Cambridge Arts Festival Blog

Featured Artist - Barbara Young

2010-06-15T06:44:00.000-07:00

"I work in acrylics and do collage. My work has a very graphic quality. I prefer abstracting images of people and animals. I also do still life of fruit with an abstract theme. The colors are bold and exaggerated, but I also do pen and ink drawings which may be incorporated into collage."

Barbara Young studied Graphic & Package Design at Humber College and worked as graphic artist for 20 years. She has taken painting classes at Cambridge Centre for the Arts & Dundas Valley School of Art, and participated in various juried shows. Her paintings are currently on exhibit at Gran.

Featured Artist - Cinnamon Tree

2010-06-14T11:06:00.001-07:00

Cinnamon Tree combines the unique personalities of six individuals, resulting in songs that range from piano driven ballads to dark, ambient-noise drenched pieces and the odd pop punk anthem, written just for Jane Hung, the band's keyboardist/guitarist. The wide range of music written by Cinnamon Tree makes it difficult to label the band, or draw comparisons to others. The band's musical influences include Cat Power and Tom Waits.

What separates Cinnamon Tree from other bands is their vocal collages and rich harmonies. These are the threads that tie Cinnamon Tree together and are provided by vocalists Kristen Carter and Christina Gurton, who are as different as they are similar.

With a classical and musical theatre background and an interest in industrial/metal/ genres, Kristen epitomizes the range of the band's musical style.

Likewise, Christina follows no musical rules, happy to dance to both Lady Gaga and Ani Difranco. Christina credits Madonna and Sinead O'Connor for teaching her how to sing.

Guitarist Shane Oatman is the founder of Cinnamon Tree and one of the primary songwriters in the band. He enjoys coming up with the out-of-the-box song ideas and chord progressions that add to the musical range of Cinnamon Tree, much to the dismay of bassist Ivan Latendresse, whose punk-influenced playing adds an extra dimension to the band.

Rounding out the band are Zoltan and Liz Neff, Cinnamon Tree's drummer and violinist.

Cinnamon Tree has started playing shows in the tri-cities area and outside. Show-goers can expect to see a wide variety of music, with the occasional musical interlude. And as with any successful new recipe, the audience determines whether or not it works. In the case of Cinnamon Tree, it appears that the recipe has been successful in creating something unique which it is difficult to label.

For more about Cinnamon Tree and to preview their music, see their MySpace and Facebook pages.

Featured Artist - Valerie Chvedovski

2010-06-13T05:40:00.000-07:00

Valeri Chvedovski graduated from Odessa's school of fine arts in the Ukraine. There he developed his skills painting with oil and watercolor. Most of his works include landscapes and portraiture, although some of the recent pieces are very abstract.

In 1992, my family and I left the Ukraine for Canada, where we settled in Kitchener. Many of my recent paintings were inspired by Canada's countryside. I enjoy painting portraits of my friends and co-workers. I am often asked to re-create portraits from an old black and white photographs.

Presently, I am a member of Kitchener-Waterloo Society of Artists. My paintings are exhibited in Double T Gallery, Iris Gallery, Waterloo Community Art Center and MacDonald Stewart Art Center.

For more of Valeri's paintings, see his website execulink.com/~valerach

Featured Artist - Alain Guillou

2010-06-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

"My goal as a photographer is to create a body of abstract works through colour, line, and shade. Because the abstract photographs are of real-life locations, they can be viewed as puzzles. Satisfaction is gained from decoding the images and leaving the viewer in the state of interpretations."

Alain Guillou sees the world through different eyes - those that have not been distracted by our fast moving modern world. At a young age, Guillou discovered photography. His quest for the perfect image is unending. He travels the globe, driven by a vigorous determination to capture the beauty that he sees and a profound respect for architecture. As a free artist he is unpredictable; his French background and his ability to see a different world through his lenses make his photography unique. He grew up in Normandy and got his education in engineering. He is a self-taught photographer.

He exhibits his work at his studio in Cambridge, at regional show and other juried art shows.

For more of Alain's work, see his website aguillou.com

Featured Artist - Kat Mortensen

2010-06-11T07:27:00.000-07:00

Kat Mortensen is an English Literature graduate from the University of Toronto. After years of working in teaching and clerical jobs that never quite fit, she is at last unleashing the many voices in her head.

Her work to date has appeared in "Cahoots Magazine", "The Daily Gleaner", and "The National Post". Her blog, Poetikat's Invisible Keepsakes, is a favourite with many who appreciate good poetry that appeals on different levels. Even those who "don't like" poetry, keep coming back to read hers.

She lives in Kitchener, Ontario in a cozy pre-war home with her husband Kevin, their cats and an assembly of well-fed, backyard creatures.

Kat's poetry is an eclectic mix that utilizes both classical forms and a kind of "stream-of-consciousness" approach. She touches on her own humanity and that of the world, through narrative and observational pieces. She frequently writes in a serious vein, but tinges of humour are ever-present.

She has recently published her first collection, "shadowstalking" with Pandora Press.

For more of Kat's work, see her website hyggedigter.blogspot.com

Featured Artist - Jennifer Depencier

2010-06-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Depencier's love of art was fostered from a young age while growing up in the northern town of Sudbury, Ontario. It was here that she was given the freedom to explore the nature of the area and its bountiful lakes and forests. She has worked with many different forms and mediums, but has favoured acrylics in recent years.

Although she loves painting landscapes and still life, she has recently discovered her passion for painting urban landscapes, in particular the village of Hespeler where she and her family have lived for the past ten years.

Whether it is a wilting sunflower, fallen leaves or an abandoned factory, Jennifer feels the need to capture the essence of the space on canvas.

Jennifer's work has been in various juried shows, the Mayors Celebration of the Arts, Grand Cafe, Sunrise Gallery Hamilton and is currently on display at Phidon Pens in Galt.

For more of Jennifer's work, see her website jenniferdepencier.fotopic.net

Featured Artist - Adam Fowler

2010-06-09T05:40:00.000-07:00

I've been drawing since I was about 5 years old, sketching Disney characters and Pokemon, now I have found a deep aspiration for Photography. I plan on going further with my Photography in the future, in hopes to Photography concerts and live shows in particular.

I enjoy taking pictures at concerts, I believe that the outcome of your photos from a concert are all up in the air at the moment when the photo is taken. When you go home and look through them, they either turn out exactly how you wanted but better, or not even close to what your vision was. It ties both of my true loves together, music and photography.

Featured Artist - The Rest

2010-06-08T07:58:00.001-07:00

The Rest have always used the band as an outlet for all sorts of creative explorations. Band-related side projects provide excellent excuses for pulling mountains of paint onto ping-pong table canvases, immersion in guilt-free, time-consuming, essential (possibly existential) distractions. Before long, these activities unknowingly morphed to form a factory; frenetic assembly line album construction sessions, t-shirt manufacturing frenzies, and night shift Alfred Hitchcock montage obsessions.

