Fifth anniversary of Glebe Art in Our Gardens and Studio Tour

By Martha Bowers

Summer 2015 marks the fifth anniversary of the revival of the Glebe Art in Our Gardens and Studio Tour, which will be held on the weekend of July 4 and 5. Momentum has been building over the past five years, bringing attention to local artists and attracting many visitors to our neighbourhood for this highly anticipated event. Although there are many art tours in our region, it is always special to meet your talented neighbours and support their work.

This year there is a mix of artists, some of whom have participated in previous years, as well as new ones. They will be exhibiting their work in outdoor settings conveniently located throughout the Glebe in a variety of lovely garden environments. Sites will be grouped together for easy walking or cycling, so you don’t have to worry too much about parking.

One of the returning Glebe artists is Roy Brash, located at 67 Fifth Avenue. Brash’s love of nature had a major impact on his art and on his later depictions of animals, landscapes and water scenes. He admires in particular the power and beauty of water. Brash says that he perceives nature as perfect and feels humble when trying to replicate its beauty on canvas.

“I believe that a painting should tell a story and provide interest to the viewer. Vivid colours and design are important and I try to use them to express mood and motion,” says Brash. “I also enjoy the meditative side of painting.”

Brash has exhibited at several shows and galleries and won many awards. His works now hang in private, public and corporate collections across Quebec, Ontario and the U.S.

Artists help to enrich our community with their creativity and dedication to living and working in the Glebe. Through their art they offer unique interpretations of life, making the viewer appreciate the visual power of art that can be joyful, sad, beautiful or disturbing, but always evoking an emotional response. All who come out to the Glebe art tour will find something that moves them in some way. And this year we are offering a prize to the art lover who visits the most sites over the weekend.

Brochures listing the artists’ names as well as a map showing the studio and garden locations for this year’s tour will be available in Glebe shops and at the GCC. In addition, on the tour weekend there will be signs at various street corners to indicate the locations of art sites. Information is also available on the website at www.glebearttour.ca

Be sure to mark July 4 and 5 on your calendar. Rain or shine, the tour will go on!

Martha Bowers is an art lover, a member of the organizing committee for the Glebe Art in Our Gardens and Studio Tour and a frequent contributor to the Glebe Report.