Spirit of Manitou Studio Trail Year Two: It’s a Wrap!
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
Art lovers compare notes as they view works by Michael Gaudet at his Manitou Beach Studio/Gallery.
Year two of the Spirit of Manitou Studio Trail was an unqualified success. The Studio Trail is a collective of artists and artisans who have pooled their resources to advertise and promote a mid-July weekend where the public is invited to tour over fifteen diverse studios in the Watrous-Manitou Beach area. The studios include “Who New Creations” in Bradwell, where Allison Brandt transforms and recycles all types of fabrics into one-of-a-kind wearable art; “Handwave Gallery” in Meacham where owner June Jakobs finds her inspiration working with textiles and fibres; to Richard Lamartine at “Harvest Moon Gallery”, also in Meacham.
Raven Mask, an example of Richard Lamartine’s Raku ceramic works.
Richard produces landscapes in oils, as well as ceramic raku animal masks and photographs.
Dave and Loa Titman of “Concrete Elements”, south of Meacham, provide custom made statuary and concrete stepping stones for the gardening enthusiast.
Sharon Dunbar’s award-winning style features highly-detailed rendition of classic farm vehicles.
Sharon Dunbar of Plunkett, who took home the first prize in this year’s juried art show at Watrous, specializes in highly realistic renderings in oils on canvas of automobiles, portraits, landscapes and equestrian themes.
Watrous-Manitou Beach is eveolving into a hub of artistic activity. Linda Leslie creates both functional and sculptural pottery at the Leslie farm just north of Watrous.
Toni Ambrose shows her fluency in pastels with this dramatic rendition.
Toni Ambrose is well-known locally for her meticulously rendered depictions of prairie landscapes and floral arrangements in pastels and acrylics. Frank Wilson maintains his love of drawing and painting mostly in oils. He also carries on with his weekly cartoon sketches that are published in SK. weekly newspapers. 
A rustic presentation of poplars in winter by Jean Shantz.
Jean Shantz shows her love of nature in her watercolor landscapes. Jean also creates rustic pieces using weathered barn-board framed pressed flower arrangements.
These “Saskatchewan Folks” by Sandy Christensen are a typical example of her down-to-earth, highly detailed and light-hearted figurines.
Sandy Christensen explores her own unique creativity through her “Saskatchewan Folks” ceramic figurines, that represent whimsical prairie people. Sandy also makes ceramic piggy banks and bells to add to the diversity of her studio.
A bold abstract landscape exemplifies the striking work of Helen Herr.
Helen Herr is a poet and painter who creates impressionistic, abstract landscapes as well as Haiku poetry. Darrell Baschuk is a landscape painter who specializes in oils on canvas but also enjoys watercolors, pastels, acrylics and encaustics.
One of the “Historic Manitou” series by Michael Gaudet shows the famous Danceland before it was painted today’s white with rainbow arch.
Michael Gaudet paints almost exclusively with acrylics on canvas and his work, while realistic, is strongly influenced by his expressionistic heroes. This year he started a new series called “Historic Manitou” that delves into imagery based on antique photos and postcards of Manitou Beach in its heyday of the early 1900’s.
To read more, please visit www.SpiritofManitou.ca.
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