The Faculty Art Exhibition Returns to the Haliburton School of Art + Design

An annual art exhibition celebrating the creative talents of faculty at the Haliburton School of Art + Design (HSAD) will return to the school this summer.

photo courtesy of fleming college Haliburton School of Art + Design.

‘Hand of the Maker’ runs from June 26 to August 18. 

The exhibit features thirty pieces of work from Haliburton’s faculty in a wide range of mediums, including ceramics, painting, jewelry, and metal work.  

An opening reception takes place July 3 from 4:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Great Hall.  

Both the reception and the exhibit are open to the public and free to attend. 

Other events at HSAD:  

Art Talk, July 5 – Aug. 9 in the Great Hall  

Running each Wednesday evening, Art Talk is a series of focused discussions touching on everything from Mad Comics to the history of seed beads.  

Live Music in the Great Hall, July 6 to Aug. 10  

Join us Thursday evenings for some live entertainment. Doors open at 4 p.m., and guests are welcome to walk around HSAD, meet faculty and learn about the art created by our multitalented students.  

More information on Haliburton’s programming, summer activities and faculty can be found here.  

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Public Art Project Renaissance On Hunter 2023 Is Underway

The 2023 Renaissance on Hunter public art projects are underway, with the installation of a series of road murals and poetry gardens on Hunter Street between George and Aylmer.

photo courtesy of the city of peterborough

Now in its third year, Renaissance on Hunter is a public art initiative that is coordinated through the City of Peterborough public art program with support from the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) and GreenUP.

The Poetry Gardens Project

Designed and installed by GreenUP, the gardens were planted in late May, with prairie grasses and native flowering plants. The meandering wildflower meadow will serve as a backdrop for a rotation of poetry from June to September. This month the gardens feature works by the 2023 Poet Laureate, Ziysah von Bieberstein, and Peterborough’s first Poet Laureate, Sarah Lewis. The names of the nine poets whose work will be featured over the summer will be announced at the end of the month.

The Road Mural Project

The 2023 road murals are being installed through a mentorship program. Ten artists were selected to be mentored under the artists who created the 2022 road murals. The teams will work together to refresh the 2022 murals and incorporate elements designed by the mentees. Road murals are expected to be completed by the end of June, weather permitting.

Artist teams by site

Site 1: Odoonabii II by mentor Aaron Robitaille, with mentees Kelly King, Em Farquhar Barrie, and Holly Edwards.

Site 2: Glacial Formation II by mentor Josh Morley, with mentees Sarah St. Pierre and Bethany Davis.

Site 3: Flight of the Pollinators II by mentor Brooklin Holbrough, with mentees Justine- Marie Williams and Deanna Henry.

Site 4: Nothing Out of Reach II by mentor Nuin-Tara Morin, with mentees Aryan Bhagat and Cassandra Shaw.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

TASSS Students Bringing 'The Wizard of Oz' Musical To Life After Three-Year Hiatus

After being unable to cast a theatrical production for three years, students of Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School (TASSS) are back on the stage, putting on ‘The Wizard of Oz’ musical scheduled with four public shows in June.

TASSS students Izzy Lloyd (left) and Aimee Simmons (right) playing Tin Man and Scarecrow in a rehearsal for their musical production of The Wizard of Oz. 50 students are involved in the production with actors in Grades 11 and 12 while Grade 10 students work as stage hands. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The school was unable to put on a play for the past three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With a long hiatus, the students are eager to get on stage and perform before a live audience according to Michaela Hetherington, TASSS music director.

“The anticipation and the excitement is really building as we get closer,” she said.

Roughly 50 students are involved in the musical production. Grade 10 students are stagehands while Grades 11 and 12 are performing in the production.

Auditions began back in February and students have been working tirelessly to be ready for showtime in June.

“We have students that help out on their first and second-period spares when they don't have class, lunchtime rehearsals and after school,” explained Hetherington. “They've made costumes, set pieces and painting. If you can think of something that goes into a production, they've done it.”

The production is directed and choreographed by Bryanna Ostrander who is also an instructor at Imagine Studios. Justin Hiscox is the music supervisor of the production.

Dates for the shows are as follows:

• June 1, 7 p.m.

• June 2, 7 p.m.

• June 3, 2 p.m.

• June 3, 7 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased through School Cash Online or at the door at TASSS for $20.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Art Gallery of Peterborough Temporarily Closed for Building Maintenance

The Art Gallery of Peterborough will be closed from Wednesday, May 24 to Friday, May 26 to accommodate building maintenance. 

photo courtesy of the city of peterborough.

