Peterborough Blogs
A Crafter’s Dream: ARTISANity Show and Sale Hits Peterborough Square
/Spring is in the air, and with it the return of Spring ARTISANity 2023 from April 28 to 29.
photo courtesy of the ARTISAN centre.
ARTISANity will be taking place Friday, April 28 from noon to 8 p.m., and Saturday, April 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on the lower level of Peterborough Square (across from the Artisans Centre.)
The show and sale will feature the beautiful, hand-crafted works of local artisans. fibre arts, gourd arts, woodturning, pottery and jewelry will all be available.
One hour free parking is available on April 28 and all day free parking on April 29.
For more information, visit the website.
New Art Gallery of Peterborough Exhibit Features Award-Winning Artist Tim Whiten
/Explore the art work of award-winning artist Tim Whiten through the Art Gallery of Peterborough’s (AGP) current exhibition Elemental: Earthen until May 21.
photo courtesy of the art gallery of peterborough.
The exhibition features a selection of the artist’s early to recent work – from the beginning of the 1970s onward – alongside several antiquities generously loaned from the McMaster Museum of Art.
“It is an honour and a privilege to share Whiten’s work during this exciting time in his long and impactful career,” says AGP curator Fynn Leitch.
photo courtesy of the art gallery of peterborough.
Tim Whiten was born in Inkster, Michigan in 1941. He does not consider himself an artist but an "image maker who also creates cultural objects," and in a career that spans over forty years, he has sought to navigate the territory of the human condition with the intent of inviting experiences and encouraging “sensing” over “reading.”
Whiten recently won the esteemed Gershon Iskowitz Prize.
The exhibition, Elemental, is part of an expanded, multi-venue survey celebrating Whiten’s extensive career, developed in partnership between the Art Gallery of Peterborough, Art Gallery of York University, Robert McLaughlin Gallery, and McMaster Museum of Art from 2022 to 2023. This series of exhibitions is thematically linked by the classical elements of air, water, earth, and fire - a reference to Whiten’s interest in alchemical practices. Elemental: Earthen is the third of four exhibitions and focuses on the element of earth and its associations with home, sustenance, power, transformation and alchemy.
“Together, these objects create a space to explore Whiten’s ongoing engagements with the fundamental composition of the universe and who/what we are as human beings,” shares Chiedza Pasipanodya, guest curator of Elemental: Earthen.
The AGP is located at 250 Crescent St. Admission is free.
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4th Line Theatre Seeking Male Actors and a Baby For Upcoming Productions
/4th Line Theatre is male actors for their upcoming productions of D’Arcy Jenish’s ‘The Tilco Strike’ and Robert Winslow’s ‘The Cavan Blazers’ announced on Monday.
Cast members from Alex Poch-Goldin's The Great Shadow in 2022. Photo courtesy of Wayne Eardley and 4th Line Theatre.
For The Tilco Strike, 4th Line is searching for two adult men or teenage boys. The Cavan Blazers requires an adult man and a baby to join the production.
Cast members from Ian McLachlan and Robert Winslow's Crow Hill: The Telephone Play of 2018. Photo courtesy of Wayne Eardley and 4th Line Theatre.
The Tilco Strike is written by D’Arcy Jenish and is directed by Cynthia Ashperger.
It recounts the year-long fight between 35 poorly paid women and their hard-nosed male bosses at Tilco Plastics in Peterborough who were determined to crush the women and their union according to 4th Line Theatre The strike began in December 1965 over a $25 bonus and escalated into an epic battle between organized labour and strike-breaking employers. The women lost their fight but changed labour relations in Ontario forever.
Cast members from Robert Winslow's The Cavan Blazers in 2011. Photo courtesy of Wayne Eardley and 4th Line Theatre.
The Cavan Blazers was written by Robert Winslow and directed by Kim Blackwell.
It is a gritty, intense play that has the audience on the edge of its seat from start to finish. This drama chronicles the religious conflict between Catholic and Protestant Irish settlers in Cavan Township in the early to mid-nineteenth century. Violence erupts when a Protestant vigilante gang known as the Cavan Blazers tries to stop a Catholic settlement from being established as stated by a press release.
