LITTLE CURRENT—Whitefish Falls artist Nick Cywink may be more familiar as the proprietor of Wild Horse Studio, but in recent years the accomplished Manitoulin artist has branched out to provide a space for local artists and artisans to sell their wares. Rainbow Country Arts, Gifts and Things was the result. The original location for the store was in the Espanola Mall and the result of dealing with the challenges of COVID, now a second location, Gateway to Rainbow Country Vendors, has been opened on Highway 6 just before the swing bridge.

“I came about that name because I was sitting out there on my lawn chair one day, having my cigarette,” he said, “when a beautiful rainbow came down over on this side of the swing bridge and the other end went over by Espanola.” The name came quickly to mind that day.

The store features the work of 40 vendors currently, but Mr. Cywink said there is still room for more, especially since he now has an outside tent set up for vendors who want their own stall.

Leatherwork, jewellery, hand crafted clothing and a host of other artisanal work is on display at the store. There is maple syrup, wild rice, homemade jams, woodworking, woodburning and, most amazingly, black ash baskets. “This guy here, Steve Kanjar, he is 87 years old he’s still doing it now,” said Mr. Cywink. “He made birch bark baskets and had quite a stockpile, he sold out in just a few days.”

The artist knows each and every product in the store and the people who are behind each creation. They hail from all over Wiikwemkoong and the North Shore and the store is well worth an afternoon’s perusal. There is even some of Mr. Cywink’s own works to be found amongst the shelves.