Artists

ABOUT LAST YEAR"S TOUR:

 

Held every year on the first weekend of December, the Artists of Elk Run open their doors to provide the public an opportunity to engage with this collective of artists, watch live demonstrations and view works in progress.  The range of artistic mediums and creative expression, from public artwork to functional ware, offers something for everyone.  

 

Canmore’s Artists of Elk Run will open their professional art studios to the public on December 7th and 8th, 2019 during their 8th annual open studio weekend tour event.

The 2019 tour features 9 studios and fifteen artists who work in a variety of mediums including pottery, sculpture,
jewellery, blown glass, photography, printmaking, painting, mixed media, stone carving, textiles and drawing.

“Opening our space to the public is always such a joy,” says Peig Abbott, sculptor and one of the artists who has been
involved with the group from the beginning. “For our visitors, it’s a rare opportunity to visit all studios during one
weekend, and for us, it’s a chance to share our passion for the creative process.” Abbott explains that the Artists of Elk Run studios typically have differing hours, since the artists work on a variety of schedules. This weekend event is a great chance for visitors to walk from studio to studio, meet the artists behind the work and speak with them about their processes. Abbott notes that there will also be special demonstrations happening in the studios throughout the tour weekend including the popular glass blowing demonstrations at Fireweed Glass Studio, and wheel-throwing techniques at Of Cabbage and King’s Pottery. “We are keen to show off the skill and process of taking a lump of clay and transforming it into a functional mug”, states pottery diva Katie Borrowman.

“Our artists create functional pieces for the home, beautiful large-scale works of art, wearable art and even public art,”
says Abbott. “This is the best weekend of the year to visit our artists’ studios, have a chat with us, and do a little
shopping before Christmas.”

Sadly the Artists of Elk Run had to say goodbye this Fall to long-time members, Meg Nicks and Paul Gautier from Sunny Raven Gallery as they seek new adventures. “This has left a void in our hearts”, says Abbott, “But with all endings, it opens the doorway for something new to venture in”. And Kathryn Cooke from Blue Eyes Studio has done just that! “I needed a warehouse of sorts to develop my ideas and translate them into physical realities”, Cooke claims as her impetus behind relocating her 2nd floor studio space to reinvent Sunny Raven’s. Cooke’s vision stretches behind her own creativity to build a pallet where visiting artists, collective art shows, and workshops add to the canvas of what is already starting to happen in the Elk Run district. “I believe the area has the potential for becoming a vibrant and authentic, arts and culture destination, for those who are willing to go off the beaten track.”

The Artists of Elk Run studios are located on Bow Meadows Crescent, the adjacent Elk Run Boulevard and on Boulder Crescent so visitors can park and easily walk to all 9 studios. A map of the 2019 tour and profiles of the artists can be found below. Brochures with maps are now available at all Artists of Elk Run studios or can be
picked up at any studio during the open studio event.

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