Artists capture history of Orléans

With the year 2010 marking the 150th anniversary of the founding of Orléans, Arteast chose that theme for its show, which runs at the Trinity Art Gallery until March 23.

Members of Arteast were invited to offer works that reflect on the continuum of local history, honouring the places, people and experiences of the past while also embracing the future, said Joyce Buckley, Arteast’s lead coordinator for Trinity Art Gallery.

The 52 submissions from both advanced and beginner artists were whittled down to a select 37 pieces.

Buckley indicated she was disappointed with the number of submissions given the new venue. “I think the members were overwhelmed with the theme,” she said, explaining the pieces were confined to the boundaries of what happened in the Orléans area over the last 150 years. “But these are artists, they should use their imagination.”

Despite the lower-than-usual turnout, Buckley said there are still some interesting pieces on display. One painting depicts the iconic church on St. Joseph Boulevard while others capture scenes from the Ottawa River and even Mer Bleue. Water colour figures prominently in this exhibition, Buckley continued, but other media are used as well, like photography.

Included on the walls of the gallery are paintings of ice fishing by Petrie Island as well as an old barn Drouin barn seen from the highway. Both ink and watercolour paintings were created by Mari Brown, who studied fine art in Stockholm, Sweden, where she grew up before moving to Canada in 1987. “I love anything related to nature,” Brown said, explaining that as she drove past the fishing huts she knew she had to paint them. “I find Orléans is beautiful when it comes to nature.”

The fishing huts remind Brown of a time when things were quiet and relaxing, she continued, noting living in the past was hard but also simpler. The multiple colours of the huts dotting the frozen river is a fascination, Brown added. “I think it’s so great against the background of white.”

As for the barn, Brown said she created illustrations for Ottawa-Orléans MP Royal Galipeau’s calendar and, in so doing, had an opportunity to meet the owner of the old structure. “It was so neat to be able to hear the story of the barn itself,” Brown said. “It’s a nice memory.”

Not only is Brown’s work displayed at the local show, other illustrations of hers also appear in children’s book. Her more recent work is included in the newly-published Shoe Shopping with Dad, written by Cobden’s Tina Wuehr. On display until March 23, the exhibition is on display at the Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd. Admission is free.