MASTERWORKS SOUTHWEST ~ Mary Calarco, Southwestern Regional Coordinator, OCC.

Last week S.P. of Art had coffee with Mary Calarco, Southwestern Regional Coordinator for the Ontario Crafts Council and our espresso was enhanced with talk about ART, ARTIST'S and more ART! Coffee can't get any better than that! Yes, it's all about ART!

Calarco filled us in on one of the projects she's been busy organizing and it's well on it's way travelling through south western Ontario. In fact, Sunday, March 28th. was the grand opening at The Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound. MASTERWORKS SOUTHWEST is something you don't want to miss!

So, what is MASTERWORKS SOUTHWEST? It's a juried travelling exhibition of contemporary craft that will visit five galleries between March – December, 2010. This exhibit showcases 39 pieces of contemporary craft from makers across Southwestern Ontario. Listed below are the gallery locations where you will be able to view some of the finest and most unique art pieces by Ontario's finest artists. Mark your calender's now.

Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Owen Sound - RECEPTION: Sunday, March 28, 2-4pm (Pictures of the even seen below.)
Burdette Gallery, Orton May 15-June 20 (Reception: Saturday, May 29, 6-9pm
Art Gallery of Windsor July 10-September 5 (Reception: Friday, August 20, 7-10pm
Greenwood Quiltery & Gallery, Guelph - September 17 - October 30 (Reception: Satruday, October 16 1-4pm)
Station Arts Centre, Tillsonburg November 12 - December 17 (Reception: Friday, November 12 7-9pm)

Grand Opening Reception of MASTERWORKS SOUTHWEST
The Tom Thomson Art Gallery

Artists: Vlodek Tydor, Danuta Tydor, Sandra Noble Goss, Mark Lewis, Carolyn Young, Shannon Kennedy, Tanya Zaryski and Steve Irvine.

For those not familiar with the OCC, it is based out of Toronto servicing a membership of craftspeople across the entire province. They received funding for an initiative called "Growing Ontario's Craft Community". This additional funding allowed the OCC to hire three regional coordinators (east, southwest and north) that would focus on the areas outside the GTA (Greater Toronto area). Frankly stated, artists and artisans should be able to practise their craft, run a successful business and connect with likeminded makers without having to make their way into Toronto. Mary Calarco, the newest addition to the OCC team is helping to increase awareness, programming, membership and connect individual artists with other groups/orgs in the region. And it's working! S.P. of Art is impressed with Calarco's enthusiasm and stamina that she brings to this position. We've never felt so energized with creative art craft and artist's in Ontario as we have been since Mary became the new regional coordinator for southwestern Ontario.

Masterworks Southwest is just one of Calarco's high energy projects. She's also busy organizing a craft symposium with Virginia Eichhorn , formerly of the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, now Curator/Director of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound.
The details for Craft Practical Symposium can be found online HERE.

Mary Calarco will also be overseeing lectures, workshops, informal meet-and-greets and will continue to visit craftspeople across southwestern Ontario to get them involved. Calarco's long range goal is to plant seeds of inspiration across the region so that grassroots initiatives will take place once this position comes to an end. Like any non profit organization, sustainability is key and without a core group of enthusiastic leaders (be they volunteer, paid or otherwise) projects simply won't progress unless they're backed by passion and determination. And a little bit of cash never hurts either. Ahh, what's that word again? Funding! Stone Parliament of Art hopes to bring you more information about ARTS in Ontario!

We hope you note the locations of MASTERWORKS SOUTHWESTERN! You will NOT want to miss this show!

All Photos Courtesy of Mary Calarco ~ Masterworks Southwest

****Mary Calarco, Southwestern Regional Coordinator
As the newest addition to the OCC team, Mary brings with her a true passion for Canadian art, craft and design. Since graduating from OCAD’s Interdisciplinary Studies program in 1995, Mary has spent over a decade promoting the work of Canadian creators and connecting them with the public. She was instrumental in establishing the online brand for the One of a Kind Show, and spent eight years developing close relationships with artisans across Canada. Mary also has a keen interest in social media and is eager to connect with Ontario’s crafts community online as well as in person. Her position is made possible through grants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Henry White Kinnear Foundation and the McLean Foundation. (From OCC HERE.)

***OCC website HERE.

Postcard for MASTERWORKS SOUTHWEST front & back. Click to enlarge.