Local artists team up to create Art Circuit event

A group of local artists have banded together to help celebrate Hamilton’s emerging arts and culture scene in a unique way.

Hamilton-based artist Paul Elia, owner of the Paul Elia Gallery on Cannon Street, and Mary Flynn owner of Back Alley Gallery on Herkimer have teamed up to create the Hamilton Art Circuit. Elia and Flynn teamed up after realizing they would be opening new exhibits on the same night.

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Flynn says this event feels like a dream come true, “it’s such a great thing that people can go to a show at my place, a show a Paul’s and Julia’s, and the popup all in one night. You can’t beat that!”

To help showcase both new and established art galleries in Hamilton, the event will provide luxury bus transportation to three unique spaces and one popup gallery in Hamilton with the opportunity to hop on or off at any stop every 20 minutes. The event will be held on May 5.

Julia Veenstra, who will be holding a soft launch of her new gallery, Crown and Press on Ottawa Street North, says she jumped at the opportunity to join the circuit and hopes it inspires other artists who call Hamilton home.

Veenstra says, “We really want the arts community to grow together and support each other, but we also want people who love art and are inspired by art… we want to be able to expose people to opportunities in the arts.”

Local artist Tonia Lacaria will be showcasing her abstract art at the pop-up at 67 James Street North and says people who take part in the tour will get a chance to see the diversity of talent from one end of the city to the other.

Lacaria says, “I think it’s going to be really great for people to realize the city is so talented, such a strong art community, and they’ll get the opportunity to see a little bit of everything in one night.”

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Tickets for the event are $25 each which includes food and refreshments at the galleries, and a $25 coupon to purchase art the night of the event.

Tickets and more information are available at artcircuit.ca.