It will partially reopen with access to the Gallery Shop only on Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The Gallery’s regular hours will resume on Wednesday, May 31. 

An Opening Reception to celebrate new exhibitions will be held starting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7 at the Gallery (250 Crescent St.) Admission is free. 

Visit the Gallery’s website to learn more about the Gallery and its programs as well as to find information on current and upcoming exhibitions. 

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Students Display Their Art Skills In the 10th Annual Paint a Peterborough County Snow Plow

Teachers and students of Peterborough County got to put their creative side on display as they got to participate in the 10th Annual Paint a Peterborough County Snow Plow.

Photo courtesy of the County of Peterborough.

Snowplow blades were delivered the schools in early May where they were painted with their custom designs. Chemong Public School, St. Martin Catholic School, Millbrook Public School, Norwood District Public School, Rhema Christian School and Buckhorn Public School participated in the painting event.

“This is our 10-year anniversary engaging with our local schools to paint our plows,” said Bill Linnen, General Manager Public Works Division “They have fun and get to share their creativity with us and we enjoy displaying them along Hwy 28 and sharing them with the greater community.” 

They are being displayed at the Douro Public Works Depot at the corner of Hwy 28 and County Road 4 upon completion. They will remain there until they are needed next winter for plowing operations.  

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Electric City Culture Council and the 2023 Artsweek Team Present LOOK OUT!

The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) and the 2023 Artsweek Team are pleased to present LOOK OUT! a suite of works by 4 local visual and media artists popping up in unexpected places in downtown Peterborough from May 8 to 14.

photo courtesy of ec3.

Artsweek brings some of Peterborough’s most engaging artists down from the walls and out of the galleries to appear on city streets and sidewalks. Curated by Artsweek Executive Producer Su Ditta this project introduces both established and emerging artists to the public with work that is evocative, cheeky and thought provoking. Look Out! and check out artists: Sioux Dickson, Cassandra Lee, LA Alphonso/Age of Moss (Paul Moss) and Sammy Tangir.

Project: Shadow Selves
Artist: Sioux Dickson
Description: A photographic conversation about being a part of and apart from.
Date: Opens May 8.
Location: 210 Hunter St. West, front window of PBO Kawartha (Prosthetics, Bracing, and Orthotics).

Project: An Ode to Trees
Artist: Casandra Lee
Description: “An Ode to Trees involves hanging painted tree cookies on five of my favourite trees in our urban landscape of downtown Nogojiwanong-Peterborough. Trees intrigue me whenever I am outside and are an important point of interest for me. I want to share the joy I feel from seeing a beautiful tree. The installation is an invitation to the public to pause and take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the life of the trees we live amongst downtown. The artwork will be placed at various heights and tied to the trees in a non-harmful way. Cookies will be cut from a fallen cedar tree that was a victim of the May 2022 Derecho. The paintings will be colourful depictions of spring.”
Date: Opens May 8.
Location: Trees in downtown Peterborough:

· Tree to the right of the Peterborough Public Library (in front of the parking lot, 345 Aylmer St N).

· Tree in front of Sandy's Variety Store (near the corner of Aylmer St and Hunter St W).

· Tree behind Black Honey Café in the courtyard (through the alley off of Hunter St W, or the driveway off of Aylmer St next to GreenUP).

· Tree between La Hacienda and Sam’s Place (on Hunter St W).

· Tree in front of Kit Coffee (on Hunter St W between George St and Water St).

Project: POV
Artists: LA Alfonso, Age of Moss (Paul Moss)
Description: In places that act as a default audio/visual history archive, video artists LA Alfonso and Age of Moss (Paul Moss) infiltrate and activate the site’s media file systems for random ephemeral public consumption.
Date: May 8 from 10 pm to Midnight, and then May 9 to May 12, from 9 pm to Midnight.
Location: Paradigm Pictures, 161 King Street.

Project:  Winter Weeds and Spring Shoots
Artist: Sammy Tangir
Description: Winter Weeds is intended as a spark of inspiration to notice plants at a time of year when they are not growing and are likely to be passed by and underappreciated.  This takes form as a zine with a collection of photos of plants in their winter wares! Spring Shoots is an activation that brings the intention of Winter Weeds into the present environment, inviting people to explore and notice the great diversity of spring plants thriving amongst the concrete around Water and Charlotte Street. 
Date: Tuesday May 9th and Wednesday May 10th from 4:30-6:30pm.
Location: Outside Ministry of Natural Resources 300 Water St.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Grand Opening of Peterborough's Artisanal Retail Store, Handmade Heaven Hits Lansdowne Place

Lansdowne Place is now the home of an artisanal retail store, Handmade Heaven as lots of shoppers were lined outside the storefront for its grand opening on Monday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The store features goods from over 70 different local businesses — including junior makers — that make 100 per cent of the sales in exchange for paying rent to use the retail space.

