Construction of Canada’s first Elevated Park on the 1929 Michigan Central Railroad Bridge located at St. Thomas’ western edge is slated to begin next month. On-Track, the organization which has taken on this project has just announced that when the park opens in late August it will feature two major metal sculptures created by artist and blacksmith Scott McKay. The largest, entitled “Fear Not the Wind” will tower some 20 feet above the very centre of the park. The second, “Mixed Signals” will be some fifteen feet high and appear at the King Street approach to the bridge.
 
Though the rail tracks were removed long ago, the bridge remains an iconic symbol of local heritage, massive strength, and energy – at one time 50 trains thundered across the span each day. The coming together of McKay’s sculpture and the park’s design would seem to be a match “forged in heaven”.

McKay, whose studio is in Lawrence Station, came into artistic metal work by way of the millwright trade. After several years of applying his skills in a creative manner outside of work time, he enrolled at Fleming Collage’s Haliburton School of Art and Design in the Artist Blacksmithing program and used that as a starting point to fuel the fire of his work.

Like the bridge, the McKay family has played a significant role in the heritage of our community. The two donated works were commissioned and are being donated by Scott’s father, Ian, whose ancestors made significant contributions to St. Thomas life since the mid-1800s. Brothers John and William McKay arrived to a very small St. Thomas in the late 1830’s from Glasgow, Scotland. John McKay built a residence and mercantile shop at 76 Old Talbot St., what is now Cedarhurst Spa, located directly behind the elevated park entrance. William McKay served as Elgin County clerk from 1854 to 1882.
His son, Kenneth Weir McKay took over that position in 1883 and held it until 1935. He also established The Municipal World in 1892, the oldest continuously published monthly municipal magazine in the world. William Scott McKay was St. Thomas City Solicitor from 1938 to 1968, followed by son Bill McKay who held the position for over 30 years until his retirement in 2000.

Scott’s work incorporates traditional methods of forging, but he also embraces today’s technology and incorporates CNC Laser and Plasma as being necessary parts of his work. He notes that the traditional methods of forging alone would certainly have put him in the streets with a cup. He has found success by marrying old and new in his sculptures. And now his work will find a welcome place within a project which aims to preserve a heritage asset and also create something great for the future.
 
McKay has public art on view in several cities, including at Windsor Sculpture Park on the riverfront. A scale model of “Fear Not the Wind” will be on view at Scott’s booth at the St. Thomas Home show this weekend. Final fundraising for Phase One of the St. Thomas Elevated Park began four weeks ago. Construction is scheduled to begin in late April with the official opening day scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017. Those interested in donating to the non-profit, non-governmental project can learn more at www.elevatedpark.ca.

Photos courtesy On-Track St. Thomas

STEAG’s first art show and sale took place in November of 2007 at the CASO Station. Each year since Guild members have worked to create an interesting and varied showcase of multiple talents, artfully displayed (and just in time for holiday shopping).

The end of year show has become an anticipated opportunity to see what several local artists have been working on. The opening reception on Fri Nov 11th will be a great opportunity to chat with many of them.
 
Congratulations on this 10th anniversary!
 
St. Thomas-Elgin Artists' Guild 10th Annual Show & Sale takes place Fri Nov 11th - Sun Nov 13th at the CASO Station (750 Talbot St, St. Thomas).  STEAG Meetings are held evenings, the 3rd Monday of the month from March until December. Find out more at http://stthomasartguild.blogspot.ca/

The book is written in a way that will help kids understand that they share the natural world with other living things and each has a role to play. Daddy’s first advice to “Breathe, just breath slowly,” would come in handy for kids and parents alike. The drawings, completed with eleven pencil crayons are whimsical and simple, in a style a child can identify with.

“The Very Hairy But Not So Scary Mouse” is written by Tim Fennema and illustrated by Tabea Thornton. Both have a St. Thomas connection – Tim is from St. Thomas and Tabea spends time here each summer with her kids and husband, St. Thomas native and San Jose Shark, Joe Thornton. This past July, Tim and Tabea were pleased to stop in at the St. Thomas Public Library where Tim’s daughter is a regular visitor to donate a few copies of their book.

Tim had the idea for the book several years ago and finally, last year, presented it to Tabea. She liked the concept and agreed to collaborate. They have enjoyed the process and results so much that two more in the series are planned, one on spiders and one on bumblebees.
 
