Rails End Gallery and Arts Centre curator, Laurie Jones, had to overcome quite an obstacle when bringing pieces from a new clay and glass exhibit into the downtown Haliburton space last week, with one of the sculptures too big to fit through any of the doors.
The show, presented in partnership with Fusion Clay and Glass Ontario, will debut July 15 and remain in place until Sept. 5. It features 29 pieces from 27 Canadian artists.
Rather than attracting established big names, the show shines a light on the inaugural class of the new Henry Goodman Exhibition for Emerging Artists.
The juried exhibition centred on the theme ‘gathering’, Jones said, bringing together a range of functional and sculptural works that explore ideas of connection, community, ritual and shared experience. Each artist offers a personal interpretation, looking at what it means to come together, hold space and create meaning through objects and interaction.
“I am really committed to offering different interpretations of art,” Jones said when asked why she sought out this exhibit. “A lot of our ceramics here in Haliburton County are functional. We have the studio tours where people sell their bowls and other items, but there’s this whole other area of ceramics that is more sculptural. It’s a really nice counterpoint to what we normally see.”
Jones said she responded to an open call for host galleries earlier this year, with Rails End one of three locations selected. The show debuted in Burlington in May and will be going to the Neilson Park Creative Arts Centre in Mississauga once it finishes its run in Haliburton.
With crates holding the sculptures arriving at the gallery July 2, Jones said she’s had time to really map things out.
That’s been a challenge, considering the size of some of the pieces. One of them was so big it had to be dismantled before it would fit through any of the gallery’s doors.
“They’re all different shapes and sizes. We still haven’t uncrated everything yet,”
Jones told The Highlander July 6. “We’ve had volunteers in to repaint and brighten the space up quite a bit.”
One of her favourite pieces is a larger ceramic that she feels perfectly encapsulates the theme – it depicts four people gathered in an elevator.
“We only see them from their shins down, which is kind of neat,” Jones said. There will be an artist talk July 22 featuring Sydni Weatherson, who specializes in glass carving and surface design. It begins at 5 p.m.
Arts and Crafts Festival
Jones said all plans are now in place for the 63rd annual Haliburton Arts and Crafts Festival, which runs in Head Lake Park July 24-26. There will be 100 vendors again this year, with many returning faces and some new ones.
“Nobody gets in just because they’ve been coming here for a while. They have to show us what they’re doing now,” Jones said. “We challenge people to keep up with their craft. We’re looking for people who use their own hands to bring their ideas to life.”
“We challenge people to keep up with their craft. We’re looking for people who use their own hands to bring their ideas to life.
” This year’s show features a strong contingent of artists who work with leather and metal, like knives and axes.
“It’s interesting to see artists shifting from decorative pieces to more functional things. We have someone coming who makes kitchen knives, so you can pick something up that will be a significant part of your cooking repertoire,” she said.
There are vendors coming from as far away as Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, with Jones saying the Haliburton show draws lots of interest. There were applications from 169 artists.
“Haliburton has become a key stop along the way for travelling artists. This is literally the biggest festival that happens in the County every year. We’re excited,” Jones said, noting Rails End is still looking for volunteers to help run the event. Anyone interested can contact info@railsendgallery. com.
