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101
Spr ing 2012
Escarpment Magaz ine
Eighteen
years ago, The Owen Sound Artists’ Co-op was created
out of a need to give local artisans a place to display and sell their
wares. The idea of a store dedicated to selling local works of art, started
a few years before when the Grey/Bruce Arts Council opened Harle-
quin, The Art Store. When the Arts Council folded, the artists involved
with Harlequin decided it was time to form their own co-operative. On
September 20
th
, 1994 the Owen Sound Artists’ Co-op opened their
doors for the first time at Heritage Place Shopping Centre.
The artists themselves now had control of the operation, finances, display
and promotion of their wares and the store. Since that time, the potters,
painters, jewelers, woodturners, photographers and other craftspeople
at the Co-op have strived to create the highest level of hand made orig-
inals for their customers. After changing locations a number of times over
the last 18 years, the members have settled into their present shop at
279 10
th
Street East since 2001. In the last couple of years they have
expanded the shop to include the Legacy Gallery, where they display
special projects or students’ work. The group has always tried to involve
the community by holding special exhibitions, and the Legacy Gallery
is the perfect venue for displaying these unique shows.
Throughout the month of April, the Co-op will be involved with another
special initiative. Since this year marks the 100
th
anniversary of Tom
Thomson’s first visit to Algonquin Park, a number of organizations from
both Owen Sound and Huntsville have taken this special moment in
Canadian art to celebrate in their own way. The Owen Sound Artists’
Co-op has decided to mark the event with an exhibition in the Legacy
Gallery entitled, Tom Visits Algonquin. Each member was invited to cre-
ate a piece that interprets this theme using their own medium and in their
own way. The exhibition will be on display for the entire month of April.
A grand opening reception will take place on April 14
th
from 3:00 to
5:00 p.m. You can find out more about the Owen Sound Artists’ Co-op
and this exhibition at:
Throughout the summer and fall look for more Tom Thomson at Algo-
nquin events, such as the Tom Thomson Art Gallery’s Bus Trip to Algo-
nquin Park on September 25
th
to 27
th
. There is also an arts festival
planned as well as a walk or bike ride along the route that Tom took
from Leith to Owen Sound, when he was a boy. If you want more infor-
mation about these events contact Leanne Wright, Marketing and De-
velopment Assistant at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery.
Leanne can be reached at 519-376-1932, extension 231 or
email
|E|
Springtime fun
in Owen Sound