Love of pottery is at the heart of the Ottawa Clay Festival

 The Ottawa Clay Festival returns this spring with a throwdown, exhibition, pottery demonstration, Children’s Clay Area and the much-loved Spring Sale. Join Ottawa’s largest gathering of potters from Friday, May 3rd, to Sunday, May 5th, 2024, at the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park. This three-day event is open to the

The Enriched Bread Artists (EBA) is celebrating three decades of creativity and you’re invited!

 Since 1992, EBA has been dedicated to cultivating creativity throughout Ottawa. Located in the historic Standard Bread Building, the Latin phrase “Audaces Fortuna Juvat” or “Fortune Favors the Bold” is written on its plaque, and like the building’s former tenant EBA believes that art is another important way to sustain and

Creative Continuum 2022 will provide artists with tools to make money from their work

 ABOVE: If you are an Ottawa artist, Creative Continuum 2022 will help you achieve business success. During the pandemic, everyone had to learn how to interact in new ways. We sipped wine with friends over Zoom, attended meetings in our pajama bottoms, distracted ourselves by baking sourdough bread, and, despite art being

Best of Ottawa 2021: Visual Artists

 After over 20-years writing about life in Ottawa, we think we have a pretty good idea of the best of what this city has to offer. In this weekly series, we share our picks with you — our top spots for takeout, live music venues, local brews, bands and more. Check, share

Studio Space Ottawa launches their Capital Campaign to serve more artists

 by Kathy Bergquist and Christos Pantieras Studio Space Ottawa (SSO) is a young organization, the new kid on the block, and like all kids, it’s full of energy and ideas, and it’s growing fast. It was around this time two years ago when rumblings of a potential new art studio

Feeling Inspired: The Manotick Art Association

 The Manotick Art Association (MAA) has found a way to run Inspirations, their biannual art show and sale. But in 2020, this has not been easy. “Our annual show…is typically held in April, so we postponed it to the end of August, hoping that we would be able to hold

Artists in a Pandemic: Studio Space Ottawa brings “fun” to fundraising

 Above: Fenced, 36" x 24", Acrylics on canvas byJadzia Romaniec Located off that stretch of road north of Ottawa South but below Billings Bridge, in one of the more industrial buildings near the Canadian Tire, you’ll find Studio Space Ottawa (SSO). Providing “stable, affordable, open, healthy and safe working spaces

The West End Studio Tour (WEST) celebrates 25 years

 ABOVE: Works by WEST artists Manju Sah and (RIGHT) Alison Fowler The artists of the West End Studio Tour (WEST) invite you to celebrate 25 years of community art with a safe and socially distant art show and sale on two consecutive weekends: September19-20 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m and September

Get shopping and support local Ottawa artisans

 Ottawa Artisans introduces the largest online craft fair Craft fairs are simply fun. They are a popular way to support local artisans and the one-on-one with small vendors makes buying seasonal items, homemade delicacies, and that “Oh my, how cute is that” item for yourself so enjoyable. While craft fairs highlight

Ottawa’s BLAKDENIM talk unique sound and working with hip-hop icon DMC

 If you're active in the city’s club or festival scene, you've surely heard of BLAKDENIM. The Ottawa-based ensemble has been rocking audiences for almost a decade now and stands out with their eclectic mix of rock, jazz, soul and hip-hop. They’re probably the only band in the city that has

Best of Ottawa 2020: Visual Artists

 ?After over 20-years writing about life in Ottawa, we think we have a pretty good idea of the best of what this city has to offer. In this weekly series, we share our picks with you — our top hotels, live music venues, local brews, bands and more. Check, share and discuss

Heather Lauren Potts: An artist in the making

 Photo credit: Crystal of Of Wild Dawn Photography Forms of art have been around for centuries. From Irish dancing and ancient Chinese music to the intricate sculptures of Roman emperors, art presents itself in many forms. For Heather Lauren Potts, art has only been in her life for two and

Glen Bloom on the Art of Collecting

 Glen Bloom and wife Deborah Duffy with Leslie Reid’s 'Cape Pine: The Barrens,' 2012, Oil on canvas, 127 x 182.9 cm. When Glen Bloom thinks about the Ottawa Art Gallery’s annual Le pARTy fundraising art auction, the first thing that comes to mind is the list of talented Ottawa artists

The Captivating Art of Elisabeth Arbuckle

 A graphic designer by training, an art teacher by experience and an artist inspired by the world around her, meet Elisabeth Arbuckle. She has called Ottawa home for nearly 30 years but Elisabeth Arbuckle is someone who brings a long cv of international experience to her art. All of it

Upcoming GCTC Season Showcases Local Talent

 Since 2012, artistic director Eric Coates has been bringing his unique artistic vision to the Great Canadian Theatre Company. With some innovative and interesting partnerships just announced for the Theatre’s upcoming season, it’s safe to say that Coates’ leadership is leading the GCTC into new and exciting territory. Coates’ first

Another Major Gift for the OAG

 Left to right: Chris and Mary Ann Turnbull, OAG Director and Chief Executive Office, Alexandra Badzak, Member of the OAG Capital Campaign Committee, Tom Houston. Photo courtesy of David Barbour. The Ottawa Art Gallery has received a major gift of $100,000 by Chris and Mary Ann Turnbull for the Art

Art in Fashion 613 Shines Bright

 Photo courtesy of Art in Fashion 613 Art in Fashion 613 is bringing something new to the capital. Taking place on Saturday October 17 at Library and Archives Canada, the event is an inspired fashion and night market created by Kym Brown, the designer and owner behind Bombshell Revival Designs. Brown is an

Kat Jetté’s Local Abstraction

 Northern Whisper, 2015, acrylic on wood, 36" x 36" Image courtesy of Kat Jetté. Ottawa Life had the chance to catch up with Kat Jetté, an abstract painter who has been a working artist for over 15 years in Ottawa. We talked about abstract painting, local artists and Jetté’s thoughts

Hair Republic Salon Celebrates Art

 Owners John and Michelle Nguyen (Hair Republic Salon), Laura Herrera (I.A.M.) and Ottawa artist Patti Kelly. On Saturday, May 2, Hair Republic Salon (HR) in Old Ottawa South hosted its spring vernissage featuring the work of up-and-coming local artist, Patti Kelly. Kelly’s debut was a real success. Her black and

Inspiring Architectural Art

 Observe one of Ottawa’s newest architectural wonders from an entirely new perspective. From May 8 to 23, Wallack Galleries will feature a solo exhibition by local artist Sheryl Luxenburg entitled The Elusive Window Reflections Of The Ottawa Convention Centre. Luxenburg specializes in hyper-realistic watercolour and acrylic painting. Her paintings, which

Petal Power: The Art of Irena Sherstyuk

 Irena Sherstyuk creates mesmerizing paintings of psychedelic flowers and young lovers in abstract cityscapes. Her work is attracting attention at galleries across Canada. OTTAWA LIFE: When did you decide to become a professional painter? IRENA SHERSTYUK: From an early age, I always liked to paint and it was something that gave

Ode to Ottawa

 This city is one of the most beautiful to behold. As a poet, I am inspired by how our gracious capital harmonizes urban man-made structures with nature's creations. At every turn, I see vistas of green, picturesque pathways bordered by flowers and water, water everywhere. What other city can boast