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30 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday October 24, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2008 A sneak peak into the secret lives of artists Oakville Art Society Studio Tour runs Nov. 1 and 2 By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Oakville Art Society has made several changes to its annual studio tour this year to make it friendlier for both the public and the environment. The event, scheduled for Nov. 1 and 2, will feature four sites, with two private studios and two larger studios featuring groups of artists. This is the third year of the studio tour. Last year's event drew between 400 and 500 people, but organizers are hoping to set a new attendance record with the reduced number of locations. "What we've done in previous years is just put artists studios, but then you end up with 20 or 30 locations and people were driving all over the place and spending more time in their cars than visiting with the artists," said Sabine Frisch, manager of the Oakville Art Society. "This is the first time we've really narrowed it down. It is also a bit of an environmental nod. Fewer studios also means that people will have the chance to visit with all the artists." There will be a total of 18 artists taking part in the event. Participants were selected through an application process, with an emphasis on choosing artists who are at a certain skill level. "These are members of our art society gallery and are more established artists who have higher-quality work," said Frisch. "These are among the best artists in our gallery. Some of them have even made a living off their art all their lives, which is something not a lot of people can say." A variety of subject matter and media will be featured, including oil, acrylic, pastel and watercolour paintings, sculpture, jewelry and pottery. Some of the artists will also be doing demonstrations of their craft. "We wanted variety and people to see a bit of everything," Frisch said. "We're trying to expose as many people as we can to as many different types of art." Organizers chose the first weekend of November with the hopes that more people will be able to attend. "It is starting to get chilly and the outdoor MICHAEL IVANIN / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER ON DISPLAY: Artists, left to right, Ann Oakley, Marvin Olson, Lucy Erskine and Gunta White are busy at the Oakville Art Society's location on Bronte Road in preparation for the Oakville Art Society Studio Tour, which will take place on Nov. 1 and 2 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free. activities are pretty much finished," Frisch said. "Everyone has put their cottage and their yard to bed, so now people can start thinking about indoor activities like visiting indoor galleries." One of the two private studios opening its doors to the public is John van der Hart's. The Oakville artist has a gallery and studio attached to his Eighth Line home. Van der Hart said there will be about 50 works on display. As an additional treat for visitors, he will be performing classical and original pieces on the flute. "I'm interesting -- look at all the things I'm doing," he said when asked why people should stop by his studio. "People always say they really like my music." The tour offers art lovers of all ages the opportunity to meet some of the town's talented artists, according to Frisch. It is also a good chance to do some Christmas shopping, she added. "There will be things on sale in every price range, because there is a number of media represented, so it is a perfect time to pick up Christmas presents," she said. Another feature of the studio tour is that admission is free. "We wanted to show off to Oakville what everyone has been doing all year long," she said. "It is just like a gallery or museum, where you don't always have to pay. We wanted to make a fun event that was free for people to do. It is something we are doing for artists and the community." Artists also benefit from the event by increased awareness of their artwork, according to members. "It is a nice thing to do and show people the talent we have in this community," said Joyce Kellock, longtime Oakville Art Society member and professional artist. "Some people tell me they move here because of Oakville's many galleries and artists." Kellock, along with husband Ed Boyer, will be part of a group of artists displaying their work at the Oakville Art Society on Bronte Road. "I think people are going to be surprised at what I'm showing," she said. "I'm known for my paintings of children, but they are going to see the other things I do, like semi-abstract and life studies. And there will be a good variety of artists, from people doing landscapes and watercolours to jewelry. It is a very creative group of people." She also said the tour is a good way to raise awareness of the society. "It gives a lot to the community and is a place that people can come to and learn to paint or meet other artist," said Kellock, who has been with the society for about 30 years. The Oakville Art Society Studio Tour runs Nov. 1 and 2 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free. The four studio locations are Oakville Art Society (group show), 560 Bronte Rd.; Harbour Banquet and Conference Centre (group show), 2340 Ontario St.; Jon van der Hart's studio, 2420 Eighth Line and Elizabeth Elkin's studio, 2019 Grand Blvd. Free parking is available at all four sites. Brochures with a map will be available at all four studio locations on the days of the event. For information, call the Oakville Art Society at 905-827-5711 or visit www.oakvilleartsociety.com.