Explore the Hills of Headwaters

Fire & Ice 2012

Snow has arrived, and the stage is set for the 3^rd annual Fire & Ice festival at the Alton Mill Arts Centre on Saturday, Jan. 21 and Sunday Jan. 22, 2012.

Festival favourites such as ice skating on the Millpond, bonfires and igloos will be complemented by exciting new features this year, including our Win a Diamond Ring contest. We  challenge participants to show us some of their "fire" to win a substantial chunk of "ice": a Taköhl diamond Treasure Ring, retail value $3,975, generously donated by Gallery Gemma. The contest rules are simple: tell us in 100 words or less why a loved one should win the ring and what you would have inscribed on it. The contest is open now, and  Entry Forms are available at Gallery Gemma Jewellery in the Alton Mill, or at www.altonmill.ca . Submissions may be dropped off in Orangeville at The Banner offices, 37 Mill St. (media sponsors for Fire & Ice), or at Gallery Gemma. Contest closes at 5 pm on Sunday, January 22.

For festival goers,  the addition of new indoor and outdoor activities make 2012 the busiest Fire & Ice to date! In the Livery, the Country Forge blacksmith, the Mill's newest tenant, hosts workshops and demonstrations throughout the weekend, perfect for young and old alike. In the Annex Courtyard, Shaw's Creek Café is serving up irresistible treats at a S'moregasbord, while guests can watch ice sculptor Jim Menken  at work, or sharpen their skills at the snowball target contest. Meanwhile potter Ann Randeraad demonstrates the art of raku in an outdoor kiln in our Waterfall Courtyard.

Inside the Mill, studio artists have workshops and demos that will warm body and soul. Offerings include the chance to "give it a whirl" at The Hive's encaustic workshop, create nature-themed mandalas with CJ Shelton, or view demonstrations of weaving, watercolour techniques or silk painting. Details at www.altonmill.ca

Things really heat up Saturday evening when Acoustic Traditions presents an East Coast Kitchen Party with The Mainlanders.  Doors open at 7:30 pm.  Cash bar and appetizers by David's Restaurant of Erin.  Tickets $15 at Acoustic Traditions, 510 Riddell Rd, Orangeville, or at the door.
Whether you fancy Fire or Ice, there is plenty to ignite the imagination and cool the senses at the Alton Mill's Fire & Ice Festival.

Humber River Shakespeare Company Presents A Christmas Carol at the Alton Mill Arts Center

Back by popular demand, the Humber River Shakespear Company Presents - Dickens' A Christmas Carol - at the Alton Mill.

Bring the whole family out to see this poignant and classic tale told by 5 actors playing 23 characters in Victorian costumes designed by award winning Nina Okens.  Featuring Kevin Hammond, Mark Huisman, Sarah Moyle, Claire Frances Muir and Christopher Kelk as Ebeneezer Scrooge.

What began as a staged reading has evolved into a full scale production, with new treasures in our Victorian trunk each season. A heart-warming event for Tiny Tims and Scrooges alike that is not to be missed!  This Production sells out each year so get you tickets today.

For more information or for reserved seating, please contact The Humber River Shakespeare Company  at 419-209-2026 or by e-mailing to info@humberrivershakespeare.ca.

Tickets are $15/ adult or $10/child

Professional Holiday Portraits with the Grinch

Back by Popular Demand, have your Professional Holiday Portraits taken with the Grinch. He is a foul tempered creature who lives at the Peak of Mount Crumpit who hates Christmas... almost as much as he hates the residents of Whoville.  He has been known to steal Christmas from the Who's by steal everything Christmassy from the town at the base of his mountain.

Where: Alton Mill Art Centre - in the Pond Gallery
When: Saturday Dec. 17 & Sunday Dec. 18, 12-4pm
Who: All are welcome.
Cost: Packages starting as low as $10.

Holiday Open House Thursday evening, find special hand-made gifts and support Family Transition Place.

The Artists of the Alton Mill invite you to an Open House for a great cause!

Studios and galleries will be open for holiday shopping! Bid at our special silent auction to support Family Transition Place. Festive treats & Cash Bar!

Meet Renowned Wildlife Artist George McLean Sunday Oct. 2

The Headwaters Arts Festival is hosting a talk by renowned wildlife painter George McLean on Sunday Oct. 2 at 2:00 pm in the Pond Gallery at the Alton Mill. Please join us to hear McLean share his journey from humble beginnings to acclaimed illustrator and artist. Tickets $20 + HST (HA members) and $25 + HST (non-members) - all proceeds to support Headwaters Arts.

Crimson Feather Gallery Opens at the Alton Mill

Local photographer Craig Bell and painter Elaine Heath have opened the Crimson Feather Gallery at the Alton Mill. The gallery will feature monthy exhibitons of their own work plus works by guest artists. In addition Crimson Feather offers a changing selection of fine crafts including pottery and glass.

For information on their current show, go to http://altonmill.ca/visit/directory/crimson_feather_gallery/

TIME FRAME Juried Art Show & Sale | May 28 to July 10, 2011

The Alton Mill Gallery in partnership with Heritage Caledon presents TIME FRAME, a juried show and sale celebrating Ontario's cultural and natural heritage through art. More than 90 works by some 50 artists are featured in the main-floor Gallery and the lower-level Millrace Room from May 28 to July 10.

A concurrent exhibition of heritage-themed works by students in the fine arts program at Mayfield Secondary School is on display in the Pond Gallery from June 2-16, along with projects from Alton Public School.

Opening reception and awards presentation at the Alton Mill on Thursday June 2 from 6 to 8 pm.

Alton Mill | Creative Arts Centre
1402 Queen Street West, Alton
519-941-9300

For more details and events: www.altonmill.ca

UP NORTH: Variations on the Muskoka Landscape

The Alton Mill Gallery presents UP NORTH, an exhibition of stunning landscape paintings that lovingly capture the trees, waters and winds of the Canadian North. Although Jamie MacLean and Mike Walchuk both live in Toronto, their work explores the rugged, natural beauty of Muskoka. Whether it's the play of wind in the pines or a ripple of waves lapping a craggy shoreline, these exciting paintings satisfy a hidden part of our national psyche.

Jamie MacLean depicts the movement of the wind and a sometimes brooding landscape in his lively oils.  His canvases, with their crisp colours and quick brushstrokes, depict the strong rocks and trees of the Canadian Shield. There is a vitality and movement in his style. And it is this idea of motion that motivates his painting.

Mike Walchuk focuses primarily on the serene shapes, patterns and textures he finds in the Georgian Bay landscape. His oils contemplate a moment in time, often a spectacular evening sky, or a mist-shrouded cove in the early morning. Although bathed in stillness, his work stirs the emotions and holds us captive in its aching beauty. It invites the viewer to share an intimate moment with the stark silhouettes of windswept pines and raw granite.

Both of these artists pay close attention to small details, with a constant commitment to form and composition. Their paintings uncrate summer and encourage us to take a dip, and revel in the profound beauty of Muskoka. The exhibition continues tthrough Monday, May 23.

ALTON MILL GALLERY
1402 Queen St - Alton Village, Caledon ON - L7K 0C3
T 519.941.9300 - www.altonmill.ca

SPRING THAW - Spring is in the air at Alton Mill Gallery

March 9 – April 10, 2011
Reception, with artists in attendance, Saturday April 2, 1-4 pm

Caledon, Ontario -- The Alton Mill Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of paintings by two exciting artists from the Caledon area. Their work explores the world around us by examining both domestic and natural environments. With exuberant brush strokes and vivid colours, Gilmore and Weber usher in the Spring season with a focus on flowers.

Gilmore's lively bouquets reference still-life compositions, often incorporating mid-century household furnishings into her studies. Yet her intensely saturated colours and broad brush techniques give a movement and vibrancy to the paintings that set them apart from realist work.

Weber is primarily interested in the abstract shapes, patterns, textures and movement she finds in nature wherever she is. Her acrylics are both whimsical and vibrant, and sometimes include elements of land and sky in the flourishes of colour that celebrate her garden. She paints to capture something beautiful, and as she does so, her work becomes encoded with a joie de vivre: a sense of wonder and fascination in the natural world and the riot of colour within it.

Both of these artists show compassion and care in the creation of their work, paying close attention to small details, with a constant commitment to form and composition. Yet, their paintings refuse to succumb to the rigid order of everyday life. Instead, the colours and exuberance of the exhibition invite us into the space, and reveal moments of lyric beauty. The paintings speak of regeneration and rebirth, and offer a winter-weary audience renewed energy and joy.

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The Gallery is located  in the historic Alton Mill Arts Centre in the heart of Caledon.  A magnificent limestone structure built in 1881 as the Beaver Knitting Mill and renovated in 2009, it is an extraordinary space featuring galleries, unique shops, artist studios, a café, and heritage museum.  This national-award-winning building is “a jewel in the crown” of the GTA's art scene, and also makes a perfect venue for private events.