In the past year The Rest have seen their album Everyone All At Once garner a multitude of glowing, positive reviews. Everyone All At Once has found a home internationally with Something In Construction Records, and following the worldwide record release in March, the band is looking forward to the opportunities that will surely come with the additional exposure. However, for The Rest, creating music that they love is the ultimate goal.

The Rest's newest release is Cried Wolf, a combination book and EP project. Cried Wolf goes beyond the standard four song release to include a narrative account of the adult adventures of the boy who cried wolf, complete with surreal illustrations drawn by the band's good friend MLXNDRSC.

For more information about the Rest, check out their many links:

Website | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Amie St | iTunes | Zunior.com | InSound

Featured Artist - Diane Attwell Palfrey

2010-06-07T10:01:00.000-07:00

Diane Attwell Palfrey was born in Toronto and has lived in Cambridge for the past twenty years. She is a poet and prose writer.

Diane is a member of the Cambridge Writers Collective and has poetry published by the Waterloo-Wellington CAA, Serengeti Press, Craigleigh Press, Hammered Out, The Ontario Poetry Society, Cruickston Charitable Research Reserve/RARE, & Ascent Aspirations Magazine.

Diane was also the 1st place winner in the adult category for both the 2009 and 2010 Cambridge Arts Festival Poetry Contests. Here is her winning poem:

In the Throes of Perdition
(one earthquake survivor’s story)
by Diane Attwell Palfrey

A hungry earth engluts
—her mouth a cobra lily
bearing down.

Ten days after the sate
he rises from rubble
hymned out, his native skin
floured white.
Crowds hail Emmanuel
and swarm to touch his body
searching for wounds.

Delivering the gospel
he recalls the tang
of uric water turned to wine,
the sounds crashing in and out
like dream fits,
sirens muffled, talk of pyres
and Hebrew voices whisper
chaos to a mind
delirious from lacking.
Haunts by an apostle’s song;
a prayer that Father would send an eagle
with sustenance
further torments the wanting.

Believing life succumbed
on a goodly Friday
he concedes to the probability
that he is now a ghost
confused until his mother’s voice
is heard outside the tomb.

And for a few seconds of aftermath
there are no miracles, tragedies
or kleptocrats, just transcendence
and the barren snub of a harpy’s wing.

Featured Artist - Miss Lizzie's Art & Design

2010-06-05T02:21:00.000-07:00

Artist Bio

Elizabeth Gosse is self-taught emerging artists who studied Politics and Cultural Studies at Trent University. Elizabeth is influenced by writings by Richard Florida and Herbert Marcuse, artists such as Yves Klein, and social projects such as Post Secrets. She strives to break the traditional gallery rules by creating touchable artworks. Using acrylic paints and various mediums, she is able to create bold designs, colourful artworks that express the beauty of emotions, the world, and landscapes around us in an abstract way.

Artist Statement

Life is about creating yourself – a phrase which not only do I live my life passionately by but also what influences my artwork. I am a painter of many mediums and many subjects but I strive to achieve one thing with my artwork and that is to have fun. I strive to make the visual arts fun and accessible to everyone, most recently creating touchable artworks. Walking through art galleries in Europe I was influences by the interactive installations and had a strong desire to apply them to paintings. Working with various mediums and materials I am working on evolving touchable interactive art. It is a goal to create artwork in which people can experience with not only their sight, but with their sense of touch as well. The sense of touch is imperative in everyday reaction, but denied so often within the visual arts. My goal is to break this conventional rule.

For more information about Elizabeth, see her website misslizzies.blogspot.com.

Featured Artist - Harlequinn Hoops

2010-06-04T18:24:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Fleming is a Registered Massage Therapist during the week and a hoop dancer on the weekends. She hand-makes mini, adult, and child sized hula hoops.

Don't miss Jennifer's demonstration of hula hoop tricks at 7 pm in the workshop area.

MANDYLAND: NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU

2010-06-03T18:18:00.000-07:00

MANDYLAND: NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU
By Mandy Richardson for Echo Weekly
May 27 - June 2, 2010

Mark your calendars, folks, because it’s about to go down NYC style in the only place that matters: C to the mutherflippin’ Bridge, yo! It’s time to prepare yourself for a night of graffiti, hip hop, drum n' bass, and topless hotties, because on Friday, June 4, Spun Turtle Productions and Mandyland Promotions are bringing you the First Annual Street Dreams Graffiti Art Show.

This much anticipated event, featuring renowned New York graffiti artists Ski and 2esae of Ur New York and exclusive artwork from the infamous Destroy and Rebuild NYC, takes place on Friday June 4 from 7-11:30pm at the Nutty Parrot at 30 Water Street in Cambridge. The cost is $10 for a ticket in advance, or $15 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at The Nutty Parrot, Underground Gallery, streetdreamsgraffiti@gmail.com, or by joining the Facebook event page, Street Dreams Graffiti Art Show.

The night will include DJ’s Victim and Jay Pilon; topless beauties ready to be tagged by both local and NYC graffiti artists; exclusive artwork and t-shirts by UR New York and Destroy and Rebuild NYC, Stick ‘Em Up Wall Graphics by Sensu, and artwork by Spun Turtle, Ean Kools, Justin Taylor, REOR and Dave Hoover.

This is a 19–plus event sponsored by the Nutty Parrot, Spun Turtle Productions, Stick 'Em Up Wall Graphics and Underground Gallery. Come support local artists while experiencing the notorious NYC vibe, and be part of the future we’re creating for our city’s artists and their craft.

And if that’s just not enough kickassness for you, then join us again on Saturday, June 5 from 10 am-10 pm for the Cambridge Arts Festival at Cambridge City Hall at 50 Dickson Street. This annual event has been going strong since 1995 and its mission is “to ensure that all local artists have the opportunity to display their art forms in a pleasant location to be viewed by members of their own community.” The festival makes room for artists of all disciplines, including writers, painters, photographers, dancers, buskers, drum circles, musicians, singers and actors.

Here’s some of what and who you can look forward to on Saturday: Kandy Cakes, The Grand Bakery, and more to spoil your taste buds; Helene Weaver, Dave Menary, and more for us literary enthusiasts; Twegen, Nervous Wrecked, Two Crown King, and more to get your music fix; Diamond Martial Arts, Fire Spinners and more to entertain you. Harlequinn Hoops, Angela Werstine, WTF Photography, and more give your artistic eye some pampering. And of course that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

So after your night at the NYC-inspired Street Dreams Graffiti Art Show, mosey back downtown when you wake up for a beautiful day of sun, fun, music and performances, as well as a hearty dose of the visual, literary and culinary arts at the Cambridge Arts Festival. With free admission, free parking and free water that day, you just can’t go wrong. Add in a graffiti wall to be painted by our artists as you watch, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for the most kickass weekend of 2010, hands down.

What’s more, you can expect to see all the artists from the Street Dreams Graffiti Art Show at the Cambridge Arts Festival because when it comes to celebrating our artists, Cambridge has got it goin’ on.

