Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Anja Hertle’s first Art Salad last year was such a delight that she’s putting together a second celebration of local art June 2 and 3.
The idea is to show off the diversity of creativity in this community, and Hertle said it was an idea she and her husband Rick came up with. Even just the two of them represent that community commendably, Hertle being a popular mosaic artist and teacher, and her husband running his own business (Grafton Animation Studio) in their Grafton home.
Toss into the mix a lovely wooded three-acre property in the country that lends itself so well to outdoor events, and a number of creative friends, and there you have an Art Salad.
The gardens are so pretty by June, Hertle said, and there’s the studio tour in the fall – a spring Salad seemed like a delightful idea.
There are so many wonderful artists and artisans around, she added, it was easy to assemble an amazing mix. There were five exhibitors last year, and she recalled that the grounds still looked pretty open – so there are eight exhibitors this year plus a food vendor.
“Our daughter did treats last year, but this year she will be travelling in Finland on a study-abroad program,” Hertle said. Fortunately, she looked around and discovered Adele Butler and her Sweet Couture Cakes.
As for the eight exhibitors, Hertle (www.anjahertle.com) and two others are returning for a second year.
Melanie Horner (firingtime@2012.com) is a potter whose studio is north of Cobourg, a lady whose work Hertle has long admired.
Johanna Wiersma (purejoyherbalcreations.ca) from Port Hope creates body-care products from naturally sourced ingredients.
Then there are the five new exhibitors.
Evelyn Haskell (evhaskell@sympatico.ca), also of Cobourg, is a fabric artist who often uses recycled fabrics to craft her hats, purses and other items.
Gillian Smith-Clark (amodernportrait.com) is a Cobourg photographer who creates what Hertle calls art photography – beautiful shots manipulated with extra elements (such as colours) for a unique effect.
Mary-Kate Pearce (mkandtony@yahoo.ca) of Campbellcroft works with encaustic art, a techique that involves wax and layering.
Peter Reitknecht (ganaraskagroup.ca) is coming from Port Hope to display his extraordinary woodworking.
Sharon Anderson (facebook.com/SharonAndersonJewellery) is a jewelry artist who creates magic out of metals and found objects.
She is also the exhibitor who (besides Hertle) is travelling the shortest distance. The ladies met in Toronto at the One Of A Kind show, and Anderson became interested in taking a mosaic class from Hertle. She checked into it, and realized she could actually see Hertle’s studio from her own house – and had even noticed its lights on at night.
It’s one way to meet your neighbour, she said.
The Hertles are pitching themselves into the usual spring clean-up of their three-acre property with a sense of purpose, looking forward to the big weekend.
There will be tents all around, and all the lawn furniture they own will be set out and about in comfortable seating areas among the many lawn ornaments the family have amassed – metal pigs, fish and roosters, giant coloured pencils, an old trunk mounted on wheels to provide a kind of outdoor coffee table and other surprises. In these whimsical settings, visitors can enjoy a coffee, a treat and a visit with fellow aesthetes.
Last year’s Art Salad was well attended by a large group that loved the opportunity to see such a diverse display in one location – and to talk with the artists themselves over a coffee and treat.
The weather was great the first day, Hertle recalled. But even when it rained the second day, 30 to 40 visitors still turned up (though they took the precaution of moving some of the more delicate paper products to a more protected setting, inside her mosaic studio).
Mark June 2 and 3 on your calendar for Art Salad. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, and the property is located conveniently in mid-Grafton. The address is 10821 County Rd. 2 (the driveway immediately west of the post office).
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
