By Kaylee Thompson
The fourth annual Elizabeth Gardens Art Walk will be arriving soon, on August 24, with a flurry of new local artists joining those who have participated from the first Art Walk, all coming to showcase their unique art in a public outdoor setting. This free community event will take place at the Burloak Waterfront Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Art Walk allows visitors to experience artworks from a variety of artists, participate in interactive artistic activities, contribute to a community art project, and connect with their local community. The interactive and collaborative art experience stations will feature a number of possibilities for participants to try, including paint pouring, ink, hydro dipping, chalk, and more.
Despite its relatively brief history so far, Art Walk has already become a firm support for Burlington artists. Elizabeth Gardens Creative Collective (EGCC) runs Art Walk and received a Burlington Arts and Culture Fund grant to support the event; the organization also offers a safe space for members to receive constructive feedback on their work and fosters an environment where artists can explore new creative mediums.
At the Elizabeth Gardens Art Walk, visitors can see and enjoy a wide variety of art forms, from artists such as Beth Kenney, who specializes in stained glass to Anne L’Ecuyer, who creates detailed drawings, and even storytellers, dancers, and musicians, such as Ben Nissan, who is a visual artist as well as a musician. Throughout the event, visitors will have the chance to discuss the displayed works with their creators, enjoy live performances, and see the breadth of talented artists located in Burlington.
EGCC has several primary objectives that it seeks to achieve; the first is to help build community and foster connections. Art serves to connect us through shared experiences and the EGCC Art Walk is a unique platform for both artists and the community to share experiences, learn about one another — and maybe even inspire a new artistic journey for some participants.
Another objective is to help call attention to and bring in more revenue for the talented artists who choose to display their work at the Art Walk; though the artists do not sell their work at Art Walk, many have online platforms to sell their work, which can be accessed post-event. At the event, participants have the opportunity to hear the stories of the artists present with no pressure to make a purchase; rather it is a new way for EGCC’s artists to grow and develop.
Elizabeth Duguay, an artist specializing in illustrative art with a focus on painting with acrylics and gouache, shared her thoughts on Art Walk’s effect on the Burlington community’s perception of the arts.
“I hope that [Art Walk] makes art more approachable [for] people. I think we have a lot of preconceived notions about making art. Something that I see is that people don’t always feel that they can create art, that they aren’t skilled enough, etc. I hope it can give them a chance to experiment creatively — and just have fun with family or friends!” Duguay says.
Chris Erskine, a painter with a focus on realism with acrylic paints, had this to say about his goals for the art walk: “[My goal is] to inspire people to look closely at their surroundings by drawing. We rarely take a hard look at what is right in front of us. If we are impressed by something, we are more likely to pull out our phone and take a picture of it. However, photos don’t capture our experience of an object, landscape, or a person. We view our surroundings through our memories and through that filter, we pick out certain elements that are most important to us.”
Erskine explains, “As a result, every drawing or painting is unique to the individual. By drawing and painting landscapes from the community, I hope to inspire others to follow my example.”
Megan Hazen, an EGCC artist that primarily works with acrylic paints on wooden panels, shared her favourite aspect of Art Walk: “I absolutely love talking to people about art. We have a fantastic lineup of artists and creatives of all mediums. This includes stained glass, alcohol ink, oil painting, acrylic painting, quilting, photography, musicians, pottery, sculpture, and more! What a fabulous opportunity to connect with makers of all backgrounds and truly be inspired.”
Hazen continues, “Whether you are a maker yourself, an admirer of art, or someone passing through, the EGCC Art Walk is a perfect day to check out your local creatives and even participate in our art stations for yourself!”Head over to Burloak Waterfront Park on Sat., Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Register through the Elizabeth Gardens Creative Collective website (click here) ahead of the event, and EGCC will send you a map for the event. It also enters your email address into a draw for prizes from artists and event sponsors.