Local artisans that want to rent space in the store must fill out an application online.

“I know there's a huge artist community around here. I just did a calling and all the makers, the artists and all the talent basically did the rest and had an overflow of applications,” said Sam Milne, Handmade Heaven owner.

The first 65 shoppers that arrived at the grand opening received a free gift bag. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Milne has family connections with the ‘The Nooks,’ a chain that is a similar concept to what he is doing for Peterborough with Handmade Heaven. It has seen success with 18 locations in Canada including Vaughan Mills.

The storefront is located across from Dollarama on the upper floor. Milne had announced on his Instagram that Lansdowne Place that he was setting up shop in mid-March.

“As soon as I saw this location, I knew instantly that this was going to be the store,” explained Milne. “It's absolutely perfect, I know the people of Peterborough are going to come out and support. It's been above and beyond what I expected so far.”

Roughly over 50 people were lined up outside prior to the opening. Milne says the store is a great outlet for local artisans to be recognized and supported. Artists get up-to-date notifications on when their product gets sold in the story.

“(I) really try to get people out to support their local makers and see all the beautiful things there's handmade artists have actually made,” said Milne. “Every time one of these makers sells something with their hard work involved, they (customers) have no idea how much it means to these people when they see their sales.” 

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Call For Expressions of Interest; The Road Mural Mentorship Program

Expressions of interest for the City of Peterborough Public Art Program peer mentorship program are due by May 1.

photo courtesy of the city of peterborough.

The Road Mural Mentorship Program seeks applications from local professional artists interested in gaining hands-on experience in planning and developing a large-scale public artwork. Ten artist mentees will be selected and work directly with mentors on the 2023 road murals. This is a paid mentorship opportunity.

Applications from artists and cultural practitioners living in Peterborough City, Peterborough County, Hiawatha First Nation, and Curve Lake First Nation are welcome.

The application deadline is May 1 at 4 p.m. All applications must be submitted online.

The call for expressions of interest for the program and more information about the program parameters with tips about the application process are on the City’s Public Art webpage.

The Renaissance on Hunter public art projects are administered and funded through the City of Peterborough’s Public Art Program and presented in partnership with the Downtown Business Improvement Area and GreenUP.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

‘Get Your Art On’ at Mount Community Centre’s Art and Craft Exhibition and Sale

Join the Mount Community Centre for the 7th annual ‘Get Your Art On’ exhibition and sale of local arts and crafts at Austin Doran Hall at The Mount Community Centre May 12 to 14.

photo courtesy of the mount community centre, facebook.

Paintings, photography, pottery, sculpturing, woodworking and more will be on display and for sale.

“There are numerous artists and crafts people coming to display and sell their works,” says Hartley Stephenson, local artist and event organizer. “The items are unique and specially designed to please the buyer. Attendees are bound to find something that will interest them and be a perfect gift for Mother’s Day celebrations.”

The Mother’s Day Weekend exhibition and sale will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Friday, May 12 to Sunday, May 14 at the Mount Community Centre (1545 Monaghan Rd.)

This event is free admission, and 10 per cent of all profits will go to The Mount Community Centre’s ongoing commitment to providing affordable housing and food security.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

New City Public Art Program to Mentor 10 Local Artists For Large-Scale Project

The City of Peterborough Public Art Program is inviting 10 local artists to be in a paid mentorship, working on road murals throughout downtown Peterborough.

File Photo.

The Road Mural Mentorship Program has seen the past two decades work on the Renaissance on Hunter public art project which is entering its third year. It transforms the café district on Hunter Street into a series of road murals and artist gardens.

The purpose of both public art projects is to transform Hunter Street into a welcoming and engaging pedestrian space during the warm weather season.

“The goal of the Road Mural Mentorship Program is to create opportunities for artists interested in expanding their practices into the public art realm,” says Wendy Trusler, City of Peterborough public art facilitator. “I’m excited to see the mentorship program build capacity within the local arts community for future projects like the Renaissance on Hunter.”

The program is seeking applications from emerging and mid-career professional artists who are in Peterborough, the County, Hiawatha First Nation, and Curve Lake First Nation with the deadline on May 1, at 4 p.m. All applications must be submitted online.

The Renaissance on Hunter public art projects are administered and funded through the City of Peterborough Public Art Program and in partnership with the Downtown Business Improvement Area and GreenUP. 

For more information and to apply, visit peterborough.ca/publicart.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.