Guelph hosted over 45 free activities, events and exhibitions during the eighth annual Culture Days celebration held September 28, 29 and 30, 2018.
2018 Highlights
Culture Hub and Makers Market
Photo credit: Courtesy of Visit Guelph | Captured by Ward 1 Studios
Guelph hosted its second annual Culture Hub and Makers Market on Saturday September 29, 2018. City Hall and Market Square were buzzing with activity from 9 a.m. until well after 12 p.m. when the event officially ended. The participatory offerings were diverse and plentiful, engaging visitors with interactive, hands-on experiences that sparked conversation encouraged collaboration and celebrated creativity.
The community was invited to explore:
- Collective mosaic creation with Lelkessen
- Free henna designs by Megan Firth
- Clay Pinch Pot Critter making with Guelph Potters’ Guild
- Iron-on Guelph-themed patch making with Steph Sew Sublime
- Landscape postcard painting with Art Studio Guelph
- Suminagashi Japanese paper marbling with rock.paper.scissors
- Good luck charm crafting with Snowdrop & Co
- Interactive weaving installation with Alisa McRonald
- Instrument making and rhythm circle with Earth Tones Studio
- Children’s Art Factory Makers Table
- Live broadcast from CFRU 93.3 FM
All activity organizers were paid for their time and many chose to participate as vendors for the Makers Market as well. Space was offered to vendors, free of charge, and no commission was taken on any sales. The result was a well attended, highly engaged celebration of #GuelphCulture!
Harmony Harvest with The Over Tones
Photo credit: Courtesy of Visit Guelph | Captured by Ward 1 Studios
The Over Tones brought their rich harmonies and characteristic flare to Guelph Farmers’ Market for Culture Days.
The all-female, barbershop-style chorus gathered in the lot behind the Market for a special outdoor performance, which coincided with Taste Real’s Fall Rural Romp!
KIAM #YourWard Exhibition and Collage Party
Photo credit: Courtesy of Visit Guelph | Captured by Ward 1 Studios
Kiel and Amanda Wilson-Ciocci (KIAM) are this year’s City of Guelph Artist in Residence team.
KIAM’s project, titled #YourWard, uses images of each of Guelph’s wards to create six large-scale paintings that explore transitions in the urban environment. Their artistic style uses thick layers of acrylic paint and gel mediums, photographs and washes to create mixed media paintings that draw attention to the contrasting perspectives on one canvas.
To complete the pieces, KIAM asked the community to provide images of their ward – places that reside in their memories and make them feel proud to live in their ward.
The final pieces were unveiled at the Art Gallery of Guelph over Culture Days weekend.
During the exhibition, visitors were able to create their own masterpieces using the same images KIAM incorporated into their artwork.