The Art School of Peterborough Hosting An Anniversary Celebration With a 30-Year Milestone

The Art School of Peterborough is celebrating its 30th anniversary in style on Sept. 21 from 7 to 11 p.m. at The Mount Community Centre.

For 30 years, The Art School of Peterborough as a not for profit organization has offered the Peterborough community opportunities to explore their creativity and build their visual art skills. Photo courtesy of the Mount COmmunity Centre.

The event will have all current and previous students with supportive community members with the event open to anyone.

Light refreshments, interactive live art, a photo booth, a DJ and a cash bar will be at the festivities.

It will also showcase a variety of the students’s work of art. Calendars are available for pre-orders and for pick up during the event. They are be $30 each.

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Electric City Culture Council Name Recipient of Bierk Art Bursary

The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) has awarded the 2024 Bierk Art Bursary for Post-Secondary Studies in Visual Arts, Media Arts, Architecture and Design to Victoria Nunez.

Bierk Art Bursary 2024 recipient Victoria Nunez. The Bierk Art Bursary Program was established to recognize arts champion and supporter Liz Bierk, and to honour the contributions she and her husband, painter David Bierk, made to the arts in Peterborough. Photo courtesy of the Electric City Culture Council.

Nunez is graduating from Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School and will pursue a Bachelor of Interior Design at Humber College in the fall.

This $1,000 bursary is awarded to graduating Peterborough-area high school art students whose work demonstrates great promise (artistic merit) and who are committed to pursuing further studies at the post-secondary level in the visual arts, media arts, architecture, or design. 

“Victoria Nunez impressed the Selection Committee (distinguished artists and teachers, Cyd Hosker and Spencer Harrison) with her clearly demonstrated interest in examining design and the interior spacial elements of architecture,” said Su Ditta, EC3 executive director. “She will clearly benefit from all the possibilities the Humber program offers and we wish her every success.”

Wells Cathedral. All photos courtesy of Electric City Culture Council.

Christmas Ornaments.

Shower Head.

Nunez will be recognized and the bursary will be officially presented at the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts at the Canadian Canoe Museum on Oct. 10.

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Six Shows Unveiled For Peterborough Theatre Guild's 2024-25 Season Lineup

The Peterborough Theatre Guild (PTG) has unveiled six shows and seven staged readings for their upcoming 2024-2025 season.

Graphic by Mark Dizon.

Shows announced for this seasons are Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Dorothy in Wonderland, Mary’s Wedding, How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse, Ghost Story, Outside Mullingar and Silent Sky.

“Through the love of live theatre, we look forward to sharing in the power of storytelling and music,” said Kate Suhr of PTG.

The following are each show’s dates and details (all bolded dates denote matinee shows with a 2 p.m. start, 7:30 p.m. for all other shows):

How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse by Ben Muir and Ghost Story by Marni Walsh

Director: Margaret Monis / Producers: Marion Griffin and Cynthia Wardrope

• Dates: Sept. 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29 Oct. 3, 4 and 5

Ghost Story (two one-acts on the same evening with How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse):

Director: Lee Bolton / Producers: Jen Eve

• Dates: Sept. 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, Oct. 3, 4 and 5

Mary’s Wedding by Stephen Massicotte

Director: Jane Werger / Producer: Jennifer Gruer

• Dates: Oct. 25, 26, 27 31, Nov. 1, 2, 3 7, 8 and 9

Dorothy in Wonderland – The Musical by Brian D. Taylor:

Director: Sarah Rogers / Producers Marion Griffin and Cynthia Wardrope

• Dates: Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 1, 4, 6, 7 and 8

Outside Mullingar by John Patrick Shanley:

Director: Jerry Allen / Producers: Pat Hooper and Bob Campbell

• Dates: Jan. 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, Feb. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8

Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson:

Director: Bea Quarrie / Producer: Ina Stenner

• Dates: Mar. 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, Apr. 3, 4 and 5

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Music by Andrew Lloyd Weber

Lyrics by Tim Rice

*All shows at Showplace Performance Centre

Director: Robert Ainsworth / Producer: Margaret Pieper

• Dates: April 25, 26, 27 and 30. May 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ticket Prices:

Full Length:

• Adult - $30.00 Seniors $27.00 Students: $20.00

• Musical - Adult: $42.00 Seniors $37.00 Students: $27.00

• Family - All Tickets: $15.00

• Staged Readings - All Tickets: $12

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SPARK Photo Festival to Conclude Its 12-Year Run

After 12 years of showcasing photography, the Board has decided the 2024 festival was the final SPARK Photo Festival, announced on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival.