If you are an independent business owner and/or a visual or media artist and would like to be featured in an upcoming Mandyland column, or have an art related event to promote, shoot me an email at herhappyhighness@gmail.com and let me know what’s up. Past columns and everything else Mandy related can be found on my blog, Her Happy Highness.

Featured Artist - Ean Kools

2010-06-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

"Hey check it out: my art is at the Groove Kitchen all month long / Street Dreams Graff art show at the Nutty Parrot June 4 / the Cambridge Arts Festival June 5 10am-10pm / and listen for me on Mandyland radio Friday 10-12 100.3 fm"

Ean Kools is the multi-talented chair of the Cambridge Arts Festival, now serving his second term in that position. A graphic designer by trade, Ean is the force behind this Festival's branding, and that of many area businesses.

On canvas, Ean works mainly with acrylic, ink, and spray paint. His style can be classified as portraiture, surrealism, abstraction, and graffiti. Each piece is an expression of a time, place, or emotion.

Recently Ean has also experimented with Tapecasting. George, our 2010 mascot (pictured right) is a tapecast of Ean himself.

Ean's work is currently on display at the Groove Kitchen and in his own gallery - The Underground Gallery (in Hespler). You can also watch Ean create live at tomorrow night's Street Dreams Graffiti Art Show and in our Aerosol Art Area at the Festival.

You can read more about Ean in this Waterloo Region Record article

Featured Artist - Tania Hanscom

2010-06-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

I live and work in Cambridge Ontario with my husband Jeff and two lovely children Jacob and Miranda. Through my work, I have had some great opportunities to work with art and people who love art.

Acrylic paint is my Medium. I am currently focusing on trees in landscape but enjoy painting interior still life and portraiture as well.

Tania will also be hosting an Origami workshop at the Festival.

Featured Artist - Stick 'em Up Wall Graphics

2010-05-31T21:36:00.000-07:00

We design cool wall graphics that personalize your space.

Ian Pilon is a certified graphic designer that works with other artists to help transform ideas into large scale wall graphics.

Stick’em Up Wall Graphics has a 48″ Graphtec vinyl plotter that is used to cut large wall graphics, our vinyl graphic film is made by ORACAL and is the highest quality material available, It has a matte finish and is engineered to be low-tac which allows for easy removal with out damaging or lifting paint off your walls.

For more information about Ian and Stick 'em Up Wall Graphics, see his website stickemup.ca and his Facebook page and follow him on Twitter @Stick_em_up

Featured Artist - Kirby

2010-05-30T17:46:00.001-07:00

"3 things seem to sum me up quite well. If I can travel, play music and help or inspire or experience something, I feel at the very least I’m accomplishing something meaningful in my life. "

About Kirby
Sometimes you have to take a giant leap to do what you love. (John) Kirby is one of the few who realized this claim and knew it to be true. Throwing in the towel on his lucrative Nine to Fiver’ in 2008, KIRBY took on music as a full time pursuit and started paving the way to happiness as well as success. Almost immediately, Kirby was hitting the road for the first of 5 solo tours across Canada over the next year and a half, and now with his new band ‘Leominster’ and their upcoming release, KIRBY is poised and ready for the next step.

Playing and writing music since age 16, KIRBY fronted Burlington, Ontario prog-rock band ‘First Time Fallen’ for several years and released his first solo EP “Within These Walls” in 2007 before taking the figurative plunge with his next EP “The Good Fight”, in 2008. His sound displays his true passion, as he belts out emotional lyrics right from the bottom of his heart, coupled with the diversity of both a driving rock strum style and quiet thoughtful picking on the guitar, reminiscent of Nick Drake, John Mayer or Dallas Green. Though mostly acoustic in nature, KIRBY displays an obvious penchant for writing epic rock songs, soon to be realized through the full sound of his band Leominster.

In the short time that he has put the gears to the indie music scene, KIRBY has enjoyed many notable experiences such as appearing at ArtsWells Festival, the C&C Music Festival and the Burlington Sound of Music Festival, where he is currently in his 3rd year running “Acoustic Side” to raise funds for charities. He’s shared the stage with the likes of The Watchmen, Wax Mannequin, and Lindy of Major Maker, among others, and received regular rotation on C101 Mohawk Radio for “The Good Fight” EP. KIRBY also started C&B Records, which has released multiple compilations of independent artists under the ‘Mix Tape Series’. He co-wrote and produced the trailer for popular film fest flick “Sons of The Sunshine.

Joelle May
ModMay Promotions

For more about Kirby, see his website kirbysings.com and his myspace page myspace.com/kirbysound and his YouTube page youtube.com/kirbysings

Kirby will open our Music Stage at 10:15

Featured Artist - Twegen

2010-05-30T07:39:00.001-07:00

Twegen ( Pronounced Twey-en); Old English for Two.

Musicians: Brad McEwen (citterns and vocals) and Gwen Potter (violin and viola d’amore).

Brad McEwen is also the founder and Artistic Director of the Mill Race Folk Society.

‘Twegen’s repertoire consists of mainly traditional English dance tunes and songs, but other things have been known to creep in from Ireland, France, Brittany, Belgium and even Canada!

The combination of cittern and violin or viola d’amore results in a lively and fresh sound to many traditional folk music settings. Brad’s wealth of historical knowledge brings the listener a delightful insight into the background of many of the ballads and songs Twegen play.

Don't miss Twegen perform on our Literary Stage in the early afternoon.

Featured Artist - April Bulmer

2010-05-29T07:00:00.001-07:00

April Bulmer has published six books and four chapbooks. She is an award-winning poet who has won the Cambridge Arts Festival Poetry Contest. Her most recent collection is called THE GODDESS PSALMS (Serengeti Press). She has published widely internationally and nationally in such prestigious journals as THE MALAHAT REVIEW, ARC, PRISM international, EVENT AND Harvard's JOURNAL OF FEMINIST STUDIES IN RELIGION. She has three Master's Degrees in creative writing and religious studies and writes often of issues pertaining to women and spirituality. She is originally from Toronto, but has lived in Cambridge for 14 years where she is a member of the Cambridge Writers Collective.

April Bulmer's poetry is often spiritually-driven. She is interested in the goddesses, the prophets, the martyrs, the nuns, the native maidens, the messiahs, the spirits, the ghosts. She studied women and religion and creative writing at the graduate level and often combines these interests to create haunting poems that resonate in the psyche and soul: archetypes that constellate like dreams or visions.

The Cambridge Arts Festival would like to thank April for serving as judge in the adult category of this year's Word Up! Poetry Contest.

Featured Artist - RAQUEL Exquisite Collection

2010-05-28T09:07:00.001-07:00

For Artisan Cheli Chelouche, everything starts with shapes and colors. She loves painting nature and read a lot about history art. When she's painting a tray, she chooses shades she wants to use together, then thinks about the pattern. She combined her art studies and inner feelings to paint abstract designs or nature's beauty. The Douglas Fir trays are made by her husband Amir.

