Art lovers have enjoyed travelling around to artists during the annual Madawaska Valley Studio Tour for decades. But only in the past three years have they enjoyed a Summer Tour, and this year artists’ studios are open for three-day weekends during both Summer and Fall Tours. Valley visitors and residents don’t have to go far to see quality work as seen in Combermere this month. Above: Dye Devereaux at her Cormorant Lane studio.
Artist Janusz Charzuk regularly opens his Holy Icon Studio for the Tour. His career began as an architect and designer in Poland and, since the 1980s, has continued in the United States and Canada. He was fascinated with traditional tempera icon painting since his fine arts training in Europe and he found a mentor with whom he studied in Toronto. His artistic practice includes creating original icons as well as copies of traditional images.
Janusz Charzuk with his original icon Virgin Mary of Sokal (in progress)
Dye Devereaux was a regular exhibitor at the Madawaska Valley Artisan Festival with her silk paintings. In the past few years, she has shifted to acrylic paintings of wildlife images. Her bespoke studio and gallery is filled with both original paintings and reproductions in various sizes produced here in the Valley by Bayberry Designs.
Paintings and reproductions by Dye Devereaux
Guest artist Loreen Walker is new on the Studio Tour. A Combermere resident, Walker was inspired by attending a workshop in fibre sculpture at the Barry’s Bay Railway Station. For three years she has created whimsical indoor/outdoor fairy sculptures from textiles. Some are hanging pieces while others can be displayed in the garden.
Loreen Walker with one of her hanging textile sculptures
