Moose Jaw artist Jess Zoerb, known for her unique use of colour and shading in vivid, soulful portrait work, will open her Art House studio once again for the 11th Moostletoe Artist's Studio Tour, coming up on Saturday, Nov. 4.
The Moostletoe tour is an annual opportunity to take in the practice and work of a selection of talented artisans in the city.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 4, guests can visit artists like Jess Zoerb, Laura Hamilton, the River Street Potters, Mud Pie Girls, and more. There will be demonstrations, treats, plenty of chances to chat, original art on sale, and, of course, a variety of products (prints, mugs, puzzles) that are perfect for Christmas gifts.
Moostletoe tourers can pick up a 'passport' at the first studio they stop at. Everyone who gets a passport stamp from each studio and submits the completed book at their last stop will be entered for a chance to win an art-filled gift basket.
Zoerb will be holding a solo tour this year, with previews of her upcoming March gallery show at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre, and plenty of merchandise available for those who resonate with her art.
"It's always my intention, at my Art House, to have an energy and an atmosphere that's creative for anyone who comes through the doors," Zoerb told MooseJawToday.com. "That's for guests, but also myself as a creator. At the same time, that's always evolving, so I'm constantly rearranging things for where I'm at. So, it may look different than last year.
"There will be new artworks on display, of course, and some new products and prints, so it'll be a bit of a new experience, but with that same eclectic, creative atmosphere that the Art House tends to encompass."
Zoerb is freshly focused on Moostletoe following a live portrait painting that she did for the Oct. 21 Festival of Trees hospital fundraiser. Zoerb finished an original painting on site, and the portrait was then auctioned off to support the purchase of breast cancer equipment at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital.
"The Festival of Trees did feel like a big deal, I think it was probably the biggest live painting event I've ever done," Zoerb said. "But it was really cool to be part of that, and it was an honour to take part in something of that amplitude.
"At the end of the night, they auctioned my painting off, and it sold for $8,000, so I was pleased to be able to contribute at that level. ... The theme for the event was 'Home for the Holidays,' and it was in support of breast cancer detection equipment, so I kept those themes in mind for my vision, and I interpreted 'home' as a space within. So, the portrait I painted is a woman whose expression is quite internal and her eyes are closed, and then I just saw what energy would come through in that environment. ... And the painting is going to be hung in the hospital's imaging department, I believe."
Zoerb's focus right now is creating a series of paintings of seniors and the elderly for her show in March. The subjects have headphones on and are listening to music with joyous expressions. She hasn't previewed many of this series on her social media channels, so Moostletoe attendees will get a rare look at work in progress.
"It's a bit more playful than some of my more intense work in the past, and I'm trying to embrace my inner joy, so this is an expression of my process through that, and wanting to bring that out to people who view it," Zoerb added. "Of course, art is always better in person, there's a different energy there, so I'm excited to welcome people to the Art House again."
Follow Jess Zoerb Art on Facebook and Instagram and follow the Moostletoe Facebook page at facebook.com/moostletoeartistsstudiotour to stay up to date with the event.
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