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After a few renovations, CC‘s small framing studio â€" tucked in behind the retail area â€" will be transformed once again into a kitchen, the upstairs will become a master bedroom/sitting room and a skylight will be installed above a small second floor unit to provide Connie with the necessary natural light to paint. The shelves, heavily laden with art supplies, will be gone. The framing desk, over which Connie and Craig discussed color and matt and frame combinaâ€" tions hundreds of times will be knocked down and the fireplace, hidden by a cluttered cash area, The James â€" Connie and her husband Craig â€" are retiring, yearnâ€" ing for a well deserved rest and time with their grandchildren. Their clients, most from Oakville, are scrambling. But although the James are closing up shop, they are remainâ€" ing in the house and will continue to be a part of the Kerr Street comâ€" munity Their home on Riverside Drive is up for sale. In just two weeks time, the shop‘s doors will close forever and the shingle with CC James Art Supplies and Framing modestly written on it, will be taken down. CC James closes its doors It‘s an unobtrusive little house, squeezed between a tiny coffee shop and a busy grocery store on ethnicâ€"flavored Kerr Street. Every day for the past eight years, its keeper Connie James has stepped inside the cluttered but wonderfully cosy little retail outlet and welcomed customers in search of art supplies, artwork, framing or simply, a bit of conversation. By KATHY YANCHUS Oakville Beaver Staff Be in tune with the OSO Call 844â€"7984 to receive a copy of our 1994â€"95 Seasons Brochure The James: Craig and Connie with daughter Anne and granddaughâ€" ter, Madeline Bonadeo. (Photo by Peter McCusker) The James opened the shop after Craig found himself with some free time, and Connie, who had always possessed a great interâ€" est in art, wanted to surround herâ€" self with art supplies. Somewhere along the way, the little art supply shop evolved into an integral part of the local artistic Although there‘s an underlying sense of sadness in shutting the business down, the James feel conâ€" fident with their decision. With trips to Alaska and Italy behind them, they are anxious to travel and Connie can‘t wait to devote more time to her painting. Colorful floral sketches are tacked up on one wall, awaiting final treatment from their creator. They want their freedom, something that‘s been lacking with the long hours spent attending to business. will become functional. Daughter Anne feels the success of the store lies with her mother, as do others like friend Micheline Likas who said "the place was infected with Connie‘s boundless energy." What the shop offered was "a typical old fashioned family business" that fostered a lot of friendships over the years, said Anne. CC James closes its doors July 16th with a special sidewalk sale scheduled for July 9th. community. Sure artists dropped in for paints and sketch pads but they also came in to chat or with a parâ€" ticularly difficult framing job. Eventually the James began offerâ€" ing workshops, everything from kids art classes to sculpting workâ€" shops, and every once in a while, exhibits, but it was the framing that took over the entire business. ul t "I have known of her for awhile and have always wanted to work with her," says Cormack. "She has enormous respect for what the actor brings to the process. She is very much into everyone contributing in the ensemble." "Twelfth Night is very much a play about findmg one‘s self in order to (See ‘A‘ page 14) The last Canadian theatrical production Cormack was in was Annex Theatre‘s King Lear two years ago. Since then this versatile actress has picked up the LA Drama Logue Award for her role in Tennessee Jar, a part she took over six days before the play opened, and she has been involved in several coâ€"productions, one of them a Canadaâ€"U.S. TV movie with Robert Urich. Cormack considers the opportunity to play Countess Olivia and work with director Jeannette Lambermont, "a huge gift." As exhilarating as it is to perform under the stars, Cormack says the demands placed on an actor are enormous. There are the audience distracâ€" tions, the heat to contend with and the vocal demands of perfomuno for a group of some 2,000 people. Canadian Stage is one of the country‘s strongest, most dynamâ€" ic and active theatre companies in [‘ terms of new play development LYNNE CORMACK and calibre of productions, adds Cormack, who began rehearsals June 7th for the July 7th opening (previews are July 5th). "I‘ve just come from LA where very little is subsidized. It‘s such a commercial theatre mentality," she says. Cormack, who has cut a swath of success for herself both in Canada and Los Angeles as a multiâ€"faceted performer, is thrilled to be a part of this annual ‘grassroots‘ Canadian Stage proâ€" duction which to her "sums up the best about Canadian theatre." You are working outside, so nature becomes a character in the play," says Cormack, who portrays Countess Olivia in Shakespeare‘s romantic comedy being presented at High Park‘s outdoor amphitheatre. "People bring a blanket and a picnic. It‘s just wonderful and then as the light fades, this play comes on." Along with a stellar cast in The Canadian Stage Company‘s Dream in High Park production of Twelfth Night, Oakville actress Lynne Cormack is also collaborating with nature. By KATHY YANCHUS Oakville Beaver Staff Any Purchase With Your "Shop Locally" Card Shakespeare in the park The quality you need, the price you want Offer valid to Oakville Beaver Shop Locally card Holders Excluding Tobacco 5Y OFF Hopedale Mall Located at Third Line and Rebecca in Oakville