Village Squire, 1981-04, Page 5All Thumbs
really isn't
by Herb Shoveller
All Thumbs, really, is anything but.
It could, or maybe should. actually be
All Riebt or, All Together- more accurate
though certainly less imaginative names
for the year-old Exeter artists' co-opera-
tive. Itis currently the home, shop,
gallery and showcase for the work of
more than a dozen area artists and
craftsmen.
The concept of the co-operative was
horn as much out of necessity as out of a
dream, and today pottery. weaving
stained glass and photography grace the
walls and shelves of the shop.
"I don't think the idea was totally
original," explained Ena de Haan, a
weaver who, along with potter Kaaren
Batten. shared the initial idea for the
store." There are some other co-opera-
tives around. I guess all of us were
looking for an outlet for our work. We had
thought of opening a store of our own."
While it may have been worthy of
some thought, there were problems seen
by the Exeter pair in opening their own
store. "Basically, none of us wants to be
a full time shopkeeper," said Batten. The
alternative? The co-operative.
"On of the reasons." continues Batten,
"was we were looking at Exeter and the
lovely shops coming in. We thought we
had something to augment what was
happening. I really believe in the little
towns, and when 1 found out what was
happening here, there wasn't any
doubt."
Exeter has been the recipient of an
extensive facelift recently, which has
seen storefronts restored and the down-
town core upgraded. "There are so many
small towns that are dying and Exeter is
rising." says Batten.
So the idea had been conceived and the
appropriate setting was waiting. The only
things needed were co-operators. "We
finally decided to send out some letters.
We had a good response from local
people. There was lots of enthusiasm, so
we started meeting weekly." explained
Batten. Four weeks after the first letter
went out the inaugural meeting was held.
Six weeks later, on April 10, All Thumbs
Artists' Co-operative opened its doors on
Exeter's Main St.
It helped that through their
work de Haan and Batten
had a wide list of contacts
to whom to write for possi-
ble membership. And
through those contacts
other names of potential
members were passed along.
"That's how I got into it."
noted Lynn Kestle. a stained
glass artist.
As is often the case with new
enterprises. the learning contin-
ues and part of the secret to
success may indeed come from
learning as you go. "The first half
year there were a lot of growing pains."
acknowledged de Haan. "We were
more concerned with merchandising than
with art. But it was fun setting up."
The real coming -of -age, a leap of
incalcuable value. came last August when
Fresh Air. CBC Radio's weekend early
morning show, did a piece on the
co-operative. "I had been corresponding
with Bill McNeil and Cy Strange (co -hosts
of the show) about the pottery." said Rob
Tetu. a potter and former co-operative
member who has returned to work at his
own studio. "When the co-op came out 1
wrote them about it and they asked if they
could interview us." To say the mood on
the morning the piece ran was euphoric
would be an understatement. Tetu and
friends floated into sleepy Scaforth (his
pottery studio is nearby) that sunny
summer morning looking for others to
share breakfast and their good spirit. A
lump -throated. sleepless night celebra-
tion. A mark had been made. Almost
Christmas. Did you know you could dance
on the streets of Scaforth Saturday
mornings?
The special attention has been trans-
lated into steady development at All
Thumbs. It has expanded its function to
include shows by guest artists. The
painting of Goderich artist Mike Scott
(who won Village Squire's Christmas
cover contest) is currently on display.
"One of our mandates when we began
was to promote art," explained Tetu.
"And the concept of an artists' co-opera-
tive is a very alive and growing thing."
Batten
• concurs. "1 think
the concept is excellent from an artist's or
craftsman's point of view. The camarad-
erie is good, and it is stimulating."
For Kestle, the creative stimulation the
co-op generates is critical. "For someone
who works alone in their studio all the
time, it can be stifling. You don't get
feedback that you get when you can he
with people in your own field."
"It gets everybody thinking about what
they can do in their own medium," added
Batten. "It's so easy to keep doing the
same thing."
All Thumbs was born in the midst of a
rapidly growing public interest in craft~
and art. "I think it is more competitive
now than it has ever been." judged
Batten. "we've gone through that
plastic age and people are looking for
better quality."
The public is as interested in how work
is produced as it is in buying the artists'
wares. Kestle. commenting on work in
her own medium, said: "With stained
glass, people didn't know how it was
made and you couldn't give it away. So
it's been an education for me and for the
public."
It is. in fact. an attractive feature of All
VILLAGE SQUIRE/APRIL 1981 PG. 3