Open Doors
Salt Spring Studio Tour celebrates 20 years
Porcelain cups by Byungjoo Suh of Odyssey Studio & Gallery
The year 2010 marks the 20th anniversary of the famous Salt Spring Studio Tour. Armed with a user-friendly map and led onward by iconic black sheep signs, visitors for two decades have enjoyed following self-directed tours that bring them straight to the heart of artistic activity on the island.
Studios found on Salt Spring create a multitude of fine handmade products, from artisan cheese and bread to ceramics and textiles. The unique blend of island living and contemporary sensibility is underscored by the personal element that comes with meeting the artists in their own workspace.
Studio tour coordinator Vaughn Walters agrees that along with quality crafts, it's the personal part of the experience that most visitors cherish.
"People love to watch the artists work. They can examine the products closely and in many cases learn about the process used. They may even find treasures to take home with them."
The Studio Tour map provides information as to the types of crafts available at 34 participating locations and includes the opening hours for summer, shoulder and È winter seasons. Visitors can find candles, clocks, clothing, flowers and plants, wool and other fibres, food, furniture, glass, herbal products, home decor, jewellery, paintings and prints, photography, pottery, quilts, sculpture, textiles, wall art, weaving, wine and wood products.
Outdoor patios give guests the chance to linger over coffee or picnics at Salt Spring Island Cheese or Salt Spring Vineyards. Seekers of further relaxation will be satisfied by Sacred Mountain Lavender and Solace Organic Spa. Countless other locations offer the opportunity to find a meaningful piece of art or even a cute souvenir.
Walters notes, "The studio tour is so popular that 50,000 maps were distributed last year. There are visitors coming from all over the world."
Don't expect to be crowded out, however. With the maps placed firmly in their own hands, visitors direct tours according to their individual interests and timelines.
As one recent visitor describes, "For me it is a very intimate island and art adventure . . . I love the real experience, such as a wood turner leaving his lathe behind while the fragrance of wood shavings still hover in the air, or the splatters of paint on an easel in another artist's conversation."
Studio Tour maps can be found on BC Ferries, the tourist information office and at various marinas and accommodations. Many accommodations will have an onsite copy of the Studio Tour Book, which is available for sale at local book stores. The map can also be downloaded from www.saltspringstudiotour.com.
- Elizabeth Nolan
THE STUDIOS
ANTONIO ALONSO MADRONA GALLERY
145 Cottonwood Road
PH: 250-537-5659
WEB: www.alonsowoodturning.com
My work is a constant exploration of form, in the pursuit of balance, harmony and natural elegance. My aim is to reveal the treasures hidden within the tree and I strive to discover a shape in them that is so alive that one never tires of looking at it.
BOB MCKAY WOODTURNER
201 Grantville Street
PH/FAX: 250-537-9862
EMAIL: bob@bobmckaywoodturner.com
WEB: www.bobmckaywoodturner.com
Arbutus, Big Leaf Maple and Garry Oak salvaged from firewood trees for salad bowls, hollow vessels and giftware. Whether you’re looking for a perfect wedding gift, a piece of art for that special spot or a Salt Spring-grown souvenir, you’ll find it here.
CSM GALLERY & STUDIO
CARL SEAN MCMAHON
120 Madrona Road
PH: 250-537-2630
WEB: www.carlseanmcmahom.com
CSM Gallery & Studio displays metal sculptures crafted from the byproducts of Western consumption. Utilizing a variety of recovered metal pieces that are chopped, shaped and welded together, Carl Sean creates highly detailed, intricate sculptures of masks, birds, orcas and other animals.
GAIL CONEY STUDIO
697 Vesuvius Bay Road
PH: 250-538-1951
EMAIL: gailconey@saltspring.com
WEB: www.gailconeystudio.com
Vibrant stoneware pottery and decorative, functional glassware to add elegance to your home. Decoupage clocks in various styles and sizes. Spoil yourself or find that special gift.
FARMHOUSE GALLERY
SEAN GODDARD
1298 Beddis Road
PH: 250-537-9625
EMAIL: farmhousegallery@shaw.ca
Sean Goddard is a stained glass and metal artisan. He uses this mixed media to create many things, but is most recognized for his collection of insect sculptures. He finds a playful contrast in utilizing beautiful glass with traditionally menacing forms.
FRENCH COUNTRY FABRIC
CREATIONS
DARLENE LANE
109 Broadwell Road
PH: 250-537-9865
EMAIL: frenchcountryfabrics@shaw.ca
Our sun filled cottage will take you to the south of France. Browse among the many treasures for the home or yourself. All handcrafted from fine fabrics of Provence. Soft furnishings, handbags, tapestries and coated tablecloths for your garden.
FULL MOON JEWELLERY
SIMON ROMPRE/STEPHANIE ARTZ
155 Maliview Drive
PH: 250-537-1721
EMAIL: srompre@telus.net
WEB: www.fullmoonoriginals.com
Unique designs handcrafted on Salt Spring Island using mixed precious metals; silver, gold, copper, and brass. We use lost-wax casting, hand-fabrication, fusion method, and other techniques, and incorporate natural gemstones (garnet, amber and amethyst among them) into many of our designs.
GEERNAERTS TEXTILE ARTS
SHANNON WARDROPER
298 (Upper) Salt Spring Way
PH: 250-538-5549
WEB: www.geernaerts.org
Abstracted flora and fauna pattern large-scale silk wall hangings, interior accessories, hand-bound books and original clothing at Geernaerts Textile Arts. Lush colour and imagery emerge from layers of screen printing, dyeing, embroidery and embellishment. Internationally exhibited. Commissions welcome. Two annual workshops.
