New art spaces are popping up around downtown Peterborough, and Friday, September 8th is the night to go and check them out. With openings happening in five downtown galleries and one new shop opening all on the same evening, the artists and makers, curators and arts enthusiasts will be out in force.
Not that there is nothing happening otherwise; that is far from true. A new mural is about to brighten up Peterborough’s Aylmer Street at the Greyhound parking lot, Jane LowBeer’s “Hills and Lines” exhibit is happening at the Arts and Heritage Centre in Warkworth, Peer Christensen is one of the artists featured in the Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour (happening at the end of the month on September 23rd and 24th), the Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio celebrates some of Canada’s history with a members’ show, and the Art School of Peterborough launches their fall term.
There will be a series of site-specific performances, workshops, talks and film screenings commencing mid-month, backed by the combined forces of Public Energy, The Art Gallery of Peterborough, Artspace, and the ReFrame Film Festival.
Grand opening of Coeur Nouveau in downtown Peterborough featuring works by Paul Cade
A new gallery! That’s right, Coeur Nouveau (“New Heart”) will be opening in downtown Peterborough on Friday, September 8th. Coeur Nouveau is a member-run gallery that aims to promote contemporary art through the exhibition and promotion of work by gallery members.
The gallery’s inaugural exhibition “Cade” will feature a new series of abstract work by artist Paul Cade. Paul’s work uses many different materials and experimental processes, resulting in an ever-changing array of forms, textures, lines and colours.
This show has been curated by gallery members Connie Van Rijn and Andrew Cripps to represent some common themes that run through Paul’s work — namely humanity, optimism, interconnectedness and identity. Come out on the 8th and see for yourselves what the new space what the new space has to offer, and appreciate the nuanced work of Paul Cade.
The opening reception for “Cade” takes place from 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday, September 8th and the exhibition continues until September 30th.
Coeur Nouveau is located on the 2nd floor of the Commerce Building (129-1/2 Hunter St. West, Peterborough). For more information, visit the gallery’s Facebook page.
Evans Contemporary presents Shelley Adler’s “Inks”
A portrait by artist Shelley Alder. (Photo courtesy of Evans Contemporary)
Evans Contemporary kicks off its sixth season of presenting contemporary art to the community with “Inks”, a show of Shelley Adler’s portraiture. This series of large scale ink-on-paper portraits presents the viewer with a subtle spin on the female gaze, where women are depicted as individuals looking out at and connecting with the viewer.
The opening reception for “Inks” will be held at Evans Contemporary on Friday, September 8th from 6 to 11 p.m., and the exhibition will be on display during gallery hours until Saturday, September 30th.
To add to the festivities, there will be surf film classics from the ’60s projected onto the building after dark and multidisciplinary artist and DJ Joel Davenport will be manning the outdoor courtyard DJ booth. Bring your dancing shoes!
Evans Contemporary is located at #2 Banker’s Common in downtown Peterborough. For more information, visit www.evanscontemporary.com or contact Paolo Fortin at evanscontemporary@gmail.com.
Star X presents “Strange Tales from Blue Fish Creek” by Paolo Fortin
Star X gallery will feature a one-night-only showing of new work by the elusive artist Paolo Fortin.
“Strange Tales from Blue Fish Creek” will unveil three of his latest paintings. These paintings speak of ambiguity and draw our attention to grey areas in perception and comprehension. They are inspired by the ephemera of life, things seen in the periphery of vision, or from the window of a moving vehicle that are both present in the mind, and at the same time not fully perceived.
The opening reception for this special viewing will be held on Friday, September 8th, from 6 to 11 p.m.
Star X is located at 129-1/2 Hunter St. West, 3rd floor, in downtown Peterborough. Regular hours of operation are Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Acme Art and Sailboat Co. presents new drawings by Joe Stable
Come out and see a new body of work by Joe Stable: drawings hot off the press with prints and originals available for purchase.
The opening reception will be on Friday, September 8th, from 6 to 10 p.m., featuring light refreshments and with the artist in attendance.
Acme Art and Sailboat Company is located at 129-1/2 Hunter Street West, 3rd floor, in downtown Peterborough. Regular hours of operation are Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth presents “Hills and Lines” by Jane LowBeer
Printmaker and mixed-media artist Jane LowBeer’s exhibit “Hills and Lines” at the Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth features a lovely series of Jane’s latest work. Shapes and lines create interesting textures and patterns as they represent the abstracted rural landscape.
Drop by and see the series at the opening reception, which will be held on Saturday, September 2nd at 6 p.m. The exhibition continues until Sunday, October 8th.
Ah! Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth is located at 35 Church Street in downtown Warkworth. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. For more information, please contact Rebecca Baptista, Arts Administrator, at info@ahcentre.ca or 705-925-4450.
Christensen Fine Art presents new work by Peer Christensen
Peer Christensen is one of a multitude of talented local artists and artisans who are part of the Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour, and he will be showing his work in the main gallery of Christensen Fine Art for the month of September.
There will be an opening reception on Friday, September 8th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The opening will coincide with those of quite a few other downtown galleries and arts spaces, so it will be a great night to get out and mingle!
The show will be on display until the end of September, and of course during the Studio Tour happening on September 23rd and 24th.
Christensen Fine Art is located at 432 George Street North in downtown Peterborough. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit www.christensenfineart.com or call Peer Christensen at 705-876-9623.
