The successful showing of Fresh Art, Fresh Air and Free Parking "In the City" at the Etobicoke Civic Centre was surpassed last weekend by an even more successful showing "In the Country," at the Mono Community Centre.

The juried show featured 80 works by 37 Dufferinarea artists. A wide variety of both two and three dimensional media was represented, including oil, watercolour, sculpture, wood, glass, and metal.

"At the opening reception, the excitement about the show was in the fresh air," said Darrell Keenie, Chair of the Organizing Committee. "Many local residents had heard about the show in Etobicoke, but had not seen it yet. Their reaction made all our efforts worthwhile."

Artists who received a jury Award of Excellence are: Pat Burns-Wendland (weaver/fibre artist), Arnold DeGraaff (painter), Pete Herlihy (photographer), Rudolph Kurz (painter/etcher), Lesley McInally (potter), Jean Mull (painter), Ron Pitts (photographer), Sue Powell (painter), Christine Rogers (painter), and Eileen Simpson (printmaker/ collagrapher).

Each of the award-winning artists received a $100 cash prize from the Dufferin Arts Council and a $50 gift certificate from The Bevelled Edge Gallery in Orangeville. Work by these artists, along with 27 others, formed a spectacular show. More information about the artists is available on the attached sheet and on the show website at www.freshartfreshair. com.

The opening reception on Friday (April 20) treated about 250 attendees to music by local harpist Lianne Gorelle, beer from the Hockley Valley Brewing Company, and appetizers provided by a variety of local businesses including Mono Cliffs Inn, Mrs. Mitchell's Restaurant, The Globe Restaurant, The White Truffle Restaurant, Gourmandissimo, Laura's Luscious Desserts, Absolute Catering, and Hockley Highlands Inn and Conference Centre.

Over the remainder of the weekend, more than 250 visitors browsed the juried show and the gallery store of lower-priced items, generating over $10,000 in sales. In total, 21 works from the juried show and countless items from the gallery store were sold.

The free workshops for children and young people in bookmaking, appreciating art works, and creating their own responses to the juried show through painting or writing drew many creative participants. How many of them will be in the juried shows of tomorrow?

The Dufferin Arts Council thanks all the sponsors and supporters, without whom this show would not have been possible, in particular the Town of Mono and the Dufferin County Museum and Archives. A full list of sponsors is on the website at www.freshartfreshair.com.