416 Art Kruze

May 31-June1 weekend my mother and I set out to the 416 Art Kruze. Recently the newspapers have been buzzing about the flourishing art community in South Grenville and we wanted to take it all in ourselves. This event was very well organized. At every stop was a warm welcome, tons of works to view and signage to accommodate our out-of-town guests.

While promoting this event I was very surprised at the amount of people from out-of-town asking for the PDF version of the map. The requests poured in therefore we know it was successful in attracting people from all over that could not make it to the area to pick up the hard copy version.

The staff at every stop that we visited said that there was a steady stream of traffic throughout the weekend. We started our journey in Cardinal to view an exhibit by Chris Hale at Galop Gallery. This happens to be one of my top picks because I enjoy his style and it was very refreshing to see something very modern and edgy. Everyone is different in their tastes but I would definitely consider hanging on of the works from Chris’s “False Idols, Gods & Monsters” show in my office.

After Galop Gallery we headed to the Art capital of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal- Spencerville ON. Before heading to the galleries we made a stop at Aubin Farms on HWY 21. We picked up some fresh spinach viewed Baskets by Gwyn which is a local vendor creating woven baskets for practical use. Aubin Farms also had fresh organic meals prepared so that guests could try some of their preserves and fresh organic vegetables before purchasing.

 

Next stop was The Dutch Hill Gallery Paverpol on HWY 21. I have been here many times but there is always something new and interesting especially since it is the new home of the South Grenville Guild of Fine Art. The Guild will be there all summer but the works will change on a regular basis. The Dutch Hill also offers workshops to create your own Paverpol sculpture. We viewed both floors of the gallery and as we were walking out we were still saying “Look at that!”. www.thedutchhill.ca 

Next Stop was the 416 Art Mart. Neither of us have ever been to the “Big Blue Barn” before but we were very happy we had our first visit during the 416 Art Kruze. There were so many mediums, so many options and very knowledgeable staff to explain the processes. There were lots of works that doubled as garden décor. It got me thinking- instead of buying plastic decorations from department stores I would support the local art community instead.

 

Mary Moore

Next we went to Hubbard Co.  http://bradfordmhubbard.ca/ which offers restoration of furniture, furniture & garden accessories as well as maintenance services for your home. They had a guest artist named “Cedar Lane Studios” their regular location is on Pittston Rd. in Spencerville. They offer workshops and sell works by Tom Lillico & Mary Moore. They specialize in oils, acrylics and hand crafted furniture.

Tom Lillico

  









The last stop we took was ArtScene Spencerville. The newly renovated gallery has paintings, drawings, fabric art, photography, pottery, sculptures, jewellery, farm fresh preserves, Alpaca and sheep fleece products on display. With 12 artist members and ever-changing feature artists and guest artists the gallery has something for everyone!  
http://artscenespencerville.blogspot.ca/ 



 So that was our Kruze! There were a few more stops outside South Grenville in North Grenville. Kruze or no Kruze you should take the time to check out all the sites listed in the brochure. We had an amazing time meeting all the interesting people along the way. It's an ideal way to spend a weekend and we hope that this event continues to come back every year.

Art on the 21

The Dutch Hill Gallery is located in Spencerville Ontario and is quite the hidden gem within it’s historical surroundings. While most visit Spencerville for the Mill there is a thriving arts community within. Not only is there the more well known ArtScene on the main drag but just a little bit further down the 21 you will find the Kluck’s 23 acre property complete with refurbished barn that serves as a two story art gallery. Their original works are made with wire and steel supports, then they are wrapped in tinfoil and the details start to form. Then the statue is wrapped in masking tape and lastly fabric is dipped in the paverpol solution and draped over the statue. Once the artwork is complete it can stand the elements (a main selling point besides their menacing beauty is the fact that they can be left outside). If you are ever in the area or would like to make a day trip out to The Dutch Hill Gallery I highly recommend it. The owners are very pleasant, knowledgeable and they offer classes. I know I will be attending their Small Town BIG Art Festival next year.