Six Local Artists At “Art In The Saw Mill”

Julie Druker | Sep 04, 2013

Six local artists/artisans from the Verona area will be showcasing their work at a special one-day art show in Verona on Sun. Sept. 8.

The artists, who work in a wide range of mediums including photography, quilting, painting and fibre arts, are hoping to attract a sizable crowd to the venue, which is an old historic Verona saw mill located on the property of one of the artists.

The old mill is an attraction in itself. It was built in the 1930s and was owned and operated by Orvil Kerr until it closed in 1956, when Orvil passed away.

“Art in the Sawmill” includes the work of three painters.

Jill Harris, who is a member of the Rideau Lakes Artists' Association, works mainly in acrylics and watercolors though she admits that on occasion she feels “the urge to bring out the oils and the palette knife”. She is inspired by the fantastic Canadian landscape, particularly the mountains and the changes that the seasons bring to the scenery that surrounds her.

Elaine Farragher started out as a landscape painter but has recently been exploring and recording the rich cultural heritage in the Land 'O Lakes region. She works in a realistic style in which she strives for “detail as well as effect by using intense but natural colours.”

Hartington resident David Gilmore is a retired engineer turned painter and he has been painting in watercolor for more than 30 years. Recently he has also tried his hand at acrylics. Gilmore has taken courses at McGill University, the Kingston School of Art, and St. Lawrence College. In 1989 his work took him to Asia and later to France and England where he studied under three well-known artists. He also completed several commissions while abroad. David has participated in many group and solo shows at various local and international venues and he will be showing work of local scenes and scenery at the Old Mill.

Quilter Judy Skeggs has been sewing ever since she can remember. “I became interested in quilting in my 30s and after having taken both hand and machine quilting lessons, I have never looked back.” She has taught quilting classes and now works from her home, where she continues to do commission quilt and machine embroidery work. Judy also

volunteers for Victoria's Quilts, a group that makes quilts for cancer patients.

Gina Ritchie calls her business Gina's Warm & Woolies and she has been knitting ever since her Oma taught her at a very young age. Twelve years ago spinning added a new dimension to her knits, which are now also enhanced by the art of hand-dyeing. “My own methods of coloring yarn & fibre allow me to create an end product - whether a sweater, mitts or socks that have my personal signature."

Sharon Sole is the sole photographer in the show and is a retired educator who settled in Verona with her husband Carl 16 years ago after “falling in love with the area”. She has owned a camera since she was seven years old; her first was a Brownie Hawk Eye. Now she photographs using a Nikon digital camera and edits her images on her computer.

“Art in the Sawmill” will take place on Sept. 8 from 1-5pm. The mill is located at 6037A Verona Avenue in Verona (just behind Trinity United Church) Visitors can follow the signs up the driveway and left past the house and are asked to kindly park on the street instead of in the driveway.