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Don Svob found his passion for woodturning during an auction. It’s where he saw a lathe for sale.

“The lathe followed me home and it’s been there ever since,” he said.

Svob’s woodturning process begins with a piece of wood chosen for its uniqueness.

“Once mounted on the lathe, I remove unwanted bulk with an assortment of turning tools, things like gouges and chisels,” Svob said.

Watching as the shavings fall into a bucket, Svob said figuring out whether it’s a bowl or something else is a satisfying feeling.

Svob explained working with a piece of wood is like a dance, with his tool held close to his body as he sways back and forth while turning the wood.

“I don’t know what a piece of wood is going to become. As I am working with it, the wood tells me what it will be.”

He is one of many others to be featured in the 2022 South Niagara Artists Studio Tours, and his work will be on display at 150 Steele St. in Port Colborne.

The South Niagara Artists Studio Tour is back after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It offers a self-guided tour of Niagara’s South Coast, including Ridgeway, Stevensville, Wainfleet and Port Colborne.

The summer event is planned for Aug. 6 and Aug. 7 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

A fall event has also been planned for Oct. 1 and Oct. 2.

Cathy Peters, one of the event’s organizers and a painter, said she is thrilled to see the return of the tour.

It’s an opportunity to inspire new artists, plant the seeds for potential commissions down the road and speak in person with art lovers when that hasn’t been possible for so long.

“From an artist's standpoint, events like this are so important because it allows the artists to see people engage with their art,” she said.

“This is where people see how I create art, and they can ask me questions and I can see their smiles as people look at my art and take it in."

For more information about the South Niagara Artists Studio Tour, including a list of artists, visit www.southniagaraartists.ca.

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