In addition to painting Cheli expresses her artistic abilities creating exquisite jewelry pieces. Her interest in history in general and jewelry history in particular awaken the dormant jewelry artist in her. While reading about ancient jewelry techniques she stumbled upon the Maile art, which is knitting with metal rings using 2 pliers she was fascinated. The idea that people used the same technique centuries ago gave her the inspiration for her jewelry pieces. Weaving ancient and contemporary eras together.

She starts with one tiny ring then starts to weave using only Genuine Gemstone, Semi-Precious and original swarovski crystal. Her jewelry is meticulously handcrafted and time consuming but, for her, it is a labor of love, and she would love to share them with you.

What's happening at this year's Festival?

2010-05-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

Lee Kools
Promotions Coordinator

The Cambridge Arts Festival on June 5, 2010 is bigger, better and more exciting and interactive than ever! Held at Cambridge City Hall Civic Square and surrounding areas and we have endeavoured to build a festival that everyone will enjoy.

Members of the Preston Scout House Band will be on hand to give us a rousing start to our day from 9:45 am to 10 am with the first Main Stage band beginning at 10 am.

The best part of all of this is that it is absolutely FREE! There is Free Parking,

Free Admission to the Festival and, thanks to our sponsor World of Water - Free Water when you bring your own reusable travel cup or buy one of ours for your use during the day.

Visual artists will line the areas displaying and selling their works - jewelry, fiber art, acrylics, oils, sculptures and so much more will be found at this festival.

Culinary artists that provide everything from organic foods to decadent chocolate and cupcakes will be there and free workshops will be available.

Wordsmiths, as well as folks who enjoy poetry and the spoken word, can take in the readings (and writings) of local writers in the Word Up! alley next to the Golden Kiwi.

If live performance is what you enjoy then we can fill that need too! Belly dancers, contemporary dancers, ballroom dancers, martial artists and puppetry should fill that bill.

MOTUS O dance company's three founders met at the Cambridge School for the Arts and that is where they first began the process of establishing their amazing dance company.

After 3 pm you can watch graffiti artists create one-of-a-kind works as they paint very special canvases in the Cambridge Farmers' Market parking lot. The U R New York artists group give their work an urban industrial feel by combining mediums such as photography, silk-screening, graphic design, and graffiti. To commemorate the occasion, avone, a New York aerosol artist from the "Destroy and Rebuild" has created a piece combining the New York sky line with the Cambridge sky line.

The headliner for the Main Stage is Two Crown King - a six piece collective fusing elements of Soul and Funk, while maintaining a focus on the fundamental story telling techniques of early Hip Hop. After Two Crown King, the Fire Spinners are back to give us a blazing end to what we trust will be a very enjoyable day of arts and entertainment for the people of Cambridge and outlying cities.

We’re excited and pleased to invite everyone done for a day to celebrate the arts in all its forms in our community!

Originally from Galt, Lee Kools has worked in the arts for more than 30 years. When her teenaged daughter (Stacey) entered high school and became involved in their internationally-reknowned theatre group "The Company", Lee decided to lend a hand. Since then she has acted, directed, produced, catered, stage managed, blocked, done book, sewn costumes, chaperoned, run lines, done promotion and just about anything else that needed to be done in theatre. Recently Lee curated an extremely successful art exhibit that was very close to her heart at the WKP Kennedy Gallery located in the Capitol Centre in North Bay. It was called KOOLS2 and featured the artwork of her nephew Ean Kools and the photography and photomanipulation art of her son, Tom.

Featured Artist - Angela Werstine

2010-05-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

I see life as a journey not a destination. My journey started at a young age, when I decided that I wanted to be an artist. Since then I have found passion within art, I have experimented with many different types of techniques, and always end up doing what I love best; abstract.
Abstract to me is powerful, graceful, serene and different every time you look at it. It constantly changes, develops and grows, as we all do. For the audience, they see something different than you as the artist did not see, it is seeing the expression and power in the simple things, or they may see what you were intending. Abstract to me is an emotion, it reflects my moods, feelings, beliefs, and the way I see things.

I have created two major bodies of work entitled "Christianity, One Belief" and "Truth and Honor". Both bodies of work represent my passion, philosophy and my vision of two different worlds with the same conclusion, to love the earth, to live for freedom and without judgment, to love one another and to make a difference. Even the smallest person can make the biggest impact.

I wish to enlighten people with my view on history, culture, religion and seeing between the lines of simplicity. I find that simplicity can make a piece all the more powerful, I use my own form of line movement to create figures with the least amount of detail, it is very smooth and flowing, so that your eyes can wander across the page and to help you recognize the emotion, I pick out the most important piece of detail and create an image around it. I express my history and Christian beliefs through my drawings by putting stories behind my pieces that help to explain the meaning behind the figure.

I was born in Yarmouth Nova Scotia, to a Mi'qmaq father, and a Scottish- heritage mother. I never knew growing up about my Native ancestry; my Grandparents were ashamed of their roots and the conditions that their people endured on the East Coast. My family researched our background and discovered our deep roots and I joined the Eastern Woodland Métis Nation in 2005. I have strived to learn as much as I can about my Mi'qmaq history, but I have been faced with much difficulty having to adapt to being a Métis, being accepted fully in neither culture. I use my Mi'qmaq heritage and my Christian background to create art by using Ink. Learning about my own Mi'qmaq/Algonquin heritage is difficult in Ontario. I feel the more that I do learn about the Mi'qmaq people, history and culture the more I can bring the knowledge of the Mi'qmaq people here.

My future may hold many things, but the one constant is my passion for drawing. I will continue my spiritual journey with hopes that it could make a difference even in the smallest way.

My medium is ink on paper and said to be "new and refreshing". I have created many pieces of art that depict history, including my Native American history (Mi'qmaq) and Christianity. My love for history and desire to show the community my style is represented in my artwork. I am devoted to creating artwork that glorifies Native history and Christianity. The reason for this devotion, apart from my background, is that an artist needs an epic subject to create epic art. I have been honoured to have done many exhibits for Galleries, Parishes, Festivals and Museums throughout Ontario, Canada.

Featured Artist - Fire Spinners

2010-05-26T18:30:00.000-07:00

Fire spinners Leah Simmons and Jessi Knight spin and breath fire!

See the Fire Spinners perform with Taperecorder in front of our main Music Stage after dark.

