Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour - You Are Invited

 

Cool crisp days, brilliant sunshine and the splendor of autumn leaves.  It is the perfect weekend to explore the dramatic back roads of Muskoka and visit artists in their studios.  Brian works alone at his lathe all year and he loves the opporturnity to interact with people and show them the bowls, platters and tables that he has created.

 

 

We welcome you into the workshop where you can see the raw burls, the slabs of wood and understand the process involved in turning them into platters and bowls.  The crowds form around Brian's lathe and there is time for discussion and a demonstration of his craft.



 

Limberlost Woodturning is on Fieldale Road, north-east of Huntsville on beautiful Rebecca Lake.  Plan your weekend to see some of the 20 artists who are opening their studios to the public.  For more information go to:

www.muskokaautumnstudiotour.com 

Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour-This Weekend

We are almost ready for the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour. Brian and I have put away much of the equipment, cleared out the wood chips, vacuumed and dusted.  Now Brian's beautiful bowls, platters and vessels are ready for your visit. You will see the wood, the burls and the workshop with Brian demonstrating at his lathe.

Tomorow our guest artists' Carol-Ann Michaelson's pottery and Jamie McGill's paintings will be added to the display.

The purchase of a wooden bowl, painting or pottery has added significance when you see where it began, the craft of its creation and the artist who made your special work of art.

Limberlost Woodturning is open Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14 from 10:00 to 6:00.

http://www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca/

http://www.limberlostwoodturning.com/

http://www.carolannmichaelson.ca/

http://www.jamiemcgill.ca/

Juried Art Show Prize

Huntsville is a town blessed with many talented artists and a vibrant community which showcases and promotes the Arts.  Brian submitted this Elm Burl bowl, entitled "Last of a Species" to the Celebrate the Art Space juried art show and was accepted into the exhibit (September 3 to October 31).

We went to the The Art Space Gallery opening and were thrilled to be honoured with third prize.  Most of the other entrants were painters so it was wonderful to have the three-dimensional art of a wood turner recognized.

This bowl is a very special piece and one that we are keeping for our own home.  It was part of an enormous elm burl removed from a dead tree in the Halifax town square.  Brian was asked if he wanted the burl and he bought the whole thing.  Elms are a dying species because of Dutch Elm Disease and new trees only grow to a small diameter before they die.  Brian's wood supplier said that he had never seen such a large elm burl and it is unlikely that there will be any more in the future.  We have 3 bowls remaining for sale from the burl.

Most of us grew up loving the stately elms which graced our neighbourhoods.  It was a sad day in my childhood when all the diseased elms (including the one with my swing) were cut down on our farm.  This tree will live on forever in the bowls and platters that Brian has created.

http://www.huntsvilleartsociety.ca/

A Passion for Wood

Limberlost Woodturning is a business which has developed from a passion for wood.  My name is Karen Markham and my husband, Brian Markham is a wood turner.  In 2007, we retired and we are living our dream.  We sold our house and business, quit our jobs and moved to the cottage.  We live in a log house, on a lake, in the forest.

We moved to Huntsville and Brian was invited to join a group of local artists as they started the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour.  The photo above is in our studio during the tour on August 14, 2010. 

We had two guest artists, Carol-Ann Michaelson who is a potter and Bob McLean who is a painter.  The display of Carol-Ann's beautiful pottery and Bob's Muskoka paintings with Brian's wood pieces, lit up the eyes of each guest as they walked into our workshop.

www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca

Brian's website is www.limberlostwoodturning.com

Carol-Ann's website is http://www.carolannmichaelson.ca/

This is the redwood root burl that we used in the Artists of the Limberlost studio tour brochure.