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Spring into the art season with annual tour
There’s nothing quite like exploring an
artist’s studio and seeing how an idea is
turned into a masterpiece, which is why
the Muskoka Lakes Spring Art Tour, now
in its eighth year, can’t be missed.
Guests will have the opportunity to
visit 13 studios, featuring 22 artists in the
Muskoka Lakes area. An important and
exciting part of visiting the studios, is the
opportunity to watch artists at work
creating their unique pieces.
The tour will run from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. on Saturday, June 12 and Sunday,
June 13 and will feature an extensive
cross section of artistic styles. From painting
to photography, pottery to furniture,
jewelry to stone carving, the work of the
artists on the tour represents some of the
best of Muskoka arts and crafts.
“This tour is fun and gets you really
focused on the new season,” says artist
Wendy Moses of the Alexandra Luke
Gallery in Bracebridge. “It is the first
chance for people to see all of the work
that artists have created over the winter.”
The self-directed tour is simple to take
part in by picking up a guide and map,
available online or at locations across
Muskoka, and following the directions.
Winding around Muskoka’s three big
lakes on some of Ontario’s most scenic
country roads, guests can stop at the
galleries of their choice.
Artists from the Muskoka Lakes area welcome visitors to their studios during the Muskoka Lakes Spring Art Tour.
Prominent yellow signs show the way
to the artist’s individual studios – places
that are often as magical as the art itself.
This year, the tour features hinterglass
painter Bonnie Bews, potter Linda
Hrynyk, wildlife painter Christine Marshall,
jeweller Penny Varney, watercolour
artist Elke Scholz, basketmaker Ise Soja,
photographer John Gurr, watercolour
artist Glenda Davies, metal sculptor
Deborah Harkness, furniture maker
Ryan Coyne, painter Iris Gammon,
acrylic painter Connie Beninger, stained
glass artist Gail Wilson, stone sculptor
Elise Muller, painter Gayle Dempsey, oil
painter Jane Gordon, watercolour artist
Margo Gracey, woodcarver Andrea Turnbull,
sculptor and painter Haysam
Haytaoglu, expressionist painter Wendy
Moses, potters Jon and Suzann Partridge
and jeweller Miranda Britton.
Cottage Country Comedy returns
The hit CBC radio show, The Debaters, will hold a
special live taping at the Rene M. Caisse Memorial
Theatre in Bracebridge as part of the third annual
Cottage Country Comedy Festival. This year’s festival
will take place in Bracebridge on June 25 and 26, the
same weekend as the G8 Summit in Huntsville.
Tickets are available for people who wish to attend
the 2 p.m. Saturday matinee, which is when the special
live taping of The Debaters will take place. The
show is hosted by Steve Patterson, known internationally
as a comedic headliner. He was nominated in
2007 and 2008 for a Canadian Comedy Award as
Canada’s best stand-up comedian.
“Some of the best comedians in Canada will debate
hot issues and some lighter topics,” says comedian
Tyler Morrison, who organizes the Cottage Country
Comedy Festival. With the G8 taking place at the
same time, Morrison expects some international topics
will also come up.
The Cottage Country Comedy Festival opens on
Friday night with a Learn to Laugh event for local
high school students at the Rene M. Caisse Memorial
Theatre on Friday night.
“It is an interactive comedy performance and seminar
for secondary school students,” says Morrison.
On Saturday, June 26, at 8 p.m., the World Leaders
of Comedy gala takes the stage. Hosted by Steve Patterson,
it will feature eight of Canada’s top comedians,
including featured comedian Glenn Wool. It will
showcase diverse talent from across Canada and as far
away as Uganda.
Matt Billon, a writer for This Hour Has 22 Minutes
and Jeff McEnery, the first winner of Yuk Yuk’s Great
Canadian Laugh Off, return this year, while French
Photograph: courtesy of Scott Turnbull Photography
Comedian Matt Billon will perform this year.
Canadian comedian Derek Seguin, Arthur Simeon
of Russell Peters’ Comedy Tour, and Canadian
Comedy Award nominee Allyson Smith will
all make their Cottage Country Comedy Festival
debuts.
The final performance of the Cottage Country
Comedy Festival, headlined by Morrison, will be
called Culture Shock. It will take place at Club One
in Bracebridge at 10:30 p.m. following the gala.
“It is an edgier show with a little more mature
content and subject matter,” he says.
440 Ecclestone Drive, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1Z6
(705) 645-9827 www.ywcamuskoka.com
COMING EVENTS
LUNCHEONS 12:00-1:00
Gravenhurst: Trinity United Church
Friday, May 7 th
Peter Rigby: Community Economic Development Officer Town of Gravenhurst
Bracebridge: YWCA Office
Friday, May 28 th
Mary Lodge: Long Term Care
Huntsville: Partners Hall, Algonquin Theatre
Friday, June 11 th
Melinda Zytaruk, Fourth Pig Worker Co-op: Renewable Energy
All Lunches start at noon and everyone is welcome!
Fee: $5 YWCA members, $10 non-members
($25 for a one year YWCA membership)
To ensure that we order enough food, please
RSVP to Lee Ann at office@ywcamuskoka.com
or by phone 705-645-9827
Girlz Unplugged Summer Day Camps
July 12 -16 at Bracebridge Public School
July 19 - 23 at Spruce Glen PS, Huntsville
July 26 - 30 at Gravenhurst Public School
Aug 3 - 6 at Spruce Glen PS, Huntsville
Aug 9 -13, at Bracebridge Public School
$150.00 per week
Register before May 31st and save 15%
HST Information Session
Wednesday, June 9th, 9:30 am -12:30 pm
YWCA Muskoka, 440 Ecclestone Dr.
Please call to register: 645-9827
www.whatsupmuskoka.com May 2010 27