* video from CAF 2009 submitted by Sharon Kools, photos by Heidi Meyer

Performance Stage Schedule

2010-05-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

The Performance Stage Schedule is now available on the schedules page of website and is as follows:

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM		U of Waterloo Ballroom Dancers
11:05 AM - 11:20 AM		Diamond Martial Arts
11:25 AM - 11:55 AM		Patrick McCauley
12:00 PM - 12:15 PM		U of Waterloo Ballroom Dancers
12:20 PM - 12:50 PM		Cambridge Theatre School
12:55 PM - 1:25 PM		Patrick McCauley Songwriting Workshop
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM		Pandora's Sox
2:05 PM - 2:35 PM		Mandi Lee
2:40 PM - 3:10 PM		Tippy Toes School of Dance (TTSD)
3:20 PM - 4:05 PM		TTSD Dance Workshop
4:10 PM - 4:25 PM		Motus O
4:30 PM - 5:15 PM		Cinnamon Tree
BREAK
5:50 PM - 6:00 PM		Jannah Dancer
6:05 PM - 6:50 PM		Belly Dance Workshop with Jannah
6:55 PM - 7:10 PM		Motus O
7:15 PM - 8:00 PM		Dead Hour
8:05 PM - 8:20 PM		Down Hips Dance Studio (DHDS)
8:25 PM - 9:00 PM		DHDS Belly Dance Workshop

Featured Artist - The Grand Bakery

2010-05-25T06:33:00.000-07:00

The Grand Bakery specializes in cupcakes and special occasion desserts. With a custom menu of over 100 cupcake flavours, there is something for everyone--including those with sensitivities to gluten and dairy/casein/animal products. Virtually every flavor on their menu is also available gluten-free and/or vegan.

We use fresh, natural ingredients in all of our products. Everything is made from scratch and there are no trans fats or preservatives in anything we make.

The overall experience of a light, fluffy cake paired with pretty frosting has been both a personal challenge and a triumph for customers. Business owner Krista Arndt believes that everyone deserves a great cupcake and she looks forward to satisfying your cupcake craving!

Click here to listen to an interview with Krista on the Feb 8 570 News Food Show

In our culinary area, Krista will be available to not only sell her cupcakes, but also to teach about them.

To preview Krista's work, see her website thegrandbakery.com or visit her at The Cambridge Farmers Market (40 Dickson St.) Saturdays 7am-1pm and The Burford Family Market (18 Rutherford Dr.) Sundays from 10am-5pm.

Featured Artist - Deborah Sandilands

2010-05-24T07:44:00.000-07:00

Deborah Sandilands is an award-winning carver who carves both "in-the-round" and relief carving. She has been commissioned to carve birds, plaques, signs, statues, furniture, garden art and walking sticks. While she enjoys working with other media, creating in wood is closest to her heart. It can take at least 100 hours to create some of the more detailed work!

Deborah takes requests. If you have one, contact her at the Festival or through this website.

Featured Artist - Joshua Rozad

2010-05-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

Josh Rozad is a grade 11 student at Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School in Cambridge. He first picked up a camera at the age of 14, after being inspired by the work of a friend who is, himself, an amateur photographer.

Since then Josh has worked hard to develop, both his technical and his creative skills. He has won numerous awards, including a first place in the “Youth - Nature” category in the 2010 Kitchener Public Library Amateur Photography Contest and a third place in the “Youth – Architecture” category in the 2009 Hespeler Neighbourhood Association Photography Contest; he was the youngest person ever to win “Best Photograph in Amateur Competition” at the 2008 Rockton World’s Fair.

In 2009 Josh was honoured to have been selected as one of a handful of teenagers, worldwide, who were asked to contribute their photographs to the 2009 Random House publication Click – The Ultimate Photography Guide for Generation Now.

Featured Artist - David Menary

2010-05-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

Novelist and 2010 Bernice Adams Award finalist David Menary has just released his latest book. The River and the Railroad, is set in 'New Thunder', Menary's fictional alias for Cambridge, ON. A free preview of the text is available on Google Books.

Click here to read the article in The Record by Kevin Swayze

Click here to read the article in The Times by Greg MacDonald.

Click Here to watch an interview with David on Rogers Daytime TV.

Autographed copies of The River and the Railroad are available at Book Express. David will also be on hand near our Literary Stage to sell and sign copies for Festival patrons.

28th Annual Bernice Adams Memorial Awards

2010-05-22T06:29:00.000-07:00

On Friday May 28, Cambridge will honour some of our Arts Community's finest at the 28th annual Bernice Adams Memorial Awards.

Sixteen finalists make for a dynamic mix of talent in five categories: Visual Arts, Performing
Arts, Communications/Literary Arts, Music, and Outstanding Youth. Congratulations to Jane Hook, Randy Butcher, Robin Bennett, Allen Saulnier, Scot Ferguson-Barber, Dave Menary, Deborah Carbone, Bonnie Casey, Cambridge Concert Band, Heavy Lights, Allison Lupton, Heather Matthews, Lacey Norris, Noah Schuster, Sean Thijssen, and Tiela Warris for being
finalists in the competition.

As well. Marilyn Scott will be awarded this year's ‘Special Trustees Award’ which is presented to an individual or group who made a valuable contribution in two or more categories, and is heavily weighted in volunteer work where many benefit from their talent.

The event runs on Friday May 28, 2010 at 6:30 pm at the Galt Country Club, 750 Coronation Blvd, Cambridge. Tickets are just $25 and include light refreshments, entertainment and a fundraising silent auction. All proceeds help to support the Bernice Adams Memorial Awards Trust Fund. For tickets, visit the Cambridge Centre for the Arts, 60 Dickson Street, or call
519.740.4681 ext. 4376. Cash, Cheque, Interac and all major credit cards are accepted.

The Ascot Royals Need Your Help

2010-05-21T13:20:00.001-07:00

We have been invited back to The Edge studios as part of the Edge of the Edge Smrinoff Concert Series, BUT there is a catch. Here is where you come in.

WE NEED YOUR VOTES!

That’s right, not only will we be playing a free concert at The Edge @ 9.30 tonight, but we will also be giving each and every one of you the opportunity to put democracy into action and exercise your right choose whoever you like (as long as it’s us that is).

Simply go to http://www.edge.ca/Music/IndieOnline/Home.aspx

If you're not already an Edge member you will have to become one, but it just takes a minute.
Voting for OUR LIVE VIDEO will START Monday morning and END the following Sunday night and each member can only vote once a day!

Please spread the word and tell your friends, your support is what makes us love what we do!

Love,
The Ascot Royals

Featured Artist - Melting Artist Designs

2010-05-21T06:24:00.000-07:00

Amar Bhuee has been creating art for as long as she can remember. She works with watercolour inks, silk-screens, pencils, ink, her camera, tiles, and bookbinding supplies.

Influenced by Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol, Amar would describe her art work as bright, bold and playful. When it comes to her photography, she loves to capture everyday objects, the things that often go unnoticed, and show people how beautiful they actually are.

Amar's silk ink watercolours allow her to free hand what she is thinking or feeling at that moment. They're a great way to experiment with colours and shapes.

Amar finds bookbinding very therapeutic and calming. Bookbinding is a very great form of art and she is very grateful to have crossed path with it.

Amar creates wonderful home dècor pieces, such as coasters and placemat. She also has been working on a fashion accessories line, which includes studded earrings, rings, bobby pins and cufflinks.

She also makes handmade tile magnets, badges and bookmarks.

Visit meltingartist.etsy.com to see more great art work by Amar Bhuee.

Featured Artist - In Ambush

2010-05-20T08:18:00.000-07:00

IN AMBUSH is a Canadian rock band from Ayr, Ontario, formed in 2006 by Jeffrey Copoc and Adam Pett, further including Barry Pett and Leigh Redfearn. Often typed as “modern rock warriors”, In Ambush prides themselves on their ability to create music inspired by 90’s rock.

