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Wednesday, September 21st, 2005
The Brampton Guardian
Tina Depko

Nine artists and three galleries are opening their doors to the public to provide an intimate look at what their creative life is like behind the scenes.

Due to the financial backing from the city, the event is free to the public. This is an amazing opportunity for both the public and the artists, according to Marion Bartlett, chair of the Studios of Brampton Tour committee.

"This is a perfect chance for people to walk into the artists' studios and see how things are being created, how these artists actually live and how they dream up these creations," she said. "It is also an opportunity to market our craft and raise awareness of how many talented artists there are in the Brampton area."

Local artists have been pushing for a studio tour for years. Cities across the country host similar events that are often very popular, so it was time Brampton had one, Bartlett said. The city's support of the event has made all the difference, she added.

"We are thrilled the mayor and the city are our main sponsor," Bartlett said. "We couldn't have done any of this without them."

A committee representing several different facets of the community, from the Brampton Arts Council to city hall to the various artistic groups, reviewed applications from local artists and galleries for the event. The committee tried to select artists working in different media. The result is a group of artists specializing in watercolours, sculpture, woodworking, decorative ceramics, calligraphy, acrylics, oils, stained glass and more.

"We were really reaching out to different textures so that the public would have a full art experience," Bartlett explained. "If they were looking at studios of artists with all the same texture, they would run into each other. This way, people are getting a cross-section of the arts so that their imaginations are open."

One of the artists signed up for the event is Jack Reid. As one of the city's most famous artists, his name is expected to attract attention to the event. Reid said he usually doesn't participate in events like this, but its potential encouraged him to open his studio to the public.

"I think it is an opportunity to represent Brampton and it is good for the City of Brampton to do this, so I am all for it," he said. "This is a great way to meet people from different points of view-- people who are buyers or art, lovers of art or people who want to be artists."

Each of the artists and galleries involved in the tour are encouraged to make the two-day event as interactive as possible. Bartlett said most of the artists will be working on original pieces while people are touring their studios.

Beaux-Arts Brampton will be a hub of activity, according to Steve Wilson, the organization's president.

"We have eight studios upstairs and two in the basement, so we'll be working in them doing what we do," explained Wilson. "We've got another eight people set up in the workshop area that will be doing some demos and displaying their work. During that time, we also have the North Brampton Watercolour Society showing in the gallery, so there is a lot for people to see when they come to Beaux-Arts."

Bartlett hopes the calibre of talent and free admission will encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to come out for a first-hand look at some of the best visual arts the city has to offer.

"I think that it is exciting to watch people who are creating things in their studios," she explained. "It is going to encourage a deeper understanding of how pieces of artwork are made, and to have the experience of sharing art with the artist is going to be very entertaining."

Visitors will also have the opportunity to take home original works as each artist and gallery is holding free draws for paintings, gift baskets, sculptures and more.

The committee has big expectations for the event, hoping to attract thousands of people from not only Brampton, but also from the GTA and across Ontario. They anticipate the inaugural year will be a kick-start to what they hope becomes an annual event.

"Everyone has spent a lot of time planning this tour, so we are hoping for the best," Bartlett explained. "We are expecting that next year it is going to be an even bigger event."

The Studios of Brampton Tour is free and runs Oct. 1 and 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, call 905-874-2919 or visit www.studiosofbrampton.com.

Studios of Brampton Tour participants:

• Marion Bartlett - sculpture
• Beaux-Arts Brampton
• Rick Bino - woodworking
• John Cutruzzola - oil paintings
• Karen Darling - acrylic and oil paintings, sculpture
• Rosemarie Gidvani - fashion illustration and calligraphy writing
• The Art Gallery of Peel at the Peel Heritage Complex
• Jack Reid - watercolour
• Darlene Robichaud - stained glass art
• Gordon Stuart - watercolour paintings
• Visual Arts Brampton
• Eric Wong - ceramics

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