A press release issued the following statement:

“The mission of SPARK was to celebrate photography and the artists and enthusiasts behind the camera lens. The Festival introduced accessibility for photographers to have venues to display their art and for the audience to discover it. Right here in our region tens of thousands of visitors experienced printed and digital photography from hundreds of local photographers. Exhibits were mounted in traditional galleries and studios, and also in unexpected places such as shops, cafes, libraries, community centres, and even in the great outdoors.

Like many arts and cultural efforts today, SPARK has encountered financial pressures that do not appear to be resolvable over the next few years. Instead of potentially entering negative cash flow territory, the SPARK Board decided it would be preferable to exit following a strong run of eleven successful festivals.”

To view archive exhibit pages, virtual exhibits and past Festival catalogues, viewers can go online before July 20.

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Peterborough Museum and Archives Celebrates China With “Chinese Languages in Canada” Exhibit

The Peterborough Museum & Archives will host an exhibit, ‘Chinese languages in Canada,’ to celebrate its richness, organized by the Canadian Language Museum in the Heideman exhibit space from June 22 to Sept. 15.

File Photo.

Since 1788, Chinese languages have been integral to Canadian society, enriching its cultural tapestry. Over 1.4 million people across every province and territory speak Chinese languages.

The exhibit allows visitors to see the historical journey of Chinese languages in Canada, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka and others. Visitors will be able to hear the different languages, learn about their impacts on Canadian culture and enjoy engaging interactive displays. The PMA will also feature the story of early Chinese immigration to Peterborough and their long-standing contributions to our local community.

As part of opening day celebrations, the Museum will also offer themed crafts and family-friendly activities from noon until 5 p.m.

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City's Public Art Program Seeking Indigenous Artists to Commemorate Chemong Portage

The City of Peterborough Public Art Program invites Indigenous visual artists living in Peterborough and local First Nations to submit proposals for a public art project to commemorate the Chemong Portage.

The Public Art Policy, adopted in 2009 and updated in 2022, recognizes the role public art plays in creating culturally vibrant cities, identifies processes for generating and selecting projects and committees and commits an annual Public Art fund to maintain existing artworks and to commission new projects from artists across the country. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITY OF PETERBOROUGH.

The Chemong Portage is an approximately 10-kilometre-long footpath and portage that once ran between Nogojiwanong/Peterborough and gchi-maang (Chemong Lake).  

The intent of Right of Way - The Chemong Portage Project is to commemorate the portage in a way that allows people to experience it. Visual artists are invited to submit digital images of their original artwork. Selected images will be printed onto vinyl media and wrapped around traffic signal cabinets located close to what is thought to be the original portage route.  

“This is a great initiative to highlight the cultural richness of the Michi Saagiig and educate the city and visitors that they are on an historical portage route of our communities,” said Tom Cowie of Hiawatha First Nation.

The call for artists, including more information about the project parameters with tips about the application process, is on the City’s Public Art webpage at peterborough.ca/PublicArt.  

Information sessions 

Artists are encouraged to attend one of three information sessions in early June. Public art program staff will be in attendance to answer questions.   

Hiawatha First Nation Cultural Centre 

June 3 at 3:30 p.m.  

431 Hiawatha Line  

Hiawatha First Nation  

Peterborough Public Library  

June 3 at 6:30 p.m.  

345 Aylmer St. N, Peterborough 

Curve Lake Nation Cultural Centre  

June 4 at 4:30 p.m. 

1024 Mississauga St.

Curve Lake First Nation 

The application deadline is June 25 at 4 p.m. All applications must be submitted online. 

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View Creativity at the Mount Community Centre's Eighth-Annual 'Get Your Art On' Exhibition

The Mount Community Centre is hosting their eighth-annual ‘Get Your Art On,’ exhibition and sale of local arts and crafts at their facility at the Austin Doran Hall on May 24 to 26.

Photocourtesy of the Mount COmmunity Centre.

The exhibition features paintings, photography, pottery, sculpturing, woodworking and more on display and for sale.

