The untamed wilderness surrounding the picturesque town of Huntsville has inspired adventurers and art lovers alike to explore both the landscapes and their own inner worlds.

No one was more moved by the area than legendary Canadian painter Tom Thomson. Thomson first visited Huntsville in the summer of 1912. He was enthralled with the myriad lakes and the granite of the Canadian Shield. That summer he traveled into Algonquin Park to capture the beauty of the nation’s oldest provincial park. When he returned to Toronto, the artwork he’d created overwhelmingly inspired a group of Canada’s most famous and influential painters – the artists who would become known as the Group of Seven. This group of friends and colleagues began joining Thomson on his annual trips to Huntsville and Algonquin Park, where they would spend several weeks exploring and painting the breathtaking scenes they encountered.

Thanks to this, and the abundance of artist galleries and studios in the area, Huntsville has become known as a stepping-stone for the arts – and the perfect destination for artists and art lovers alike.

Group of Seven

Huntsville is home to the one-of-a-kind Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery – a series of outdoor installations that includes over 100 giant mural replicas of paintings by the famous artists. See these works as you have never seen them before, expertly enlarged and faithfully reproduced. Founded in 1997 by artistic director Gerry Lantaigne, the gallery has grown to include a full tour around Lake of Bays with stops at Deerhurst ResortPort Cunnington Lodge and ResortThe Dorset Heritage Museum. Guided and self-guided tour options are available and can be tailored for a few hours or an entire weekend tour. While on the tour, be sure to visit the bronze statue of Tom Thomson (created by artist Brenda Wainman) that’s located at the Huntsville Civic Centre and Algonquin Theatre courtyard (also home to many Huntsville Festival of the Arts concerts).

Group of Seven

There are many studios you can visit throughout Huntsville and the surrounding area. Eric Lindgren and his team at Lindgren Pottery have been creating stoneware pottery inspired by the local landscape for over 40 years. At the Windflowers Art Studio, Linda Harti creates unique abstract acrylic paintings. Ted Tiemessen, at his Think Muskoka Studio, creates original stain glass creations, many of which incorporate quartz and wood, while at the John Murden Art Gallery and Studio in the quaint town of Baysville, John Murden has been creating historical Muskoka paintings and landscapes in watercolour, as well as mixing photography and painting in unique ways, since moving to the area in the 1980’s.

There are also several local galleries with collections that display the finest works from some of the region’s resident artists and artisans. The Eclipse Art Gallery at Deerhurst Resort displays an eclectic collection of original Canadian Art. Historic downtown Huntsville plays host to the Two Horse Gallery, which showcases a stable of resident artists, and The Framing Place and Gallery, which also exhibits local artists. Also located downtown is Artisans of Muskoka – a store carrying artwork, gifts and keepsakes from up to 200 artists at a time.

Eclipse

With so many galleries and studios, Huntsville is the perfect destination for artists and art lovers alike.

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