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Scugog Arts presents: ‘Guard Me, Oak Tree’ by Ashley Gringhuis Scugog Arts presents: ‘Guard Me, Oak Tree’ by Ashley Gringhuis
Artist Reception: July 4th, 2026, 1PM-3PM
Show Running:
July 4th – August 3rd
268 Queen St, Port Perry, ON L9L 1B8
This exhibition brings together Ashley Gringhuis’ work which focuses on the natural world as an escape, solace, protector, and connection. As we attempt to navigate this chaotic and often overwhelming world, retreating into an environment of growth, rot, evolution, and transmutation can bring life into a different perspective. These works depict figures interacting with the natural world in a variety of ways: some are immersed in it, shielded by it, and others disappear back into the landscape as their bodies are used as a natural vessel for growing foliage. While the works convey a sense of peacefulness, they also carry an underlying tension and subtle anxiety, hinting at the chaos of the world lingering just beyond the edges of the compositions
Come and experience Ashley Gringhuis’ expression of the concept of Self through stunning self-portraiture and breathtaking floral symbolism at Scugog Arts Space on July 4th from 1-3pm.
All are welcome! 10:00am - 05:00pm
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Kilim Weaving WorkshopJoin us for a first of its kind workshop at the museum. Guided by an experienced weaver, guests will create a Kilim textile. A flat-woven textile with a flat smooth surface produced by tightly interweaving the warp (vertical) and weft (horizontal) strands while also learning the history of Persian weaving and the symbolism behind its motifs.
Instructor, Jamileh Hajihasan is a skilled artisan and professional educator with deep expertise in Persian carpet and kilim weaving. Since 2016, she has taught this traditional art in both Iran and Canada. In Toronto and Montreal, she has led numerous private and group workshops in collaboration with cultural and community organizations, including the Willowdale City Office, Gibson House Museum, Tirgan Festival, SEED foundation, and Sukoon Space at STACKT market. She is also the author of a bilingual (Persian, English) handbook introducing the fundamentals of carpet weaving. Beyond artistic practice, her work emphasizes the therapeutic and mental health benefits of traditional hand-weaving.01:00pm - 03:00pm
