Week-long Arts Festival King set to start this Saturday

The arts scene in King is rich, varied and alive, and much of it will be on display for all in the coming week as Arts Society King (ASK) hosts the second annual Arts Festival King.

Numerous community partners, including businesses, associations and artists themselves, have combined their efforts and talents to put together nine days of celebration of the local arts, heritage and natural scene.

Things are going to be busy his weekend.

Saturday will open with a heritage walking tour of Schomberg, starting at 9 a.m., hosted by the Lloydtown Rebellion Association (LRA) and ASK, and conducted by former LRA Chair Brian Beatty and former Township councillor Bill Foran. the tour is due to conclude at about 10:15 a.m., leaving plenty of time to check out the Country Craft Show at Schomberg Community Hall. This event is being put on by the Main Street Christmas committee and ASK. It will run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., and admission is $1. There will also be a heritage bus tour of King Township starting from the arena in Schomberg at 10:30 a.m. It will be conducted by Bert Duclos. The cost of the tour is $22, and that includes lunch at the King Township Museum. Call (905) 859-7970 to reserve a spot.

Sunday will be even busier. The Nobleton - King City Horticultural Society will be holding its annual garden tour from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 apiece. While exploring some of the horticultural creativity of numerous local residents, you might want to stop for tea and something to eat at the museum. Luncheon will be served from noon until 2:30 p.m., at a cost of $7 per person. there will also be entertainment from Schomberg Idol contestants.

The day will end with the evening soiree from 5 until 8 p.m. at Recreation Island on the King campus of Seneca College. It promises to be a celebration of sights, sounds and tastes of King. there will be a host of local artists and musicians, along with the creations of some of the top local caterers and chefs, including BECCS of Schomberg, Brooks IGA of Schomberg, Dorio's Kettleby Bakery, Pine Farms Orchard, Roslyn House of Nobleton, Sheena's Kitchen of Schomberg and Sweet Surrender of Schomberg. In addition to their goodies, there will be the creations of the chefs from such local establishments as Cardinal Golf Club, Carrying Place Golf and Country Club, Daniel's of Nobleton, Eaton Hall, Hogan's Inn and Port Soiree. King Brewery and Pine Farms Orchard and Fruit Winery will be offering their creations as well.

There will also be musical entertainment from the likes of Katherine Jones, Schomberg Idol winner Laura Grossi, dancer and choreographer Daniel Celebre, gypsy jazz guitarist David Dunlap, soprano Hillary Coote and Schomberg vocalist Geoff Perry.

Tickets for the Soiree cost $65 each, and can be reserved by calling (905) 859-7970.

The weekdays are going to offer numerous opportunities for people to discover their creativity, through a series of artistic workshops.

They are being held at various times throughout the days, with costs ranging from $20 to $70, depending on the activity involved.

Monday will include sessions on flower arranging with Heather Yeo from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.; intermediate watercolours with Ken MacFarlane from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; introduction to acrylic painting by Karola Steinbrecher from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; stenciling techniques by Kathi Vogan from 9:30 to noon; all-occasion greeting cards by Teresa VanderKooi from 7 to 9 p.m.; and digital scrapbook by Brenda Valette from 7 to 9 p.m. (bring a laptop).

Tuesdays workshops will include beginning clay modelling with Brett Davis (a two-day course, Tuesday and Thursday) from 9 a.m. until noon; introduction to folk art painting with Cathy Richards from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; watercolour painting with Marianne Broome from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; introduction to scrapbook with Brenda Valette from 1;30 to 3:30 p.m.; jewelry making with Teresa VanderKooi from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; beginning guitar with Jason Sutton from 7 to 9 p.m. (bring a guitar); and introduction to Photoshop with Garry Conway from 7 to 9 p.m. (bring a laptop).

Wednesday's program will include a workshop dealing with gardening in a pot with Karl Kohnen from 9 to 11 a.m., introduction to photoshop with Conway from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. (bring a laptop); introduction to silk painting with Joan Kent Young from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; introduction to weaving with Isabel Abbott from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; culinary arts (making appetizers) with Bill Kaluski from 10 a.m. to noon; mini-floorcloth with Teresa VanderKooi from 1 to 4 p.m.; stone jewelry with Nancy Jones from 7 to 10 p.m. and a solar green energy house tour, which will run every half hour between 1 and 4:30 p.m.

Thursday's activities will include a hike and click photography session around Mary Lake with Garry Conway and a hike leader from the Oak Ridges Trail Association from 9 to 11 a.m.; watercolour for beginners with Jean Cornelisse from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Digital scrapbook with Brenda Valette from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. (bring a laptop); and advanced scrapbooking with Brenda Valette from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The agenda for Friday includes an introduction workshop to stained glass with Evelyn Bunker from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; outdoor decor with plants with Lorraine Mennen from 10 a.m. to noon; intermediate folk art painting with Cathy Richards from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; "Painting en Plein Air" with Phil Chadwick from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; wood carving with Bob Gwalchmai from 10 a.m. to noon; and a real writing workshop with children's author Ann Love.

For more information on these workshops, including prices, locations and additional materials to bring, consult the Arts Festival King brochure, available in most King Township buildings and facilities, or visit www.artssocietyking. ca

To register for these sessions, phone (905) 859-7970.

As well, there will be an art camp at the King Township Museum for youngsters aged nine to 13 Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the cost is $157 for the week. To register, call the museum at (905) 833-2331 or e-mail to kingmuseum@ king.ca

Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings will be highlighted by the annual King Swings Jazz Festival at Daniel's of Nobleton.

This artistic week will end with Studio Tour King. It will run Saturday and Sunday (July 21 and 22) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offer looks at some of the finest artists in King and the surroundings where they create in their individual media.

The artists on the tour include Evangeline Munns, Karola Steinbrecher, Marianne Broome, Nancy Jones, Louise Garin, Ken MacFarlane, Christine Paige, Garry Conway, Wilhelmina Cavan, Aggie McCormack, Bob Sharer, Phyllis Vernon, Phil Chadwick, Diane Styrmo, George Holancin, Tom Wray, Brett Davis, Andrea Loeppky, Ken Prescott, as well as members of Kingcrafts Studio and Schomberg School of Art. Jordash Gallery will be on the tour too.