ARTSFEST 2022 couldn’t have gone better!
The weather was great and we had an outstanding turnout of participants and visitors for ARTSFEST 2022 held July 22 and 23 on The Muse grounds in downtown Kenora. The photos (see below) really tell the story of all that unfolded, thanks to the tireless efforts of our coordinators Aimee Baldwin and Everette Fournier, our organizing committee of Marylou Goodwin, Alex Stornel, Carolyne Lynch, Helena Devins, Susan Bulman and Leanne Fournier and all of our volunteers, community partners and wonderful participants. Special thanks to Lori Nelson and team from The Muse for being great hosts and partners, Steven Wolfe and company for sound/live streaming, and Matt Kennedy of UpRiver Media for video.
If you weren’t able to attend, the livestreams are also available on our Facebook page:
Friday: https://www.facebook.com/Lowac.Kenora/videos/1215660675925280
Saturday: https://www.facebook.com/Lowac.Kenora/videos/377876031042703
Sincere thanks also to the Waakebiness traditional drum and Elder Jeannette Skead of Wauzushk Onigum for the opening prayer to help us start the festival in a good way.
Many thanks to all of the volunteers and especially to the peer workers from Kenora Moving Forward – notably, Timmy and Steven – who helped in incredible ways!
A highlight for all of us also unfolded with the “Nish Deva Fashion Show”, which featured a collection by Evelyn Finlayson and independent artists showing off their own regalia. Special thanks to organizer Janine Seymour.
There were many other big moments for us. One was when the Here and Now Theatre Arts Collective got everyone – of all ages – up and dancing! It was a delightful reprieve for many. Other high points included hearing how people in the community had been longing for an opportunity like this to come together again, how so many loved the use of the space as an “arts hub”, and how we created a truly inclusive event that made everyone feel welcome (see more comments below).
What’s next?
The success of ARTSFEST 2022 is thanks to all of you but also a very small organizing committee and group of volunteers. If you would like to see ARTSFEST happen in 2023, please think about how you can help – either as part of the volunteer organizing committee, as a coordinator (if funds are available), as a volunteer, or a community partner. You can email lowacdirectors@gmail.com or fill out our volunteer form at https://forms.gle/svuoyYHn4fbuZ4to9.
We were also fortunate to receive significant funding, in the area of $77,500 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, as well as funds from the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation and Kenora Hospitality Alliance. Getting this kind of funding again, takes significant effort, and help is needed.
Perhaps ARTSFEST 2023 will be staged on a different scale but our goal is always to give our artists and community the opportunity to come together to experience, explore and perhaps discover something new!
We hope you’ll join us!
Watch for the video – coming soon!!
Survey says
We want to hear from you! While our team is taking a bit of a summer break, we’ll be sending out a survey soon to collect your feedback on events like ARTSFEST and the kind of programming you’d like to see from LOWAC in the future!
The pictures tell it all
The Nish Deva Fashion Show was a highlight
Winner of our 2022 Matiowksi Market raffle!
Our raffle, held during our three dates at the 2022 Matiowski Market succeeded in raising just under $500. These funds will go toward our scholarships, which we offer at Beaver Brae and St. Thomas Aquinas High Schools. The lucky winner is….Tara Devlin! It was Tara’s birthday when she picked up her prize and we’re sure she’ll enjoy all the wonderful prize items courtesy of our generous community parnters:
Elizabeth Wires / Midnight Loon Glass – Glass feathers
Holly Friesen / HAF Gallery – Pencil Case
Lou Goodwin – Art Tote & Art Cards
The Muse – Guest passes, Famous Female artist figurine
Geri Beveridge – Original Rug-Hook art piece
City of Kenora – Duffle bag, oven mitt, BBQ utensils, bubbles, travel cards/dice, beach ball, Kenora ball cap, towel, set of coasters, water bottle
Spirit Oak Tea Company – Loose Leaf tea and a travel mug
Wilson’s Business Solutions – 2 blank canvases, Liquid Acrylics kit, Paintbrushes, palette
The Black Oven – $100 gift certificate
Aimee Baldwin / Moon In June Studio – Set of tiny ceramic dishes, Private 1:1 Pottery Lesson
Irene McCuaig / Inglenook Studio – Art Cards
Alex Stornel – Hand knitted shawl
Congratulations Tara!
Great community art continues – Artists in the Park, Sioux Narrows
Saturday, September 10, 2022, 10 am to 3 pm
CALL FOR ARTISTS IS NOW OPEN
ARTIST REGISTRATION: $25 cash at the park day of
Rain Day Sunday, September 11th
A one-day artisan event in beautiful Sioux Narrows Provincial Park. Artists will be assigned their own campsite where they can set up their art to display and sell. The public will walk down an easy to follow 1.2 km route to visit each artist display.
To register and reserve a site, interested artists should email Sioux Narrows Provincial Park at: artistsintheparksiouxnarrows@gmail.com. We hope to see you in the park!
What people are saying about ARTSFEST 2022
“First of all, congratulations on a stellar ARTSFEST! I continue to hear glowing comments from folks who loved the event, loved the venue, were impressed with the organization of it all and are looking forward to the next one. Well, well done to you, Everette, Aimee, the committee members, the volunteers and all the artists that were involved. Thank you for including The Muse in the event. It was wonderful to see that space animated with activity and art and joy!”
Lorie Nelson, Director, The Muse
“Massive thanks to Leanne and Everette for their leadership this weekend. The vibe of the festival was so welcoming and relaxed and being present and truly a part of the event felt good. The fact that we were welcomed to share food with those who had just woken up nearby, and that the street community was given priority over the media to use that tent space on Saturday [with the threat of rain ] – huge.
The peers really enjoyed themselves, and for folks like Timmy, that area pretty much literally has been his home. So the fact that they could be stewards like that setting up, and taking down etc. and being at a table and a part of it, rather than displaced by it, I think is such a huge thing.
We had a table – full of art, with peers talking to folks – we did it!
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!”
Elauna Boutwell, Kenora Moving Forward
“I’d like to thank you for a job really well done!! This year’s Artsfest was a whopping success as far as I’m concerned. Well organized, great attention to detail and great support for the exhibitors and performers – you got us to where we needed to go, you helped us to get through the weekend, you provided an abundance of coffee, snacks and lunches. A great job all around by everyone. Special kudos go out to Everette, Aimee and Leanne (and the Tech guys) – despite some challenges (just a little rain) you pulled off a great success. Here’s hoping we can do it again next year.”
Thanks,🎶😎❤
Cecil Burns
“Thank you for a great first experience at the Arts Fest! You all put together a fantastic couple of days. Everything was so positive.”
Alicia Kejick
“Thank you for organizing such an awesome event. It was honour to be part of it! I was blown away with the size of the event and with how well organized everything was. On behalf of Enchante, thank you so much for selecting us to perform for this wonderful community event. You did an amazing JOB!!!”
In harmony,
Sheila Toderian
“Thank you to all of you for a job well done – many hours of hard work and dedication and you were always smiling through it all! Happy to be a part of it!”
Kelli Saunders, Health in a Cup
“A wonderful event. Kudos to all who participated!”
Susan Bulman
“I just wanted to congratulate the organizers of this year’s ArtsFest for putting together a successful well planned and well executed event.”
Ralph Rogers
Looks like an amazing variety of art ranging from dragon paintings, clay spinning wheels and fish printings.
The rainy weather was problem but I liked people gathering to enjoy the creativity.
Great to hear Charles. Hope to see you there next year!