A MESSAGE FROM Friends of the Cline House …January 2025

The response to this year’s Merry Mini Collections Exhibit, which opened November 7th and ran through Dec. 21, 2024, has been overwhelming. With $45,000 + in sales over the duration of the Exhibit, the lion’s share of which goes to working artists, what better way to invest in the local economy.

The addition this year of an on-line store, which went live on December 4th , also supported the sales for this season. To date Cline House is preparing shipments of artworks to Australia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Minnesota, Alberta and other destinations across Canada.

The existence of the Cline House on-line gallery offers local artists international exposure. Currently 53 artists are represented, helping each artist develop a following and driving traffic to their personal websites.

When you as a citizen purchase art from a local artpreneur, you invest in the local economy and gift yourself or someone else with something that is unique and original.

What’s Next?

The inaugural exhibit of 2025 is the Annual Juried Show which opens January 23 rd and runs through March 1, 2025. The Juried Show provides a unique opportunity for local and regional artists as it provides an opportunity for artists to show their work in professional exhibit space. Artworks for the Exhibit are reviewed by a panel of three jurists. Jurists are chosen each year based on their knowledge and experience in the art world. The choice of jurists changes each year and generally jurists come from outside the region.

Juried Shows are becoming quite rare. Private art galleries do not host these exhibits as they are not profitable; they are the purview of public galleries such as Cline House. Many juried Shows have moved to an ‘on-line’ only format.

Cline House Gallery’s Annual Juried Art Exhibition happens in person and is open to all emerging and established artists. Artists are eligible to submit their application if they are able to deliver work to the gallery in person for the jury process. All work must be original.

Entry Fees: There is a non-returnable jurying fee of $25.00 for the first entry, $10 for a second entry and $10 for a third entry. Size of artwork submitted – Size including frame can be a maximum 42” wide and 72” high. Sculptural pieces that sit on the floor may also be entered and will be considered according to available space. Full entry details can be found on the gallery website www.clinehousegallery.com

For the third year in a row the $1,000 Best of Show prize is sponsored by Desjardins. An additional $1500, will be awarded in other categories. This prize money is collected from the entry fees paid by participating artists.

Why a Juried Show?

Many people wonder why Juried Shows are important, what purpose they serve. First, once accepted for the show, the artist receives recognition for their work, acknowledgment and encouragement from their peers. Acceptance for a Juried Show also adds to an artist’s resume and can boost their profile and sales.

Secondly, Juried Shows let artists know what their artistic colleagues are engaged in, trends in the art world and within their community. Standing before the art of another artist, studying it, understanding it, is part of the ongoing education of any artist. Not only does the exhibit give you an overview of what’s going on around you, it informs the artist as to how they might stretch and grow within their own expression of the world.

Writer’s Event

During the Juried Show, Cline House also hosts a writer’s event featuring ‘Ekphrastic Writing’. Ekphrastic writing is defined as poems written about works of art. For this event local authors are invited to view the Juried Exhibit, choose a piece that inspires them, and write about it in any form they choose. These written works are shared during the Writer’s Gala held mid-February.

Other News

The following summary was submitted for the Year End Review Held Dec. 12th , 2024.

In the last 30 months, Cline House Gallery and Studio has collected more than a quarter million dollars in revenue and supported more than 350 local and visiting artpreneurs. Approximately 15,000 visitors, 1500 workshop students, and close to 1,000 youth have experienced the transformative power of art appreciation and education in Cornwall‘s most beautiful historic assets.

Cline House was recognized during the year-end review, and while the format did not allow for this detail, Friends of Cline House believe these numbers speak to the impact Cline House has on our community and the local economy.

Artist Profile – CANDICE NIXON, Melting Pot Studio

Like many artists, Candice claims she was born an artist, her attraction to artistic pursuits dating back as far as she can remember, her mind continuously engaged in something creative, no matter what medium was being expressed.

The pursuit of art as a career is not an easy road. It takes a village as the expression goes. Candice has had support through out her life: “My entire family, teachers, employers and friends were all very supportive and encouraging of my artistic endeavors and ideas. In fact, the last job I had before moving back to Cornwall to start Melting Pot Studio, my boss encouraged me to “follow my dream” and kept me on as a part-time freelance graphic designer for a year to help me reach that goal and transition to a full-time artist.”

At the age of 9, Candice started her first official art lessons with McCormick Art Studio near Avonmore, and then later at the Cornwall Studio on Pitt St. These were Candice’s formidable years learning about shapes, lighting and perspective, using pencils, charcoal, and oil painting. Candice proceeded to take every art and woodshop class she could access during high school and eventually enrolled into the Graphic Design program at St. Lawrence College in Kingston. There she learned many new kinds of artistic techniques and mediums, while incorporating it with visual communication. Following college, while working in Ottawa, Candice was introduced to stained glass. This led to her obsession with glass in all forms and she has never looked back.

Candice’s specific artistic expression takes the form of her work with fused glass, specifically working with “cold” glass. This technique includes cutting sheets of glass, placing cut pieces, and layering glass, and then heating it up in a kiln to a specific temperature to soften the glass. This technique creates various effects. Candice states that, “The possibilities are endless with glass fusing and I find it fascinating, fun and extremely rewarding to experiment with. Some of the products I create are ornaments, jewelry, home decor & wall art, mobiles, sun-catchers & garden art.”

Cline house has been an amazing resource for Candice where Candice regularly offers fused glass workshops.

“They’re quite a few reasons why I appreciate the Cline House Gallery. It’s a beautiful historic building that once housed our library, but is now a tourist destination that showcases our regional artistic talent. It’s an open and welcoming space to all patrons of the arts. It’s a creative hub to meet and share ideas with other artists. It also has a bright open studio area where I can teach my workshops and make these more accessible to the public. Being a part of the Cline House Gallery events and community gives me the opportunity to reach new audiences that I never would have been able to on my own.” 

In the upcoming year Candice plans on experimenting with some new fused glass techniques to create a “flora inspired” collection, and finally launch her functional glass art product with a local well known soap maker. Information regarding her upcoming workshops can be found on the Cline House Website, www.clinehousegallery.com

Betty Healey, on Behalf of Friends of Cline House