ALTON MILL GALLERY
1402 Queen St - Alton Village, Caledon ON - L7K 0C3
T 519.941.9300 -  www.altonmill.ca

Contact: Meg Floyd
meg@altonmill.ca

The Alton Mill presents a classic holiday production of A Christmas Carol on Sunday, December 19th

On Sunday Dec 19th at 2 pm the Humber River Shakespeare Company returns to the Alton Mill to present the Dickens’ holiday classic, A Christmas Carol. Gather with friends and family as five professional actors bring the timeless tale of greed, ghosts, and salvation to life.

With Victorian costumes designed by multiple Dora award nominee, Nina Okens, and an antique trunk of story-telling treasures, the actors bring you from Scrooge’s cold bedroom, to Fezziwig’s joyful party, the Cratchit’s meager table, and to the brightness of a Christmas morning fresh with snow. A heart-warming event for Tiny Tims and Scrooges alike!

Online tickets available in advance for guaranteed seating at www.humberrivershakespeare.ca
Remaining seats available on the day of the event for
Pay-What-You-Can. (Suggested Donation $15)
For more info visit  www.humberrivershakespeare.ca
or call 416-209-2026

'Twas the Art Before Christmas at the Alton Mill

‘Twas the Art Before Christmas at the Alton Mill
November 13, 2010 to January 2, 2011
Gallery Openings November 13 & 14
Open Studios & Special Events November 27 & 28
Dickens' A Christmas Carol Sunday December 19

A seasonal celebration of artistic talent! One-of-a-kind art, fine crafts, jewellery and Fair Trade products throughout the holiday season.

Twas the Art Before Christmas Group Exhibition in the Headwaters Arts Dam Gallery featuring best selling works by local emerging and award-winning artists. Nov. 12 to January 9.

Best of the Season in the Alton Mill Gallery. Featuring giftable works of arts and fine crafts by a selection of artists who have shown their work in the gallery over the past year and a half. Nov. 13 to January 9.

On the weekend of November 27 & 28, please join us for receptions in our open studios, have the kids photographed with the Grinch, assist with Aids in Africa by buying a Bracelet of Hope, and find that special hand-crafted gift or work of art for your loved ones.

On Sunday Dec 19th at 2 pm the Humber River Shakespeare Company returns to the Alton Mill to present the Dickens’ holiday classic, A Christmas Carol. Gather with friends and family as five professional actors bring the timeless tale of greed, ghosts, and salvation to life.

With Victorian costumes designed by multiple Dora award nominee, Nina Okens, and an antique trunk of story-telling treasures, the actors bring you from Scrooge’s cold bedroom, to Fezziwig’s joyful party, the Cratchit’s meager table, and to the brightness of a Christmas morning fresh with snow. A heart-warming event for Tiny Tims and Scrooges alike!

Soup's on for EMPTY BOWLS at the Alton Mill

Soup’s On for EMPTY BOWLS at the Alton Mill
Saturday, October 23rd, 2010

Alton Mill’s tenant potter, Ann Randeraad is producing lots of bowls these days… in preparation for Empty Bowls on Saturday, October 23rd.  
 
Ann and a small group of potters will be busy throwing, trimming and firing these bowls, all for a real purpose!  Their efforts are centred on the image of empty bowls, suggesting empty stomachs.  Raising money for local foods banks is the objective.
 
At the Alton Mill’s Empty Bowls, guests will purchase the bowl of their choosing and a hearty meal of soup and fresh bread, all for $35.  Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy the Alton Mill, with its picturesque setting and it’s diversified artists’ studios and retail galleries. While filling their bowls, guests will be helping to fill the bowls of those less fortunate.
 
Empty Bowls is a North American program. Started in 1990, it was expected to be a one-time event to draw attention to, and raise funds for, the hungry.  The idea took off, and Empty Bowls now raises millions of dollars to fight hunger each year.
 
Participating potters create and donate these functional art pieces.  The meal’s sponsors (local restaurants and eateries) provide the food. When the meal is complete each guest may take home their bowl as a gentle reminder of those who go hungry, even in their own neighbourhoods.
 
The goal of Empty Bowls is to fill empty stomachs, one ladle at a time, but in the process to have some fund and break bread together, during the “giving thanks” season.
 
Tickets for Empty Bowls, a fundraising event to benefit local food banks in Orangeville & Caledon, are $35 each and are available at the Alton Mill Gallery, with all money raised going directly towards local food banks.
 
Empty Bowls takes place in the Alton Mill Creative Arts Centre on Saturday October 23rd, with luncheon service from 11:30am to 2:00pm and dinner service from 3:30pm to 5:00 pm.
 
For further information please contact 519-941-9300 or www.altonmill.ca

Sonja Mortimer at the Alton Mill Gallery

The Alton Mill is pleased to announce the opening of a solo exhibition featuring the work of Headwaters artist, Sonja Mortimer.  Summer Sojourn will run Wednesday, August 11 through September 12, 2010. The artist will be in attendance on the first Sunday of the show, August 15, from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

Please join us at the Alton Mill Gallery to celebrate this exciting mixed-media showcase by an artist best known for her lively collages that echo the Bento boxes of Japan. Using a variety of Washi paper, gold leaf, acrylics and assorted natural and man-made fibres, the collages reflect Mortimer's continuing fascination with texture, colour and spatial organization.

But the artist's talents and body of work span various media. As a painter,  Mortimer derives her greatest delight from exploring structure and ordered spaces. “The subject matter of my art is essentially landscape reinterpreted, altered or transformed,” she says.

Mortimer's work continually evolves. A graduate of the Ontario College of Art and of the Fine Art Program at York University, she started her artistic journey painting watercolours. She then moved to ceramic relief sculptures and later to porcelain jewellery. But recently she has returned to painting, although it now translates into acrylic mixed media, and most recently encaustic works.

In Summer Sojourn Mortimer shares a body of works that have grown increasingly layered in materials and meaning – composites of symbolism and various media folded into one another and “grounded in a fascination with structure and ordered spaces, whether natural or man-made.”

Summer Sojourn juxtaposes acrylics, mixed-media collages and encaustic paintings, demonstrating the breadth of Mortimer's artistic skill, while her diverse subject matter adds complexity and nuance to the exhibition.  In featuring pieces such as “A Quiet Place,” “Serenity Edge” and “In the Hills - Summer”  alongside “Willows” and “Florentine,” this exhibition extends Mortimer's characteristic investigation of landscape to an exploration of culture and constructs that influence human interaction with that landscape.

Summer Sojourn is a collection of work both powerful and ethereal, offered by an artist whose creations invite us to linger if only for a brief moment of reflection.

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The historic Alton Mill in the village of Alton, Ontario was built in 1881 by William Algie and operated as the Beaver Knitting Mill. It has recently been lovingly rehabilitated by the Seaton Group, into an arts and heritage centre. The beautiful stone mill now houses art studios and galleries, offices for creative professionals, specialty retail, event spaces, a café and an industrial heritage exhibit. Located in the heart of the Caledon hills just south of Orangeville, it is less than an hour northwest of Toronto.

Alton Mill Gallery: 1402 Queen St., Alton ON

519-941-9300 // www.altonmill.ca // open Wed-Sun 10 am -5 pm

ART A LA CAR

Six unique co-op Galleries in proximity to each other, join forces to form a delightful day trip of approximately 100 km for art lovers, or take more time and break it up into several day trips . These Galleries  are Dragonfly Arts on Broadway (Orangeville) Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre (Glen Williams) Alton Mill, (Caledon), Beaux-Arts Gallery (Brampton), Wellington Artists’ Gallery and Art Centre (Fergus) and Elora Centre for the Arts (Elora).

In these six galleries one will find the works of hundreds of local artists, some actually working at their craft in in-house studios.  All different kinds of delightful pieces in various media will be discovered. There is something for every visitor. Just enjoy the viewing or discover the perfect piece for that difficult wall in your house or a gift for that special person.

In proximity to every gallery are great restaurants whether it be for a light lunch or an elegant dinner.  Just ask the artists at the galleries for brochures of the area or their personal favourite eating places.  Take time to savour the whole package, the art, the scenery, the hospitality and the food. Visit Google Maps for our preferred scenic route or make your own route as you plan your ‘Art à la car’ experience.    

Alton Mill receives Ontario Heritage Trust Award

Alton Mill receives Ontario Heritage Trust Award

For immediate release – 30 June 2010
 
On June 29th, 2010, Heritage Caledon presented to Jordan and Jeremy Grant the 2009 Ontario Heritage Trust's Heritage Community Recognition Award for the successful rehabilitation and adaptive re-use on the Alton Mill.
 
The nomination for the award was submitted by Heritage Caledon and approved from amongst numerous nominees by the Ontario Heritage Trust, an agency of the Government of Ontario. Signed by the Trust's chairman, the honourable Lincoln Alexander, the award certificates and pins were presented by Caledon's Mayor Marolyn Morrison, at the Heritage Caledon's 7th annual Heritage Soiree, held at the circa 1862 Salem United Church.

The Alton Mill, which is both provincially designated and on the National Register of Historic places was also a recipient in 2009 of Heritage Canada Foundation's National Achievement award for adaptive reuse.
The building, which has been converted into a creative arts centre also houses an industrial heritage exhibit curated by Peel Heritage.
 
