The BWG Studio Art Tour is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, featuring original works by 22 local artists and artisans at four venues.
But before there was a studio art tour, there was Art in the Barn. Thirteen years ago, artist Stella Wadsworth and three friends got together to exhibit their watercolours and acrylic works in the barn at 291 Morris Rd. in Bradford – an art show that showcased local talent.
From that original introduction to the arts came the idea for the BWG Studio Art Tour, as other local artists enthusiastically asked to get involved.
Original Art in the Barn “Bradford Group of Four” members Wadsworth and Maureen Joyce have continued to organize the self-directed tour, which will be taking place this weekend, Sept. 15-16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
Art in the Barn is one of the four stops – with Morris Road now accessed from the new Marshview Blvd. Showing in the barn are Wadsworth, Joyce, original member Kathy Bury, and new member, Angie Horsley.
“Once again, we’re over 100 pieces of artwork – all original,” said Joyce.
The other venues on the tour are Echoes in the Attic’s ‘girl cave’ at 22 Gres Court, where Vicky Gerke and Laura Langevin put together eco-chic handbags and totes from reclaimed and recycled designer materials; the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library & Cultural Centre at 425 Holland St. W., and the BWG Leisure Centre across the way.
“It’s a new location, where some of the youth artists are,” said Wadsworth, referring to the leisure centre. She noted that four youth artists – Ava Fahlgren, Juliann Frampton, Jacqueline Gross and Brianna Boughner – will be showing and selling their paintings and sketches, alongside potter Kirstin Bindsell, photographer Jim Craigmyle, artist Corrine Donnelly and woodturner Bill Burlton.
In the library itself, visitors can view and purchase works by artists Jean Tranmer, Marian Leeper, Jim Woods, Ingrid Schienke, Sylva Sroujian, Mary Espinosa and Chad Williams, photographs by Safani Gunasekera, and jewellery by Vicky Topp, Krystal Energy.
Admission is free. Meet the artists – and remember to enter the raffle for great prizes. For more information, visit bwgstudiotour.ca.
