Moostletoe 2023 was the 11th annual edition of the holidays tradition, which welcomes visitors to the studios of local artists to meet the artists themselves, with 10 artists or artists groups on the list, displaying artisanship across pottery, painting, jewellery, and photography.
2023 Moostletoe Tour artists
- Laura Hamilton Art's studio is in her home at 128 Blue Sage Drive. She paints nostalgic and whimsical oil paintings, while her signature collection includes limited edition reproductions, pillows, bags, notebooks, cards, and her ever-popular calendars.
- Yvette Moore Gallery features the exclusive art collection of celebrated local Yvette Moore. In addition to Moore's paintings, the gallery carries an abundance of pieces in just about every style and medium, from Saskatchewan and beyond.
- Jess Zoerb is at The Art House on 720 Second Avenue Northeast.
- Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery (MJMAG) hosted Jude Radwanski of Firefly Art Jewellery and MJMAG board chairman Dave Pelletier.
- Nissa Gieni-Wareham of artisaNGrounds is in suite 423 of the Hammond Building.
- Beth Barrett of One Sweet Dream Pottery is at 1211 Fifth Avenue Northwest. She creates functional stoneware that is dishwasher and microwave-safe.
- The Moose Jaw Cultural Centre is hosting three groups, including Melanie McFarlane, Shannan Taylor, Faithe Sovdi, and Dianne Newman with River Street Potters, Dorothy Yakiwchuk and Kathy Verbeke with the Mud Pie Girls and Ron Dormer Photography.
"It's been a really, really good day so far," Jude Radwanski said. Radwanski was set up outside the MJMAG gift shop, which also carries artworks from dozens of locals year-round.
"The weather helps, it's gorgeous out there and we've had lots of people come into the art gallery here and they've been visiting Dave Pelletier, the painter, and myself with Firefly Art Jewellery, and shopping in the art gallery gift shop, as well. So, it's nice to be together with a group and sharing each other's company and getting to meet the public."
At the Cultural Centre, Ron Dormer, the River Street Potters, and the Mud Pie Girls estimated they'd seen more than 150 people come through.
"It's a community thing, and it's fun to get into a group and go around visiting with artists and browsing their work," Kathy Verbeke said. "It's been a fun day for us."
"Yeah, no, it's really neat, and we're also enjoying the chance to promote the Cultural Centre and what it's doing," said Faithe Sovdi. "So, we've also been talking to people about building this artist's community here and inviting people in, with our north studio and the drop-in program for our new potters that want to experience growth without having to have their own studios, you know?"
Yvette Moore noted that her gallery (located in the historic Land Titles Building with an attached Gallery Café) saw many extra guests come through in addition to the usual weekend traffic. She's been participating in Moose Jaw from the beginning and always enjoys a day of visiting with people.
"I think the combination of what we offer downtown, which is one of the best downtowns in Canada, plus having an event like Moostletoe, really is a draw to bring people to join us," Moore said. "Anytime we can have events like this, that just create traffic for all of Moose Jaw, it's really good for everybody."
"I've just been visiting with a couple of people from Saskatoon, so somehow our advertising made it that far," Laura Hamilton said. "Isn't that cool? So, today is going so well, I've been able to meet lots of brand new people as well as all the old friends who come every year."
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