For over 35 years, the Merrickville Artists’ Guild annual autumn Studio Tour has given thousands of art lovers a peek into our creative worlds. But a once-a-year event does not satisfy artistic appetites for makers or collectors. And everyone holds a studio tour these days. This realization prompted an extraordinary idea within the Guild. “We need to REIMAGINE ourselves. After all, MAG (as the Mer
rickville Artists’ Guild is affectionately known) isn’t just a studio tour. We are a talented group of passionate people! We are MAG Artists.” To an artist, we were in total agreement - and this in itself was an epiphany! MAG Artists - About Face
As only artists can, we embraced this change with eager enthusiasm. Brainstorming sessions armed with fresh energy (and tasty muffins) brought creative ideas pouring forth. It’s not what we are, but who we are. Freed from the idea of being ‘an event’, we are now celebrating the unique, creative individuals we are… what each of us brings to our community and beyond through our shared passion of art. MAG - Here’s Looking at You
So you will find us greeting you Face to Face on our new website and brochures, our advertisements, page and engaging new flags. This September, we’ll be highly visible and recognizable in and around our lovely Merrickville community. Put a face to the name and really get to know us. MAG Artists - Love what you buy
Of course we do have beautiful things to offer you - our livelihood is our art. Not a job, but something we do because we are passionate about it. We are creators. We hope to make this world a more beautiful place and we get such a thrill connecting with you in a very human way through our chosen medium of expression. We know how it feels to have that special handmade piece speak to us. To take it home and love it even more. To feel the pleasure of knowing the person who made this beautiful work and the story behind it each time we look at it, drink from it or wear it. We too collect each others’ work and tell our friends about it. Buy it, love it, show and tell. MAG Artists - We’re not just pretty faces
Each MAG Artist is an entrepreneur. We make and sell beautiful things, teach classes, give talks, hold creative events… including our beloved Studio Tour. This year we honour potter, Linda Hynes, and painter, Pieter Doef, on the covers of our newly designed Tour brochures. These two wonderful MAG Artists helped to create the Guild over 30 years ago and they continue to inspire all of us with their unwavering passion for living a creative life. We are thrilled to welcome three new brilliant MAG Artists. Angelina Wrona, painter, Vanda Stanley, potter and Monica Viola, potter and glass artist. Michael Gray, glass artist and our freshest face of the MAG Artists (you’ll just love the ‘stache) is on the Tour this year along with Holly Dean, painter; Larry Thompson, artist & printer; Linda Feige, sand-casted signs; Graham Thomas, painter; Martin Green, painter; Sue Boswell, potter; Jim Weller, painter; Robin Baker, artist & printmaker; Mike Venables, photographer and Molly Quayle, quilter. Our outstanding guest artists include Jamie Brick, fantasy artist; Herman Ruhland, abstract artist; Douglas MacDonald, cast stone sculpture; Deb Alexander, artist; Heather Snow, artist and Laura Starkey, painter & designer. MAG Artist David Dunn, painter, is inspired by the award winning gardens of his Rideau Woodland Ramble. He hosted a MAG Artists event earlier this year and we look forward to more. Celebrating change this year is MAG Artist Claudette Hart, who is now a fibre artist and is holding a Tour within a Tour with all her guest artists! So this year, on the weekends of September 26-27 and October 3-4, come out and visit MAG Artists in their studios. It's free, self-guided and brochures are available on-line, in Merrickville stores, and in venues across Eastern Ontario. Here’s to the next 30 years! You will be seeing a lot more of us… @ the MAG FLAG
“Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.” Albert Einstein
MAG Artists - REIMAGINED
MAG Contact Information:
613-656-2178
www.mag-artists.ca
www.facebook.com/MerrickvilleArtistsGuild
[email protected]
MAG ARTISTS hosts their annual Studio Tour both weekends before Canadian Thanksgiving every year.