The official opening ceremony starts on the 24 at 6 p.m. Each day onward is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“There are numerous artists and crafts people coming to display and sell their works,” says Hartley Stephenson, local artist and event organizer. “The items are unique and specially designed to please the buyer. Attendees are bound to find something that will interest them and be a perfect gift for Mother’s day celebrations.”

The event is free to attend and 10 per cent of all profits going towards the Mount’s efforts to provide affordable housing and food security.

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Photos: Seniors Entertained As Trent Valley Archives Brings Peter Robinson's Story to Life With 'Tide of Hope' Production at Royal Gardens

Tales of famed politician Peter Robinson came to life in a live production of ‘Tide of Hope’ put on by Trent Valley Archives Theatre production at Royal Gardens Retirement Residence on Thursday night.

All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Michael Ketemer as the Musician.

Nathan Govier as Lord Kingston (left) with Lucas Pronk as Peter Robinson (right).

Drew Mills (left) as David and Lauren Murphy (right).

Pronk with June Govier (middle) as Elizabeth and Elaine Day (right) as The Descendant.

Brogan McKeller (left) as the Stage Manager with the cast members as the production has a play within itself.

Carling Dulder (left) as Lady Margaret/Midnight as Govier receives a knife from her.

The play depicts actor The Descendant in the forthcoming Trent Valley Archives Theatre production. She is a Peter Robinson settler descendant while her ancestor, John Heffernan, was a poor gardener on Lord George Kingston's estate.

It follows the trials and tribulations of two families who are forced to flee Ireland and emigrate to Upper Canada in 1825 to escape hardships and violent rebellion. It commemorates the bicentennial of the Peter Robinson immigration. He played a pivotal role in organizing the migration and settlement of Peterborough.

The play commemorates the 200th anniversary of the arrival of roughly 2,024 Irish settlers to Peterborough as part of the British government’s assisted emigration program for destitute Irish families.

Live productions are available to the public at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. for school groups on Wednesday.

Tickets can be found on Market Hall’s website.

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Trent University Celebrates Public Sculpture At Campus Entrance

Trent University celebrated the art piece, ‘Potential,’ three pinecone sculptures at the entrance of the Symons Campus and was created by artist Floyd Elzinga.

Dr. Leo Groarke, Trent's president and vice-chancellor (left); Floyd Elzinga (middle) and Suzanne Bailey, Trent’s associate dean of graduate studies (right) with ‘Potential.’ Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The art piece was completed in April of last year. Elzinga took about a year to complete them. The sculptures were made of weathering (Corten) steel which adds a uniqueness to their colour from a scientific standpoint.

“It's a specific alloy of steel that develops rusty oxidized patina but that patina actually prevents it from deteriorating so that 'rust' actually prevents it from corroding further which is an 'irony,’” explained Elzinga.

‘Potential’ is appropriate for a campus with pine cones being the theme for the piece according to the Beamsville, Ont. artist.

“One of these pinecones would have 100 or more seeds in it and the potential refers to is that each of those seeds, the potential that they have inside them to become 100 trees that could go elsewhere,” said Elzinga. “It's that metaphor representing so much more life that can come out of it and I think it reflects well on the University. Students come to learn things and they are those seeds that take that knowledge to set their roots where that is.”

Family, friends and Trent faculty were on hand to celebrate the occasion of Elzinga’s accomplishments.

The sculpture was originally announced on National Philanthropy Day (Nov. 15), is the latest addition to the University’s Public Sculpture Initiative (PSI) which offers a nationally significant collection of public art, supported by philanthropy. 

Trent’s PSI was initiated by David James and his wife, Lili de Grandpré, and is supported by Jalynn H. Bennett's legacy gift and other donors and artists according to the University.

The work was commissioned after Suzanne Bailey, Trent’s associate dean of graduate studies, suggested Elzinga to Dr. Leo Groarke, Trent's president and vice-chancellor. The latter was immediately on board.

“Suzanne reached out to me on behalf of Leo and said, ‘we would love to see something by Floyd,’” said Elzinga. “It was at a point in my career that this was something I could afford to do and I think it's a great solution for that University to build a collection.”

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Hometown PTBO: Actress Nancy Towns About Her Family's Douro Legacy and Upcoming Productions Including 'Girl in the Goldfish Bowl'

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with actress and singer Nancy Towns about her family's legacy in Douro especially with P.G. Towns & Sons, her upcoming production 'Girl in the Goldfish Bowl' with the Peterborough Theatre Guild and some of her favourite all-time concerts.

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