One of Canada’s longest-running studio tours, the Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour (KAST) is returning for its 41st year this fall to once again celebrate the talents of artists from across Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
Presented annually by the Art Gallery of Peterborough as the fall colours reach their peak, this year’s free self-guided tour takes place on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28. Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., 39 studios featuring 50 artists will be open and inviting visitors to browse and purchase original artwork, watch live demonstrations, and learn about the process and inspiration of each of the artists.
There’s also a preview exhibition on now at the Art Gallery of Peterborough featuring selections from the artists participating in the tour.
“The Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour is an opportunity for community engagement and helps people to understand that art is all around them,” says Andrew Ihamaki, Education Programming Coordinator at the Art Gallery of Peterborough. “There’s always a bit of a surprise when people see that there are so many artists living in their communities — and the tour is really just a small sample of the number of incredible artists that are working here.”
Last year’s 40th anniversary studio tour, which coincided with the Art Gallery of Peterborough’s 50th anniversary, saw a record number of 8,300 visitors over the weekend and was one of the top years for art sales at participating studios.
“People are so amazed when they come to this area and see the inspiring landscapes we have that many of the artists are capturing in their work,” says Ihamaki. “It’s incredible, innovative, and mind-blowing work these artists are creating.”
Participating studios in this year’s KAST are located in the City of Peterborough, the village of Lakefield, and throughout Peterborough County from Millbrook in the south to Stoney Lake in the north. More information about the studio locations and participating arts is available at kast.agp.on.ca/artists/.
Visit the Art Gallery of Peterborough at 250 Crescent Street in downtown Peterborough to pick up a printed KAST map brochure, which marks all stops, making note of which artists are new, which artists are hosting regular demonstrations, and which studios are physically accessible.
You can also download the free Toureka! app for your mobile device (available for both iOS and Android).
Using the Toureka! app, you can not only browse through artists’ bios and view samples of their work, but create a customized route for the studios you want to visit throughout the weekend. The app is still usable even if you’re in a rural area with spotty cell service.
Whether you want to add to your art collection or just want to take a behind-the-scenes look at artists at work, Ihamaki says KAST makes art accessible.
“There’s nothing stopping you — it’s a free tour and the doors are open,” he explains.
“There’s no obligation to buy anything — although it’s always wonderful if you find a piece that really speaks to you, and you know that money is going directly back into our community. KAST is an amazing way to support artists and our community, but it’s also just an opportunity to go in, look around, see what an artist’s studio is like, and take a little bit of that mysteriousness away.”
On the studio tour, visitors will find a vast range of art styles and media, with artists working with papier mâché, ceramics, paint, jewellery, metals, wood, textiles, stone, and more.
Nearly half of the artists of the tour will be holding demonstrations, inviting guests in to watch their process as it takes place within the artist’s very own space.
“It peels back some of those layers and makes art a lot less intimidating,” Ihamaki says. “You can ask any questions, and the artists love to share. Some of them might already post about their artistic process on their social accounts, but the connection and understanding gained during live demonstrations are something you’re not going to get through a screen.”
This year, there are nine new artists on the tour, including two artists working out of Peterborough’s Watson & Lou’s upper studio apartments: Em Farquhar-Barrie and Cydnee Hosker, who are both painters and mixed-media artists.
“Bringing on new artists allows visitors to see lots of art forms that you might not necessarily see every day, or art that uses materials in different way,” Ihamaki says.
Other new artists featured on this year’s tour include Karyne McKnight, Lynda Cunningham, Cathy Stalkie, Todd Ulrich, Tricia vanOostveen, Cathy Ogrodnik, and Lynda Cunningham. They will be joining seasoned artists who have been a part of KAST for years, including Anne Cavanagh, Christy Haldane, Jeffrey Macklin, Lucy Manley, Paul Chester, Valerie Davidson, and many more.
“It’s always amazing to see their names come through for the application because they’re so well-known and popular in the community,” says Ihamaki. “People get excited to see them and I know how excited the artists get to be able to welcome people to their studios as well.”
Reconstructing a showcase introduced during the 40th anniversary tour, a Community Artist Hub will be hosted at the Peterborough Public Library throughout the weekend, where artists Janet Lutz and Elizabeth Popham will be displaying their work and connecting with visitors.
“The hub provides an opportunity for artists who may not have a studio space that’s conducive to hosting the public to have that access during the tour,” Ihamaki says.
“It allows people to see and connect with artists they wouldn’t necessarily see otherwise, and it’s a great way to expand the tour and get more people involved — both the artists and community members looking to connect with the artists.”
Returning for its second year is the KAST Passport, available at the Art Gallery of Peterborough and participating studios during the tour weekend. Visit 10 passport stops and you can be entered into a draw for a prize from the Gallery Shop valued at over $100. The most stops you visit, the more chances you have to win.
To get a preview of the studio tour weekend, visit the 41st Annual KAST Selections Exhibition, on now at the Art Gallery of Peterborough. The exhibit features one work from each artist on the tour, which can help you decide which studios you want to visit. If you miss the tour, you can still visit the exhibit until Sunday, October 5.
“It’s hard to go and see every single studio, so this is a great way to see a little bit of everything,” Ihamaki says. “Maybe you can’t get out to every studio or maybe you’ve got plans that weekend, but you can support each artist by seeing their work in the exhibition. Many of the artists are also on social media and their social media handles are included on the brochure, so giving them a follow is another way you can really support the artists.”
With visitors coming from as far away as Montreal and the United States for the weekend, which has an economic impact upwards of $650,000, KAST offers artists a chance for their work to be seen by a wide audience and for the artists to connect directly with the community that supports them.
“It’s become a destination for people to see the amazing work happening here,” says Ihamaki. “As we continue into our 41st year, I can’t help but wonder where we’ll be by our 81st, as the tour continues to grow and keeps getting better each year.”
For more information on KAST, visit kast.agp.on.ca.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Art Gallery of Peterborough. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
