The Newmarket art walk and studio tour is coming back on Sept. 11 and 12 and this year they are taking it outside.
After putting on a smaller showcase last year, the Newmarket Group of Artists (NGA) wanted to showcase more artists in a safe environment.
“The fact that we got it done at all was wonderful,” Beth Wallace with the NGA said. “It’s going to be so much better this year because we’re actually able to interact with people.”
Last year the entire event was held at Matsu Studio and artists weren’t able to be there to show their own work due to limited capacity.
This year, for the 13th annual art walk, the artists will each have their own tent, spread throughout the town where they will be able to have more pieces on display and talk about their own work.
“It’s going to be an awesome experience to talk to people again and get inspired by people again,” Wallace said.
She will be showcasing her stained glass creations at her home on Wildwood Drive, joined by another artist, painter Ila Hup-Warmels.
There are 23 artists showing this year, spread across 12 different venues to limit the amount of travelling between locations.
Jennifer Shigetomi will be showing her jewelry at Matsu Studio, which she owns, on Gorham Street, with three other artists.
“Just by having four artists in one location, too, it helps bring some of the traffic down to this end of the show because a lot of it is centred still around the downtown area,” she said. “We have a great group of artists that will be showcasing down on this side, so I’m really looking forward to it. I hope the weather will be with us but rain or shine we will be out there!”
Shigetomi, has been a part of the NGA for around 10 years, makes sterling silver and gold jewelry inspired by flowing, organic shapes.
Ceramic artist Teresa Dunlop will also be set up outside Matsu Studio.
“I think it’s not only good for us, it’s really good for our community,” she said. “For people to be able to come out and talk to each other and look at art and whether they buy it or not they get to have some time with an artist and with other members of the community and I think it’s just a really healthy, normal thing to do.”
Dunlop will have her ceramics, which include both sculptural and functional pieces, on display and for sale.
She said, “There’s something for everyone” with her work.
Prior to the pandemic, the art walk took place along Main Street with artists being stationed inside local businesses. While they have pivoted this year, some downtown stores have still offered their space.
The information centre will be held at Cachet Supper Club, Trinity United Church will be hosting two different artists, and Neon Flamingo will host artist Anna Khokhlova.
The mixed media artist does illustrations, with many inspired by her son.
It is Khokhlova’s first time participating in the art event and she is excited to get out and meet people.
“I’m tired of being at home,” she said, adding that the pandemic made it tricky to get inspired so she is looking forward to getting out again.
Khokhlova joined the NGA in 2019 in hopes of connecting with local artists, something that many of the artists agreed is important for them.
Beth Wallace joined the group six years ago for the same reason.
“When I did come up. I was like ‘I want to find a community’ and I found it hard initially but once I looked up the NGA, it’s like ‘oh my God, all of these possibilities are right in front of me.’ It’s a great organization and they really try to bring people together,” she said.
For Jennifer Shigetomi, the art walk goes beyond connecting with other artists as well.
“For the people up here, this is a wonderful way to meet people from the community and we have a lot of loyal followers, artists themselves and people who collect art, and they come around every year, it’s really nice to see,” she said.
The art walk will be held on Saturday, Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