Their music can most often be heard throughout Southern Ontario, on both local radio stations and at live various pubs and bars. Formally named Grindstone, In Ambush successfully released their first album, Seeds of Paranoia, independently in 2009. The album goes deep into the mind of Copoc with personal experiences and strong feelings. The album ranges emotions from depression, happiness and even love. The album includes three singles, self titled Seeds of Paranoia, Pulse and Overcome. Following the success of Seeds of Paranoia, a new album, Against the Evening Sky, is currently in the works.

“The new album is in my mind a step above Seeds of Paranoia. We are maturing and growing as a band and as individuals and I really feel that it shows in this album... I tried something new with this album, while still sticking to our musical roots of the In Ambush sound” says Copoc, principle songwriter.

Further plans have been made for an In Ambush unplugged in the next couple of months. The unplugged DVD will be titled Beyond Beauty Wonderland and will be comprised of the greatest hits from Seeds of Paranoia, Against the Evening Sky and classic covers.

Band Members

Jeff Copoc - Vocals/Guitar
Barry Pett - Guitar
Adam Pett - Drums
Leigh Redfearn - Bass

INAMBUSH - Overcome Music Video from DinTek Design on Vimeo.

For more information about In Ambush, please see their Myspace page and their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter @INAMBUSH

Featured Artist - Pandora's Sox

2010-05-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

When Jay isn't performing (Jay is a member of the Canadian Actors Equity Association) or raising funds for live professional theatre (Jay has worked in marketing and development for, The National Tap Dance Co of Canada The Gravenhurst Opera House and Theatre Collingwood) or establishing training programs in drama for children (Jay founded ShowbizKidz and Act-Up! in Gravenhurst and Collingwood respectively), Jay spends his time uncovering delightful creative treasures like this project - Pandora's Sox.

Jay was introduced to the world of puppetry in 1979 having just graduated from the University of Waterloo in drama and theatre arts. He joined a children's theatre company that relied heavily on puppetry. Jay has been fascinated by puppets ever since and now he is “in his element" as he shares his puppet knowledge and writes and performs his unique puppet shows.

Established in the winter of 2009, Pandora's Sox has blossomed quickly. Pandora's Sox conducts puppet workshops, assembles and distributes sock-puppet kits, and performs puppet shows wherever kids gather. McGregor Socks has joined Pandora's Sox in the quest to put puppetry into the hands of aspiring puppeteers. In addition, Pandora's Sox creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Simcoe County.

PANDORA' S SOX PRESENTS:
PANDORA'S BOX-THE PUPPET SHOW

We take this famous Greek Myth and "puppefy" it!

What's in the box? How did it get here? What will happen if it opens? Join Prometheus, his brother Epi and Pandora on this timeless adventure as they search for hope in the midst of a monumental crisis.

Peppered with original songs, one actor performs all the characters.

These puppets do not hide inside a puppet stage making this show a three ring circus, exciting, fast paced, clever and funny.

The puppets are larger than life and there's lots of opportunity for audience participation. Imaginative, creative, fun and memorable you'll enjoy this new take on an old tale.

Look for Jay on our Performance Stage in the early afternoon. For more about Jay or the Pandora's Box show, see pandorasbox56.blogspot.com

Featured Artist - Barb Day

2010-05-18T07:41:00.000-07:00

A member of the Cambridge Writer's Collective, Barb Day is generally a writer of prose, but has gained a new passion for Slam Poetry, and loves to write and perform Slam whenever the opportunity arises.

Barb's favourite Slam Piece, Complicated Coffee, describes the hassle and expense people will go to just for a coffee! Wouldn't it be much simpler just to make a pot for a fraction of the cost - at home?

Barb's Thoughts on Slam
A poetry slam is a competition during which poets recite their work. The performances are then judged on the content, the manner of delivery and the passion behind the words. Slam poetry is definitely not "a game played for the sheer fun of it.” After attending the Toronto Poetry Slam Semi Finals, the Finals, the Burlington Slam Project, and the London Spoken Word Event, I can attest to the fact that the very talented poets that participate in any or all of these events take their poetry very seriously. As for Slam being referred to as a "young persons game" one cannot deny the appeal or the beauty of this form that has helped to rejuvenate an interest in poetry for a younger generation, amongst many others. This was apparent at the event held at the Euphoria Bistro in Cambridge on April 9, 2010. Spoken Word is not only geared to the younger crowd. Anyone can be involved, at any age. Check out Jack McCarthy, featured at the Vancouver Poetry Slam, online.

Spoken Word is not always a Rant. Shane Koyczan, the poet who performed "We Are More" at the 2010 Winter Olympics presented an inspiring poem defining Canada that would by no means be categorized as a Rant. Check it out on YouTube.

It is a good idea to attend more than one event, as each offers something very different. Many would be pleasantly surprised at the optimism of the participants and the amazing prose/poetry all are writing and performing. There is certainly no age limit, no restrictions, and anyone who is interested is entirely encouraged to try this unique style out for themselves.

—Barb Day

Featured Artist - Kori Pop

2010-05-17T08:43:00.000-07:00

Kori Pop's debut album is not for those who prefer their music black and white ~ "From the Outskirts" is technicolour. Song after song, the listener is pulled into sonic and lyrical landscapes as varied as their creators influences. This girl is not your regular singer/songwriter ~ she is a storyteller.

For more information about Kori Pop, see her website koripop.com

Click Here to view 'A Night At the Barn' A Mini Documentary
(featuring Kori Pop, The Steve Strongman Band & Sandman Viper Command)

Featured Artist - That's It Creations

2010-05-16T07:26:00.000-07:00

Ursula Wargel-Tidmand is the artist behind That's It Creations.

As a photographer, Ursula refers to her style as "essence" photography, capturing the spirit of her subject. Her gifted eye for beauty and creativity comes through in her photography.

Several years ago, Ursula uncovered another passion, creating unique pieces of jewellery. Her designs are often a little irreverent, choosing uncommon combinations to express her minds eye.

Whether photography or jewellery, her work is beautiful and unique, a true expression of herself. She finds beauty in every detail and through her eyes or hands shares that "essence" with anyone willing to witness it.

Featured Artist - Tracey Garvey

2010-05-15T07:05:00.000-07:00

Tracey Garvey was born and raised in Cambridge Ontario. She is a creative person who has always had an interest in the arts. A self taught photographer, her passion for photography began after the birth of her first son. With Friends and Family impressed by her baby portraits, requests starting coming for her to take pictures for them.

Experimenting with her camera led her to taking many pictures of flowers and landscapes. Her passion for photography drives her to continue learning new styles to produce interesting and captivating images. It is that unique look that has made her photography so popular with family friends and neighbors.