Any questions about auditions can be directed to 4th Line Theatre’s artistic administrator Emma Hale at 705-932-4505 or emma@4thlinetheatre.on.ca.
Third Annual Painted Paddle Public Art Exhibit Tour in Downtown Peterborough
/The Downtown Vibrancy Project will be holding an outdoor public art exhibit to celebrate the community’s connection to the water through a series of painted paddle installations across downtown Peterborough from March 3 to 24.
The Gardens of Peterborough residents' Joanne B (right) holding her painted paddle titled ‘Call of the Loon’ alongside Joanne W (left) holding her painted paddle titled ‘Spring in the Air.’ Photo courtesy of the Peterborough DBIA.
Locals and visitors will be able to tour the Painted Paddle art exhibit by visiting a number of storefront windows scattered throughout the downtown through this art crawl experience.
Local artists and graphic designer Susie Armstrong painted one of the 31 canoe paddles on display.
“I was inspired to paint a pollination scene for my paddle. Peterborough is a hub for urban pollination gardens, and I see them everywhere on my spring and summer walks,” said Armstrong. “I hope to evoke a bit of warm weather with my painting, which depicts swamp milkweed, a pollination plant specifically enjoyed by monarch butterflies.”
Many creative community members lent their artistic skills to the Painted Paddle project, including executive director of the DBIA Terry Guiel.
“This is the third year we have run this project and it continues to be a success, bringing beautiful art to our downtown, raising funds to support a meaningful project, and inspiring hopefully thoughts of spring paddling.” Guiel remarks. "I am one of the artists and my painted paddle reflects on two themes on each side of the paddle, one being Every Child Matters and the other Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.”
Other local artists taking part in this year’s project include Samantha Chuisolo, Residents from Empress & Princess Retirement Residence, Salvador Haines, Bri Gosselin, Brooklin Stormie, Tim Wales, Nuin-Tara Wilson, Sarah St.Pierre, Jason Wilkins, Jenni Johnston, Terry Guiel, Raine Knudsen, Nichelle Leeson, Kate Powell, Val Yeo, Justine-Marie, Trent University, Ash Hughes, Hearts 4 Joy, Jeff Macklin, Tayler Morencie, Students of Lakefield College School, Karin McLean., Students of Thomas A. Stewart School, J McKay, Jennifer Baici, Ginny Stammers and Maggie O'Rourke.
The paddles will be displayed in store windows throughout downtown Peterborough including Bluestreak, Tragically Dipped, Watson and Lou, Art School, Cork and Bean, The Food Shop, The Night Kitchen, Avant Garden, Boardwalk Boardgame Lounge, Mark Jokinen Books, Kit Coffee, Chesler's Shoes, GreenUP, Cheek, Gerti's, The Toy Shop, Plant Goals, Cahills, Wild Rock, Tiny Greens and Bike!
The Painted Paddle exhibit will be on display until March 24. Exhibition paddles will be available for auction from March 3 at 8 p.m. to March 24 at 8 p.m. with proceeds going to support the DBIA and One City Peterborough Employment Program Partnership to create two part-time jobs through The Green Team. For the virtual auction visit the link.
To participate in a self-guided tour of the Painted Paddle, community members can access a full map of paddle exhibit locations by visiting the Love For The Boro website online.
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Haliburton School of Art and Design Launches Summer Course Calendar
/Discover a new passion and embrace creativity this summer with 55 new classes and workshops at the Fleming College Haliburton School of Art + Design (HSAD).
photo courtesy of fleming college haliburton school of art + design, facebook.
The new Summer 2023 course calendar for HSAD is out and features new courses, plus the return of some of HSAD’s most popular programs. Featuring 55 new classes and workshops, programs cover everything from Art as Activism, Contemporary Rug Hooking to Forging-Damascus Steel Construction.
HSAD says they are also excited to welcome more than two dozen new teachers to the campus this upcoming summer to both inspire and teach students. Juno Award winning artist Susan Aglukark is hosting two four-day workshops in August, and other instructors include Julie Moon, Naomi Smith, Daniel Scott Tysdale and Lisa Barry, part of the team behind Homestead Pottery. Barry will be teaching an evening class on Wheel Throwing and Hand Building in the spring.
