July 23 - 30 Expressive Arts Retreat Newfoundland

Expressive Arts Retreat Newfoundland

How often do you make awakening your creativity the top priority in your summer vacation plans? This summer, Ayrlie MacEachern and Sue Miller, two local artists, make it easy for you to do both! 

Ayrlie and Sue invite you to explore your own creativity while being surrounded by the dramatic beauty of one of Canada’s most unique and memorable places: Newfoundland. 

Ayrlie and Sue welcome you to join them in a charmingly renovated 100 year-old church that is perched on a plateau overlooking a rocky coastline and the harbour of Ochre Pit Cove. The church has cozy bedrooms, a common kitchen and living area plus space for creative self-expression. The retreat will include a blend of guided instruction and spontaneity using visual art and movement to reconnect participants with their creative spirit. 

For more information about this retreat, including rates, please contact Ayrlie at 705-444-0550, or Sue at sue_miller@rogers.com.

Artist in the Spotlight - Carol Gregg

Artist Biography:

A sense of history and scenery is natural to Carol owing to her early upbringing in Northern England. Her teens brought fervour to her interest in art and she found a love for oil paint, taking a number of art courses to help accentuate her talents.

Settling into the rolling hills of Mono with her family and intrigued by the beauty of the surrounding Hockley Valley scenery, Carol’s artistic interests were renewed.

Several art courses and workshops, including ones with Harold Klunder and Peter Koslisnyk, have helped Carol find a love of working in oils once again.

Carols work is fluid and vibrant, reflecting awareness of her beautiful surroundings.

Artist Statement:

Deep in the woods they stand… watching.

Silent witnesses to it all! The Ancient ones.

My series of oil paintings, I began in 2003 entitled “The Silent Watchers” is a tribute to the life force of the ancient trees that still stand in our forests.

May they assist us in our awakening!

*******

One can sit quietly – as I do – and observe the surroundings.

listening – inhaling. This is my mindset before I even contemplate what it is

I want to capture on canvas, the very mood of the

present moment.

perhaps it is the changing light or lack thereof. Or

perhaps there is a heady aroma, a Corus of birds or just

profound silence.

in times of quiet contemplation… I have sensed a

certain energy that surrounds me.

All these things affect me and thus my

paintings.

Using palette knife, brush or fingers, with oil paint on canvas, I hope to convey these moments to the viewer.

-          Carol Gregg

Carol Gregg

RR1 Orangeville ON L9W 2Y8

(519) 942-2254

Artist in the Spotlight is prepared by Arlene Taylor, Community Outreach Coordinator at The Dufferin Arts Council (DAC).

July 7 & 8 - Animalia

Animalia 

July 7 - 8, 10 am - 4 pm

The animal and bird world as Kai-Liis sees it - in glorious colour and fantastic shapes! Framed and unframed paintings, cards and much more. Also alpaca products including socks, skeins, and rovings - and meet the alpacas who so kindly donated their fleece! 

At Kai-Liis Art Studio and Heed Farm Alpacas, 836100 4th Line EHS Mulmur, west of Airport Road and 1 Km north of Highway 89. 

For more information call Kai-Liis at 519-925-0421 or email kai-liis@sympatico.ca. 

p.s. Ask about the workshop schedule at the studio in July and August.

July 6 & 7 - Orangeville Art Group’s Art4U On Mill

Experience the world of visual art at the Orangeville Art Group’s Art4U On Mill. 

This two-day event - July 6 and 7 -  on the Arts and Culture Promenade at the Founders' Fair, in the heart of Orangeville, will feature interactive demonstrations in two and three dimensions including oil, watercolour, acrylic, pastels and a variety of other media. 

Join the excitement in the marquee tent. Engage artists with diverse talents. Discuss their inspiration, their art and ask questions. Purchaseone-of-a-kind works of art. 

For more information go to www.orangevilleartgroup.ca.

June 21 to 24 - Big Heart Dance Camp in Dufferin County

What kind of holiday are you excited to create this summer? Would the sight of kids playing freely, running across an open field waving colourful scarves make you smile? What about spending three days relaxing in a lush forest complete with pond as swimming hole? Taking a midnight stroll only to come upon a field full of fireflies? Does dancing, creating art, and spending time in a vibrant multi-generational community fill your heart?

If you said “Yes, please!” to any of the above ideas, then consider making this the summer you check out the 4th Annual Big Heart DanceCamp. Held at Unicamp in Honeywood, Ontario, Big Heart is a fabulous stay-cation option for residents of Dufferin County and the surrounding area. A great opportunity to come and play in the beautiful Mulmur hills.

