UPCOMING EVENTS

September 2010
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930EC
  • No events.
 

CONNECT

 

ARCHIVES

 
 

Posts Tagged ‘Arts Trail’

Arts Trail, Final Stops

Friday, June 12th, 2009

It’s official, as of today, thanks to visits to Peta Hall Gallery and Round the Bend Gallery, I’ve been to every gallery and artist studio on Prince Edward County’s Arts Trail. The tour, which has spanned many months, has truly been a journey of discovery and I look forward to repeating it often.

petahall2_webAt Peta’s, I caught the artist working on a bowl on her potter’s wheel. Despite the interruption she kindly took the time to walk me through her studio and to talk about her participation in Clay, an exhibit that opens tomorrow evening (Saturday, June 13) at Blizzmax gallery in South Bay.

For the show, African-born Peta created a number of works inspired by her travels to places like Burma, Mozambique and Tanzania, which she says are more sculptural than a lot of her other work. In the shape of huts and houses, many of them wood fired, she explained that they act as a sort of meditation on the question of “where is home.” (Clay runs until June 28. For info call 613.476.7730.)

Not far outside of Picton, along the shores of Picton Bay, artist Andrew Innes’ gallery is situated on his lovely tree-ringed property. The setting is peaceful and must be inspirational. Indeed, one of Andrew’s assemblages (three dimensional mixed media constructions) that I admired was clearly inspired by the view.

andrewinnes2_webAt his intimate gallery, Andrew shows his own vivid watercolours, pencil drawings and assemblages along with sculptures by Bunny Bates and works by Kingston-based glass artists, Mariel Waddell and Mischka Hunter.

If you attended the Quinte Arts Council’s annual juried show, Expressions 2009, you might recognize Andrew’s works as he won the Juror’s Choice Award for his work entitled Waiting and Wondering.

Arts Trail Turns One

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

artstrailanniversary_web

June 2009 month marks the one year anniversary of the launch of Prince Edward County, Ontario’s Arts Trail (www.artstrail.ca), a tour route that winds over 200 kilometres to link together the galleries and studios of local artists.

Like the Taste Trail (www.tastetrail.ca), the region’s epicurean trail, the Arts Trail comprises a bilingual print brochure/map, a website and road signs that help guide the way. More than an opportunity to admire and snap up original artworks, it offers the public the ability to meet artists, to tour their studios and to enjoy special insight into understanding their work. It was developed to shine a spotlight on Prince Edward County’s vibrant creative community and so far it is working.

Despite the economic downtown, the trail enjoyed a successful first year with many participants reporting an increase in both traffic and sales. David Drown of Wellington Pottery says 2008 was his “best season ever” and photographer Graham Davies admits that despite initial reservations about the project’s potential to bring consumers to his door that it worked, “I saw a lot of customers with the Arts Trail in hand.”

This year’s edition includes 21 participating locations. They are: Windswept Studio; Wellington Pottery; Bloomin’ Barn Studio; Armstrong Glassworks; SideStreet Gallery; Suites-on-the-Lake Studio; Beach Street Studio; Shattered Gallery/Studio; Oeno Gallery; Angeline’s Restaurant, Inn & Spa; Covent Garden Contemporary Fine Art & Funktional Art & Design; Bloomfield Studios, Peta Hall Gallery; Mad Dog Gallery; Bald Photographer Gallery; La De Dah Sculpture Studio; Red Roof Gallery; Riccaro Jewellery Studio & Gallery; The Red Barns (an artisan’s playground); and two newcomers: Moontide Studio Gallery and Round the Bend Gallery.

Visit www.artstrail.ca or, better yet, travel the trail, to learn more.

Photo credit: Graham Davies.

Visiting PEC’s Northern Shores

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Tuesday afternoon, June 9, 2009, turned out to be a lovely day, perfect for a drive to the northern end of Prince Edward County - Big Island and Northport to be exact. My mission…brochure deliveries.

june09013My first stop, Haystrom Farm on Bethel Road is owned by Jim Hayward. Jim grows heirloom and exotic fruits and vegetables including 120 varieties of tomatoes and 20 varieties of melons, which are available at his roadside stand during the growing season. Check it out sometime.

