The painted paddle outdoor art exhibit is returning to downtown Peterborough for its third year beginning Friday (March 3).
The Downtown Vibrancy Project of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is hosting the exhibit to celebrate the community’s connection to the water. This year’s self-guided exhibit will be on display until Friday, March 24th and features 31 painted paddles donated by individual artists and organizations and installed in 21 storefront windows across downtown Peterborough.
From March 3 to 25, the paddles will be available to purchase in an online auction at 32auctions.com/paintedpaddles2023.
Proceeds from the auction will support the Downtown Green Team, a DBIA partnership with the One City Employment Program to establish a seasonal gardening team that cares for the patio planters, flower pots, and other green spaces throughout the downtown. The initiative will create two seasonal positions for people who are experiencing barriers to traditional employment, whether due to homelessness, criminalization, or social exclusion.
The paddles have been painted and donated by Samantha Chuisolo, residents from Empress & Princess Retirement Residence, Salvador Haines, Bri Gosselin, Brooklin Stormie, Susie Armstrong, 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 and Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School, Karin McLean, J. McKay, Jennifer Baici, Ginny Stammers, and Maggie O’Rourke.
“I was inspired to paint a pollination scene for my paddle,” says Peterborough artist and graphic designer Susie Armstrong in a media release. “Peterborough is a hub for urban pollination gardens, and I see them everywhere on my spring and summer walks. I hope to evoke a bit of warm weather with my painting which depicts swamp milkweed, a pollination plant specifically enjoyed by monarch butterflies.”
Map of Painted Paddle Tour 2023
The painted paddles will be installed in storefront windows at Bluestreak, Tragically Dipped Donut, Watson & Lou, The Art School of Peterborough, Cork and Bean, The Food Shop, The Night Kitchen, Avant-Garden Shop, The Boardwalk Lounge, Mark Jokinen Books, Kit Coffee, Chesler’s Shoes, Peterborough GreenUP, Cheek, Gerti’s, The Toy Shop, Plant Goals, Cahill’s Outerwear, Wild Rock Outfitters, Tiny Greens, and B!KE: the Peterborough Community Bike Shop.
“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,” says DBIA executive director Terry Guiel. “The painted paddles project was inspired by connecting with the historic roots of canoes and portage routes in Nogojiwanong and of course wanting to connect downtown with the new Canoe Museum.”
“This year I am one of the artists,” Guiel adds. “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.”
More information about the painted paddle exhibit is available at linktr.ee/LoveForTheBoro.
