September Jaunt

 At our August get together Marta (pink V neck), who isn't in Kingston for a long time, said she hadn't been on the Wolfe Island Ferry. We've all been here ages and thought it a shame if she missed it during her stay which won't extend into the fine Summer weather of 2015 so we decided a trip was a must.

Here are the Kingston Ferry Docks....the truck is pulling an old boat full of really curious junk!

Reg, Marta, Cathie and I (Carolyn) are here aboard the ferry. We met down at the docks on what turned out to be a wonderfully hot Summer's day for early September, walked onto the ferry and took our places up top where we had a great view.

We loved this tiny island with it's tiny house...what a retreat for an artist! Such a great time in the wind of Lake Ontario crossing to Marysville on Wolfe Island. We were able to some of the islands where boat building was big industry over 100 years ago...such as Garden Island.

Looking for the 'new land'.

Walking off the ferry with others going to work or to bike the island or deliver services, we strolled along the main street to see what we could see in the way of somewhere to sit and have coffee and munchies until our 12pm ferry back to the mainland. We found the Wolfe Island Grill to which Cathie and her husband had been for dinner the evening before.

 This is our view over the lake to Kingston...we felt like we were taking the ferry over to Martha's Vinyard or something like that out of a movie.!

We found a table right by the water with a great view of Kingston and though there was great coffee to be had there were no buns. Our lovely server recommended we go across to the Wolfe Island Bakery and bring something back from there....how nice! So off went Cathie and me to fetch some mixed berry scones...yum!

Cathie had printed out a list of artists comments which started a lively discussion as is our wont at our Artist Round Table gatherings.

Where's Waldo...at the Marysville ferry docks.

Here is a shot from the ferry of the patio of the Wolfe Island Grill.

February - Judgement!

Well, though we were only four of us in my dining room today, we had a lively discussion which I found relevant and interesting....adjudication of shows.

We, as artists, artisans, painters, crafters, photographers, writers and so on, often put ourselves in the field of fire when we enter shows, contests, go for grants...this morning we talked about the annual Juried Arts Salon from the Kingston Arts Council. Though at time of writing, the relevant page on their site was not current (still 2013) the pamphlets are out .... I picked some up in Minotaur downtown on Princess Street. The first question was 'do we know who the judges are'? Yes, they are listed in the pamphlet....is that a good thing or not? Hmmmm.... 

If we know the judges we might be able to play to their sensibilities...is that right? What's wrong with that? Putting their names up opens that right up.

I (Carolyn Barnett) have done many shows over my years as an artisan and not known who the judges were....maybe I found out after I won an award or place, which is nice to know...I guess, but mostly I haven't. With no clue to whom I am appealing I just do my own thing to the best of my ability, stretching myself (as I have done for the Toronto Outdoor Arts Exhibition as I wanted my wearable art to me be more 'art'). I didn't have to thing what the leanings of any judges might be.

Well, a couple of us (myself included) decided we'd give it another try...kind of a personal challenge. The deadline is March 27th. I will have more pamphlets available next week at..

Kingston Arts and Letters Club

gathering

Feb 11th 7pm, Kingston Yatch Club

Speakers: Barb Carr, Marsha Gormly of KSOA

&

Meriel Taylor of Anwyn Yarn Studio

December's Holiday Gathering

Cathie shows Reg how to get started....

Our December get together happened in Cathie Hamilton's studio at NGB Studios down on Cataraqui St.  Thanks to Cathie and the others we had lots of Christmas treats: shortbread cookies, fruit, hot apple cider and tangerines!


We talked about  'Square' update that you can now process American Express credit cards online.

Of course we chatted about our shows over the holiday sales season and about the smaller shows that have cropped up.

...and away he goes!

There are a lot more small in house/studio 'open house' selling weekends, I did one with Tamara of Latimer Soaps and Corinna of Nikita sauces (find her in the market in season) and Yolanda of Yolanda's Glass Jewelry. We had a lovely weekend though not a lot of traffic...the idea worked well and our set up was good. We had munchies and hot apple cider and, though we all made sales, it's always nicer to do more.

We need to do more promo....learning!

Anyway, after the official part of our morning Cathie had set up for any of us who would like to try encaustic to give it a whirl! Reg and Carolyn (me) were enthusiastic and sat down to learn about the wax, and a fairly simple technique with a small iron and other hot tools to melt and work with the wax.

Carolyn's work.

I was intrigued by the way you move the different colours of wax around to create things such as the sky. Maybe I'll go back one day to experiment with patterns.

Here is what I worked on....really fun!















Cathie is offering more workshops in the New Year...here are the particulars...

With 2014 fast approaching it seems like only yesterday we were all panicked about Y2K scuppering all our computers and online stuff! Now we're panicking about global warming and the crazy weather...at least all the shovelling and breaking up of ice keep us fairly fit...it's becoming a regualar thing.

Our first get together of the New Year and I'll host it at my house:

January 7th 2014  11am

Carolyn Barnett

14 Richard Street (in Portsmouth Village)

613-545-5986

September's Artists Round Table

This month we to meet at Anglin Bay Pottery studio, Jane Thelwell's busy going concern, as the weather is warm and we could sit in her delightful seating area.

