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County of Elgin

It is the mission of the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre to encourage and support an ap-preciation for and support the practice of the visual arts in St. Thomas and Elgin County through a variety of exhibitions, educational programs and through the preservation of a permanent collection.

Essential to the success of any organization is the ongoing cooperation of its supporters. The Art Centre thanks the County of Elgin and the City of St. Thomas, it membership, donors, grantors and sponsors for their generous support.

The St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre is a highly valued and respected art centre that is a focal point for the St. Thomas-Elgin community. The Art Centre is dedicated to fostering a welcoming, enriching and engaging environment of art and creativity, which inspires, chal-lenges and educates our community.

Attendance (Oct 2014 to Oct 2015) Visitors to exhibitions 4970

Tours and Community Outreach 2250 Adult Programming 308

Children Programs 1072

Special Events and Programs 1665 Facility rentals 2560

Our 2015 report records the events of the past year, one of many accomplishments in which we take great pride, challenges we met, and new programs that have moved us forward in our mission of engaging people with the visual arts. But this publication isn't just a way to communicate our numbers and our accomplishments, it's also a roadmap for how we con-tinually strive to improve and enhance healthy community through arts and culture. Our hope is that with every year we are inspiring change that will make the Art Centre, our mem-bers, our volunteers and the communities we serve more engaged with art today, tomorrow and in the years ahead.

In 2015, we continued our commitment to artists who hail from St. Thomas, Elgin County and the regional area, with incredible exhibitions from Larry Russell, Jeff Willmore and selections from our permanent collection. This fall we re-energized our exhibition area with our first an-nual juried art exhibition, featuring forty local/regional artists and an intersection of art, music and poetry at the West End Arts Mingle.

The St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre is focused on the future. For the past number of years we've had a clear plan, and the plan is working. We continue to attract new audiences, and to build on past success with new programs and exhibitions.

The staff at the Art Centre are professional, dedicated and extremely hard working. They are committed to the communities in which they live. Year after year, they redefined what it means to make a difference. They deliver critical services and make an enormous impact on all the visitors - young and old, and for that we should be all grateful.

In coming months and the new year we invite you to visit the Art Centre to experience our exhibitions and to participate our programs. We hope that you will learn something new about art, culture and about your local artists and their role in the world. We are sure that you will be surprised and impressed by something unexpected, and will go away feeling proud of your St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre.

The St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre is committed to engaging people in an enhanced

ex-tinue its commitment to encouraging and supporting the appreciation for the visual arts in St. Thomas and Elgin County and to presenting exhibitions that have a wide appeal.

On display at the Art Centre are exhibitions of both historical and contemporary art. These exhibitions help tell the stories and histories of St. Thomas and Elgin County artists and the community. Gallery Three features artwork which is held in trust by the art centre. A special exhibition titled “On Loan”, featured works by local artist, Clark McDougall which celebrat-ed his special place in our community and highlightcelebrat-ed artwork in the community as estates loaned work from their private collections to hang on the Art Centre walls.

A few examples of our 2015 temporary exhibitions include recent works by Michael Durham, the interactive exhibition by Ron Milton and Cultural Properties, which drew work from the permanent collection and told the story of St. Thomas and Elgin County through works deemed cultural assets by Heritage Canada.

Our collection is diverse and is accessible to all. We are the hub of artistic and cultural ener-gy, and an inspiring resource for St. Thomas and Elgin County. Works from the permanent collection were loaned to shows across the county and regions, including works by local art-ist Ron Kingswood and Ron Milton in the exhibition “On the Trail of the Monarch Butterfly” – September 8 to December 24, 2015 at the Elgin County Museum and “Maurice Stubbs – Pri-mary Forces” at the McIntosh Gallery, University of Western Ontario.

This past year we have pursued partnerships with local collectors to produce exhibitions, and broaden the reach of the projects and exhibitions. Special attention has been paid to highlighting local and regional artists, through solo projects and group exhibitions highlight-ing the strength of the artistic practice. “In View of the Artist” was a juried exhibition pro-duced by the Art Centre, and juried by Gerald Pedros.

