Local artists gathered Friday at Studio 404 to meet, mingle and marvel at each other’s work during the opening of the Overzealous 2017 art exhibit. This year’s theme is Out of Place.
“We picked 24 finalists from 44 submissions,” said organizer Tania Orton. “That is more than we had for the first one last year and we are hoping it is going to be even bigger next year.”
Orton is an architect and conceptual artist by training. She has one of her own pieces, Sailing Into the Sunset, in the exhibit.
“I have lived in Eden Mills for the past 17 years,” she said. “I have met so many artists over that time.”
Among the artists she has come to know is fellow exhibit organizer John McGill.
“I have been a photographic artists for more than 15 years,” said McGill. “I’m a member of the Arts Council in Elora and that’s how I met Tania.”
McGill also has a piece in the exhibit called Metamorphosis.
The exhibit curator is Racquel Rowe, a fine arts student at the University of Guelph and a member of the Guelph Young Artists Membership program.
Studio 404 owner Ross Davidson-Pilon is a retired RCAF pilot and commercial photographer. He has owned the building for 20 years and converted it into a gallery 10 years ago.
“Artists desperately need space to show their work,” he said. “I have many artist friends and they are a lot of fun. We’ve had a variety of shows here including school exhibits. I try to run something once a month.”
Visitors to the opening reception of Overzealous 2017: Out of Place had a chance to meet many of the artists and fill out a ballot for their favourite piece. There is also a chance to view the finalists and vote online at www.overzealous.ca .
The exhibit runs until July 30.
