York Region artists hosting 60th annual show and sale

Artists from around the province are sharing their work at the 60th annual art show and sale at Aurora Town Hall.

The Town of Aurora partnered with the Society of York Region Artists (SOYRA) to produce the show, with more than 300 pieces available to view and purchase May 4 to 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is free.

“It is a really special event, and people come year after year to be there on that weekend to enjoy,” said Linda Welch, president of the Society of York Region Artists.

The show is open to Ontario artists 18 years old and older for the adult category and youth aged 12 to 17. Original artwork created in any medium is accepted and all entries are subject to adjudication. Residents from communities including Mississauga, Kingston, Oakville, and Collingwood attend the show to view the art, she said.

“Now because it has been running so long, we have some very fine artists that apply to this show from the GTA,” said Welch. 

The work of Newmarket artist Ronald Clucas is in the show, his paintings focusing mainly on classic automobiles such as Bugattis, Fords, Corvettes and Maseratis. He has sold a few paintings in the past, he added.

“I have a Ford 1951 Mercury, customized car, that is going in the show and I have a racing car and a Ferrari,” said Clucas.

He also paints landscapes, finding it easy on the eyes. Cars have a lot of small components and intricate designs that can make it difficult to focus for too long.

“If I work on a car for a few weeks or days, it’s hard on the eyes,” said Clucas. “Everything is so tiny and you’re always trying to see into it. It’s nice to go in a landscape and splash around. Go wild.”

The show includes seven categories: sculpture (relief, stone, wood, metal, and ceramic), oil, acrylic, watercolour, photography (work using black and white or colour incorporating aesthetic design and illustrative technique manipulated in the darkroom, computer manipulation like Photoshop or taken from a camera), mixed media (combining gouache, acrylic, pastel, pen and ink, dye and textile and collage), alternative media or work not in combination such as silk, graphite and encaustic, pen and ink) and Preserve Aurora (work executed in any above media to express the character of any recognizable landmark in the community). Locations not recognized in Aurora will not be accepted.

Clucas looks forward to collaborating with different artists, viewing what they create in their mediums.

“You see what is being done and there are a lot of young kids in it that are good,” said Clucas.

Welch has been involved with the show for the past 15 years. She has seen the standards of art elevate each year.

“Each year seems to raise standards, with bringing new and remarkable works to this area,” said Welch. “You can tell that by the number of followers. There will be more than 1,000 people coming through in two days.”

Each artist can submit three works and one Preserve Aurora piece in any medium. Two works can be submitted by each youth artist. All work is original, recent (within three years), and must not have been done under instruction or previously accepted in any past Aurora Art Show. 

“This level of competition that draws a crowd makes the whole area show that they respect arts and culture,” said Welch.

Welch finds it important to showcase artists and the work they create to lift their spirits as we continue to recover from the effects of the previous pandemic and navigate through economic challenges while others flee war-torn countries.

“An art show brings another side of life to the forefront even if it’s just to be enjoyed in the moment you’re in front of each piece,” said Welch.

Cheques for the artist’s portion of the sales less 20 per cent commission will be mailed within 30 days of the sale. All work must have artistic merit of enduring quality. Work may be rejected if the content or theme is considered offensive or demeaning.

There is now a waitlist for entries in the adult category. If there is space available, artists can register at Aurora Town Hall on May 1. The youth category is still open.

More details are available here.