Tour raises the curtain on artists’ workspaces

Open Studio Tour an intimate view of local creativity

Windsor and Essex County art fans were able to get a close and personal look at how local artists work with the Open Studio Tour this past weekend.

Now in its sixth year, the tour is annually organized by the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Windsor Essex County to allow members of the public to visit the creative spaces of painters, illustrators, photographers, crafters, and artisans across the region.

“You can go in and discuss with an artist what they do, why they do it, how they do it,” said Linda Monin, who chaired this year’s tour committee.

“People actually get to see the process, or talk to an artist about the process, and gain an understanding of art that may have been lost in the hurried pace that we live in.”

Monin said there were 21 sites on this year’s list — up from 14 last year.

The studios were located from Tecumseh to Amherstburg, and involved around 50 different artists.

The tour is self-guided and is offered at no cost to the public.

Monin said some participating artists have longtime ties with the Arts & Cultural Alliance, but there were several this year who are relatively new to the tour and the area.

Participants ranged from Windsor’s Vivian Klinck, a traditional oil painter, to Amherstburg ’s Leigh Archibald, who does encaustic painting.

“(Encaustic painting) is working with pigment and wax,” Monin explained. “It’s a very intricate technique. And sometimes (Archibald) will incorporate photographs or other images in the painting ... She was telling us about a painting she did where she put porcupine quills in the piece.”

Another highlight for Monin was the home studio of LaSalle-based Don Alp, who cuts and polishes African stones as jewelry. “I found it amazing. I had seen pictures of his work, but I didn’t know the technique — what it takes to turn a stone into a heart-shaped pendant.”

Leona MacIntyre, director of the Arts & Cultural Alliance, said there are hopes to expand the tour next year to include aspects of the performing arts — dance studios, recording studios, and musical rehearsal spaces.

Regarding this year’s response from the public, MacIntyre said one participating artist told her she had 60 to 70 visitors on each day of the weekend.

“It’s growing by bits and pieces. Each year, we’re gathering new artists,” MacIntyre said. “We know they’re out there in the community, doing their work, and have their own studios.”