The Elizabeth Gardens Creative Collective (EGCC) is hosting its third annual Art Walk at Burloak Waterfront Park on Sat., Aug. 26 starting at 10 a.m. and running until 4 p.m.
Over 30 local artists will be present to display their work and meet attendees, and people of all ages can try their hand at making their own creations at the art exploration stations. These stations will include face painting, paint pouring, alcohol inks, blind contour, latte art, watercolours, and more; other activities include a photo booth and a scavenger hunt. This free community event is to “explore different creative mediums, [and] individual expression” says EGCC, and while the art is not for sale at Art Walk, more details about individual artists and where to find their work is available on the EGCC website’s artist page.
Alongside the visual art, there will be musical performances at the park’s gazebo by Mel Flower, Hemispheres Music Studio, and Shepherd Private Coaching throughout the event.
The artists participating in Art Walk use various mediums, from photography, paint of all kinds, and stained glass to polymer clay, fabric, and items that would otherwise be thrown away. And they are of all ages, proving that art can be done by the young and young-at-heart.
There’s Marg McFarlane, at over 90 years old, who hand-stitches her beautiful quilts. Her work includes more traditional quilting patterns but she also creates quilted landscapes and images of wildlife. On the other end of the age/artist spectrum are Dia Stel and Sophie McGinn, teenage artists whose mediums are oil paint and coloured pencils, and polymer clay beads used to create jewelry, respectively.
There are not one but two mother-and-daughter artist duos who will be showing their work: mixed-media and mosaic artist Rebecca Tucker and her mother, weaver Susan Stasiuk; and Ruza and Ana Vatres, who are both painters with a particular focus on Canadian landscapes and nature.
Photographer Kai Ruhl not only grew up in Elizabeth Gardens, but also takes many of her photos there, and now will display that work in the very same neighbourhood. And Ruhl is not the only long-time Burlington resident and artist participating at Art Walk: lifelong Burlingtonian John Wagstaffe will also be sharing his handcrafted wood bowls, platters, vases, and pens.
Oil and acrylic artist Alina Nedashkivska is a new Burlington resident, having moved to Canada just last year to escape the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She will now share her art this week with her new neighbours.
Artist Lynn Lau/劉連添,who describes herself in her EGCC Facebook page Artist Spotlight as “a direct descendent of an accidental dragon slayer,” will host an exploration station called “Homemaker.” Participants will use a variety of materials to create their own doll-house-sized artistic interpretation of what makes them feel at home, which will then be used to furnish a doll house at the station.
Clearly, it’s not just about the art; equally, Art Walk is about community. Artist Elizabeth Duguay, who moved to Burlington during the pandemic, and has participated since the first Art Walk three years ago, says that the event is “a fantastic way to meet other local people and build a sense of community.” And indeed, the vision of EGCC is to “build up our community by fostering supportive connections, bringing attention and revenue to art and emerging artists, and providing opportunities for growth and development to our members. We nurture members’ artistry — encouraging exploration, experimentation and expression.”
Drop in at Burloak Waterfront Park to meet local artists and fellow community members and make some creative magic and community connections of your own on Sat., Aug. 26. If there is inclement weather, a rain date of Aug. 27 is in effect. Keep up with EGCC on their Facebook page or at creativecollectiveonline.com.