There are day camps for children and teens and week-long workshops for adults yearning for an artistic getaway in the Haliburton Highlands.
Join HSAD as they open the doors to the community through lectures, live music and a chance to get a first-hand look at what’s going on at the Haliburton Campus this summer.
Art Talks run Wednesdays from July 5 to Aug. 9 in the Great Hall, featuring discussions on topics ranging from Mad Comics to the Story of Seedbeads. All are welcome to attend a Walk About at the campus Thursday afternoons, and there will also be free live music in the Great Hall Thursday evenings from July 6 to Aug. 10.
Summer program registration begins on March 1. Find the full catalogue by contacting the College by phone (ext. 4) or email to order a 2023 summer program.
Art Gallery of Peterborough Acquires Late Artist David Bierk’s Painted Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
/The Art Gallery of Peterborough (AGP) announces the recent acquisition of the late David Bierk’s Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to its Permanent Collection.
David Bierk and Members of the Major Bennett Chapter of the IODE as his portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was installed at the Memorial Centre on Jan. 9, 1980. Photo courtesy of Trent Valley Archives from the Major Bennett IODE Fonds.
The painting was made for the Peterborough Memorial Centre and was installed on Jan. 9, 1980, where it presided over countless sports games, concerts and events until the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 19, 2022.
The painting was commissioned by the Major Bennett Chapter of the IODE for the Memorial Centre to commemorate the group’s 60th anniversary with matching funds from a Wintario Grant.
David Bierk was selected from a list of potential artists by jurors Illi-Maria Tamplin and Zoltan Temesy, then director and chair of the board of the AGP. The original commissioning documents, which are held at Trent Valley Archives, state that if the painting ever needed to be removed it should be donated to the Art Gallery of Peterborough, or the Peterborough Public Library, whichever was preferred.
With these documents the City of Peterborough provided information to the AGP that was reviewed by the AGP Acquisitions Committee. The Committee considers all collection offers and makes recommendations to the AGP Board of Directors, which is the owner of the AGP’s Permanent Collection.
Councillor Alex Bierk, chair of the City’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Portfolio, shared “Growing up, I saw my dad’s massive painting of the Queen at Pete's games, high in the Memorial Centre. My brother Zac told me how players tried to aim for it with pucks during practice. I find it special how the painting intersects my dad's love of sports and his life as an artist, and how it hung over my brother Zac’s head in goal as he played for the Petes. The public reacted strongly when it was taken down. I'm so happy that it ended up in the collection of the Art Gallery of Peterborough to be kept safe and continue to live on in our community.”
The Art Gallery of Peterborough received designation as a Category A Collecting Institution by the Department of Canadian Heritage in 1981. Chair of the board and acquisitions committee, Catharine Blastorah says, “The AGP makes collection decisions very carefully following best practice standards. Whenever we accept a work into the Collection, we make that decision for our and future generations. This painting, which is based on a photograph of the Queen taken during her Silver Jubilee visit to Canada, is a welcome addition to the gallery’s collection, which holds very few early works by the artist.”
The AGP Board of Directors approved the acquisitions committee’s recommendation to accept the donation on Dec. 15, 2022. Gallery staff and the AGP board of directors worked with staff at the City to safely relocate the work from the Memorial Centre to the AGP’s Collection storage vault. There it will be cleaned and integrated into the gallery’s Permanent Collection where it will join over one hundred works by Bierk.
David Bierk (1944-2002) was born in Appleton, Minnesota, and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. David immigrated to Canada and in 1972 took up a teaching position at Kenner Collegiate and Vocational Institute. After two years teaching high school art he moved on to teach at Fleming College, where he remained for 5 years.
In 1974 David became a founding member of Peterborough’s artist-run-centre, Artspace, of which he was the Director until 1987. In 1998 he was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Artists.
David was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and his work is held in numerous public and private collections including the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Canada Council Art Bank, and the Art Gallery of Peterborough.
Jason Wilkins and Peterborough Arts Collective Present Canvas Combat Event
/The Peterborough Arts Collective (PAC) is hosting their first big event outside of the Jason Wilkins Factory; presenting the head-to-head artist battle ‘Canvas Combat’ on March 11.