Visitors are encouraged to explore the history of the Alton Mill during Doors Open in the Hills of Headwaters on Saturday, July 10th
The Alton Mill is participating in Doors Open in the Hills of Headwaters on Saturday July 10, with guided tours ever hour, providing an ideal opportunity for heritage buffs to learn the inside story of this spectacular restoration project. The Alton Mill's artists and guest artists will also be painting the building and the grounds en plein air that day – a perfect way for art lovers to see the creative process at work and purchase an original work of art inspired by a national historic site.


 The Alton Mill in the village of Alton, Ontario was built in 1881. It has recently been rehabilitated by the Seaton Group into an arts and heritage centre. The beautiful stone mill now houses art studios and galleries, offices for creative professionals, specialty retail, event spaces, a café and an industrial heritage exhibit. Located in the Caledon hills just south of Orangeville, it is a scenic 45-minute drive northwest of Toronto.
 
Alton Mill Gallery
519-941-9300
Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm
 
www.altonmill.ca

CUISINE-ART at the Alton Mill

CUISINE-ART

Food & Art – what a glorious combination!

July 17^th & 18^th, 2010

Alton Mill | Vibrant Arts Experience

CUISINE-ART, a celebration of food & art, takes place at the Alton Mill on Saturday, July 17^th and Sunday, July 18^th and showcases the artistry of over 40 talented and unique artists:  visual artists, performing artists & culinary artists. 

On both Saturday and Sunday, experience an Art Slam presented by the artists of the Alton Mill, featuring one subject, ten artists, two hours and of course, a food theme! Watch the paint fly, and when the works are complete, choose your favourite to take home with you. All completed works will be available for sale during the course of the weekend!

Discover the artistry of the barbecue during culinary and BBQ demonstrations featuring award-winning local chefs at 11am, 1pm and 3pm daily. Learn some tricks of the trade from chefs from Shaw’s Creek Café, What’s Cookin’, The Millcroft Inn & Spa, Soulyve and more.

Back by popular demand, take part in our Toonie Tastings and enjoy delicious food and wine samplings, for just $2!  Fresh organic produce and local market offerings, as well as a cash bar featuring selections from Wellington Brewery and Churchill Cellars will be available throughout the weekend.

Join naturopath Linda Kennedy for the “Health Benefits of Everyday Foods, Herbs & Spices”, and take part in small group workshops that include food samplings ($10 per person; 10:30am, 11:30 am, 1:30pm and 2:30pm daily; maximum 8 participants per session).

Make it a full day with a stroll along the Riverside Trail that crosses the property, connecting the Waterfall Courtyard and Millpond to the historic Village of Alton, visit the waterfall viewing platform that overlooks the waterfall and Shaw’s Creek, enjoy the Turbine Room Heritage Exhibit, and discover the historic Bailey Bridge that  crosses Shaw’s Creek and offers spectacular views of the river and waterfall.

As the sun sets on the culinary artistry of Saturday, pull up a chair for a live 7:00 pm outdoor performance of Taming of the Shrew by the Humber River Shakespeare Company, in the Alton Mill’s historic courtyard.  Bring your own lawn chair or rent one for the evening for just $5.  Admission is free, with donations to the theatre company hoped for.

Experience everything spring has to offer at the Alton Mill, a vibrant arts experience, located in the Caledon Hills, a scenic 45-minute drive northwest of Toronto and just south of Orangeville, Ontario.

Cuisine-Art 2010 Schedule of Events

For further information please contact 519-941-9300 or www.altonmill.ca

May 27 to July 4: HOME GROUND an exhibition of works by Diana Hillman, Susan Powell, Pamela Purves, Hugh Russel and Ian Sinclair at the Alton Mill Gallery

HOME GROUND

Featuring paintings, photographs, sculptures and rustic furniture by Diana Hillman, Susan Powell, Pamela Purves, Hugh Russel and Ian Sinclair

at the Alton Mill Gallery

May 27^th to July 4^th, 210

The Alton Mill is pleased to announce an exhibition of works by Diana Hillman, Susan Powell, Pamela Purves, Hugh Russel and Ian Sinclair, five Caledon area artists. HOME GROUND OPENS Thursday, May 27^th and continues through Sunday, July 4^th, 2010. The artists will be in attendance at an opening reception on Saturday, May 29^th from 1pm to 4pm.

Home Ground is often defined as an area of special strength or competence. To the artists that make up TAG, Home Ground also refers to the places dear to their hearts. TAG (The Art Group) was formed earlier this year by these five artists who have shown together for the past few years. Their common ground is a commitment to excellence, a respect for traditional skills, and an interest in exploring new takes on old artistic media. All five also call the Hills of Headwaters and the Niagara Escarpment home.

A little bit about their work:

Ian Sinclair’s hand-crafted rustic furniture is made of locally-sourced, found wood and takes the Adirondack tradition to new levels of creativity.

Sculptor Hugh Russel, well known for his limited edition bronzes, is creating a selection of unique abstract wood pieces as well for this show.

Photographer Pamela Purves turns her discerning lens on landscapes, structures and interiors around the globe, capturing atmospheric and evocative images.

Susan Powell’s pure watercolour paintings reflect her passion for the landscape, whether observed in her travels around Ontario, or inspired by her trips to the tropics.

Diana Hillman is fascinated by cars, roads and bridges, and while she does paint traditional landscapes and other subjects, many of her recent oil paintings are based on scenes observed from her car.

“Being at the Alton Mill this spring during the Jazz Festival is very exciting for us” says Susan Powell. “It’s such a wonderful space to show our new work”.

“Putting our paintings and Pam’s photography with Ian’s furniture and Hugh’s sculpture works just brilliantly” observes Diana Hillman. “It makes it so easy to imagine what the art will look like at home”.

Please joint the artists at the opening celebration of Home Ground on Saturday, May 29^th from 1pm to 4pm at the Alton Mill Gallery.

The Alton Mill in the village of Alton, Ontario was built in 1881. It has recently been rehabilitated by the Seaton Group into an arts and heritage centre. The beautiful stone mill now houses art studios and galleries, offices for creative professionals, specialty retail, event spaces, a café and an industrial heritage exhibit. Located in the Caledon hills just south of Orangeville, it is a scenic 45-minute drive northwest of Toronto.

Experience SPRING AWAKENINGS at the Alton Mill - May 1st & 2nd

Experience SPRING AWAKENINGS
May 1st & 2nd, 2010
Alton Mill | Vibrant Arts Experience

Spring is a time for renewal -- a time to emerge from our winter hibernation with a renewed sense of energy and purpose. Nowhere is this renewal more evident than at the historic Alton Mill in the rolling Hills of Headwaters.

SPRING AWAKENINGS, a celebration of art and gardens, takes place at the Alton Mill on Saturday, May 1st and Sunday, May 2nd and is the living embodiment of spring renewal – both in the physical sense and in the creative energies that imbue this mill as a vibrant arts experience! Artists will be celebrating spring throughout the weekend with inspired art shows, sales and demonstrations.

Experience an Art Slam, featuring one subject, ten artists, two hours (11:30 am to 1:30 pm daily), watch the paint fly, and then bid on one of the original creations at the silent auction of completed works. Or walk away with a hand painted clay pot or planter, as each of the resident studio artists will be creating one-of-a-kind original pots that will be on sale throughout the weekend – just in time for Mother’s Day!

Throughout the weekend the Alton Mill will showcase an art show & sale featuring the works of Alton Mill artists, a spring flower sale courtesy of Orangeville Flowers, an exhibit of works by the Kame and Kettle art collective in the Pond Gallery, and demonstrations of encaustic paintings at 1:00 pm each day in the Alton Mill Gallery.

Visitors to the Mill are also encouraged to take a free belly dancing lesson or watch a Pilates demonstration in the new 2bfitt fitness studio, savour afternoon tea and goodies served by Shaw’s Creek Café, stroll the Riverside Trail that crosses the property, connecting the Waterfall Courtyard and Millpond to the historic Village of Alton, to visit the waterfall viewing platform that overlooks the waterfall and Shaw’s Creek, enjoy the Turbine Room Heritage Exhibit, and discover the historic Bailey Bridge that crosses Shaw’s Creek and offers spectacular views of the river and waterfall.

Join us for a celebration of Spring Awakenings, and take part in a variety of activities throughout the weekend. Spring Awakenings take place on Saturday, May 1st and Sunday, May 2nd, from 10am to 5pm daily.

Experience everything spring has to offer at the Alton Mill, a vibrant arts experience, located in the Caledon Hills, a scenic 45-minute drive northwest of Toronto and just south of Orangeville, Ontario.

For further information please contact 519-941-9300 or www.altonmill.ca

The Alton Mill Gallery presents PROJECT MELTDOWN - April 17th to May 24th

The Alton Mill Gallery is pleaed to announce the opening of an exhibition of works by Andrea Bird, David Brown and Tanya Kirouac, three Ontario encaustic painters. PROJECT MELTDOWN opens Saturday, April 17th and continues through Monday, May 24th, 2010. The artists will be in attendance at a reception on Sunday, April 18th from 1pm to 4pm.

PROJECT MELTDOWN includes a variety of painting styles, from Tanya Kirouac's ethereal landscapes and floral work, to Andrea Bird's layered quilt-like pieces and David Brown's abstracts.

