More than 140 people filled the outdoor Annex at the Alton Mill Arts Centre on June 7 for the fourth annual Tapestry of Art and Music, a Headwaters Arts fundraiser that combined an art show and sale with live music.

The Caledon event featured the work of 86 Ontario artists, each of whom donated a piece created on a six-by-six-inch canvas. Hung together on boards, the works formed a large tapestry of Ontario artwork.

An afternoon of art and song

This year's musical guests were Sonus Voices, a low-voice ensemble based in Hamilton. The group performed a range of songs, including renditions of familiar favourites such as "Drunken Sailor" and "For Good" from the musical Wicked, and told the audience their cross-genre set was a nod to the crossing of art forms at the event itself.

I want to thank all the talented artists. We ask that they donate their time and their talent to provide the smallest of canvas, 6×6, but they managed to create some of the most delightful original artwork that you are seeing here today.

Nancy Kluger, chair of the Headwaters Arts Events Committee, said those words of thanks to the participating artists and musicians during the afternoon, the Caledon Citizen reported.

For some artists, the small format is part of the appeal. Mono fabric weaver Darlene Hostrawser, who was taking part for the third year, said the assignment pushes her in new directions.

I like this event because it forces me to do work outside of my realm.

Hostrawser described her submitted piece as an ode to people who keep knitting, crocheting and weaving, and to the passing of those "lost arts" on to younger generations.

Fundraising for local art

Donations and art purchases at the event go back into Headwaters Arts to support local art programming, as well as its Headwaters Arts Scholarship Fund. By the end of the day, the event had raised approximately $3,570 from art sales and donations, according to the Caledon Citizen.

Headwaters Arts also received $5,000 from the Town's Caledon Council Community Golf Tournament grant to help run the event.

Each donation also entered attendees into a raffle, with this year's prize a reproduction of the late Caledon artist Cory Trépanier's work "Cape Hotham," Cornwallis Island, Nunavut. The reproduction was donated by his family, Janet and Andie Trépanier, who attended the event.

Andie Trépanier told the crowd the family was grateful to share a piece that reflected Cory's passions, and encouraged those on hand to tap into their own creativity. Trépanier also credited Headwaters Arts with supporting the start of an artistic career.

When I headed to my very first education with the Humber College jazz program, Headwaters was the one who supported me with their grant, and it made a world of a difference in my education. Now, I'm a painter myself and a lot of that inspiration and support has come from the community, it comes from Headwaters Arts, much like my father found.

As the afternoon went on, artwork found new homes, refreshments were served, and local art and music were celebrated by the crowd in Alton.