Anniversary art
Local artists celebrate historic milestone under one frame
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation and the Lefurgey Cultural Centre and Wyatt Historic Museum’s construction in 1867, 20 Island artists will feature their work under one frame for a surprise exhibition.
“This year we want to bring more attention to these houses and get people to visit and realize how very important these landmarks are in the town.”
Jean MacKay, curator, Wyatt Heritage Properties
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, including the milestone of the Lefurgey Cultural Centre and the Wyatt Historic Museum both constructed in 1867, 20 artists will feature their work under one frame for a surprise exhibition.
Jean MacKay, curator of Wyatt Heritage Properties, said Culture Summerside wants to celebrate the occasion with this special project.
“This year we want to bring more attention to these houses and get people to visit and realize how very important these landmarks are in the town.” Marlene Campbell, cultural programming co-ordinator, said, “One work of art is being prepared by 20 different artists and will be unveiled at the Lefurgey Cultural Centre on International Museum Day, May 18.”
All the artists will paint something different based on a tour of the historic Wyatt Museum earlier in the year. MacKay said the artists got to select from the museum tour, one item that stood out.
“They had a good look around at the artifacts and each artist selected something in or about the house they would like to paint,” explained MacKay. Two artists have already completed their pieces for the exhibition, Eddy Schwartz and his wife Bernadette Kernaghan.
“My piece is a still-life on canvas, but the style is my own,” explained Schwartz. “It took me three days to complete and my wife, Bernadette finished her art in two days. In fact, Bernadette was one of the first artists to finish the project.”
Schwartz added, “It’s an honour for us as artists to be a part of this project, and we have to give kudos to the Summerside Cultural Centre for keeping the Museum in such pristine shape.”
The project was created to celebrate the past and present of the community, while at the same time increasing opportunities for local artists, curators or specialists involved in their community.
The other local artists who will brush with the past in the exhibition are:
Megan LaFort, June Ellis, Wayne Wright, Grace Curtis, Jennifer DesRoche, Noella Richard, Gloria Sonier Birch, Scott O’Neil, Marlene Cameron, Ellen Martin, Pam Detler, Vivian Aho, Karen Noonan, Joan Savage, Marie Lyon, Tessa Renee Lyon, Noella Moore and Lise Genova.
MacKay concluded, “This whole project is not just about the artists, but also includes newspaper articles and special marketing, all funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage under the ‘Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage’ program.”