What is encaustic painting? Encaustic is an ancient art from and was practised by artists as far back as the 5th century BC. The word "encaustic" comes from Greek and means "to burn in", which refers to the process of fusing the paint.

Encaustic has a long history, but this luscious medium is as versatile as any 20th-century medium. Brushes are used to apply and shape the wax before it cools. Then it can be polished to a high gloss; it can be modelled, sculpted, textured, and combned with collage materials. The wax cools immediately so that there is no drying time, yet it can always be reworked.

The artists will be in the Alton Mill Gallery demonstrating their techniques on Saturday, May 1st and Sunday, May 2nd starting at 1pm each day.

PROJECT MELTDOWN offers a display of paitnings both delightful and moving. The power of an image lies in the emotions it evokes. Come explore this encaustic work, and witness how these three artists explore the possibilities of their medium.

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CELTIC FEST AT THE ALTON MILL - March 20, 2010

CELTIC FEST AT THE ALTON MILL

Celebrating the richness and diversity of Celtic culture, the Southern Ontario Dulcimer Association (SODA) is pleased to announce a Celtic Fest to be held on Saturday, March 20th, 2010 at the Alton Mill, Town of Caledon. Organized by the group's bodhran player, Terry Williams, the festival will feature Celtic music, dance, crafts and cuisine.

Afternoon activities include a sampling of Celtic dishes, folkart vendors, a historical presentation of Celtic jewelry, and a traditional Irish pub-style music jam. There will also be workshops on Irish stone wall construction, Irish dancing, flute, fiddled, and bodhran drum.

In classic Celtic style, once the sun goes down the magic begins. Festival goers will be treated to an evening of traditional Celtic folk music featuring performances by Les Starkey's group, Celtic Crossing, Somerset, and SODA -- offering a rare opportunity to see and hear hammered dulcimers. The music will be enhanced by dancers and Irish poetry readings.

"It's great to finally have the opportunity to bring to the community a celebration of our Celtic heritage. And for those who are not of Celtic descent, there is plenty to enjoy with friends and family. Traditional music always has a story behind it. It really is istory come to life" said Williams.

The Alton Mill, a magnificently restore heritage mill, has recently been awarded a national heritage award, and is home to a creative arts centre featuring studios, galleries, a heritage museum, cafe and unique retail shops. Located just an hour northwest of downtown Toronto in the rolling Caledon hill, the Alton Mill with its thick stone walls, and stunning wooden beams, is rich in Ontario heritage and is the perfect venue for Celtic Fest.

Tickets for Celtic Fest are available at the Alton Mill Gallery for $20 each. Proceeds from Celtic Fest will help support the Alton Millpond Rehabilitation Fund, a project aimed at improving water quality and fish habitat in the Credit River watershed, developing a micro-hydro system and creating community parkland.

For more information regarding Celtic Fest, please contact Terry Williams at 519-942-3272.

www.altonmill.ca

CLICK: IN STUDIO AND IN THE FIELD at the Alton Mill Gallery - February 27th to April 11th, 2010

CLICK: IN STUDIO AND IN THE FIELD

FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETE PATERSON & RON PITTS at the Alton Mill Gallery

The Alton Mill Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of an exhibition of works by Pete Paterson and Ron Pitts, two Headwaters-region photographers. CLICK: IN STUDIO AND IN THE FIELD will run from Saturday, February 27th through April 11th, 2010. The artists will be in attendance at a reception on Sunday, March 7th from 1pm to 4pm.

CLICK: IN STUDIO AND IN THE FIELD juxtaposes exquisitely detailed photographs, which can only be achieved in a studio setting, with breathtaking composite images of wildlife in motion.

Pete Paterson's three studies include the meticulous detail of fishing flies, antique irons and "found" work gloves, all captured in crisp, stark perfection at his state-of-the-art studio.

Ron Pitts heads outdoors to focus his lens. His stunning images capture the art of wildlife, from ducklings and swans to buffalo and whales. His "Panoranimals" evoke an animator's onion-skinning technique in which composite images are created from sequential photographs captured in the same photo session. The action is not altered -- only the time -- not to deceive but to better share the experience, and to show the beauty of movement.

CLICK: IN STUDIO AND IN THE FIELD offers a display of photos both arresting and ethereal. The power of an image lies in the emotion it evokes. Come explore the ins and outs of photography and witness how these two artists capture the essence of their subjects.

For further information contact the Alton Mill at 519-941-9300 or www.altonmill.ca

Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

The Alton Mill presents Chill at the Mill on Saturday, February 20th

The Alton Mill, a magnificently restored heritage mill that is home to a creative arts centre featuring studios, galleries, a heritage museum, cafe and unique retail shops is proud to present Chill at the Mill on Saturday, February 20th at 8:00 pm.

The evening showcases the Jessica Stuart Few, featuring innovative and catchy songs from Jessica (vocals, guitar, koto), Dan Fortin (bass) and Nico Dann (drums), bringing their signature blend to life with a creative, alluring and soulful sound. Cohesive and full of melodic prowess, the Jessica Stuart Few continues to tap the senses of obscurity and tradition while referencing the roots of jazz with a soulful and funky twist.

Orangeville's own The Houseplants, featuring Perry Joseph (guitar/vocals) and Gordon Shawcross (piano/vocals) will warm up the crowd!

Chill at the Mill on Saturday, February 20th at 8:00 pm.

Tickets $12 in advance of $15 at the door. Cash bar.

Alton Mill Creative Arts Centre

1402 Queen Street West, Alton

519-941-9300

www.altonmill.ca

Alton Mill Gallery - International Recognition for Artist at the 2009 Florence Biennale

Media Release - January 5, 2010 

International Recognition for Artist at the 2009 Florence Biennale

The Alton Mill Gallery is pleased to recognize the achievements of Israeli artist Yael Erlichman, who recently won the prestigious "Lorenzo il Magnigico President's Award" at the 2009 Florence Biennale for Contemporary Art.

The 2009 Florence Biennale showcased over 2500 works of art by 800 artists from 76 countries. Erlichman's participation in the Biennale was the culmination of a year of international recognition, with exhibitions of her sculptures in Canada, Holland, Israel and the United States.

The Alton Mill Gallery first opened last spring with a solo exhibition of her bronze sculptures. As the Canadian "home" of Erlichman's work, the Mill continues to showcase select items from the collection in the Alton Mill Gallery and as part of an outdoor sculpture exhibit throughout the grounds. Select private showings of her works are also available by appointment.

The Florence Biennale is a biennial exhibition of international contemporary art, held at the historic Fortezza da Bassa in Florence, Italy. As a participant in the "Dialogue Among Civilizations" program, the Biennale collaborates with the United Nations to showcase art as a way to open "new doors for learning, understanding and peace among nations" (UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, 2003).

Erlichman's work reflects the objectives of the "Dialogue Among Civilizations" program, as her bronze sculptures showcase her fundamental values of human dignity and are a celebration of renewal, energy and purpose. Erlichman's sculptures find great aesthetic value in the most common human form.  Making use of extraordinary technical skill and with an eye for vivid details, she imbues her inanimate bronze figures with profound emotion, humour and energy, which serve as a tribute to human nature and human optimism.

The Alton Mill Gallery is honoured to be the Canadian home for Yael Erlichman's works, and congratulates her on this latest international achievement. The Gallery is housed in the national award-winning Alton Mill Arts Centre in the Caledon hills, an hour northwest of downtown Toronto. Erlichman will next be in Canada as part of the Artists Project in Toronto, March 4th to 7th, 2010.

For further information of photographs about Yael Erlichman or the Alton Mill Gallery, please contact:

Meg Floyd, Alton Mill Gallery 519-941-9300

http://www.altonmill.ca/

Andrew Innes at the Alton Mill Gallery - January 16th to February 21st, 2010

The Alton Mill Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of a solo exhibition featuring the work of Prince Edward County artist, Andrew Innes.  Colour and Form will run from Saturday, January 16th to February 21, 2010.  The artist willb e in attendance on the opening Saturday (January 16th) from 1pm to 4pm.

Please join us at the Alton Mill Gallery to celebrate this exciting mixed-media showcase by an artist best know for his lively landscapes that echo "the rhythms, patters and geometry in nature".  

The Alton Mill Gallery

519-941-9300

www.altonmill.ca 

The Alton Mill presents 'Twas the Art Before Christmas

A seasonal celebration of artistic talent at the Alton Mill begins November 14 and continues through the holidays until January 3, 2010

Experience one-of-a-kind art, fine crafts, jewellery and Fair Trade products showcased under one roof, in a unique setting in the Caledon Hills.   

The Alton Mill, a magnificently restored heritage mill that is home to a creative arts centre featuring studios, galleries, a heritage museum, café and unique retail shops is proud to present ‘Twas the Art Before Christmas, a celebration of creativity during the holiday season, November 14, 2009 to January 3, 2010.

Opening Weekend:  
Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15
10am to 5pm

Explore the open studios and discover art in a wide range of mediums from the 33 resident artists.  Choose from paintings, photography, jewellery, sculpture, pottery and an extensive selection of fine crafts.  There is something for everyone with an Art Show & Sale of items under $100 in the Millrace Room during our two day opening celebration.  The $100 art show and sale continues in studios throughout the season.  