Larry Russell – Mind & Memory Selections from the Permanent Collection

Michael Durham – Home and Away Curator: Laura Woermke

Gallery One and Two March 7 to April 18, 2015

Michael Durham Selections from the Permanent Collection Curator: Laura Woermke

Gallery Three

March 7 to April 18, 2015

Ron Milton – The Who, The How, The Why Curator: Laura Woermke

Gallery One, Two and Three April 25 to June 7, 2015

Gerald Pedros – Taking a Line for a Walk Gallery One and Two

June 13 to July 25, 2015

Gerald Pedros – Taking a Line for a Walk Video Projection – Brian Saby

Gallery Three

June 13 to July 25, 2015

Cultural Property Selections from the Permanent Collection Curator: Laura Woermke

Gallery One and Two

August 1 to September 12, 2015

On Loan – Selections from the Sloan Estate Works by Clark McDougall

Curator: Laura Woermke Gallery Three

August 1 to December 23, 2015

In View of the Artist – Annual Juried Exhibition Juror: Gerald Pedros

Gallery One and Two

September 19 to October 24, 2015 Jeff Willmore – Aerial Selections Curator: Laura Woermke

Gallery One and Two

November 14 to January 2, 2016

Our Permanent Collection now numbers 1554 works. The Art Centre’s collection focuses on works by visual artists with strong ties to St. Thomas and Elgin County, such as Clark McDou-gall and William St. Thomas Smith, Canadian artists – both historical and contemporary – as well as international visual artists that complement the Permanent Collection.

The Art Centre has adopted a rigorous acquisition review process, that formally assesses, through the Curator/Executive Director and the Acquisitions Committee, whether donations, bequests or purchases will be accepted. We review and consider how an artwork might fit into the collection plan, exhibition opportunities, and the condition of the work. The com-mittee carefully evaluates the long-term requirements of each piece for exhibition and stor-age. Justification for each work detailing why the addition of that work is important to the permanent collection.

The Art Centre’s collection increased by eight works in 2015, of which six came from dona-tions or bequests. Historical works accounted for three of the eight works of the new acquisi-tions.

List of Works

Farquhar McGilvray Knowles– Portrait of Lila Knowles, nd

Patrick Thibert: Linear Compositions with Fire Circles, Sept 2011 James Kemp, Figure in the Doorway, 1959

Tom Hodgson, Portrait of Tom Hodgson, acrylic on canvas, 1972 Talsia Walvius, Atlantic Coast, Acrylic and watercolour on paper Bernice Vincent, Flat Land #4 Acrylic on board, 2001

Amanda Caldwell, Field VI, Lindocut Print, 2015

Jeff Yurek MPP – Office

Canadian Southern Railway Station Ferguson Dimeo Lawyers

Canadian Southern Railway Station Mayor’s Office

City of St. Thomas – St. Thomas, Ontario Brent Shaw Professional Accountant 300 Southedgeware Road

Elgin Business Resource Centre

Elgin County Museum

“On the Trail of the Monarch Butterfly”

September 8 to December 24, 2015

McIntosh Gallery, University of Western Ontario

“Maurice Stubbs – Primary Forces”

March 19 to May 9, 2015

This year the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre has offered a successful array of programs for people of all ages, inspired by the contemporary and historical permanent collection and the ongoing exhibition programs. The Educational Coordinator was diligent with the design and development of the FREE educational programs offered to all students in St.

Thomas and Elgin County, additional programs for educators, consultation and implementa-tion with outside organizaimplementa-tions, and a host of community collaborative projects that support the Art Centre’s growth, development and appreciation for the visual arts in the community.

The school tour program continues to provide a strong foundation for our core on-site pro-gramming. For many students, the school visit is their first. Our goal is to ignite their curiosity so they return. Students ranging from age three to their young adult years participate in in-teractive tours and activities, led by the Education Coordinator – Sherri Howard, who en-courages the development of inquiring, open and curious minds. A special thank you to Sherri Howard for her dedication, flexibility and commitment to life-long learning.

