High Tea served at the Gibson Gallery

Liz Campbell (centre) of the Gibson Gallery pours tea for Lise Malott, right; and Ann Ducharme.

Elegance and fashion were on display Sunday as the Gibson Gallery held nothing back in hosting its first High Tea.

The fundraiser was enjoyed by 35 visitors at two separate sittings who had the opportunity to dress in style, enjoy a light lunch and of course sip tea.

“We were looking for something fun and different,” said Gallery board member Liz Campbell.

High Tea was in conjunction with a beautiful showing of the work of local artist Sandra Ellis entitled Gentry Garden which runs until June 22.

Ellis, who will be featured at this year’s Art by the River in late August, primarily uses water colours and included in her work is a painting of the gallery itself which is in the former railway station. As High Tea has a British flare to it, Ellis had a couple of impressive pieces including Buckingham Palace and Bamburg Castle in England.

Her form is referred to as Plein Art in which the artist sets up an easel at a certain spot and paints what they see. The Gibson Gallery is looking for seven painters to do that on July 18-20 for the annual Art Crawl.

Tea in Great Britian is a time of relaxation and for those who came out to the Gibson Gallery.

“This is a bunch of friends who have come to chat and catch up,” explained Campbell.

Dressed in English periodic fashion dating back to the early 1900’s, sisters Ann Ducharme and Lise Malott came over from Kingsville.

“We wanted to experience it and we had some  beautiful sandwiches,” said Ducharme.

Ducharme’s hat got a lot of attention, and she said that the peacock feathers came directly from birds that live at Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary. 

Ducharme and her sister said they are looking forward to a similar event in Kingsville hosted by the Arts Society and Horticultural Society June 21-22. She reported that the Vintage Tea and Garden Tour is already sold out with 200 signing up.

Amherstburg’s art gallery is located at 140 Richmond St. and another great event coming up is called Ghost Tour which is on July 5 and takes an interesting look at the old train station. 

For more information, call 519-736-2826 or visit www.gibsongallery.org.

High Tea served at the Gibson Gallery

By Fred Groves