Organizers, participants and volunteers couldn’t be happier with the success of ARTSFEST 2023, staged Saturday, July 15, in downtown Kenora. The grounds of The Muse – the Lake of the Woods Museum and Douglas Family Art Centre – came alive with a spectacular array of live performances, artist exhibits and demonstrations and the tremendously popular KidZone. ArtsFest is the flagship event of the Lake of the Woods Arts Community (LOWAC).
Busy facepainting crew
This amazing video by Matt Kennedy of Upriver Media Inc. captures the warmth, creativity, diversity, and fun!
MAIN STAGE
9 a.m. Opening remarks: ArtsFest Coordinator Shauna DeGagné and ArtsFest MC Daniela Tsentouros
10 a.m. Opening prayer with Elder Jeanette Skead of Wauzhushk Onigum and Waubshkih gaubaawiik drum and singers
11 a.m. Harpist and singer Olivia Whiddon
12:15 p.m. Jada’s Children’s Music and Books
1:30 p.m. Musician Ted O’Flaherty
2 p.m. Nish Deva fashion show
2:45 The Sunday Mornings
*In the Art Centre studio: Let’s Write! A Writing Workshop for All from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. by Elsie Neufeld, hosted by Kenora Writer’s Group. Readings by local authors from 11 to 12 pm.
Main Stage talent sponsored in part by:
FINE ARTS & CRAFT MARKET & ARTIST DEMO’s
A diverse mix of visual and literary artists gave visitors of all ages the opportunity to experience art in a variety of forms. There was art for sale and many of the artists offered free demonstrations and hands-on opportunities to create art throughout the day!
Aimee Baldwin • Pottery and Ceramics
Rebecca Beatty • Pottery
Jacinda Brisson • Painting on Canvass and Wood, Wooden Jewelry
Jena Brisson • Beaded Jewelry, Accessories, Art Pieces
Gina Clark • Acrylic/Mixed Media Abstract Painting
Evelyn Finlayson • Painting, Beading, Fashion
Rudy Gruenke • Visual/Ink
Heather Gropp • Fused Glass
Pippi Johnson • Visual Arts
Alicia Kejick • Painting, Art Prints
Kenora Moving Forward • Paintings, Drawing
Kenora Writers’ Group • Writing/Writing Workshop
Lauren Lucas • Painting, Sculpting, Stickers, Tattoos, Magnets
Irene McCuaig, Inglenook Studio • Visual Arts
Trish O’Sullivan • Visual, Landscape
Joy Parsons • Visual/Painting
Fredrick Ross • Painting, Writing
Shannon Stack-Lucas • Jewelry, Upcycled Hats
Tersoo Tsevende • Watercolour/Ink Drawings, Digital Art
KIDZONE
Our lively, interactive KidZone put the focus on creativity and fun! Children and youth created on their own or followed along with some fun guided activities. The group of young volunteers were vital to its success as were artists like Vic Moss, Aimee Baldwin and Susan Bulman who offered guided activities throughout the day, including Nature, bugs, and butterflies: making art with nature, an Interactive pottery workshop and experimenting with water colour!
Many thanks to our KidZone sponsor
Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation
also designated a portion of funds to KidZone.
Volunteers all receive a spiffy ArtsFest 2023 t-shirt thanks
to the generous support of
We were thrilled to have the opportunity to share the beautiful paddles from Dip, Dip and Swing, an earlier community art project. A number of paddles were awarded through our donor raffle and many others purchased by attendees. Note that one paddle (third from left in the photo) was left behind so email lowacdirectors@gmail.com if it’s yours!
Event Coordinator
Our event coordinator, Shauna DeGagné (she/her) has done an incredible job leading planning for ArtsFest 2023. Shauna can be reached at lowaccoordinator@gmail.com.
ArtsFest is presented in partnership with
Our Funders
ArtsFest would not be possible without the generous support of our funders:
In addition to our t-shirt, main stage and KidZone sponsors, we’d like to thank these supporters:
