ENRICHED BREAD ARTISTS 34TH ANNUAL OPEN STUDIO
THRESHOLDS: Between Place and Possibility,
EBA’s 2026 exhibition reframes studio spaces as active, speculative frontiers amidst rapid urban transformation.
This October, Ottawa’s studio co-operative, Enriched Bread Artists (EBA), presents its 34th Annual Open Studio exhibition: Thresholds: Between Place and Possibility. Reimagining their historic home in the Hintonburg/Westboro corridor on the threshold of Little Italy, twenty-one contemporary artists will open their spaces to the public, offering an exploration of how art navigates physical, social, and imaginative transitions.
For over three decades, EBA has operated out of the iconic 1924 Standard Bread Company building at 951 Gladstone Avenue. While this heritage location is well-known to capital residents, the 2026 Open Studio pivots away from nostalgic historical narratives. Instead, Thresholds interrogates the dynamic reality of art-making in a city undergoing rapid urban intensification, treating the building’s walls not as a shelter from change, but as a permeable membrane between current place and future possibility.
The threshold at 951 Gladstone has never been static. We inherited a dilapidated building in a mixed-use zone that had been vacant for 8 years. Both inside the building and area outside were in rough shape. Over our 34-year tenure the artists worked hard to create a safe environment as the outside changed slowly and turned into a family-friendly neighbourhood.
EVENT & VISITOR INFORMATION
· EXHIBITION: Enriched Bread Artists 34th Annual Open Studio Thresholds: Between Place and Possibility
· DATES & TIMES:
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 15, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
– with DJ Michael Caffery, cash bar and snacks
Open Studio Weekend I: October 17–18, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Open Studio Weekend II: October 24–25, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
· SPECIAL EVENTS:
Performance by Leigha Stiles: Thursday, October 15 | 7:30 PM
Mini-Artist Talks Tour: Saturday, October 17 | 2:00 PM
A Cappella singing by The Wildflowers: Sunday, October 18 | 1:00 PM
Words and Images / Poets on Art: Saturday, October 24 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM
· LOCATION: Enriched Bread Artists, 951 Gladstone Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1Y 3E5
· ADMISSION: Free
· ACCESSIBILITY: Stairs. No elevator.
· TRANSPORTATION: Street parking and OC Transpo routes nearby.
· EBA ARTISTS: Julie Baribeau, Maren Kathleen Elliott, Colette Gréco-Riddle, Sandra Gregson, Sayward Johnson, Gayle Kells, Clara Kim, Karina Kraenzle, Jennifer Macklem, Natasha Mazurka, Juliana McDonald, Christos Pantieras, Bozica Radjenovic, Daniel Sharp, Cindy Stelmackowich, Leigha Stiles, Svetlana Swinimer, Tavi Weisz, Joyce Westrop, Yvonne Wiegers, and Katherine Zarull.
· GUEST ARTISTS: Michael Ashley, Lorraine Gilbert, Lia Karras, Don Monet, Eloïse Pontbriand, Dina Salha, and Jane Spencer.
ABOUT ENRICHED BREAD ARTISTS (EBA)
Founded in 1992, Enriched Bread Artists is Ottawa’s oldest and largest artist-run studio co-operative. Located in the historic 1924 Standard Bread Company building on the edge of Hintonburg, EBA provides studio space, peer support, and exhibition opportunities for twenty-one contemporary visual artists across diverse stages of their careers. Through annual Open Studios, educational outreach, and collaborative projects, EBA remains a vital pillar of the National Capital Region’s cultural ecosystem.
Whether for seasoned art collectors seeking original works or neighborhood residents curious about the vibrant culture thriving inside the Gladstone landmark, Thresholds: Between Place and Possibility offers an authentic, unvarnished encounter with contemporary Ottawa creativity.
For updates on our 34th Annual Open Studio and the corresponding events, please visit our online and social media platforms.
Web: http://www.enrichedbreadartists.com/
Instagram: enriched_bread
Facebook: Enriched Bread Artists
SPECIAL EVENT DETAILS
Thursday, October 15
Performance by Leigha Stiles
7:30 pm
Second floor
By activating a large, wearable patchwork sculpture, Leigha Stiles draws from personal experience to explore grief through embodied action. Enveloping the body, the sculpture becomes a physical manifestation of the emotional weight of grief. Through fluid movement, gesture, and expression, the performance navigates the non-linear stages of mourning, inviting reflection on how grief reshapes us both psychologically and physically.
Saturday, October 17
Mini-Artist Talks Tour featuring Gayle Kells, Natasha Mazurka, Jennifer Macklem, and Dan Sharp.
2 pm
Meet in the main entrance area on the first floor.
Join us for a casual walkthrough as we visit four EBA studios to hear about an aspect of the artist’s work. Visits are approximately 10 minutes each, and are facilitated by an EBA artist.
Sunday, October 18
A Cappella singing by The Wildflowers
1 pm
First floor common area (Set 1). Second floor common area (Set 2).
The Wildflowers came together through a shared passion for singing. Blending rich four-part harmony with a lively mix of ukulele and percussion, this quartet brings a fresh and playful spirit to an eclectic repertoire. The result is music that feels like being among old friends. The Wildflowers are Jane Christmas, Erika Coghill, Karina Kraenzle, and Daizy Naf.
Saturday, October 24
Words and Images / Poets on Art
2 – 4 pm at EBA
In partnership with David O’Meara, English-language Poet Laureate for the City of Ottawa, a group of EBA artists have met and collaborated with local poets. Come celebrate and hear the poems that have been created in response to conversations and tours held in artist’s studios earlier this fall.
During a walk-through of select art studios and EBA gallery spaces, words and images will be imaginatively brought together. This unique artistic event which draws together Ottawa’s artistic disciplines and their audiences, highlights the creative voices and ideas that are activating our city.
Participating EBA Artists: Sandra Gregson, Jennifer Macklem, Christos Pantieras, Bozica Radjenovic, Dan Sharp, Cindy Stelmackowich, Svetlana Swinimer, Joyce Westrop, Yvonne Wiegers, Katherine Zarull.
Participating Poets: Susan Atkinson, Manahil Bandukwala, nina jane drystek, Matthew Firth, Cara Goodwin, Chris Johnson, Colin Morton, Sandra Ridley, Ian Roy, Deborah-Anne Tunney
David O’Meara gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the City of Ottawa.
