Capitol Arts Market gallery ‘stirs emotions’ in Norfolk

Chris Abbott

Editor

The volume and variety of art and artisan work will amaze visitors at the Capitol Arts Market and Gallery in downtown Simcoe.

“People are usually looking for one thing,” said Susan Bennett. “It might be a water colour, it might be a piece of glass…”

“They come in with something in mind, quite often,” nodded Linda Campbell.

“And people have followers, people who come back again and again,” said Bennett.

With so much diversity, it can be rewarding for visitors to browse… and browse… and browse. Something will always catch your interest.

“When people come in and look at a piece of art, when they find the art that they like, it speaks to them,” said Tony Kokus. “It stirs an emotion…”

“It says ‘take me home,’” said Bennett.

“It stirs an emotion about a memory or experience or something that they have had in their lives that is unique to them – and that stirs emotion in them,” said Kokus. “That’s what they are drawn to.

“So the gallery is unique… I’ve always said to people, ‘When you come in the door, if you don’t like what you see, move another six feet because there’s somebody else.’ And there will literally be somebody else that has a different medium, a different style, a different subject. The hope is that eventually they will find something that speaks to them.”

“I think it’s amazing, I love all the diversity,” said Pat Haftar. “I feel very fortunate to be part of this.”

Currently 23 artists are exhibiting and selling at the 13 Norfolk Street South market & gallery cooperative – each with up to 20 pieces of work displayed. The majority are from Norfolk County, all from southwestern Ontario.

It has grown considerably since a group of 10 business people opened a performance group about 12 years ago with room for a small gallery at the front.

“(The Performance Group) never really got off the ground and they were going to close it,” said Campbell.  “I came up with the idea that we turn it into a co-op gallery, instead of closing it.”

The performance group’s not-for-profit designation was transferred to the new market & gallery, modified to make it workable, and it’s been running as a co-op gallery with a board of directors for the past eight years.

“We each have a ‘space,’ and we each pay a small fee for that space and small percentage of sales,” said Phyllis Zapadinsky. “Everyone on the walls also works here one day a month in the gallery.”

“A lot of different mediums,” said Kokus, noting one of the gallery’s greatest features is its diversity.

“A lot of different styles,” nodded Campbell.

“It’s not just paintings,” said Bennett. “There’s all kinds of things.”

Some use wood, some use glass. There is mixed media, fabric, there is pottery, photography, greeting cards, and there is oil painting… including oil painting with a palette knife.

“Even the painters are diverse, there’s no two like each other,” said Campbell.

“A lot times when you look around the gallery, you’ll see places that are near us,” said Kristi Osinga, who was the gallery’s featured artist in June. “You’ll see the lavender fields up here a lot… they’re just gorgeous.”

Backus Woods is also often featured, said Bennett.

“It’s neat that you can kind of see all of Norfolk within here,” said Osinga.

“And I teach,” said Zapadinsky.

“We have a classroom at the back, so we offer classes,” Campbell nodded. 

There is also space to rent and a featured artist gallery room, which rotates every month and sometimes features special shows. There will be a small works show in the fall – every piece must be 6x6” or less, open to anyone who wants to submit art.

The gallery is typically open Tuesday-Friday, 11-5, and Saturday 10-3:30.

For more information visit their website at capitolartsmarket.com or email capitolartsmarket@.com (519-900-9355).