Since its inception, the Art Centre has placed great importance on art education in our community. Over the past decade and a half new strategies of incorporating the elemen-tary school art curriculum into our tours and the corresponding hands-on component have been received with great enthusiasm by the teachers in St. Thomas and Elgin County. This enthusiasm has translated into thousands of students visiting the Art Centre each year and wonderful working relationships with so many of the dedicated teachers in both the TVDSB and the LDCSB.

Over the last few years the Art Centre has sought to develop new ways of engaging not just

added benefit that all of these programs are offered free, in order to be truly inclusive for our entire community.

In 2015 we brought our children’s programming one step further, realizing that distance can sometimes be a barrier to children participating in our public programs and community events. So when the Art Centre was approached this past summer by Sandra Poczobut from the Elgin County Libraries we were eager to work together to launch a traveling pro-gram that would see self-guided, hands-on art activities rotating throughout the county li-braries. We look forward to building on this partnership and developing new, fresh ideas based on the positive feed-back received so far.

One of the most meaningful changes that has taken place over the past year is in the area of adult educational programming. The decision to direct funds, whether they be city and county funding, sponsorship, or donations, is one the Art Centre gives enormous considera-tion to, endeavoring to develop programs based on where we think we could affect the greatest benefit.

A screening of the documentary, “I Remember Better When I Paint”, hosted by the Alz-heimer Society Elgin St. Thomas, at the Art Centre, was the inspiration for a remarkable new partnership and adult art program. The film highlighted the tremendous benefit of creating art for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and dementia and inspired both agencies to cre-ate a multigenerational art program entitled, Creating Connections, that was launched at the end of 2014. The program engages local high school students, caregivers, and clients from the Alzheimer Society in weekly art workshops, fellowship and the opportunity to view current exhibitions at the Art Centre. Two rounds of the program took place in 2015 and winter and spring sessions are already being organized for 2016.

It is a distinct privilege to have the opportunity to provide these, and all our programs to the community and to see first hand the positive impact that visual arts education generates in St. Thomas and Elgin County.

Sherri Howard Education/Event Coordinator

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Parents are welcome to supply a cake and other goodies for the party-goers

The Art Centre is excited to be participating, again this year, in the Ontario Early Years Centre Teddy Bear Picnic . For more infor-mation about this event contact the OEYC at

Every January the Art Centre calls for the renewal of membership. Membership offers many benefits, such as 10% off in in the Gift Shop, invitations to exhibitions openings where future artists can meet the featured artists and much more.

Richard & Susan Andrews

The St. Thomas – Elgin Public Art Centre Gift Shop offers a variety of unique items such as original paintings, drawings, pottery, jewellery, books and art cards. The Gift Shop showcas-es local and regional artists to our community. We carry over 30 artist and artisans with dis-plays that are constantly changing. Visitors will have a unique experience with each vis-it. Annually we host the Winter Gift Shop Sale where a selection of our artists display their work in the main gallery. Come visit this unique shopping destination that helps to raise funds for the St. Thomas – Elgin Public Art Centre and provides a space for artists to sell their one of a kind works of art.

Gift Shop Artists

Joel Berry Julie Berry Ann-Marie Cheung Mandy Carter Pat Curtis Diane Dobson Alberta Harmsen Kim Hughson Heather Keating Christine Noble Terry Lanning Reagan Little Ethel Mitrovic Crystal McMaster Candy McManiman Judy Ross

Alice Plummer Larry Russell Victoria Rich Jan Row Joseph Sawicki Dorothy Steven Aganetha Sawatzky Scott Shakir

Jennifer Squires Katelyn Tippin Ian Tyson Aidan Urquhart Mary Louise White Laura Woermke Medlyn Stained Glass

Diane Dobson Paul Prevet & Candy McManiman David Morris & Elaine McGregor-

Morris Dan Reith & Brian Helmer Helen Roberts Marietta Roberts John D. Shaw & Catherine Elliot

Shaw Elgin Contracting & Restoration Ltd.

Frances E. Tarry