History
The Sarnia Artists' Workshop (SAW) was formed in 1964 when Mary Phelps and Pearl Annand encouraged eight people to join them for lessons in drawing and painting. Gordon Pierrier from Chatham and Hugh Mackenzie from London were among the group's first teachers. In the late 1960's members were instrumental in getting a Continuing Education Art Program started at Lambton College. Mandate
To help members in the study of their chosen forms of visual arts. To promote the appreciation of visual arts in SAW members and in the community. Today SAW has expanded to include 170 artist members who work together to foster the advancement of visual arts in the community. The group includes artists who work in various art forms including drawing, painting, wheelthrown and handbuilt pottery, prints, photography, wood-turning and carving, fabric art, jewellery, dried and pressed flowers, basketry, and stained glass. SAW collaborates with Sarnia Community Services to provide an annual Children's Waterfront Program held for one day each summer. SAW offers its members' work for show and sale at its annual ART AT THE LAKE, show held at the Sarnia Riding Club each November. Membership
Membership is open to persons interested in the visual arts. New members are most welcome. Membership fees are $30.00 per annum. General Info
SAW's newsletter is published six times during the year to keep all members informed of SAW activities, programs, and events, 'calls for entry', and art workshops in the community.
Three general meetings are held each year.
For program and show information follow the "Programs and Shows" link at
the top of this page.
Copyright
by Margaret Bauer
Copyright is a legal term. Literally it means the right to copy.
In Canada original artwork is under copyright protection as soon as it is
created and that protection continues for 50 years after the artist’s death.
Say you’ve painted a picture depicting a lovely old cottage and then you
sell the picture, you can retain your copyright and the purchaser of your
artwork will have to ask your permission (and, hopefully, pay you more
money) if they want to print and sell greeting cards featuring that artwork.
On the other hand, if your work is commissioned, once you’ve been paid, the
copyright belongs to the purchaser. So if someone asks you to paint a
picture of their cottage and they pay you for it, the copyright in that
picture becomes theirs. And if they rent out the cottage and use your
artwork in all their advertising, they can do so with impunity.
If you discover that someone has copied your artwork without your
permission, you can approach them yourself and advise them that you own the
copyright and ask them to pull the offending item off the market.
However, the better course of action would be to contact a lawyer familiar
with copyright law.
Needless to say, you are infringing the copyright of any artist if you copy
their work. If you copy a photograph you see in a magazine, you are
infringing the rights of the photographer. Admittedly, if you paint a
picture of Tinker Bell on the wall of your daughter’s bedroom, chances are
the Disney Corporation isn’t going to come after you, but if you paint a
portrait of Tinker Bell, sign it as your own, and then sell the portrait,
you are infringing Disney’s copyright.
But why copy anyone else’s work? Be inspired by it? – Yes. But
look around you; watch late afternoon shadows; examine the patina on a
worn fence; observe the play of light across a pond; look at ice
formations; examine the whorls in a seashell; watch children
playing hockey; view sunsets – well you get my drift. There’s a whole
of world of inspiration out there. There’s no need to copy others.
Make your artwork as original and unique and as you are.
For information on copyright visit the Canadian Intellectual Property Office
website: www.cipo.ic.gc.ca