Tracey has participated in the Cambridge Centre for the Arts Juried art show 2005, 2007. Also took part in the Cambridge Library and Gallery Art show and sale in 2005 - 2009. Tracey participated in the Cambridge Arts festival as well as Imagination Square 2006-2009. Tracey is currently enrolled in the photography program at Conestoga College. Tracey is a Member of the Cambridge Photography Club as well as a member of the Cambridge Centre for the Arts. Tracey is the Owner Operator of a small photography business called Photo Art and Creative Portraits.

To preview more of Tracey's work, please see her website tgarveyphotography.com

Featured Artist - Michele Hopkins and Tippy Toes School of Dance

2010-05-14T06:49:00.000-07:00

Michele Hopkins
Dance Artist/Choreographer/ Teacher

Michele Hopkins has been practicing her art as a dance performer, choreographer, teacher and director for the past 25 years. She has studied extensively across Ontario and New York. Her performing repertoire includes a diversity of works from classic to contemporary, traditionally based to independent choreography. Michele has also integrated multidisciplinary arts into her works. And, she has collaborated with artists in other disciplines including photography, film, poetry and visual arts.

Michele has engaged the Cambridge community in the art of dance since her arrival here 8 years ago. She has directed and produced numerous highly successful dance performances involving the community at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts and beyond. Ms. Hopkins has performed original choreography at the Mayor's Celebration of the Arts 2003, 2004, 2008, the GCDF 2008 as well as

other local venues and festivals. She introduced Frank Augustyn to the community in 2007 and co-organizes an annual ballet workshop featuring highly acclaimed dance professionals. She has also been awarded a Mayor's Cultural Award (2004), Bernice Adams Award (2008) and Woman of Distinction in the performing arts (2008). Michele was the 2007 Artist in Residence (AIR) at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts. She has been awarded grants from the OAC and Arts Fund. As a member of the ballet committee of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association and CADA, she hopes to continue to encourage and nurture creativity and artistic expression through dance and hopes to pass on her passion and love of dance to her community.

Michele will be both performing and giving a ballet workshop on our Performance Stage.

For a preview of Michele's work, tickets are still available for her upcoming show Swan Lake: Excerpts from Act II.

Featured Artist - Wild Organic Way

2010-05-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

Raw food promotes optimum health by nourishing the body with foods that have been for the most part left as nature intended them. This is also a more identifiable form for our bodies to be able to make use of all that each food has to offer us and in most cases much higher concentration and nutritional value than if it were cooked. Food can be soaked (nuts,seeds), dehydrated (fruit or vegetable leathers, seed crackers), blended(nut butters,"cheeses") and juiced(fruits,vegetables) to create meals, snacks and desserts that tantalize the taste buds. Organic is encouraged as much as possible to avoid the sprays that can be used with conventional products.

At this year's Festival, owner Carin Balint will be leading a workshop only. She is, unfortunately, unable to spend the whole day with us. During her demonstration, she will give out samples and discuss and answer questions about raw food. The Festival workshop schedule will be posted soon on the schedules page of our website.

For more information about the WOW Cafe, please see wowrawcafe.ca

Featured Artist - Katrina Schaman

2010-05-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

Katrina Schaman paints using a semi-abstract style that celebrates the deep connection between abstract and real forms. Her work begins without agenda, using abstract shapes and patterns, rich in both line and colour. The artist then looks within these patterns and textures discovering recognizable shapes and arrangements from which she creates her compositions. She does not set out to paint specific forms but instead finds them within her work and brings them forward, allowing them to emerge organically on the canvas with the piece itself dictating its own outcome. Katrina uses many complex layers in her search for the perfect balance between abstract and actual shapes.

Although primarily a painter, Katrina also enjoys illustration, photography, cooking and traveling.

I love to travel and experience new cultures. I've been to Israel, Turkey, Greece, Scotland, France, Italy and Germany. I believe this exposure to the world has helped me grow as a person as well as an artist.

Katrina received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours from Queen's University in 2005 and her Graduate Certificate in New Media Design from Sheridan College's School of Animation and Design in 2007.

To see more of Katrina's work, see her website katrinaschaman.com

Aerosol Art Area

2010-05-12T05:58:00.000-07:00

We've made some exciting changes to the Aerosol Art area for 2010. From 2:30 PM until dusk, seven artists (and possibly one guest) will paint 5 canvases in the Cambridge Farmers' Market parking lot. This year's canvases: 4 garage doors and 1 car!

This unique glimpse into the artistic process of the professional graffiti artist is an opportunity not to be missed.

Many thanks to Cambridge Arts Festival sponsor Towcon Holdings for the garage doors. A sponsorship opportunity is still available for a spray paint supplier. As well, this area needs attendant volunteers.

Featured Artist - UR New York

2010-05-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

In our continuing efforts to redirect the creative energy of graffiti into mainstream aerosol art, the Cambridge Arts Festival has teamed up with UR New York—a world renowned artist collective with the same goal.

Artists in the collective give their work an urban industrial feel by combining mediums such as photography, silk-screening, graphic design, and graffiti. Each piece tells the story of their life, struggles, and environment.

Two artists from the collective, Fernando Romero (aka ski), and Mike Bacca (aka 2esae), will be joining us at the Festival to create a piece live in our Aerosol Art area. Stay tuned to this blog to find out how to win a one-on-one art lesson with Fernando.

To commemorate the occasion, avone, a New York aerosol artist from the "Destroy and Rebuild" group (who isn't able to be here in person) has created a piece combining the New York sky line with the Cambridge sky line. Sorry, this piece has already been sold.

Many thanks to Spun (of Spun Turtle Productions), Ean Kools, Fernando Romero, and Mandy Richardson for making this partnership possible.

For more information about UR New York, or to preview more of their work, see their website URNewYork.com

Featured Artist - Two Crown King

2010-05-10T07:22:00.000-07:00

Two Crown King is a band—a six piece collective fusing elements of Soul and Funk, while maintaining a focus on the fundamental story telling techniques of early Hip Hop.

Taking inspiration from a variety of musical genres, Two Crown King cultivate a sound that is saturated with insightful lyrics, melodic hooks and solid grooves. They combine style and swagger to deliver their own brand of organic Neo-Soul. With a high degree of energy and dynamic interaction, Two Crown King continue to expand their fan base.

The diverse musical backgrounds and showmanship of each band member contributes to their distinct sound and their infectious live shows. Two Crown King is currently working on a full length debut album, produced by Dan Weston (Attack In Black, Classified and Ten Second Epic), set for release later this year.

For more about Two Crown King, see their websites twocrownking.com or myspace.com/twocrownking

Featured Artist - motus O

2010-05-09T07:01:00.000-07:00

It is strange to think how an American gymnast, an Australian sheep shearer and a Canadian figure skater could have their paths meet and eventually become Co-Artistic Directors of a dance theatre company in Canada. Yet, as it turns out, that diversity has become the essence of MOTUS O. Where cultures and talents collide and then reform, creating a dynamic team that explores the dramatic and relishes the physical and all with a touch of humour.