A hop skip and a jump later and I arrived at Big Island where Terry Sprague of NatureStuff Tours and Things met me at the door of his house. He had been working on his computer (bird stuff no doubt). A big thank you to Terry for graciously volunteering his time to keep the Rossmore visitor kiosk stocked with Visitors Guides and Taste Trail and Arts Trail brochures, during the busy tourist season.

june09021Around the corner from Terry Sprague’s, situated on the Bay of Quinte, is the Baycrest Lodge and Marina. Owner Dave Owen has a beautiful spot with dockage, storage and repair service. Rentals of sailboats and fishing boats are also available.

Rather than completing a full loop, I back-tracked on Sprague Road to Fairview Farm, owned by Mark Bartkiw. Situated on a hill overlooking the Big Island marsh, Mark’s farm is a picturesque place for his organically grown, pick-your-own vegetables, fruits and flowers. While there visitors may wish to take a look at Mark’s handmade furniture crafted from century-old lumber.

Back on the mainland and heading east on County Road 15, towards the Skyway Bridge (Highway 49), I paid a visit to Bill Reddick Studio Porcelain. He had just finished roasting some Rwandan coffee beans and offered me a cup of the freshly brewed coffee. During my visit Bill mentioned that his plate entitled “Plate with National Imagery” will be shown at the 2009 Cheongju International Craft Biennale in Cheongju, South Korea. The largest fine craft event of its kind, the Craft Biennale will showcase work from over 40 nations. Canada is the featured guest country for 2009 and we’re very proud to have Bill representing Prince Edward County’s vibrant creative community.

Next I made a brief stop at Clearwater Design to drop of some brochures in their mailbox, before skipping over to Therapy on the Bay on Georges Road, which is owned by Bruce and Marilyn Foster. Bruce is a registered physiotherapist,certified in acupuncture and treats mind, body and spirit in a tranquil setting on the Bay of Quinte.

My last brochure drops of the day, before heading home for supper, were to Bayside Cottages, the Grey Cottage at Green Point and Goodfellow Meats.

I must admit, it was a great way to spend an afternoon at work.

Cultivating Collaboration… Building the Prince Edward County Brand

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

cultivation_web

Prince Edward County will once again be showcased in Toronto, this time at an intimate fundraiser for the Artscape’s upcoming Creative Places + Spaces: The Collaborative City conference.

Entitled Cultivation, the event is expected to draw a crowd of fifty guests (including some of Toronto’s leading cultural philanthropists, corporate leaders and Artscape not-for-profit partners and donors) to the home of Richard and Rana Florida where they will all enjoy wine from our region.

According to the Corporation of the County of Prince Edward’s Jean Anne Carroll, who is coordinating the County’s involvement in the event, the guests will also be sent home with Prince Edward County-branded gift baskets, which will tell stories of our “Collaborative County” designed to underscore the purpose behind the Collaborative City conference.

Among the stories that will be told are those of our wine industry, Goat Milk Cheddar (produced jointly by Black River Cheese Company and Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company), Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and marketing products including the Arts Trail, Taste Trail and Harvestin’ the County. The guests will also learn that our community produces and exports everything from IMAX films and HDTV productions to billion dollar financial management software and art.

Jean Anne has also informed Taste the County that our newly launched “Come Back to Earth” branding, which was developed as part of this year’s destination marketing campaign, will be used to wrap gifts for various delegations and tours that are visiting the County in the near future. “It is already proving its versatility and usefulness—filling the ‘gap’ for a common brand that can be used to position and promote Prince Edward County,” she says.

OCTA Munch and Mingle

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

On Tuesday night, the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance (OCTA) launched their new website at an event at Hart House in Toronto.

octa_webDesigned to use social media to drive new business opportunities in the province’s culinary tourism industry, the new site is a resource of best practices, research and education opportunities for those involved in the culinary tourism industry. It is also a forum for growers, chefs and hospitality operators to connect and ultimately identify new business opportunities through the power of online organizing.

Taste the County attended to launch, handing out Prince Edward County Visitors Guides, Taste Trail and Arts Trail brochures as well as serving Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company’s award-winning Lighthall Tomme, Black River Cheese Company’s Maple Cheddar (made with 100% pure Prince Edward County maple syrup) and biscuits by County Crackers. The Grange of Prince Edward Vineyards & Estate Winery and Rosehall Run Vineyards were also in attendance along with a mix of several dozen members of various tourism organizations and media.