Join us for a Wine and Cheese Reception from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday, November 14th.  There will be hot drinks over a bonfire and other seasonal goodies for the entire family.

Visitors are encouraged bring their children to The Mill to have their photograph taken with The Grinch on Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6 from 12pm to 4pm.    

On Sunday December 13, the Alton Mill is pleased to present an afternoon of seasonal entertainment featuring a classical music performance by the Urban Flute Ensemble at 1pm (tickets $15).  At 3pm, The Humber River Shakespeare Company will perform Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (pay what you can).

As an active member of the Caledon community, The Alton Mill is proud to act as a donation site for local charities in the region.  A donation bin is available to accept unwrapped toys and non-perishable goods from November 14 to December 22.  Firefighters will distribute the donated items to local families in need.

Come and celebrate ‘Twas the Art Before Christmas at the Alton Mill, located in the heart of the Caledon Hills, less than an hour northwest of downtown Toronto.  

For more information on the Alton Mill, please visit www.altonmill.ca
 

The Alton Mill presents A Joyful Celebration of Seasonal Music & Theatre - Sunday, December 13th

A Joyful Celebration of Seasonal Music & Theatre - Sunday, December 13th 

The Alton Mill is pleased to present A Joyful Celebration of Seasonal Music & Theatre showcasing the Urban Flute Ensemble at 1pm, followed by Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, presented by the Humber River Shakespeare Company at 3pm.

The sounds of The Urban Flute Ensemble, featuring Jamie Thompson on flute and Lucas Tensen on cello will come alive in the historic Alton Mill at 1pm. The program will include an eclectic selection of repertoire for flute and cello, as well as diverse selections from Robert Aitken, J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, Handel and Marin Marais, and a short improvisation for flute and cello. The program will also include an introduction and demonstration of various world instruments including historic European and Celtic flutes, Shakuhachi, North American traditional flute, Kora and Didjerdoo! Tickets for the Urban Flute Ensemble are $15 each and are available in advance at the Alton Mill Gallery, or at the door. Seating is limited so arrive early to avoid disappointment.

The Humber River Shakespeare Company will perform their popular staged reading of Dickens’ holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, for audiences of all ages at 3pm in the Alton Mill’s Millrace Room. Join us as professional actors in Victorian costume tell this classic Christmas tale that brings out the Christmas spirit in all of us. This is a free event, but donations are kindly accepted.

This afternoon of joyful celebration is the perfect holiday outing for family and friends. Come for the day: finish up your holiday shopping at the Alton Mill where you’ll find a unique selection of one-of-a-kind original art, fine crafts, jewellery, furniture and Fair Trade products. Explore the open studios and discover art in a wide range of mediums from the 33 resident artists. Choose from paintings, photography, jewellery, sculpture, pottery and an extensive selection of fine crafts. Enjoy lunch at our own Shaw’s Creek Cafe before the show, where you’ll enjoy a delectable offering of sweet and savoury treats, organic coffees and teas and specialty drinks.

A Joyful Celebration of Seasonal Music & Theatre is part of the Alton Mill’s ‘Twas the Art Before Christmas holiday event that runs through until January 3, 2010.

Sunday, December 13th:  A Joyful Celebration of Seasonal Music & Theatre
Urban Flute Ensemble - 1:00 pm - tickets $15 each
Dickens’ A Christmas Carol - 3:00 pm - pay what you can

For interviews, photographs or further information, please contact:


The Alton Mill
1402 Queen Street, Alton
519-941-9300 www.altonmill.ca

The Alton Mill receives national awards for heritage preservation!

The Alton Mill has been honoured with the Heritage Canada Foundation National Achievement Award for the rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of the Alton Mill into a mixed-use, arts and heritage complex. The Award was presented jointly to the Alton Mill by the Heritage Canada Foundation and Heritage Caledon (who were represented by Mike Starr and Mayor Marolyn Morrison).

In a Gala Awards Ceremony on September 25th, owners Jeremy and Jordan Grant were recognized by Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Mr. David Onley, for their extraordinary tenacity and vision in taking the building from a state of dereliction into an active place for the development of creative capital, once again making the mill and integral part of the economic and social life of the community. The Alton Mill has now become a hub for the well-established and growing arts community in the Hills of Headwaters tourism area.

As part of Heritage Canada Foundation’s annual conference, “The Heritage Imperative: Old Buildings in an Age of Environmental Crisis”, it seems fitting that that the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals would present architect Catherine Nasmith and landscape architect Owen Scott with an Award of Merit for their work on the restoration of the Alton Mill. Catherine Nasmith & Owen Scott received the award for Adaptive Reuse Project, which recognizes exceptional projects that integrate new uses into a heritage building or complex. The Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals was founded in 1987 to represent the interests of professional practitioners in many related fields of heritage conservation.

The restoration of the Alton Mill was the result of collaboration between a number of parties in both the public and private sectors, including ownership by the Seaton Group (Jeremy and Jordan Grant), with assistance from the federal and provincial governments (Ontario’s Rural Economic Development program and the since discontinued federal Commercial Heritage Properties Incentive Fund). The lead architect on the project was Catherine Nasmith, President of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, with construction management from J.D. Strachan Construction Limited of King City.

The Alton Mill is listed on the Canadian Registry of Historic Places.




For interviews, photographs or further information, please contact:


The Alton Mill
1402 Queen Street, Alton
519-941-9300 www.altonmill.ca

From Clay to Bronze, a presentation by master sculptor Hugh Russel at the Alton Mill Gallery

Master sculptor Hugh Russel's bronze sculptures range from monumental outdoor installations to intricate pieces that would be right at home on your mantelpiece.

On Saturday, October 24th, Hugh will demonstrate how he begins one of his works, and will discuss with the audience the trials, tribulations and terrors of installing life-size pieces in public venues.  He will also answer questions about patinas and how the pieces are transformed from clay maquettes to the final, limited edition bronzes.  Audiences will delight in Hugh’s entertaining and informative nature (no doubt a nod to his background working in radio), and will enjoy a unique opportunity to meet the artist in such an intimate and inspiring venue.

Master sculptor Hugh Russel employs a meticulous attention to detail in all of his bronze sculptures.  His series of six dramatic dancers celebrate the human figure in all styles of dance and choreography, while his animal figurines -- elephants, bears, orangutans among them -- capture the spirit of each beast.  Meanwhile Hugh’s series of fairies and gnomes offer a delightful spark of whimsy.

Hugh’s 30 year career as a sculptor is the culmination of a life devoted to art, including training with Canadian painters John Martin and A.Y. Jackson.   In 1986, Hugh and his family moved to the Mulmur Hills north of Toronto, where Hugh created what he called his largest sculpture, a home and meandering art complex in a beautiful, rural farm setting.  Describing himself  as primarily a “storyteller” (because it is the translation of narration and emotion into an aesthetic medium that most interests him) Hugh’s works are held in collections around the world including the Vatican, the World Wildlife Fund offices, and the World Health Organization.  

Hugh Russel's work is currently being featured in the Alton Mill Gallery, along with oil paintings by Julia Gilmore as part of the exhibition Canvas & Bronze.  The show continues through
November 8.


For interviews, photographs or further information, please contact:


The Alton Mill
1402 Queen Street, Alton
519-941-9300  www.altonmill.ca

Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at the Alton Mill

Monumental is how some might describe the newest exhibit at the historic Alton Mill!

In conjunction with the Headwaters Arts Festival, the Alton Mill is pleased to present an Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit showcasing 35 works by 12 world-class artists, all set against the backdrop of rural landscapes, rolling hills, waterfalls and the magnificently restored, award-winning, Alton Mill!  

During this two month exhibit, visitors will discover the monumental works of twelve artists:  Kim Adams, Doug Bell, Rachel Clark-Hall, Bev De Jong, Floyd Elzinga, Yael Erlichman, Roy Hickling, Ralph Hicks,  Derek Martin, Tracy Martin, Jim Menken and Dan Sinclair.

Kim Adams has spent more than three decades documenting images of "street remakes" or vehicles that have been cut away, altered and reassembled. His eccentric hybrids frequently combine elements of the vehicle and the home, creating landscapes and scenes of life that stress the absurd but are also imbued with humour and fine detail. Adams’ work has been exhibited at the Power Plant in Toronto, the Art Gallery of Hamilton and the Vancouver Art Gallery, as well as Sydney, Australia, Münster, Germany and San Diego, California.

Bev De Jong worked as a metal smith before settling on outdoor sculpture as her art form of choice. Her works are made of wrought copper and fabricated steel, which she heats and hammers and to which she applies patinas, forming shapes that work with the environment into which they are placed.

Floyd Elzinga employs natural and non-traditional sculpting materials, but metals are his dominant choice. Although his work is predominately three dimensional, Floyd has produced a series of landscapes, using, he says, his welder as a pencil, and his grinder as a paint brush. Nonetheless, these ‘paintings’ are on steel, the pallet is rust, and the work is still three-dimensional.  His current focus is on seeds, specifically pine cones in various sizes.