The Artistic Directors of MOTUS O, James Croker, Cynthia Croker and Jack Langenhuizen, have all been trained in several artistic disciplines with decades of combined performing experience in both street theatre and stage. This diversity, coupled with their collaborative style of creating, enriches the production values and constantly surprises the viewer. Each production displays their unique ability to be involved in the whole creative process. They create the story, design and build costumes and props, choreograph, shoot and edit film and if that is not enough, they perform.

MOTUS O is Latin for 'the method of movement'. In the Artistic Directors words "we want to know the meaning of every movement and to move as if it has meaning". Physical inventiveness, lightning action, grace and raw energy are all trademarks of their evolving style.

Since their formation in 1990, MOTUS O has created thirteen full-length productions for both family and adult audiences. The troupe continues to tour throughout North America, Europe and the South Seas, bringing with them their innovative and highly visual works to both small and large communities alike.

At this year's Festival, motus O will grace our Performance Stage 3 times throughout the day.

For more information about the dance troupe, including a list of upcoming shows, see their website motuso.com

Featured Artist - WTF Photography

2010-05-08T18:35:00.000-07:00

Laura Bauer

Once a jewellery designer, Laura switched her focus to Photography with wonderful results. Her work's first theme was architectural lettering.

"What makes my designs stand out is that all the pictures making up the letters are from the [local] area - snapshots from the many churches, homes and the university"

But that wasn't enough. After racking her brain on how to get her pets to earn their keep, she realized that their quirky personality could be put to use as greeting cards with witty sayings - showing each one to be as saucy and sarcastic as the woman who owns them. Thus the division of Catty Cards was added to WTF Photography.

Featured Artist - The Gnarled Branch

2010-05-08T18:13:00.001-07:00

A graduate of Sheridan College, David Irvine is a multi-faceted artist that likes to face new challenges and experiment in many different mediums. From painted furniture to bottlecap pins to painted vinyl records, there is never a plateau in his work. He likes to mainly work with pop art imagery as well with low brow and horror themes with a focus on repurposing and reusing materials destined for possible landfill.

About his Work
Vinyl Record Paintings: I paint on damaged or badly worn records. A pushpin through the middle is all that is required to mount on the wall. Themes range from low brow, pop art and horror.

Bottle Cap Pins/Magnets: An image + caption cutout from junkmail, magazines or flyers are inserted into discarded bottlecapas to make a unique pin--usually funny and quirky. Resin (so it looks just like glass) and a pinmount or magnet are added to complete the look. Each pin is unique.

Jarlid Pins: I insert an original painting and resin into a discarded babyfood jarlid and add a pinmount to the back. Themes vary from cute monsters to pop art imagery.

Fine Art: I also do fine art that is framed and range in themes from pop art, low brow to gothic.

Monster-A-Day facebook group: Each day I illustrate and post a new monster. Each piece is 5.5" x 8".

To see more of David's work, visit his webpage thegnarledbranch.com

Featured Artist - Jennifer Tigerlilly

2010-05-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Tigerlilly describes her work as Illustration and Abstract. Colours, blending, and dramatic definition.

Art has been a natural skill I was gifted with ever since I can remember. I took an eight year break to start a family. But the call couldn't be ignored and I have been getting back into my element with the love, support and inspirations from those around me.

Watch Jennifer create a piece live at the Festival in our graffiti area. Canvasses this year include garage doors and a car.

Featured Artist - Ian Reid

2010-05-08T16:14:00.000-07:00

pic by Warren Muzak

Ian Reid creates music people can relate to. Not overpowering, just honest and pure.

Since the release of his sophomore album 'Tiger School' in 2008, Ian Reid has played over 200 shows, received songwriting awards, and has earned much respect from music fans and fellow songwriters.
Ian hopes to release his third album later this year.

Hey music fans,

I'll be opening tonight (Wednesday, May 5th) for Lee Harvey Osmond (Tom Wilson's latest project) at the Dakota Tavern at 9:30 pm. Harlan Pepper will also be on the bill. I've heard them perform in Hamilton and I was blown away. Should be a very fun event! 249 Ossington Avenue, Toronto.

This weekend I'll be accompanying a very talented group of kids in Hamilton. Come and see "Communiqation: Take Two", written and directed by Martha Christianson. - a series of short sketches, some backed by my music. Call 905-730-1155 for tickets Sat. May 8th; 2 pm & 8 pm /Sun. May 9th 8 pm at The Staircase Cafe Theatre - 27 Dundurn Street North, Hamilton.

Next Wednesday, May 12th, I'll be joining singer-songwriter Martin Rouleau for an evening at the Moonshine Cafe, located at 137 Kerr Street in Oakville 8:30-10:30 pm.

Lately, I've had a lot of people asking about a new album. I have more than enough material written (perhaps enough for a double) and am making a great effort to have it recorded soon. This will be my first

production that hasn't been funded from savings as a teacher in Korea, so progress will no doubt be a lot slower. Have faith in me, friends- it will be.
Thanks for reading and your support. Times are lean but it's all coming together.
Have a great Mothers' Day. Give a mom you love a large hug.

Regards from Rockwood,
Ian
myspace.com/ianreidsongs
www.cdbaby.com/cd/ianreid3

Featured Artist - Down Hips Dance Studio

2010-05-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

Down Hips Dance Studio is the largest bellydance studio in KW-Cambridge, and a welcoming place for women of all ages, shapes & sizes. The Down Hips Dance Troupe that will be both performing and providing a workshop at this year's Festival, is comprised of 8 women with a passion for the Middle Eastern dance form, and a love of sharing that passion with an audience.

Bellydance is a Western term for a traditional Arab dance genre known as raqs sharqi, literally "oriental dance". Native to the Middle East, and now popular worldwide, belly dance is an exciting way to dance, and express a cultural history, while adapting to the modern feel and excitement of our own culture.

For more information, or to book the troupe for your event, see their website DownHips.com

Featured Artist - Kate Carder-Thompson

2010-05-08T13:10:00.001-07:00

Formerly a Visual Art teacher at Lakefield College School, Kate now works as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer in Kitchener. She works in watercolour, pencil, digital, and fibre media.

Binkie Quilts are hybrids of security blankets, quilts, and teddy bears. Made of new and upcycled materials, they are cuddly, comforting, and eco-conscious! My watercolour illustrations are charming, mixed media depictions of baby quilts and cozy blankets.

For more of Kate's work, see her website thefrenchpress.ca

Featured Artist - Gisèle Grenier

2010-05-08T13:04:00.000-07:00

A wildlife conservationist at heart, Gisèle specializes in landscapes and wildlife with a impressionistic feel. Her work has been published in Paintworks magazine, and she is a regular contributor to Interactive Artist Magazine. Videos of her designs are distributed by Martin/F.Weber. And her wildlife paintings have been on display at the Intollerant Gallery in Hamilton, Station Gallery in Brantford, and the Brantford Arts Block.

Gisèle is an Alexander Art Certified Instructor. She teaches annually at the Coast to Coast Creative Arts Convention in Mississauga. Under Art By Nature, Gisèle offers online, private, and in-person classes to beginners and intermediates using oils, pastels and acrylics.

For more of Gisele's work, see her website giselegrenier.com