Curious art aficionados have a chance to peek into the intimate creative spaces of artists this weekend during the Hammond Bay Studio Tour.
The tour on Saturday (Sept. 29) and Sunday (Sept. 30) features 10 Nanaimo artists who will open their studio spaces and homes to the gaze of public eyes and showcase their artwork. The tour features Lee Stead, Cecil van Woensel, Valerie Capewell, Kathryn Galvin, Christina Alvarez Magliano, Janice Hofman, Pam Tarves, Dave Kasprick, Robert Waddell and Gerda Hofman. People can view the variety of mediums including pottery, painting, sculpture, jewelry, furniture, photography and more.
Van Woensel said it’s a fun tour that will allow the public to talk to the artists, view their work and studio spaces. Her studio space is small so she’s transforming her living room into a gallery.
She said there’s a perception that cultural life in Nanaimo the cultural life is only happening in the downtown core. However, she said there are many artists in the north end and the group wanted to bring more awareness to that fact.
Capewell said the group hopes more artists come on board for future studio tours. The group is discussing running another tour this spring, but are waiting to see how the first tour does.
“It’s an exciting project for the area because it’s never happened in the north end before,” said Capewell. “It’s new and there is a lot of energy with this group (of artists) and we are really, really excited about this tour.”
The studio tour is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 29) and Sunday (Sept. 30). At each artist studio people can enter a draw to win a piece created by the 10 artists of the tour. The studio locations will be marked by red balloons and a tour map is available at http://hammondbaystudiotour.jimbo.com.
reporter3@nanaimobulletin.com