Photo courtesy of Jason Wilkins.
From 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Farmhill Weddings and Events, 10 artists will battle it out in three 30-minute rounds of live painting.
PAC members and other community artists will also be showing work during the event, displayed on the exposed brick wall next to the combat zone.
“This is a really passion project of mine, and giving artist’s a platform that they can use to promote their work, sell their work and sort of elevate themselves as artists is kind of what the Arts Collective is all about,” says Wilkins. “Events like this really just bring that whole idea to the next level.”
The Peterborough Arts Collective, founded by local illustrator Jason Wilkins, is a group of multi-disciplinary artists from Peterborough working to better themselves and the community through art.
PAC has gained momentum since it's inception in 2021. With community support, the group of artists continue to come together to make art and collaboration accessible to all.
Photo courtesy of Jason Wilkins.
Wilkins says five of the 10 spots are already spoken for, but those interested in battling or showing off their work can reach out to him via email.
Tickets are $75 dollars each, which includes one drink at the bar (or non-alcoholic beverage) and a personal charcuterie board (or vegan/vegetarian option), as well as travel to and from the venue by Pascal Bus Co., leaving from 188 Hunter St W. at 6:15 p.m. March 11, with two retiring trips downtown at different times throughout the evening.
All pieces will be up for auction post-battle with 100% of the proceeds going to the artists.
During the rest of the month the collective hosts workshops, First Friday events, artist drop-ins and PAC meetings at the Jason Wilkins Factory. Those interested in learning more can call Jason, or drop in during business hours at Unit #7, 188 Hunter St W).
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4th line Theatre Holding Auditions For Two Upcoming Summer Productions On Feb. 4
/4th Line Theatre is holding auditions for two of their summer productions, D’Arcy Jenish’s ‘The Tilco Strike’ and Robert Winslow’s ‘The Cavan Blazers’ announced on Wednesday.
Cast members from Alex Poch-Goldin's The Great Shadow in 2022. Photo courtesy of Wayne Eardley and 4th Line Theatre.
Auditions and interviews are held at The Theatre on King located on 171 King St. (entrance at the back of the building) on Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Meetings are conducted based on the order of arrival. Prior acting experience is not required. The Theatre encourages those with limited acting experience but has an interest to consider auditioning.
“Volunteers have been the cornerstone of 4th Line Theatre’s creative activities for 30 years since its inception in 1992,” said Kim Blackwell, managing artistic director. “This is where the community and art meet. This is a real opportunity to express yourself, learn and grow and join our team.”
Cast members from Ian McLachlan and Robert Winslow's Crow Hill: The Telephone Play of 2018. Photo courtesy of Wayne Eardley and 4th Line Theatre.
The Tilco Strike is written by D’Arcy Jenish and is directed by Cynthia Ashperger.
It recounts the year-long fight between 35 poorly paid women and their hard-nosed male bosses at Tilco Plastics in Peterborough who were determined to crush the women and their union according to 4th Line Theatre The strike began in December 1965 over a $25 bonus and escalated into an epic battle between organized labour and strike-breaking employers. The women lost their fight but changed labour relations in Ontario forever.
Cast members from Robert Winslow's The Cavan Blazers in 2011. Photo courtesy of Wayne Eardley and 4th Line Theatre.
The Cavan Blazers was written by Robert Winslow and directed by Kim Blackwell.
It is a gritty, intense play that has the audience on the edge of its seat from start to finish. This drama chronicles the religious conflict between Catholic and Protestant Irish settlers in Cavan Township in the early to mid-nineteenth century. Violence erupts when a Protestant vigilante gang known as the Cavan Blazers tries to stop a Catholic settlement from being established as stated by a press release.
Any questions about auditions can be directed to 4th Line Theatre’s artistic administrator Emma Hale at 705-932-4505 or emma@4thlinetheatre.on.ca.
SPARK Photo Festival Welcoming Submissions From the Community, Celebrating Ten-Year-Anniversary
/April 2023 marks the 10-year anniversary of the SPARK Photo Festival, and plans are underway to celebrate the past decade and focus toward the future of photography through Open Call Exhibits.
Photo courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival.