Jane ran with the group and lead us with topics to do with upcoming shows, current shows, calls for entry and such.  We talked about shows and what kind of size they are, what kind of attendees there are and the nature of work which fits best: high end work or small gift ware.

As artisans we have to have both our treasured art pieces, large and expensive and also smaller less expensive items as 'bread & butter' items which can be purchased as impulse buying. It is so exciting when you sell a $400 item to someone who sees it, loves in an decides it has to be there but those sales are the exception. 

Also, lots of people would love to have our work but cannot afford our main pieces so it is lovely to have small pieces for impulse buying, a gift of just a treat for themselves. I have wraps, scarves and pins, photographers have their work on not cards or small prints, potters have mugs, jewellers might have small silver rings or charms, and so on.

We went over some dates such as the Downtown Art After Dark is on September 27th.

Also, Fat Goose Art Fair is coming up and there might still be time to sign up for a table. 

Nicole Couture-Lord is exhibiting at Wolfe Island Bakery 311 Queen Street from Sept 3 - Oct 15th during restaurant hours.

Anglin Bay Pottery at NGB Studios.

Sarah Washbush, Project Manager at the Ontario Crafts Council, is coming to Kingston to do a leaning session on...

Craft Export Rediness

It will be at the boardroom at Innovation Park, Mark Hanley from KEDCO has graciously

assisted me with this.

Tuesday October 1st

5-7pm

Jane showing us a group firing ready to be taken out of the kiln.

Our next get together will be at Tina Roeder's house on Maitland October 1st....

I'll send out a reminder.

 

August's Artists Round Table...

....trying to have real 'Summery' get togethers we met on my deck in Portsmouth Village (we got comfier chairs now) and be surrounded  by sun & flowers (well...we tried).

Not only did we have a nice group - what is is with the photographers in our midst...we always have about three?! Anyway, Reg kindly brought too many cookies, Cathie brought cookies  and I had made Ikea ginger cookies so we had a bit of a cookie swap at the end of the get together.

Ilana McGrath joined us.

 We had a guest of honour (sort of) - Ilana McGrath daughter of Joan McGrath of 29 years of Fanfayr fame. She had called me to say in turning our her late mother's cupboards there was lots of wool and a collection of knitting and knitting needles. I told her I would see that what I couldn't use would be passed on to a good home. I have already taken some pieces to Value Village so someone who hasn't quite the funds can still knit that warm sweater.  Ilana talked to us about her Mum, Fanfayr and joined us for most of an hour.
We had our usual  catch up, introducing each other to Ilana and talking about our get togethers and how we catch each other up on new shows, review shows we've just done, discuss the ins and outs of the business side of being and artist. I think I was about to do the Sheepdog trials.





One of us arrived on her new wheels!!!! Annette rode up on a brand spanking new e-bike in zingy purple. I got all excited because for a number of years when I was in my twenties I rode around on a Honda 70 motorcycle and loved it.











 I really wanted to see what the ebike is all about.
It seems great for a town like Kingston to get around and do your shopping, get to work etc. They are easy to park and have lovely luggage compartments......of course I had to have a 'go'!

Isn't this great art? I thought it looked like a serpent's head.

Helmeted and ready to go....

Since the meeting the Sheepdog Trials have happened and I did about the same as usual, it was good for me. I moved my felted vests, a sweater and gleaned one or two more for my latest workshop.

On my way up our street!

That's one thing about shows, if you are teaching, looking for participants for workshops a good group of people can be reached, seeing your work and taking an interest in trying it for themselves...even as a one time thing and taking it no further. I have known people taking workshops, not pursuing it but still supporting artisans with their purchases as they have a better understanding of what goes into the creation.

Now we start to talk about the Fall events we have booked, shows, exhibitions, workshops. New work for these and for the holiday gift giving in a few months.

More discussions at the September 3rd A.R.T..... We'll let you know where we are going to meet....any offers? If you have an interesting studio and feel like having a small group out for coffee and cookies....let us know.

A Little Potty...

Digging around my computer and the internet I found this and wondered if I had posted it here....apparently not...so here goes.

Clay Journeys at the Grist Mill in Westport Ontario opened today. 

Remember ... Augusts Artists Round Table get together...Carolyn's place..

14 Richard Street

Tuesday August 6th 11am. 

June's ART

Another ART gathering, at my house this month. I had hoped to sit outside on the deck but the weather just wasn't cooperative.

We had a good gab about shows and what was going on in Kingston and surrounding area. Here are a couple of pics taken by Reg and by Tina. 

As a note, Reg is looking for anyone who wants to go to Algonquin Park in mid to end of September for a couple of days to look at the galleries, take photographs and to paint....who knew Reg painted!

Anyway, if you are interested get in touch with Reg: gaitken3@cogeco.ca 

We'll have our July, August & September gatherings outside and I'm happy to host them on my deck as we have done in past Summers. Also there are no parking problems here in the village.  If anyone has something they want to do/present/show do let us know and we can go to your place and work on something different.

This weekend is Art Among the Ruins in Newburgh on Saturday. A few of us will be there, like Jane Thellwell....with her wheel.

Drive out and enjoy music, bbq and Summer in the country.

Check out the info for AATR web site.

Also, Artfest Kingston is coming up on Canada Day weekend in City Park.

See you next month - July 2nd 11am.