Grand opening of Watson & Lou in downtown Peterborough on September 8
Exciting times here in Peterborough with new art spaces popping up all over town! Watson & Lou is a gift shop and studio space showcasing over 30 local makers.
The new space at 383 Water Street is the collaborative project of Erin Watson and Anna Eidt, who made it to the top five in the Win This Space contest held earlier this year by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area.
The studio space is for rent by day, with fun workshops happening in the evenings. The grand opening is Friday, September 8th from 5 to 10 p.m.
For more information about membership and upcoming workshops, please visit www.watsonandlou.com.
Artspace selects Chrissy Poitras to paint “Floral Abstraction” mural
Mock-up of mural to be painted on the wall at 378 Aylmer Street facing the Greyhound Bus Terminal. (Image courtesy of Artspace)
The latest mural to be painted as part of the City of Peterborough’s Public Art Initiative has been selected! The winning design is called “Floral abstraction” by artist Chrissy Poitras and will be a colourful display with images of local flora over top of blocks of bright colour.
Parts of the mural will be done off-site on large sheets of plywood that will then be installed as the rest of the mural is painted on the wall. This will definitely spruce up the Greyhound parking lot, and add a splash of much-needed colour to Aylmer Street.
Chrissy should be starting to work on-site in the last two weeks of September, hoping to have it completed by early October.
In(Sites), a new site-specific performance series, begins this September
In(Sites) is an interesting new endeavour hosted by a number of local arts organisations: Public Energy, Artspace, The Art Gallery of Peterborough, and the ReFrame Film Festival. The series will run from Saturday, September 16th to Friday, October 20th, and public participation is welcome.
First up is a month-long dance workshop for all ages and abilities within the community. The workshop will be led by dance artist Brian Solomon, and participants will then perform “Nogojiwanong Rite of Spring” on October 19th and 20th. The workshop will run on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7p.m. until 9 p.m. from September 11th until October 18th, at P.A.C.E. (formerly P.C.V.S.) and will culminate in a public performance in the Brock Street parking lot on October 19th and 20th. For more information visit www.publicenergy.ca.
There will be multiple screenings of Aki at Curve Lake on Saturday, September 16th, presented by the ReFrame Film Festival. Aki, the Anishinaabemowin word for “land”, includes five short films selected by Cara Mumford about places within the territory of the Michi Saagiig (Mississauga) Nishinaabeg. Each outdoor 30-minute screening takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. behind the Whetung Ojibwa Centre (875 Mississauga St., Curve Lake First Nation).
On Saturday, September 23rd, artists Vanessa Dion Fletcher and Pearl Salas will present “Woven Wires”, with performances at 8 p.m., 8:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. (location is still to be announced). This will be followed on Sunday, September 24th by “Manifesto”, a workshop on policial action led by Vanessa Dion Fletcher in which participants write their own manifesto. The workshop takes place at noon at Artspace. For more information visit artspace-arc.org.
On Wednesday, September 27th, there will be a performance of “Pushing It” at 3 p.m. at Del Crary Park and at 5:30 p.m. at the Art Gallery of Peterborough. The performance involves artist Becky Walter-Nolan pushing a six-foot textile boulder in an exploration of site and labour. A reception will follow. The Art Gallery of Peterborough will also feature exhibitions by Becky Walter-Nolan and Brenda Francis Pelkey, with an opening reception from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 30th. For more information, visit agp.on.ca.
Moving into October, there will be two talks: one at 11 a.m. on Sunday, October 1st at the Art Gallery of Peterborough called “Call and Response: Site-Specific Practices”, a panel talk with Becky Walter-Nolan, Brenda Francis Pelkey, and Brian Solomon, and “Pine Tree Talk” from 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11th at the Nhozem Theatre at Trent University, featuring Brian Solomon and Aria Evans.
The In(Sites) series culminates with two public performances of “Nogojiwanong Rite of Spring” in the Brock Street parking lot on Thursday, October 19th and Friday, October 20th at 6 p.m.
The Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio presents “150 Years of Canada’s History”
A detail from William Punt’s painting of Canadian peacekeepers, who have been active in UN-sanctioned peacekeeping operations since 1956, thanks to Lester B. Pearson. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio)
“150 Years of Canada’s History”, a show of work by members of the Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio, seeks to highlight the positive contributions Canada has made to the world, with a focus on the history of Peterborough County.
The opening reception will be held on Wednesday, September 13th from 1 to 4 p.m. and the show will be on display until Sunday, October 8th.
Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio is a not-for-profit artist’s co-operative, located at 420 O’Connell Road in Peterborough. Hours of operation are Wednesday to Sunday from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.kawarthaartists.org.
The Art School of Peterborough begins its fall class schedule and the Launch gallery features work by board members
This month, the Art School of Peterborough kicks off its fall term beginning on Monday, September 25th.
If you haven’t yet signed up, the Art School has classes for both children and adults and will be hosting an open house on Sunday, September 17th from 12 until 3 p.m.
Drop by and see what they have to offer this coming semester, and take in a show of art by the school’s board members at the Launch gallery, which will be on display until October 2nd.
The Art School of Peterborough is located at 178 Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough. For more information, please call 705-742-3221 or visit artschoolptbo.org.
