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Miriam Davidson looks forward to hosting a variety of art workshops featuring a variety of skills and presenters this summer.
Zim Art fans will be happy to learn that the five acre property which has been home to the gallery featuring stone carvings from Zimbabwe for more than 20 years will continue to be an arts centre. .Miriam Davidson is the new owner of the property where she will operate a new art based venture called Rice Lake Arts. Having worked with Fran Fearnley for years at Zim Art, both women were delighted to be able to secure a new future featuring art for the property located at 855 Second Line in Bailieboro.
Miriam brings forty years of experience as an art educator to her new venture which offers a space to welcome artists who will share their skills in a location where they can draw inspiration from the natural surroundings. It will host a wide variety of artistic workshops and live music events where visitors can explore their creative skills led by talented artists.
Among the workshops on offer this summer are multi-day stone carving workshops for novices or experienced carvers, where each participant will use hand tools to create their own stone sculpture.
Other workshops led by visiting artists will guide participants in the creation of handmade paper using natural and recycled materials and bind them into a book; to use watercolour, pastels, ink and pencil to created nature-inspired pieces; or learn to draw realistic-looking animals by developing an understanding of their skeletal form as well as their unique characteristics. There are also workshops featuring fibre skills include sewing and quilting techniques, basket weaving and Cyanotype printing. All will rely on natural ingredients, some harvested on location, to protect the natural environment of the property as well as the participants.
Miriam is committed to establishing outreach partnerships to nurture young artists and support youth in the community and has already made a few connections. This summer the arts centre will deliver a weeklong art camp for 20 members of Peterborough’s Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Days at the camp will be spent on a variety of physical and artistic activities, and each camper will have the opportunity to create a small stone carving.
The Arts centre will also continue a long-established partnership with Thomas A. Stewart (TASS) Integrated Arts Program, and will offer workshop scholarships to students in the Visual Arts stream selected by TASS faculty.
Last week, Miriam received some help. Rice Lake Arts was among the six finalists in the Peterborough and Kawartha’s “Spark” program whose virtual pitches earned them a $3,000 seed grant and mentorship support to help them launch their new tourism concepts. The program’s goal is to find, foster and support new tourism ideas, experiences and partnerships that will enhance current offerings, address gaps or challenges, motivate travel and longer stays, and increase year-round visits in the region.
“Spark” is a collaborative partnership initiative between the Tourism Innovation Lab and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism. In addition to the seed funding and mentorship support, recipients gain access to a network of tourism entrepreneurs and leaders across the province.
Rice Lake Arts will open its doors to the community at an Open House taking place on Sunday, May 26th from 1 pm to 4pm. There will be art demos live music, local food and lots of activities.
Unlike its predecessor, this operation is only open to the public when a workshop or event is scheduled. To learn more about the schedule of events, or to register for a workshop, visit the website at www.ricelakearts.ca where you can keep current on events and subscribe to their newsletter. KG