Yael Erlichman’s bronze sculptures reflect her fundamental values of human dignity, and find great aesthetic value in the most common human form.  Making use of extraordinary technical skill and with an eye for vivid details, she imbues her inanimate figures with profound emotion, humour and energy, which serve as a tribute to human nature and human optimism.

Roy Hickling, an artist and farmer, creates metal sculptures, often working with found objects from his farm north of Barrie. His large-scale spheres can be found suspended within the walls of our Annex building.

Ralph Hicks is the only sculptor in this show who has a degree from the Harvard School of Business. Following a successful career in marketing and strategy consulting, he turned his talents to his other passion: sculpture. Ralph works with various materials, creating pieces with wonderful flow and movement. The vinyl-tube dancing figures in his “Rondo” have an ethereal quality, while the contorted aluminum shapes in “Tai chi” are bold and beautiful.

Derek Martin’s mixed-media sculptures combine steel structures with porcelain, wood and glass. Inspired by the urban landscape, Derek’s work explores the human condition in relation to the built environment.

Dan Sinclair creates whimsical yet functional metal sculptures. His towering, multi-faceted bird feeder has perches for an entire flock of feathered friends and looks like it would be right at home in Tolkien’s Middle Earth.  His stocky bonsai-shaped pieces make traffic-stopping rural mailboxes and beautiful, layered planters.

As one of the principal venues for the Headwaters Arts Festival, the Alton Mill is at the centre of artistic excellence in the region.  This magnificently restored heritage mill is home to a creative arts centre featuring studios, galleries, a heritage museum, café and unique retail shops. With spectacular rural landscapes, rolling hills and stunning architectural history, the Alton Mill is the perfect venue to showcase this monumental exhibit of Outdoor Sculpture.

Join us for the Alton Mill’s Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit from September 26th to November 29th.

For interviews, photographs or further information, please contact:


The Alton Mill
1402 Queen Street, Alton
519-941-9300  www.altonmill.ca

Local Colour at the Alton Mill Creative Arts Centre

Local Colour at the Alton Mill Creative Arts Centre!
September 26th to October 12th, 2009

The Headwaters region boasts one of the largest concentration of artists in the province, each inspired by the picturesque landscapes and tranquil, yet sophisticated lifestyle, that can be found in this rural oasis, less than an hour northwest of Toronto!

The Alton Mill is thrilled to mount a group exhibition entitled Local Colour, showcasing works by four of the region’s most prominent artists:  Lucille Weber, Pete Paterson, Arnold De Graaf and Rosalinde Baumgartner.

Lucille Weber attributes an intense connection to nature as the main source of inspiration for her abstract paintings.  She frequently makes spontaneous use of available materials, incorporating elements such as sand, gel, pastels, pencil crayons, matte medium, screening, fabrics and foil papers to add interest and texture to her work.  Recent trips to the Yukon and the Bay of Fundy have provided fresh perspectives for her creations.

Pete Paterson’s photography and post production is all digital, ranging for 16 mega pixel DSLR to a 39 mega pixel camera capture size.  While Pete has a busy commercial photography studio, he often trains his lens on other subjects that catch his eye.  His series or rare-breed chickens is exquisite.  How he ever got the birds to stand still long enough to snap the shot remains a mystery!

Arnold De Graaf, who lives in the hills of Mulmur, has captured the fields and waterways of the surrounding countryside during all seasons.  His oil landscapes reflect the hues of the land.  His portraits reveal the very essence of his subjects.

Rosalinde Baumgartner studied fine art at the University of Guelph.  Although her work ranges from complex landscapes to flowing watercolours and simple charcoal sketches, in this exhibition she explores the human figure in oils on canvas and oil stick figurative drawings.

As one of the principal venues for the Headwaters Arts Festival, the Alton Mill is at the centre of artistic excellence in the region.  This magnificently restored heritage mill is home to a creative arts centre featuring studios, galleries, a heritage museum, café and unique retail shops and is the perfect venue to showcase the works of these four Headwaters artists, in an exhibition of Local Colour.

Join us for Local Colour at the historic Alton Mill from September 26th to October 12th.

For interviews, photographs or further information, please contact:


The Alton Mill
1402 Queen Street, Alton
519-941-9300  www.altonmill.ca

Canvas & Bronze at the Alton Mill Gallery

Canvas & Bronze at the Alton Mill Gallery!
September 26th to November 8th, 2009


In conjunction with the Headwaters Arts Festival, the Alton Mill Gallery is pleased to present Canvas & Bronze showcasing works by renowned Headwaters artists Julia Gilmore and Hugh Russel.

Julia Gilmore’s lively representational oil paintings employ bold colours and rich textures. Her palette knife technique adds depth and substance to her compositions, highlighting her obvious love for the medium.  Whether the subject is cocktail glasses, garden bouquets or little red wagons, Julia’s vivid renderings breathe new life into everyday objects.  

A graduate of Fine Arts from Concordia University, Julia flourished in the Montreal art scene, and today travels to major US cities throughout the year showcasing her work at prestigious outdoor art exhibitions.  Julia lives in the Caledon Hills, and her artistic vision can be attributed to the juxtaposition of her rural routes and a sophisticated urban background.


Master sculptor Hugh Russel employs a meticulous attention to detail in all of his bronze sculptures.  His series of six dramatic dancers celebrate the human figure in all styles of dance and choreography, while his animal figurines -- elephants, bears, orangutans among them -- capture the spirit of each beast.  Meanwhile Hugh’s series of fairies and gnomes offer a delightful spark of whimsy.

Hugh’s 30 year career as a sculptor is the culmination of a life devoted to art, including training with Canadian painters John Martin and A.Y. Jackson.   In 1986, Hugh and his family moved to the Mulmur Hills north of Toronto, where Hugh created what he called his largest sculpture, a home and meandering art complex in a beautiful, rural farm setting.  Describing himself  as primarily a “storyteller” (because it is the translation of narration and emotion into an aesthetic medium that most interests him) Hugh’s works are held in collections around the world including the Vatican, the World Wildlife Fund offices, and the World Health Organization.  

As one of the principal venues for the Headwaters Arts Festival, the Alton Mill is at the centre of artistic excellence in the region.  This magnificently restored heritage mill is home to a creative arts centre featuring studios, galleries, a heritage museum, café and unique retail shops and is the perfect venue to showcase the works of renowned Headwaters artists Julia Gilmore and Hugh Russel.

Join us for Canvas & Bronze at the Alton Mill Gallery from September 26th to November 8th.

For interviews, photographs or further information, please contact:


The Alton Mill Gallery
1402 Queen Street, Alton
519-941-9300  www.altonmill.ca

Buckets of Colour at the Alton Mill

Buckets of Colour at the Alton Mill!
Opening Weekend: Saturday, September 26th & Sunday, September 27th
10am to 5pm

Discover an explosion of artistic creativity, set against the backdrop of one of Ontario’s most spectacular displays of fall colour!

The Alton Mill, a magnificently restored heritage mill that is home to a creative arts centre featuring studios, galleries, a heritage museum, café and unique retail shops is proud to present Buckets of Colour, a celebration of open studios and galleries during the Headwaters Arts Festival, Sept. 26 to Oct. 12!
 
Visitors are invited to take part in a public painting project throughout the weekend, or participate in a stone-balancing workshop (Saturday & Sunday at 2pm).

Be sure to join us on Saturday morning at 10:00am as Alton Mill artists throw a painting party!   The “Big Splash” event, sponsored by Benjamin Moore Paints, features studio artists throwing buckets of paint at an outdoor canvas to create an original work of art!  Come and see the results of this unique collaborative endeavour!

On Saturday evening at 7:00pm, the Alton Mill is pleased to present an evening of music and poetry featuring singer-songwriter Ian Reid (acoustic artist), and Irish poet Joshua Willoughby. Tickets $10 at the door; cash bar.

Buckets of Colour Events & Happenings Continue Throughout the Headwaters Arts Festival

As one of the principal venues for the Headwaters Arts Festival, the Alton Mill is at the centre of artistic excellence in the region, with a variety of shows and events during the Festival:

Canvas & Bronze featuring the works of Julia Gilmore (oils) & Hugh Russel (sculpture)
(Sept 26-Nov 8)
Local Colour an exhibition of work by Lucille Weber, Pete Paterson, Arnold De Graaff & Rosalinde Baumgartner (Sept 26-Oct 12)
Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit  showcasing 35 works from Kim Adams, Doug Bell, Rachel Clark-Hall, Bev De Jong, Floyd Elzinga, Yael Erlichman, Roy Hickling, Ralph Hicks, Derek Martin, Tracy Martin, Jim Menken, Dan Sinclair - (Sept 26-Nov 29)
Gallery Gemma Estate Jewellery Sale -  (Oct 2-8)
Headwaters Arts Mini-Masterpiece Show & Sale - (Sept 26-Oct 12)
The Bartlett Gallery Presents “Eastern Front” showcasing the watercolours of George Horan and photography of Geoff Goodyear.  Artists will be in attendance on the opening day of the show, from 1pm-5pm - (Oct 4-18).
Headwaters Arts Kids’ Fest
o    How to Draw Horses (Oct 3)
o    Paint the Mayors (Oct 4)
o    ‘Spress Yo’Self Hip Hop Dance Workshop (Oct 4)
o    Mask Making with Theatre Orangeville (Oct 4)

Join us for this celebration of artistic excellence at the Alton Mill’s Buckets of Colour.

