By Rosanne Dolan, Colborne Art Gallery artist and liaison
The “Joy of Giving” is the final show of the 2026 season at the Colborne Art Galler, running from November 6th to December 20th. A celebration reception of the past year and opening of the new show will be held at the gallery on Saturday, November 7th from 1 to 3 p.m. Joining the 10 artists of the gallery will be guests Scott Rubie, a landscape painter, Lorrie Priddle, a painter of woodcuts for this show, and returning ceramics artist and sculptor, Brenda Sullivan.
This spring, the gallery welcomed Marta Smith. She is no stranger to an artist-run gallery, having been a founding member of the Picton, P.E.C. gallery, “Arts on Main”, and, an exhibiting artist there for 12 years.
Marta studied Fashion Arts at Ryerson and Women’s Studies at York University. She became an educator teaching high school Clothing and Textiles plus Visual Art in Toronto, and later, Art-Doll Making and Fabric Manipulation at Loyalist College in Belleville. She has had businesses in clothing construction and costume jewellery creation.
In her art practise, Marta considers fabric her paint and the sewing machine her tool for sculpting. She creates mainly by stitching and collaging. She states that “The usual catalyst for an art work is a specific fabric”. The texture and colours of cloth ignite her creative process.
Marta began sewing during childhood by making doll clothes for her sisters’ dolls. Even then, her choice of fabric guided her creativity.
“The female form and the powers of the feminine” is a continuous theme in Marta’s work which is both figurative and abstract. She declares, “The theme of women’s relationships with other beings inhabiting our planet, what we label ‘nature’, is a constant.”
Marta’s pieces are infused with “organic, rounded shapes, both biological and geometric”. The circle has personal symbolism, frequently presented as the “passing of skills or knowledge from one generation or group of women to the next.”
In moving from the city to a rural area, Marta has become aware of societal detritus that ends up in thrift shops and landfills. Her continuous artistic growth has embraced such items as mixed media in her work with textiles. The addition of fabric dyed by herself and other artists, her own silk fusion, handmade papers, nuno, and dry felting pieces are further developments.
In its festive decoration, the gallery warmly welcomes visitors to experience the heart-felt creativity of all gallery and guest artists this holiday season.
The Colborne Art Gallery is located on the Apple Route at 51 King Street East, Colborne. Gallery hours are 12 to 4 p.m., Friday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, or by appointment.
All artworks are for sale and admission is free and accessible.
Further information about artists, gallery news and exhibitions can be found at www.thecolborneartgallery.ca
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
