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Every year, Oshawa-based potter Ida King makes a new holiday ornament to add to her collection. This year, she’s making a peace dove.
“It feels fitting at the moment in our current climate,” she said.
Her work will be on display at the Fall Art Festival, a free festival next month that’s in its 45th year of showcasing artwork in Durham Region.
The show will feature over 50 artists and more than 500 pieces across various mediums — including acrylic and watercolour paintings, drawings, pottery and soapstone carving, said Anne Labelle-Johnson, a director of the Oshawa Arts Association, which runs the event.
King said she believes there’s a “real appetite” in the community to support the local creative economy.
“There are so many items that are mass produced or AI-generated, that people are really realizing the luxury of a handmade or locally made art item,” she said.
Ida King will be bringing ornaments to the fall festival, including a peace dove, pictured left, unfinished. (Submitted by Ida King)
Labelle-Johnson described the fall festival as a friendly and unpretentious opportunity for people to enjoy local artwork and connect with artists.
“It’s a good introduction for people to see all the wonderful artists that are available in Durham Region,” she said.
The Oshawa Arts Association was founded in 1967 and has hosted the fall festival since 1981, she said. It also hosts a spring festival that began in 2015.
Artists will be selling their pieces at their booths, and there will also be a raffle to win pieces donated by the artists, she said.
The festival is running on October 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Camp Samac in Oshawa.
Festival is a ‘symphony’ of arts
Juhi Upreti, who lives in Ajax, is among the artists who will be displaying their work at the festival. Her paintings are based on Indian tribal and folk arts.
Upreti, who doesn’t have formal art training, said she was pleasantly surprised the first time she participated in one of the association’s festivals.
“So many people walking in would point [at my work] and talk about certain motifs, and that would be so encouraging, because I was feeling a little bit self-conscious in the beginning,” she said.
Juhi Upreti says Durham Region is home to a diverse collection of artists, and described the fall festival as a ‘symphony’ of artwork. (Submitted by Juhi Upreti)
Upreti said the region is home to a diverse collection of artists, and described the fall festival as a feast for the eyes.
“It’s a symphony of different types of arts,” she said.
Deb Oldfield, who lives in Oshawa, will also be at the festival. She primarily paints with watercolour, acrylic and oil.
Next month’s festival will be the third one she attends that’s been put on by the association. She said she initially felt nervous about participating, but found she loves the opportunity to discuss her work with people who have their own interpretations.
“Its been really good for me to broaden my experience and take the leap,” she said. “I can actually call myself an artist for the first time.”
Oldfield said she’s preparing for the show by making sure her watercolour paintings have been framed, and also painting some additional smaller pieces that are more affordable.