Big Heart Dance Camp is a multi-generational, multi-arts gathering aimed at creating conscious, creative community among artists from near and far. While it’s primary emphasis is on dance, Big Heart Dance Camp welcomes artists of all media to contribute and strives to offer a space for creative self-expression for participants of all ages.

The visionary behind Big Heart Dance Camp is local artist Ayrlie MacEachern. For many years, Ayrlie attended Dance New England, a summer family dance camp in the northeastern US. Ayrlie was inspired by Dance New England to create a similar gathering locally. As a result, Big Heart Dance Camp was born. Big Heart is located at Unicamp, a 50-acre camp just outside the hamlet of Honeywood, Ontario. Accommodation choices range from dorms and cottages to tenting, and there are both indoor and outdoor spaces for workshops/classes. There is also a large pond and lovely walking trails. All three previous Big Heart Dance Camps have taken place at this location, and this year the camp runs from Thursday, June 21 to Sunday, June 24. You can come for a day or the whole weekend, and participants who live locally are welcome to stay at Unicamp, or stay at home. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided and all meals are wholesome, nourishing and prepared with love by local cook Alta Wilbur.

Big Heart Dance Camp is truly a one of a kind experience that offers something for everyone. Dance workshops are varied year to year, and in 2012 participants can enjoy Nia, Contact Improv, Yogadance, Journeydance, Sacred Circle dance and, of course, Barefoot Boogies in the evening. The best part about it is that you need NO dance experience to join in! Because of the diversity of dance provided, Big Heart is the premier local attraction for anyone interested in exploring all kinds of dance.

For the less dance-enthused, Big Heart offers much, much more! For instance, you might enjoy taking part in personal growth workshops not related to dance. There will be lots of opportunity to enjoy a diverse array of live music, whether in a workshop or impromptu setting, from hand drummer Jamie Andrews, to fiddling, strumming, plastic comb playing Eric Nagler. Big Heart is also a wonderful opportunity to take in the beautiful nature surrounding Unicamp, from a hike along the Bruce Trail, to a dip in the pond, or perhaps a meditative walk in the labyrinth. You can bring your art supplies and go off painting or creating “en plein air”! Worried about bored kids? Kids Camp at Big Heart Dance Camp is always action-packed, with time for kids to play, create, explore, make music, and, of course, dance!

At Big Heart Dance Camp, a creative community comes together and it is not uncommon to find a circle of older adults and children gathered on the porch for a Backporch Jam as the sun sets. For three days and three nights, people can be immersed in creative conscious community, where it’s easy to let your big heart shine and find a sense of belonging.

For more information about Big Heart Dance Camp, including rates and registration information, please contact Julia Petrisor at 519 925 8598 or jpetrisor@gmail.com.

Julia Petrisor is a local writer, yoga teacher and dance enthusiast. She teaches private yoga classes in the Mulmur area and yoga to teens in recovery at the Pine River Institute.

May 13 to 18 - Creative Writing Workshop at the Lodge at Pine Cove

Whether you want to write an entertaining memoir, regale your family and friends with stories about your travels, make some headway with your novel or contribute an article to a local magazine, this workshop is for you. Learn from some of Canada's finest journalists while staying in one of Ontario's top-rated lodges.

A great combo.

To learn more about this workshop and to register, visit www.frenchriver.com and click on Creative Writing Workshop.

April 26 - Excursion to Shaw Festival & Niagara-on-the-Lake

This year we have chosen Ragtime, based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow and directed by Jackie Maxwell. The rhythms of ragtime weave their way through this powerful and sweeping musical epic about the beginnings of contemporary America. Experience this America through the hope of immigrants to a new country with ragtime rhythms from Harlem and Tin Pan Alley to the Klezmer of the Lower East Side.

DATE: Thursday, April 26, 2 pm (Shaw Festival Theatre)
DEPARTURE: 8:30 am Superburger (Primrose) 9:00 am Orangeville Home Hardware (Zehr’s Plaza)
PERFORMANCE: 2:00 pm
LUNCH: on your own
RETURN: approx.7:30 pm
COST: $100 (bus and theatre tickets and box lunch, choose chicken or vegetarian , on return trip) includes tax.

BOOK NOW! 40 (only!) tickets available.

TO BOOK THE ABOVE: Call Pat Vipond at 519-941-5655 or email her at gpvip@bell.net. Send your cheque , made payable to the Dufferin Arts Council, to Pat Vipond, 72 Zina Street, Orangeville L9W IE7.