gerster sees the world according to shape, value, and colour, immersing the viewer in her bright and glowing watercolour paintings. Through the layering of transparent colours she creates photo realism in her still life, fruit, flowers and waterscapes. She is inspired and challenged by subjects with strong lights, shadows, shapes, colours and is especially drawn to high contrast and bright colours.
Read more about Mary Ellen Gerster.
Stephen Gillberry (Painting, Studio J)
Stephen Gillberry is an accomplished artist who has spent the past 30-plus years developing his own unique style of painting. He has experimented with colour and texture in an effort to capture the beauty and spirituality of natural elements. Currently living and working in Cobourg, Stephen studied at the Ontario College of Art and Wilfrid Laurier University and his work is widely shown and well represented in galleries and corporate collections.
Read more about Stephen Gillberry.
David Grieve (Painting, Studio G)
First introduced to oil painting as a child, David Grieve has been painting ever since and has developed a unique distinctive style. He uses a multi-layered technique, applying thick swaths of oil paint to create images inspired by the Ontario landscape.
Read more about David Grieve.
Anja Hertle (Mosaics, Studio J)
Anja Hertle works with broken china, pottery, porcelain figurines, and tile to give these elements a second life in her whimsical mosaic art pieces. She also incorporates forks, beads, buttons, bottle caps, and typewriter keys.
Read more about Anja Hertle.
Dolores Hopps (Fabric Art, Studio H)
Dolores Hopps’ work includes quilts, using imported fabrics from England and Japan, as well as wall hangings, runners, and smaller items. Many of her pieces have wool felting incorporated into the quilting, as well as beads, silk, and quite a number of other interesting embellishments.
Read more about Dolores Hopps.
Melanie Edson Horner (Pottery, Studio J)
A member of Kawartha Potters Guild and Spirit of the Hills Art Association, Melanie Edson Horner enjoys creating personalized pottery, particularly clocks. She also enjoys making one-off pieces and has been exploring raku and experimenting with horsehair and feathers.
Read more about Melanie Edson Horner.
Carolyn Jongeward (Visual Arts, Studio L)
Carolyn Jongeward’s artwork includes hand-woven tapestry, acrylic painting, block printing, fabric painting, and painting on birch bark. As a tapestry artist, Carolyn has exhibited in Canada, United States, and England. Her paintings reflect her understanding of textile structures, her eye for colour, and her ongoing interest in geometry and pattern in art and nature.
Read more about Carolyn Jongeward.
Vivienne Jones (Jewellery, Studio F)
Vivienne Jones is a contemporary artist based in Toronto whose work is very much influenced by natural forms. She creates highly distinctive jewellery using both traditional and non-traditional materials. In her artwork, she has an interest in up-cycling, recycling and re-purposing.
Read more about Vivienne Jones.
Lisa Mace (Painting, Studio C)
Living in rural Apsley, Lisa Mace paints the world around her. Jack pines, full maples, wild flowers, and rural homes, Lisa paints what is found outside her front door.
Read more about Lisa Mace.
Barbara Miszkiel (Painting, Studio B)
After a successful career both nationally and internationally in architecture, Barbara Miszkiel has returned to her original interest in fine arts, painting primarily in acrylics. Although Barbara has created new buildings most of her career, in painting she is drawn to old buildings, live subjects and landscapes.
Read more about Barbara Miszkiel.
Molly Moldovan (Visual Arts, Studio M)
The starting point for all of Molly Moldovan’s work is the pristine landscape that surrounds her: the lake, forest, and uninterrupted skyscape are the foundation of every piece she paints. A visual artist whose primary focus is abstraction, she works primarily in acrylic and mixed media.
Read more about Molly Moldovan.
Britt Olauson (Woodworking, Studio C)
Britt designs functional furniture and other objects in wood, and her designs are often playful or interactive.
Read more about Britt Olauson.
Kelly O’Neill (Visual Arts, Studio M)
Kelly O’Neill is a multidisciplinary visual artist who enjoys the immediacy of dry materials in her drawing practice, and engages with found objects, natural materials, video, assemblage, and textile practices to create three-dimensional forms and installations. The Selwyn-based artist studied sculpture and installation at Toronto’s OCAD University and Her work has been shown in galleries in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
Read more about Kelly O’Neill.