The Alton Mill Galleries & Art Studios
1402 Queen Street, Alton
519-941-9300  www.altonmill.ca

Alton Mill studio artists create a "Big Splash" on Saturday, September 26th, with an outdoor painting party!

On Saturday, September 26th at 10:00am Alton Mill artists will be throwing a painting party!

The “Big Splash” event, sponsored by Benjamin Moore Paints, features studio artists throwing buckets of paint at an outdoor canvas to create an original work of art! Come and see the results of this unique collaborative endeavour!

The "Big Splash" is part of the Alton Mill's Buckets of Colour, a celebration of open studios and galleries during the Headwaters Arts Festival (Sept 26-Oct 12).

The Alton Mill Galleries & Art Studios
1402 Queen Street, Alton
519-941-9300 www.altonmill.ca

The Alton Mill Presents an Evening of Music & Poetry

The Alton Mill presents an Evening of Music & Poetry as part of its Buckets of Colour celebration, on Saturday, September 26th at 7:00 pm. 

The evening features the music of Ian Reid, a stunningly refreshing acoustic artist and storyteller.  Also appearing is Irish poet and artist Joshua Willoughby, a self-proclaimed romantic-in-recovery.

The superb acoustics and intimate atmosphere of the Alton Mill's historic Millrace Room will provide a superb backdrop for this unique evening of entertainment  

Tickets $10 each, available at the door.  Cash bar. 

The Alton Mill Galleries & Art Studios
1402 Queen Street, Alton
519-941-9300  www.altonmill.ca
 

Alton Mill School of Art opens at historic Alton Mill

ALTON MILL SCHOOL OF ART OPENS
AT THE HISTORIC ALTON MILL
 
Now there is another great reason to visit the historic Alton Mill Creative Arts Studios in Alton, just 7 minutes south of Orangeville in the Town of Caledon.  In addition to the amazing art galleries, jewellery shop, café and spectacular grounds, there is now an art school offering classes for all ages.
 
From his spacious second floor studio, overlooking the pond and waterfall, artist Mark Grice has created the ideal environment to pursue your creativity.  Children’s art camp programs are being offered throughout the summer and a full line-up of daytime and evening adult classes begin in September including acrylic painting, pastels and life drawing classes.  Full day and half-day special art workshop programs are also being offered.
 
Instructor Mark Grice, a Sheridan College Illustration Program graduate, brings a lifetime of experience in a variety of media and an extensive background in commercial art and commissioned portraiture of people and horses. Students of all levels enjoy an easy-going, unpretentious atmosphere as they build confidence with the materials and produce surprisingly satisfying results.
 
Mark has gained a popular reputation at the Alton Mill with the public painting projects that he has created during seasonal special events. Visitors have had the opportunity to share in the painting of large painting projects, which now hang on display in the Mill.
 
For further details on programs offered by the Alton Mill School of Art visit www.altonmill.ca or contact Mark Grice at (416) 993-8885.
 

Alton Mill Gallery presents Summer Bounty - July 18th to September 20th

Come savour the Alton Mill Gallery’s Summer Bounty
July 18th to September 20th, 2009

The Alton Mill Gallery is pleased to present Summer Bounty, a group show featuring works by six artists.

Sue Obata’s paintings on glass adorn the gallery’s large windows. Sue specializes in the design, fabrication and restoration of stained glass (architectural glass, liturgical, public and residential), and here she turns her talents to whimsical designs that glow in the sunlight.

Mina Dela Cruz is a contemporary realist painter whose still-life technique is based on the academic or traditional style of painting.
Her meticulous oils on linen are almost photographic in detail, capturing shadows and light in Old World perfection.

Brianne Haney’s work caught our eye at the Ontario College of Art and Design’s Graduate Exhibition this spring. She ignites the senses with her delicious Fresh Obsessions Salad Series, in acrylic.

Susan Taylor-Stevenson’s fused glass is a celebration of colour and line, each bowl and plate designed to be both artistic and functional in form. Through unique compositions of organic and geometric patterns, Susan captures the exciting translucent nature of glass.

Goldie Sherman’s colourful porcelain is both decorative and functional. After more than 20 years working as a potter, Goldie still brings a fresh approach to her craft, finding endless possibilities of the medium."

Al Groen’s northern landscapes focus on trees, rocks and water bathed in warm sunlight. These large canvases capture the essence of summer, in sharp juxtaposition to his sculptural plywood Zitten chair/table, which demands to sit squarely within an urban setting.

Summer Bounty: art to nourish the soul.

The Alton Mill Gallery is located in the historic Alton Mill Creative Arts Centre, in the heart of the Caledon hills, and less than an hour northwest of downtown Toronto.

For further information please contact the Alton Mill Gallery at 519-941-9300.
www.altonmill.ca

Cuisine-Art at the Alton Mill - July 18th & 19th

Saturday, July 18th – 10am to 6pm
Sunday, July 19th – 10am to 5pm

The Alton Mill, a magnificently restored heritage mill that is home to a creative arts centre featuring studios, galleries, a heritage museum, café and unique retail shops is proud to present Cuisine-Art, a weekend celebration of food & art!

Escape from the city for a summer getaway, or discover the secrets of your own back yard at the historic Alton Mill’s summer celebration, Cuisine-Art!

Recently renovated to exacting historical standards, this 19th century mill is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in Canada, is now the home and inspiration to a wide range of artists and creative professionals, and is the perfect destination for a summer day trip or overnight getaway!

CUISINE-ART takes place at the Alton Mill on Saturday, July 18th and Sunday, July 19th, and will feature a variety of activities throughout the weekend including open art studios and galleries, a silent auction presented by the Alton Mill studio artists, an open air market on Saturday featuring fresh organic produce from Whole Village, and other culinary events and presentations throughout the weekend.

Local area chefs will be demonstrating their artistic skills and culinary flair on the barbeque throughout the weekend, with creative ideas that you can use for your own summertime entertaining. Join chefs from the Millcroft Inn, Shaw’s Creek Café/With The Grain, and What’s Cookin’ in the Waterfall Courtyard as they prepare summer barbecue delights. Toonie Tastings are available at each of our culinary demonstrations: for just a toonie ($2), you will receive a tasting sample of the chefs’ creations and at the noon and 2pm tastings, your tasting portion will include a sampling from Churchill Cellars, who will select one of their favourite summertime wines to accompany the chef’s creation. All proceeds from the Toonie Tastings will be directed to the Alton Millpond rehabilitation project, a cooperative effort between the Credit Valley Conservation Authority, the Ministry of Natural Resources and a broad array of community stakeholders, working together to accomplish the goal of improving fish habitat, creating public recreational accessibility, reinstating a micro hydro station, and making the Alton Millpond the centerpiece for the Village of Alton.

On Sunday afternoon visitors can enjoy a demonstration in the Turbine Heritage Museum by Tammeron Karaim (Tammeron Centres for Well Being, Belfountain), featuring raw/vegan food preparation, followed by a presentation on the Tao of Healthy Eating by Dr. Paul Rankin.

Back by popular demand, artist Mark Grice (Alton School of Art) will be coordinating another public painting project, following the success of our spring public painting project in May (the results of which is hanging proudly in the Millrace Room).

In conjunction with Cuisine-Art, the Alton Mill Gallery is pleased to present its newest show, Summer Bounty (July 18th to September 20th) featuring works on a culinary theme by five female artists: Sue Obata (stained glass), Mina Dela Cruz (still life), Brianne Haney (acrylic), Susan Taylor Stevenson (fused glass) and Goldie Sherman (ceramics).

Visitors to the Mill are also encouraged to bid on a piece of original art at the silent auction taking place in the Millrace Room, while enjoying a selection of summer wine from Churchill Cellars or a beer from Wellington Breweries; to stroll the Riverside Trail that crosses the property, connecting the Waterfall Courtyard and Millpond to the historic Village of Alton; to visit the waterfall viewing platform that overlooks the waterfall and Shaw’s Creek; to enjoy the Turbine Room Heritage Exhibit; and discover the recently installed Bailey Bridge that crosses Shaw’s Creek and offers spectacular views of the river and waterfall.

Make a weekend of it, with an overnight getaway at the neighbouring Millcroft Inn & Spa. The Millcroft Inn’s Girlfriend’s Spa and Culinary Weekend Getaway Package is the perfect complement to Cuisine-Art!

Discover art, heritage, environment & cuisine at the Alton Mill’s Cuisine-Art celebration.

Click here for further information, including a complete schedule of events.


The Alton Mill Creative Arts Centre
1402 Queen Street West, Alton
519-941-9300
www.altonmill.ca

Guitar Prodigy Performs at Historic Alton Mill

The Alton Mill Creative Arts Centre
presents the
TJ Whitelaw Band
as part of the Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival
Sunday, June 7th – 2pm to 5pm



The Alton Mill Creative Arts Centre, in the rolling Hills of Headwaters, is proud to showcase the talents of guitar virtuoso TJ Whitelaw and his band, as part of the 7th annual Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival, on Sunday, June 7th from 2pm to 5pm in the Alton Mill Millrace Room.

