Driven to Create… by Connie Munson
There are many more delightful discoveries along those Artful Corridors of Commerce. From Carlisle in the west to Inglewood in the northeast and then Caledon East further east yet, we next drop south and slightly west into Brampton and Mississauga to meet several new artists and artisans busy in their workshops and studios.

Acclaimed and established artist, Zan Barrage of Mississauga, has much to view on his website. An accomplished watercolorist and oil painter, he has a loyal following of students from his classes at both Visual Arts Mississauga and Visual Arts Brampton. Whether for gifts to others or for your own home office, his art brings light from within.

Jolanta Jung, a ceramicist works out of her home studio in Inglewood. Active on the show circuit and busy with select exhibitions, her pieces were much in demand at the recent group show, EAST Greets WEST, this August at the Headwaters Arts Gallery at the Alton Mill Arts Centre. From small to mid-size bowls, vases, chimes, bells, ornaments, and sculptural pieces, her unique artistic sense of design makes these very special! Visit her website to explore the possibilities of some artful and unique gifts.

MaryLou Hurley is the creative force behind True Blue Lou Mosaic Studio in Caledon East. A Mixed Media Mosaic artist, she asserts that it is ALL about the BIRCHES this Christmas! From birch mosaics, to birch wine glasses and Christmas ornaments, do make it a beautiful BIRCH holiday with gifts from a well-known local artisan and artist. Open by appointment with curbside pickup. Psst, you might remember her sculpture, The Duchess, won second prize at Headwaters Arts annual fall exhibition, The Artful Revival Festival. Currently she has work in the Beaux Arts Gallery with their Winter Art Show. You may contact her at 416-508-5701 or through her website.

ToPourWithLove explodes with colour, vitality and plenty of verve. This is the artful expression of a creative maker and shaker, Deborah Powell. Enjoy her work and consider a gift certificate for a socially distanced paint pour with a family member. For more information, email her at topourwithlove@gmail.com and visit her website.

Monique Campbell, a member of Latow Photography Guild, “chooses to chase the light that shines through the cracks” with startling results for images that linger in your mind’s eye.
She is in the Arts Burlington Online Christmas Show, found here. Her first coffee table book, ON Series, has just come out and would make an ideal gift. It is $50 plus shipping and available by emailing her directly at moniquesuniqueimages@gmail.com.

Victoria Ceramic Art is the home-based studio in Mississauga, near Winston Churchill and the 401, of Victoria Kovaleva. A member of the Potters Guild at the Art Gallery of Burlington, she exhibits in arts and crafts shows across Ontario and in the United States. She creates ceramic wares and tiles by the mold casting method, decorates them with glazes, and fires them at cone 06. Her designs are inspired by nature and her Ukrainian heritage. “I love what I do. It does not feel like a job, it feels like a calling.” Her work may be viewed at Arts Burlington’s Online Christmas Show and on her own website. You may contact her through email at victoriaceramic@gmail.com.

Khaula Mazhar and her many works out in the community figure large, as with really big murals in Port Credit, or when instructing people of all ages on making their own art. She has a perfect line of artfully designed items for memorable gifts, and all at $50.00 and under. Choose from original watercolour paintings, holiday greeting cards, resin art tableware, and geode-inspired resin pendants. Website @ Khaula Mazhar.com and more found here.

While Monika Schaefer’s work in fibre arts and ceramics is beautifully showcased with the Arts Burlington Online Christmas Sale, she was the key organizer of that endeavour, a visit to her studio in Carlisle is a wonderful short excursion just a bit northwest of Milton up in that beautiful escarpment country. In her own words, “I create both functional and dysfunctional works for home and garden. I love lots of colour (purple is my current favourite), and many of my garden pieces are very colourful.” Email her at info@monikaschaefer.com.

Laura Beaton, proprietor and artist of Curated Silk Wearable Art says, “I like to feel finished and coordinated going out into the world.” So she has created a line of elegant scarves with coordinated face masks inspired by her own unique art. Consider the convenience and thoughtfulness of gift certificates found on her website. She has work in the current virtual show, INSPIRED, of Arts On The Credit.

Duplassie Designs represents the work of one Helen Duplassie, active in the arts scene in southern Ontario with Beaux Arts Gallery, Headwaters Arts, and SOVA. Chiefly working in oils, she also creates lovely one-of-a-kind cards, intriguing pieces of jewelry with dye-on-silk pendants, and smaller paintings that all make such special gifts. She can be contacted at 905 453-4217 or by email at helendu@rogers.com.

Photographer and pastel artist, ecmunson, currently has work in four area virtual shows: Arts Burlington’s Online Christmas Sale, Credit Valley Artisans, the Martys’ Store initiative with MAC, and ArtTrendZ.

Three of her pieces which have earned recent distinctions are available as Limited Edition Giclee prints, 14×20, matted, or matted and framed: Crimson Glory, currently hanging in the O.L.A.’s In-Camera Dining Room at Queen’s Park, Moody Blues, Honorable Mention at JCHAC and cover shot on the catalogue, and Tangled Reflections, in the McMichael Gallery just won third place in one of the categories of ALL THINGS WITH IMAGINATION. Contact her at ellie73m@yahoo.ca if interested in any of her work and for a free brocheure, ARCHIVAL COLLECTION, Analogue Meets Digital World.
So before you say, “It’s a wrap” for your holiday gift-giving, enjoy the comfort and safety of armchair browsing and reach out to some local artists and artisans in these artful corridors of commerce. You can put the joy back into giving and support creative makers!
Driven to Create© is a column Connie Munson, local photographer, artist, and writer, has developed for various arts organizations to profile their artist-members. She is a director on the board of Headwaters Arts, which has their gallery in the Alton Mill Arts Centre in Caledon, a member of several other arts organizations, and may be reached at ellie73m@gmail.com.
References – Places to Spot & Shop: The Artful Corridors of Commerce!
- Zan Barrage
- Jolanta’s Designs in Clay
- Jolanta Jung: From a Lump of Clay
- Mosaics by Mary Lou Hurley
- MaryLou Hurley: What DO Mermaids wear?
- Deborah Powell Art
- Passionate Outpourings, A Life of Much Artistic Verve & Vitality!
- Arts Burlington’s Online Christmas Sale – Monique Campbell
- Arts Burlington’s Online Christmas Sale – Victoria Syzonenko-Kovaleva
- Victoria Ceramic Art
- Monika Schaefer – Ceramic and Fiber Art
- Arts Burlington’s Online Christmas Sale – Monika Schaefer
- Christmas Sale Gallery – Arts Burlington
- Holiday Art Sale – Khaula Mazhar
- Khaula Mazhar
- Laura Beaton Art
- Arts Burlington’s Online Christmas Sale – ecmunson
- E. Connie Munson – Credit Valley Artisans
- ECMUNSON – MARTYS Store
- ArtTrendz: An Artist Collective
- Headwaters Arts
- A Seasonal Holiday Market: There Is Still Time To Shop!
- More Places to Spot & Shop Artistic Creations this Season
- A Seasonal Holiday Market – An update!
- A Seasonal Holiday Market: Places to Spot and Shop
- Artful Revival Festival Exhibition: Winners Take All!
- Exhibition leaves Headwaters Arts with much to be thankful for!
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