Tom Parsons (Woodworking, Studio B)
Tom Parsons specializes in handcrafted solid wood furniture made from one-of-a-kind pieces. From coffee and end tables, charcuterie and cribbage boards, to sculptural works, he is inspired by the beauty of wood in its many forms.
Read more about Tom Parsons.
Joeann Pearson (Glass Mosaic Art, Studio K)
New to the tour this year, Joeann Pearson has been making non-traditional stained glass mosaics for 25 years. Her style is to make mosaics that use deliberately shaped, hand-cut larger pieces that are sometimes hand painted which are usually only used in the making of windows. She has always sought out nature spots to indulge in present moment awareness, and feels nature guides her work. After decades of visiting the family cottage on Chandos, she now resides full time on a small rural homestead in Apsley.
Read more about Joeann Pearson.
Cathy Pennaertz (Pottery, Studio K)
Cathy Pennaertz owns and operates Tallan Creek Pottery in Apsley. There, she takes inspiration from her beautiful rural surroundings and applies them to her pottery working with multiple coloured stoneware clays in red, white, black and grey. Natural colours, textures, and elements inspired by plant and wildlife are easily found in her many types of work including mugs, dishes, ornaments, and more.
Read more about Cathy Pennaertz.
Judy Ranieri (Fibre Art, Studio E)
After working for many years in the tech industry, Judy Ranieri retired and began to explore her creative passions. Many of Judy’s projects are inspired by nature and utilize natural fibres, fabric, colour, design, and textures to create one of a kind textile and fabric art pieces.
Read more about Rudy Ranieri.
Susan Rankin (Glass Art, Studio F)
In her 30-year career as a glass artist, Susan Rankin has drawn inspiration from the landscape in which she lives. An avid gardener, she continues to explore the idea of garden through her vessel and sculptural works and is well known for her vibrant floral vessels.
Read more about Susan Rankin.
Kathy Robichaud (Stained Glass, Studio H)
Kathy Robichaud has been a stained glass artist for over 25 years, using traditional techniques to produce stained glass art. Concentrating on the copper foil method, Kathy looks to nature for inspiration.
Read more about Kathy Robichaud.
Arne Roosman (Painting, Studio C)
Arne Roosman revisits his sketch book and paints his canvas with his travels to Sweden, Italy, and Estonia, and life’s inspirations in tow.
Read more about Arne Roosman.
Aubre Scott (Pyrography, Studio H)
New to this year’s tour, Aubre Scott (Piping Hot Pyro Studio) is an emerging artist based out of Whitby. She began working with pyrography (wood-burning) in 2021, gaining inspiration from the scenery, landscapes, and wildlife of the local area.
Read more about Aubre Scott.
Catharine Scott (Jewellery, Studio H)
Catharine Scott is a self-taught artisan who is inspired by the natural beauty of coloured gem stones, the ability to form and create meaningful pieces of art through wire working, and her own creative style of stringing that can be worn at any time of the day with any style of fashion.
Read more about Catharine Scott.
Clare Scott-Taggart aka Rusty Girl (Metal Sculpture, Studio F)
Clare Scott-Taggart (Rusty Girl) has worked in metal for the past 30 years. She maintains a small studio in Thousand Islands where she recently moved and continues to create birdbaths, climbers, and trellises.
Read more about Clare Scott-Taggart.
David Smith (Painting, Studio F)
David Smith is inspired to create new works in watercolour, acrylic, and oil by the surrounding landscape. Painting full time following a career in advertising, graphic design, and colour retouching, he applies this knowledge and skill into his paintings.
Read more about David Smith.
Judy Sparkes (Pottery, Studio H)
Obsessed with the relationship between great food and handmade pottery, Judy Sparkes believes eating from handmade pots elevates the dining experience. Her work is carefully hand crafted to be enjoyed as everyday art.
Read more about Judy Sparkes.
Frances Timbers (Jewellery, Studio M)
From the delicate to the dramatic, Frances Timbers’ jewellery designs are timeless treasures, which will serve as wearable art for years to come.
Read more about Frances Timbers.
2023 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour Map
2023 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour MapYou can also download a printable version of the map.
First launched in 1994, the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour creates public awareness of the arts by promoting and supporting artists in the community.
For more information on the 2023 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, visit apsleystudiotour.com. You can also follow the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour on Facebook and Instagram.
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