The Alton Mill’s Millrace Room, with its rough-hewn wooden beams and columns, and beautiful stonewalls provides an exceptional acoustic venue for this free afternoon concert. Audiences will delight in spending a Sunday afternoon in this 19th century mill, which has recently been renovated to exacting historical standards, and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in Canada.

TJ Whitelaw is a young guitar prodigy from Orangeville, Ontario, who has recently recorded his first album with some of Canada’s top musical talent, including Gary Taylor (Downchild Blues Band), Sisters Euclid, Michael Fonfara (Downchild Blues Band & Foreigner) and Terry Brown (album producer for Rush & Blue Rodeo).

Whitelaw, known as a gifted improvisational instrumentalist, is gaining notoriety in the industry, and was recently the opening act for Lukas Rossi (Rock Star: Supernova). In July, Whitelaw will make his debut at the Toronto Beaches International Jazz Festival, as guest guitarist with the JP Saxe band. The TJ Whitelaw Band features Whitelaw on lead guitar, Brandon Williams on rhythm guitar, Devan Del Medico on drums, and Chris Villeneuve, keyboards & bass guitar.

The historic Alton Mill is the perfect showcase for music and art. According to Abraham Maslow, “a musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself.” What better place to find artistic peace than at the Alton Mill Creative Arts Centre where artists of every kind are inspired by nature, heritage and the environment.

According to Jeremy Grant, one of the owners of the Mill, “participating in the Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival seemed like a perfect opportunity to showcase the Mill as an extraordinary musical venue, and to partner with a world-class regional Blues & Jazz Festival, right here in our own community! Being able to present one of the region’s rising young talents is the icing on the cake!”

TJ Whitelaw is destined to be one of this country’s finest musicians. Audiences are encouraged to see this young prodigy and his band performing in this intimate acoustic venue, on Sunday, June 7th from 2pm to 5pm. Admission is free. Refreshments and a cash bar will be available between sets in the stunning Waterfall Courtyard.

TJ Whitelaw’s first CD, “Electric Echoes” will be on sale throughout the afternoon, and is also available for sale at the Headwaters Arts Gallery in the Alton Mill.

For further information please contact the Alton Mill at 519-943-1149.
www.altonmill.ca

Internationally Renowned Israeli Sculptor Yael Erlichman Presents Solo Exhibit at the Alton Mill!

Media Release
Alton, Ontario
April 30, 2009

The Alton Mill presents a solo exhibit by
internationally renowned Israeli sculptor
Yael Erlichman
May 2nd to July 12th, 2009


The Alton Mill is also pleased to announce the opening of a sculpture show featuring the work of internationally renowned Israeli sculptor Yael Erlichman (wwwerlichmanyael.com). Born in Israel, Erlichman’s work can be found in corporate and private collections worldwide, and has been exhibited most recently in New York, throughout the United States, in the Netherlands and in her homeland of Israel.

Erlichman’s background instilled in her fundamental values of human dignity and her work reflects these values. Erlichman’s sculptures find great aesthetic value in the most common human form. Making use of extraordinary technical skill and with an eye for vivid details, she imbues her inanimate bronze figures with profound emotion, humour and energy, which serve as a tribute to human nature and human optimism.

Erlichman’s creative process includes producing bronze castings in a foundry in the Jerusalem hills and then polishing and burnishing each individual sculpture with its unique personality. According to art critic and curator Orit Lotringer, “each work of art takes on an expression and status, which differs slightly from others…Yael tends to endow her sculptures with human attributes…the secret of the charm of her sculptures lies, to a great extent, in her control over the expressiveness of her artwork – her ability to give her ‘heroes’ facial expressions which arouse interest and spark the imagination.”

The Alton Mill is honoured to present the work of Yael Erlichman beginning May 2nd, 2009. The opening of the exhibit occurs during the Mill’s Spring Awakening weekend, a celebration of renewal, energy and purpose, which seems the perfect backdrop for Erlichman’s optimistic sculptures that truly are a celebration of life!

Yael Erlichman will be at the Alton Mill on the opening weekend of the exhibit (Saturday, May 2nd & Sunday, May 3rd). Take advantage of this unique opportunity to meet the artist and discuss her work, in this intimate and historic setting, where life and art is celebrated every day!

The Alton Mill is available throughout the year for exhibitions, private event bookings, corporate meetings, weddings or other special events. Studio/office space is also available for artists and creative professionals. and there is still a limited amount of retail space available.

For further information please contact the Alton Mill at 519-943-1149.
www.altonmill.ca

Spring Awakenings at the Alton Mill!

Experience SPRING AWAKENINGS
at the Alton Mill Creative Arts Centre
May 2nd & 3rd, 2009


Spring is a time for renewal -- a time to emerge from our winter hibernation with a renewed sense of energy and purpose.

Nowhere is this renewal more evident than at the historic Alton Mill Creative Arts Centre in the rolling Hills of Headwaters. Recently renovated to exacting historical standards, this 19th century mill is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in Canada, and is now the home and inspiration to a wide range of artists and creative professionals.

SPRING AWAKENINGS, a celebration of art, music, food and gardens, takes place at the Alton Mill on Saturday, May 2nd and Sunday, May 3rd and is the living embodiment of spring renewal – both in the physical sense (the building) and in the creative energies that imbue this mill as a creative arts centre!

Artists will be celebrating spring throughout the weekend with inspired art, music and demonstrations.

With Mother’s Day just a week away, visitors are encouraged to explore the mill, visit our working artists, and take advantage of unique, one-of-a-kind gifts for your mother. Our newly opened Shaw’s Creek Café will offer a special Mother’s Day Tea menu throughout the weekend, and Missy Agnew will offer musical entertainment on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm.

At Studio 202 artists Janet Simmons Sweet and Tracy Smith will present “a pitcher is worth a thousand words”, with hand painted glass pitchers and other glass items specially designed for spring and summer, as well as special original fine art miniature paintings. The artists of Studio 210 (Barb McDairmid, Glenna Agnew & Susanna Lamy) will be “creating with mothers in mind” and will feature a selection of pieces for giving that reflect the awakenings of spring. Photographer Kate Martin will be offering family portrait opportunities, as an affordable and perfect gift idea and keepsake for your mother!

At Gallery Gemma, children (of any age) can create a custom made piece of jewellery at the “Make Mom a Pair of Earrings” event. Participants will be able to pick the tops, the gemstones and the pieces of silver and gold to create their own one-of-a-kind gift, and will be assisted in the final construction and packaging of their gift. Prices range from $20 (depending on the gemstones and materials selected).

The Bartlett Gallery will transform its spectacular and historic space for a true spring awakening. Artist Pat McGoey will set up his easel and take advantage of the Gallery’s streaming natural light. More than florals, the Bartlett Gallery will explore themes of genesis and renewal with current and guests artists, including emerging star Ginok Song!

The Alton Mill is also pleased to announce the opening of a sculpture show featuring the work of internationally renowned Israeli sculptor Yael Erlichman. Erlichman’s work finds great aesthetic value in the most common human form. Making use of extraordinary technical skill and with an eye for vivid details, she imbues her inanimate bronze figures with profound emotion, humour and energy, which serve as a tribute to human nature and human optimism. The Alton Mill is honoured to present the work of Yael Erlichman for the first time at our Spring Awakenings event, with the exhibit continuing at the Mill until May 24.

On Sunday, May 3rd at 1:00 pm, award-winning landscape artist, David Warburton, will be presenting a seminar on edible gardens. David, a graduate of the Ontario College of Arts, is known for creating gardens that are European in sensibility and North American in practicality. His edible garden seminar will focus on how to incorporate fruits, vegetables and nuts into an existing garden or how to create an edible garden from scratch. David’s engaging nature and passion for art and gardening make this a seminar a true celebration of spring awakenings. There will be time for questions following the seminar.

Visitors to the Mill are also encouraged to stroll the Riverside Trail that crosses the property, connecting the Waterfall Courtyard and Millpond to the historic Village of Alton, to visit the waterfall viewing platform that overlooks the waterfall and Shaw’s Creek, enjoy the Turbine Room Heritage Exhibit, and discover the recently installed Bailey Bridge that crosses Shaw’s Creek and offers spectacular views of the river and waterfall.

Visitors will also be invited to help create an original piece of art during the course of the weekend. Artist Mark Grice, from Hosstyle Gallery (studio #203) will be overseeing the project, and by the end of the weekend visitors will have created a unique depiction of Spring Awakenings at the Alton Mill.

Join us for a celebration of Spring Awakenings, and take part in a variety of activities throughout the weekend. Spring Awakenings take place on Saturday, May 2nd from 10am to 5pm, and on Sunday, May 3rd from noon to 5pm.

The Alton Mill is also available for private event bookings, corporate meetings, weddings or other special events. Studio/office space is also available for artists and creative professionals and there is still a limited amount of retail space available.

For further information please contact the Alton Mill at 519-943-1149.
www.altonmill.ca