A new studio in The Ward is opening its doors to the public this weekend, welcoming the community in for the first time.
Guelph artist Maria Pezzano moved into Alice Street Studios on 163 Alice St. in October from her previous studio space downtown. Artists Laurie Skantzos and Peter Bolitsky joined her in June.
“(I’m) excited to be here, be a part of this community,” said Pezzano, who grew up on Arthur Street, and is hoping the studio will become a neighbourhood destination.
The ward has a “long history of people opening up their homes and opening up their own businesses in their homes, or right beside their homes,” she said. “The whole character just fits right into the history of The Ward; it just made perfect sense to continue that.”
Pezzano’s art is centered around joy and love, using a combination of bright and floral mixed media that includes Japanese, Nepalese handmade papers, tissue papers, block prints and digital patterns. She also does pet portraits, which she started after losing her 20-year-old cat in 2022.
The work Skantzos does is a mixture between painting and sculpture, working with oil and cold wax on plywood, and Bolitsky does a lot of hand-carving, among other things.
“I’ve always liked the idea of having people work together in a space, but each (having their) own existence… maybe sharing the space in different ways,” Pezzano said. “This just happened at the right time for everybody.”
Since they all live nearby, the location is ideal – both close and quiet.
“It’s the location I think that really crushes it for me the most. Such a great vibe and history,” Bolitsky said of The Ward.
“It really feels like you can make something happen,”he said. “It couldn’t have worked out better.”
Working in a shared space helps to foster a sense of community among them as well.
“It’s kind of a very solitary existence being an artist. It’s nice to have the option if you want to bounce ideas off someone,” Skantzos said.
The artists are welcoming the community into their studio this Sunday for an open house that runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to the three artists, guest jeweller Michelle Miller will be in attendance.
The open house is a chance to come check out the studio and meet the artists themselves.
The studio will also be part of Praise the Ward in September and the next Guelph Studio Tour.
