Well folks, Creative Nomad Studios (CNS) is officially open and there is lots going on there, moving forward. It is a gorgeous fully renovated space opposite the library on Mississaga Street, and it is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Membership packages start at $25 a month, and November is Entrepreneur Month, which means if you buy any size member package for December, you can come in as many times as you like in November! CNS has a state-of-the-art ventilation system, and masks are mandatory. There is free coffee and tea, too!
Admission to the main floor gallery is also free, and the exhibit showing there currently is Wind. It is a solo exhibition by local artist Craig Mainprize, who is an extremely talented painter and musician, who is a former recipient of the Emerging Artist award in the Orillia Regional Arts and Heritage Awards.
Wind features landscape paintings, inspired by the wind and landscapes of our area and Georgian Bay. Join Mainprize for an artist’s talk at Creative Nomad Studios on Nov. 21 from 1 to 3 p.m., when he will speak about the show and his inspiration. The talk is free, but due to COVID restrictions, you must reserve tickets by clicking here.
Also upcoming at Creative Nomad Studios, a shout out to makers, creatives, and workshoppers of all sorts. CNS is hosting two meet ups for people interested in being a paid workshop or seminar instructor in this beautiful new space. Programming for 2021 is being planned, and CNS wants you to be part of it!
The first meet up is Nov. 24 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and you can sign up for it here. The second will be Dec. 2 at 4 p.m.
CNS is also home to a landscape painting workshop with Craig Mainprize on Nov. 27 and a wreath-making workshop with elegance of Nature Floral Design on Nov. 28, which rounds out the offerings for November. You can check out and sign up for all the CNS offerings here.
Welcome to downtown Orillia Creative Nomad Studios, we are excited to have you!
Speaking of excitement, Mariposa Arts Theatre’s The Christmas Tree opens Thurs. Nov. 19 at the Orillia Opera House. Performed to socially distanced audiences of only 50 people in the large Gordon Lightfoot auditorium, this might be your best and safest way to get in the Christmas spirit during this pandemic year.
The Christmas Tree has two, extremely talented two-person casts, the first being John Challis and Gayle Carlyle, and the second being Stacey Schat and Doug Ironside. The Christmas Tree is a Norm Foster play, which means humour and poignancy will be there, in equal measures, perfect for the holiday season. Members of the Orillia Silver Band will also be playing, to add to the festive feelings.
The show will run Thurs. to Sun., from Nov. 19 to Dec. 6 with both matinee and evening shows available. To get your tickets and enjoy this special Christmas presentation, click here.
Let’s not forget about the Orillia Museum of Art and History (OMAH)! Programming there will be ramping up as well, with new arts programming director Tanya Cunnington and new history programming director Lindsay Earle coming on board.
OMAH’s QuarARTine fundraiser is still going strong, with new 6 inch by 6 inch works of art to bid on, available every two weeks. Click here to view the current works available, for your Christmas shopping.
OMAH is partnering with Storytelling Orillia to bring you A Legendary Kitchen Party in celebration of Canadian Storytelling Day. It all happens on Nov. 29, from 2 to 4 p.m., virtually. Guest storyteller is Betty Bennett, with other storytellers joining in from Orillia, and guest musicians are Sharon Langfield and Peter Cox, to make up this fun kitchen party-style event. For more information and to get a link to the event, email: [email protected]
Speaking of OMAH, of course we are getting closer to the Orillia Regional Arts and Heritage Awards night, jointly presented by OMAH, Orillia District Arts Council, and the City of Orillia, with generous sponsorship by Accutrac Capital. The event will be presented, virtually of course, on Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. through the OMAH’s YouTube channel, here.
Please join in this free event to see who the winners in all five categories are, as well as the winners for a special pandemic pivot award! This has been a brutal year for creatives in all sectors, let’s honour and support them in this special awards ceremony.
Mariposa Folk Festival is presenting a video vignette showcasing the work of Buffy Sainte Marie, tonight at 8 p.m. on Mariposa’s Facebook page, here. Enjoy this legendary singer/songwriter and other shows presented by Mariposa, available on the website here.
Local artist Pat Beecham’s poppy fundraiser is ongoing until Nov. 21. Purchase a pack of her poppy cards from Peter Street Fine Arts, Hibernation Arts, Shadowbox or the UPS Store on Memorial, and Pat will donate $2 to the Legion’s Poppy Fund.
Also, local artist Meg Leslie is doing an on-going collection of gently used or new art supplies as a safe drop off to the black box on her front porch. All materials are being re-gifted at her other part-time job at the Orillia Lighthouse Shelter. She puts together arts/crafts kits for those in quarantine or others in need of creativity or self-expression. On-going. Please reach out to Meg for more details, by phone, 519-501-0680 or [email protected].
Lots of holiday-type events coming up in the next few columns, tune in so you don’t miss out!
Send your cultural events to [email protected] before Tuesday at noon to be included. Stay safe.
