Artists in Penetanguishene and Tiny Township showcase their work, their studios and a little bit of their lives through the annual The Bay Studio Tour.
Now in its 15th year, the tour has given artists a venue for exposure, sales and plenty of discussion about their work.
"I think it's wonderful for the exposure of these artists. Who knew that all this talent was in Tiny Township and a lot of it is tucked away," says Cynthia Blair, a painter and tour chair.
The tour is always held the weekend before Thanksgiving, so it's Oct. 5 and 6 this year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. There will be 34 artists in 24 studios. Thirteen of those studios are along the shores of Georgian Bay in Tiny Township while the rest are spread out of the region. Those artists are appreciative of people who visit them.
"I get about 300 people through the tour. It's a busy stop," says Blair, who lives along the beach and will be demonstrating encaustic painting over the weekend. Encaustic painting is an ancient technique uses pigmented hot wax instead of paint.
Blair participates in 10 shows a year but says The Bay Studio Tour "is my favourite show. I know so many people that come through. It's a lot more personal than most of my shows," she says.
It's also great for the public because they can tour the scenic region and see artists where they work and ask questions.
"It's a beautiful way to spend a weekend in the fall. We get groups stay at the hotels and they car pool. It's good for the local economy," Blair says.
Blair says she's also found that many visitors have art skills, but don't practise.
“It’s about meeting people who need to be encouraged. A lot of people are scared to do art. I let them know it’s OK to do this. This is therapy. Art is therapy."
Blair says she measures success partly by people's reactions to the work.
“A little girl walked over to that painting and said, 'Wow. That is a classic pear', and she was six years old. I thought, 'that girl is an artist.'"
The next year, the girl's mother came back and told Blair that she put her daughter in art classes and it has made her so much happier.
"I don't have to sell to feel validated. It's more about seeing the reaction. A painting speaks to somebody and that's how it finds its home," she says.
The founders of the tour are Jim Ogilvie and Karen Lediard, who organized the first Tour in 2010 with 25 participating artists.
The show has grown but most artists return annually. So, new artists are juried in and there's often a wait-list. The tour has recently expanded to 34 artists from the previous 32.
Stained glass artist Carol Hallman, is now part of the tour, after being on the wait-list for a couple of years. Other new artists on the tour include wood carver Sam Sgro and painter Wendy Marchand.
“When we take new artists, we look at the genre of the work. There are a lot of painters, but everybody paints differently with their own signature,” Blair says.
Artists have to live in the region, have a body of work and a following, she says, noting "we are always looking for something a little bit different.”
For more information, visit The Bay Studio Tour website. There you will find the maps for the self-guided studio tour and more information about the 34 artists.
