Eva Antonel
Every year as I turn the calendar page
from May to June, I'm reminded to look up
the dates for Art in the Park. In deciding to
write about Art and Craft fairs in this issue of
Art Matters, I'm able to pencil it in earlier
than usual. The 6th, 7th and 8th of June have
been marked in red as fair warning to anyone
planning anything else, that I will not be
available, at least on one of those days.
It should be an unwritten rule that you
cannot call yourself a true Windsorite unless
you have attended at least one of these iconic
events. First held in 1970 in Willistead Park,
it has continued to attract thousands of
people eager to see original works of art and
various handcrafts displayed by hundreds of
artisans from across Ontario, Quebec and
Michigan. Of course, the artists are happy to
do more than showcase their work. Events
such as these make it possible for them to
continue practicing their craft and in many
cases provide them with a livelihood.
If art is the result of a compulsion for
creative self-expression, a walk through Art
in the Park, or any similar gathering of artists,
continually reminds me of the depth of
individual vision and ability. I have often said
that an artist sees a rock and sees possibility.
I see a rock and...I see a rock. That's the
fundamental difference between the artistic
mind and one that's...let's just say, one that
isn't. Whether it's rocks, pigments, cotton or
woolen fibers, twigs, glass or clay, the artistic
sensibility finds a way of turning that vision
into a unique object. Whether that object
delights us or not is again a matter of
individual taste. But when the magic
happens, and like-minded individuals meet
over the right piece, there is a spark of
recognition. In that instance, the object
becomes a conversation even though only one
Experience a gathering
of artists in our
community:
Art in the Park, June 6-8
Walkerville Art Walk and Rock,
July 4-6
Art by the River, August 23-24
W.A.V.E.S Windsor's Artists,
Visions, Energies and
Sculptures, September 26-27
has spoken. That is the moment you find
yourself pulling out your wallet and claiming
it as your own.
How many times have we felt that way
about a mass-produced trinket on a chain
store shelf? With the ever-progressing march
of globalization and deference to the bottom
line, it's becoming more and more important
to acknowledge and support any initiative
that recognizes the spark of creativity in our
culture. Failure to do so will mean the
eventual demise of the individual and the
entrepreneurial spirit that expresses that
individual vision. Let's face it, there seems to
be less and less room in our lives for the mom
and pop shops, independent restaurants and
private studios of artisans of past
generations. Some call it progress and vote
those entities out of business with every
dollar they spend at a discount chain store.
Others recognize the long-term implications
of our shopping habits and have been part of
the recent grassroots effort in encouraging
the birth and well being of small startups.
The return to local farms and home gardens,
farmers' markets, back-to-basics diners,
up-scale boutique restaurants and private
label studios gives us a glimpse of what used
to be the norm. It may not be possible or even
desirable to entirely go back in time but
surely there can be room in our lives for
individual flavour among the generic and
mass produced.
Luckily, Windsorites are blessed when it
comes to opportunities for experiencing and
supporting such initiatives. Many unique and
interesting businesses can be found tucked in
among international chain stores or
congregated in several neighbourhoods
throughout the city and county. Be on the
lookout for independent shops, art fairs and
other expressions of individuality and
creativity in your daily travels. Stop in,
browse, chat up the proprietor and encourage
the enterprise with your hard earned money.
You may discover the taste of homegrown
produce, slow cooked flavour, a unique
rendering of your daily landscape, a different
way of accomplishing your mundane tasks or
just making the everyday more beautiful. Isn't
that worth the extra dollar or two you could
have saved by driving over to Walmart?
Tell us on Facebook how you experienced local art this month,
or tweet us @thehubWE #artmatters
June 2014 - The HUB 9