OWEN SOUND (ONTARIO) CANADA: The Tom Thomson Art Gallery is pleased to announce its latest installations of public art projects in the Owen Sound community. The TOM installed the 100 Days of Portraits, part of the TOM's Available Space Art Projects (ASAP) by artist Heather Murray on the corner of 2nd Avenue East and 10th Street East in the Owen Sound's downtown core on October 15th, 2015. The TOM also installed the Sunset Sky mural at the Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre in Owen Sound on October 19, 2015. Both projects are presented by the TOM as part of its Canadian Spirit 2015 public art programme that was started in 2012 and will culminate in 2017, marking the Gallery's 50th anniversary, the 100th anniversary of Tom Thomson's death and Canada's 150th birthday. In celebrating this year's theme, With a Destiny, the TOM worked with artists, individuals, organizations and businesses to explore historical events that took place in 1915, such as the beginning of the women's suffrage movement and the coming of age of Canada as a nation.
100 Days of Portraits by artist Heather Murray is an exhibition of 100 portraits, each of which was created sequentially over 100 days. Reaching out to her Facebook friends to volunteer as subjects, Murray used the participants' social media photos which she then altered and enhanced using mixed media painting techniques. The project is located in an empty storefront as part of the TOM's Available Space Art Project (ASAP) where contemporary art projects are brought to the community to re-energize empty storefronts and attract opportunities for new shops, businesses or services. For this particular project, the TOM partnered with the Owen Sound Downtown Improvement Area which promotes a vibrant and sustainable business, cultural, and residential community in our downtown core. The TOM gratefully acknowledges lead funding for ASAP from the Community Foundation Grey Bruce.
The mural project, Sunset Sky, was developed by the TOM in partnership with the Georgian Bay Folk Society, organizers of the renowned Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival. The TOM and a team of volunteers recreated Tom Thomson's 1915 painting Sunset Sky – a stunning work that captures the true spirit of the northern landscape. The mural was installed on-site at Summerfolk in August of 2015, alongside the amphitheatre stage for all audiences to enjoy. Many hands were involved in painting this 256-square foot mural, including dedicated volunteers: Rhiannon Charles, Andy King, Sage Lemoine, Evie Lepietuszko, Emily Medeiros, Aly Mulvaney-Courtois, Scottie Pitt, Niamh Thomas and Raquell Yang. The TOM's Curator of Temporary Exhibitions, Heather Hughes said "I hope that all audiences will enjoy Sunset Sky at the Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre. The mural celebrates Tom Thomson's legacy of creating lasting images while it also makes the public aware of the incredible treasures that are part of the Gallery's permanent collection."
The TOM believes that public art has the power to connect people to each other and to the importance of culture and heritage. The TOM hopes that everyone enjoys these two wonderful public art projects - created for, and installed within, our community.
For more information, or to request interviews and images, please contact Suzanne Watson, Partnership and Sponsorship Manager at swatson@tomthomson.org or 519-376-1932, ext. 221.
Source: Media Release
