Written by Patricia MacDonald
The Guelph Studio Tour, now in its 39th year, is fast approaching. Each year since its inception, the event has taken place on the weekend after Thanksgiving and this year those dates are Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20. Over the years this annual event has provided a platform for painters, photographers, jewellers, printmakers, glass, fibre and textile artists, potters, wood workers, sculptors, and mixed media artists to display and sell their work to the ‘Guelph and beyond’ community. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the public to meet this diverse group of professional artists in their studios, see their work and ask questions about how and why they create what they do.
The event began in 1986 when a small group of artists – Sharyn Seibert, Eve Geisler, Goldie Sherman and Melanie Collum – commiserating over the absence of any local galleries in which to display their work, decided to adapt the experience of a ‘Craft Market’ (started by Sharyn in Thunder Bay when she lived there) and develop a walking tour of downtown art studios in instead. Sixteen artists participated that first year and since then, the juried membership has grown and the location of studios has expanded to all parts of Guelph.
Over the years the membership has changed – new members have joined, some have left and sadly some have passed away. There are currently 42 GST members, including the founders Sharyn, Eve and Goldie. This popular event has flourished over the years, not only because of the talented membership, but also because of the support and appreciation of the Guelph community – and our sponsors – who this year are Art Gallery of Guelph, Real Estate Broker Christianne Child, Guelph Museums, Meadowville Garden Centre, Red Brick Café, Triangle Sewing Centre, Wyndham Art Supplies, and Artworks Gallery Guelph. We the artists, look forward to opening our studio doors once again and connecting our art with our community. To see who we are and what we create please visit the Guelph Studio Tour website our website https://www.guelphstudiotour.ca/tourmap/ and follow us on Instagram to find out more. The Tour is self-guided using our 2024 brochure map which you can find and download from the website. A sample (below) of the what we create is currently on display at the Red Brick Café on Douglas St. See you on the Tour!
