Headwaters Arts Festival opens with celebration in Alton

September 20, 2017 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
The 2017 edition of the Headwaters Arts Festival is off and running.
The annual festival was launched Friday night with a celebration at Alton Mill, which is also the location of juried show and sale running throughout the event.
“We have an amazing show here,” commented Headwaters Arts President Bridget Wilson.
She added there had been 280 pieces originally put foward to be included in the show, and the jury members selected 69 pieces for inclusion, representing the talents of some 42 artists. She said they were on display throughout the Mill.
Wilson also expressed thanks to Scotiabank for it’s sponsorship of the evening.
Mayor Allan Thompson noted there was a lot of local talent represented at the show.
“Craftsmanship,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what it is, It’s an art.”
He also said there’s no better way for the area to put out it’s cultural word than by putting on such a show.
Thompson added a lot of artists volunteered to make the festival happen. “It’s something we don’t promote well enough,” he said.
“The Alton Mill is part of the cultural infrastructure of our community,” remarked show curator Darrell Keenie, general manager of the Dufferin County Museum and Archive.
Other events planned for the festival include a Big Blues Party with local Blues legend Larry Kurtz and his hot solo band The Lawbreakers at the Mill at 8 p.m. Sept. 29.
There will also be Monday Night at the Movies Oct. 2 with a special screening of Cezanne et moi at Galaxy Cinemas in Orangeville.
The Juried Art Show and Sale will be open to the public for free throughout the festival until Oct. 1 at Alton Mill (9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday, and Thanksgiving Monday).
Tickets for individual events are available at the Headwaters Arts Gallery at Alton Mill, at BookLore in Orangeville or online at headwatersarts.com

Mayor Allan Thompson was on hand with Mollie Cavan, Isabella Cavan, Grace Syrnyk and Danila Maric, representing Scotiabank, a matching sponsor of the event.