Recipient of Open Rhodes Artist Raffle

Julie DaBrussin, MP, Peter Tabuns, MPP & Paula Fletcher, City Councillor & East End Childrens Centre

Ourania Bampasi

Rania is a crochet and papier maché  artist. Her creations are inspired by the colours and memories of her childhood. She learned the craft of crochet from her grandmother and tries to carry traditional crochet aesthetics in her creations.

Rania started working with paper maché three years ago, and is fascinated with the endless possibilities this technique offers. She creates lamp shades and other decorative objects ideal for children’s bedrooms.

During the autumn months you will find her walking around the park gathering leaves for her favourite craft; maple leaf roses.

Michele Burnett

Michele creates sculpture and functional art using clay. She has been working with with this media for over fifteen years and enjoys its' the grounding properties . Her sculpture is generally of human body and abstract form. Her Last August Series of functional clay pieces includes trays, platters and bowls with impressions of late summer flowers.

Michael Dorang

Michael has been playing with different art types all his life but it was when he found clay that he found his medium. The combinations of earth, water, and fire appeal to him on a primal level. Michael aspires to create pieces that combine form and function with unusual and playful finishes. Each of his pieces is unique and different. This has also lead Michael to explore jewelry making using natural elements such as clay, stone, shell and glass to create fun and unique pieces.

Boban Dosic

In his mixed media paintings Boban has been exploring layers and textures, constructing and deconstructing the surface in search of the story.

Gordana Olujic Dosic

Gordana’s mixed media/textile work is often about contracts and dychotomies, with strong narrative base and a touch of humour.  In this body of work nature has a dialogue with history, reminding us of our shared humanity.  And why is numbering featured so prominently?  Think of it as a reminder of time or, perhaps, of our need to put things in order, however elusive that may be.  And why the pom-poms?  Well, just for the fun of it, of course!

Georgia Kirkos

Georgia has been a professional photographer for over twenty years, working in various aspects of the field.

Georgia is currently teaching photography and extending her artistic practice through a series of photographs about the Women in Plaid.

Erin McGuire

Erin doesn't consider herself a photographer as much as an editor. An adherent of the "shoot a mile of film" school, her talent lies more in winnowing the quality out of quantity.  The winning photos are made into prints and photo cards, or printed onto wood blocks and aluminum. Between trips to Europe, she and her dozens of digital memory cards abide in a 17th floor condo with an unobstructed Western view of Toronto's East end.

Rick Shea

Full-time marketing consultant, part-time photographer, lifetime lover of photography. 

Whether Rick is exploring the world or in and around Toronto, Rick likes to explore with his camera.  Many things catch Rick’s eye, including nature, landscapes, cityscapes, abstracts and people, but his favourite discoveries are often moments. 

Barbara Smith

Barbara’s work brings together her two loves—photography and felines.  Her subjects are the cats she and her husband have rescued over the yeas.  A portion of the profit from the sale of Barbara’s Straybies Cat Cards will go toward veterinary care for other cats that will one day cross her path.

Laura Soltesz

Laura is an artist, mother and proud grandmother from Mississauga, Ontario. Her passion for art began at an early age as she explored and excelled in art classes at school. She eventually shied away from the arts because she was self-conscious of her skills, although she continued to draw leisurely. As a mother of three she frequently used her love of art to create crafts with her children. Interior decorating, sewing, crocheting, and learning new skills like reupholstery are other ways Laura has continued to develop and expand her creativity.

Laura is thrilled to be participating this year with all of the talented artists at Open Rhodes.

Anita Wiklém

Anita takes her inspiration from her childhood in Norway, especially influenced by the beauty of raw nature and the rough and rugged weather patterns that comes with the four seasons. Working with colour and texture she creates Shameless Self Expressions.

Children Artists:

Claire(11), Hanna(9), Ife(7), Isla(6), Izzy(6), Jayden(12), Judah(6), Kaya(6), Lauren(6), Livé(6), Owen(6), Riley(7), Rory(6), Sasha(4), Sevrin(7), Shalia(6), Tallulah(6), Willow(6)