JULIE MACKINNON CERAMICS
244 South Bank Drive
PH: 250-537-2100
EMAIL: info@juliemackinnon.com
WEB: www.juliemackinnon.com
Contemporary clay working studio and gallery. Award-winning porcelain tableware and accessories...pure domestic luxury! Fine design inspired by modern architecture and simplicity.
LAN’S HANDS POTTERY
LEEANN NORGARD
470 Sky Valley Road
PH: 250-537-8313
WEB: www.lnorgardceremics.com
LeeAnn Norgard’s delightful pottery forms draw inspiration from close-up details of natural objects. A tendril from a pea plant informs the placement of a handle, the organic symmetry of a tiny salal flower stimulates the inspiration for a small group of vases. Beautifully crafted in cone 6 porcelain, the pottery is both functional and unique.
MARTINUS JEWELRY STUDIO
MARTIN EBBERS
145 Seaview Avenue
PH: 250-538-1730
FAX: 250-5381734
WEB: www.martinus-gold.com
Presenting West Coast spirit and European tradition. Discover jewelry of the highest quality and award-winning craftsmanship in gold or platinum with rare gemstones and fine diamonds. Inquiries and custom designs are welcomed. Weekend classes available.
MONSTER LAB
DIANE PERRY
2210 Fulford-Ganges Road
PH: 250-653-4227
EMAIL: needlewrestler@gmail.com
Just off the main road an enchanted forest, meandering stream and cosy little cottage sits. Within the walls of this cottage resides an unexpected heroine and her magic needle. What wondrous things will happen when she starts to stitch. . . .
ODYSSEY STUDIO
BYUNGJOO & JANIS SUH
527 Reynolds Road
PH: 250-653-4622
EMAIL: bjsuh200@yahoo.com
WEB: www.goodyssey.com
Byungjoo and Janis, originally from Korea, are immersed in contemporary ceramic sculpture. Their studio “Odyssey” represents both inner and outer journeys that have led to continuous challenges of imagination and craftsmanship. A small but joyful gallery next to the studio beckons you into their waking dreams; a space where reality meets allegory through the techniques of slip casting, hand building, multiple firings and, occasionally, wheel throwing.
SACRED MOUNTAIN LAVENDER
BEN SUTTON
401 Musgrave Road
PH: 250-653-2315
FAX: 250-653-2360
EMAIL: info@sacredmountainlavender.com
WEB: www.sacredmountainlavender.com
Explore rich, purple lavender fields and our farm shop, offering a wide variety of lavender plants, spa and culinary products. Join us for the Salt Spring Lavender Festival, July 10th 2010. See our website for information and our online store!
SALT SPRING CHEESE COMPANY
DAVID WOOD
285 Reynolds Road
PH: 250-653-2300
FAX: 250-653-2308
EMAIL: wood@saltspring.com
Artisan sheep and goat cheeses. Self guided tours of Farm and Cheesery. Free tastings, Cheese Shop Cafe and beautiful courtyard for picnics.
SOLACE ORGANIC SPA
JULIE DOOBENEN
111 Saltair Lane
PH: 250-653-4688
EMAIL: relax@solaceorganicspa.com
WEB: www.solaceorganicspa.com
Pure and simple. We lend the raw ingredients necessary to give nourishment to your body, peace to your mind and balance to your being. Visit the spa’s shop, offering our handmade herbal teas, organic aromatherapy, body and skincare products using the finest botanicals of earth and sea.
STONERIDGE POTTERY
GARY CHERNEFF
520 Long Harbour Road
PH: 250-537-9252
The studio/gallery for Gary Cherneff, a master potter, is represented in collections in Japan, Australia, the United States and Canada. The gallery is currently exhibiting sculptural ceramics and functional pottery in stoneware, and terra cotta. Open 11 am to 5 pm Tuesday—Saturday, or by appointment.
SUNSET FARM
SANDY ROBLEY
1325 Sunset Drive
PH: 250-537-2082
EMAIL: sunsetfarm@saltspring.com
Come to the farm for lamb by the piece or box (government inspected), wool socks, comforters and knitting wool, sheepskin rugs, slippers and candles. Handmade and beautiful. Well worth the visit!
TWIN KEY CASTINGS
DAVE & DORAINE CARLSON
170 Grantville Street
PH: 250-537-5157
EMAIL: sales@twin-key.com
WEB: www.twin-key.com
Doraine and Dave have been involved in the creative arts community on Salt Spring for the past 28 years. Working with a variety of mediums, their castings include home decor items, Christmas ornaments, wall hangings, and a wide selection of garden statuary, many of which are based on local sea life. Cast in drystone, a natural medium made for high resolution artistic reproductions, each hand-painted piece combines a fine level of detail with an endless array of colour combinations.
ULRIEKE BENNER -
ART YOU WEAR
142 Richard Flack Road
PH: 250-537-1723
EMAIL: ulrieke@ulriekebenner.com
WEB: www.ulriekebenner.com
Rich, luscious wearable art in handmade felted and dyed silk fabrics. Come visit this unique work studio and experience exquisitely designed shawls, scarves, vests, jackets, straw or felt hats and jewelry. Fashion accessories in a whole spectrum of colours and styles that are featured in exclusive galleries internationally.