Asked what age the book appeals to, Tabea says, “At first we thought around seven, but it turned out kids at three really liked it, and then a little bit later they can actually read it because there’s not a whole lot of text, so I think from three to nine. “
 
Tim says, I wanted kids to know “You don’t have to freak out, there’s options for you.”
 
“The Very Hairy But Not So Scary Mouse” is available for loan from the St. Thomas Public Library, at SmithBooks in Elgin Mall and from Amazon online.

Diane and Flossie Trimble went looking, back in 1996, for a place where they could show their work more frequently than just at a few yearly shows. Port Stanley had a reputation as a bit of an artist community, and also had shops, restaurants, inns and seasonal tourists – it seemed a perfect fit.  A co-operative effort would be easier to manage than would a single artist studio. They were excited to find a location on the second floor of a heritage building (now the Telegraph House) and a group of fellow artists interested in joining the venture. On August 3rd, 1996 the seven founding members launched the gallery with a grand opening. The artists included Diane, Betty, Jean, Flossie, Andy Bernardo, Kay Janes and Jan Row.
 
Betty, Diane and Jean agree that Port Stanley has been a great location for the gallery. Jean says, “People come back to the inns year after year and stop in here.” Visitors come from all over the world, but in greatest numbers from London as well as from along the whole Kitchener to Windsor corridor. Diane notes, “People often come specifically to see one artist … and then look through the gallery.” Betty laughs, “Some of us have a ‘room’ down at the Kettle Creek Inn (the guestrooms feature a specific artist’s work) and people will come in and say, ‘Oh, I’m in your room.’” Visitors to Portside are often return customers, ‘girl-trippers’ or couples on a getaway.
 
The three artists were quick to point out the many rewards they have found in interacting with visitors to the gallery. Diane says, “It’s so positive here. People come in and they interact with the art and for me that was my initial incentive when we were starting Portside.”

“It’s surprising how many people come in and you can tell if they are really interested and even if they are painters – they want to get right up close and look,” says Betty. Often the ensuing conversations are a sharing of ideas on various art topics and techniques.
 
While working on new shows and interacting with the public both provide incentives to paint, the artists all agree that the partnership itself is another motivator. Some of the partners have changed over the twenty years, along with the associate membership.  The present partners have, for the most part, been on-board for quite a while. Along with Betty, Diane and Jean, they include Jerry Cutting, Pat Curtis, Patricia Johnson, Kit Cutting, S'ine Maule, Susan Shurish and Patti Fisher. When they gather to go over business, plan shows and openings, have workshops or work together, they all benefit from the camaraderie, encouragement and fun (often, it would seem, quite boisterous and noisy fun).  
 
Since opening, Portside has been situated in four different locations on Main Street. Along with venue changes, members have also seen some shifts in the local art scene. Diane notes, “I think that people are more open to abstract art than they were a few years ago. They know how to look at it now.”
Jean says, “There used to be a lot more watercolour work. And there are a lot more artists now – we belong to two associations which presently have over 100 members each.” They find there are also more venues for showing art.
 
Diane says of their Port Stanley location, “It’s only going to get better with things like the new walkway and pier developments.” The partners have worked hard to develop their creative talents, present a variety of excellent art, and share it in a welcoming manner.  
 
Openings at the gallery are always popular. The one for 20 Years in Retrospect is sure to live up to that reputation as the artists celebrate enduring and rewarding relationships amongst themselves and with visitors to “Portside”.

Many artists of the PSAG have been long-time members. The show provides them with motivation to create new work and to share the latest in their creative journeys. This year, there are also more than a dozen new members who will be showing pieces with the Guild for the first time.

Many artists of the PSAG have been long-time members. The show provides them with motivation to create new work and to share the latest in their creative journeys. This year, there are also more than a dozen new members who will be showing pieces with the Guild for the first time.

All of them …

• Show us colours, details, ways of seeing and feeling and worlds of imagination we might otherwise miss.
  
• Grow and evolve as artists with each passing year. The Crawl is a wonderful opportunity to see what they have been up to.
• Take risks as creators, and put it all out there for us to enjoy.
• Work hard to bring their work to the event,  lugging it to the venue, setting it up and sharing their stories with us for an evening and a day.
  
• Showcase the amazing possibilities available for buying a piece of original local art – a sure source of joy in your everyday living.
• Show us how a cultural community event can enrich our lives on a February weekend in St. Thomas.

The video below contains a few scenes and just some of the sixty-some artists who participated. You can find information on all of them at www.railwaycityartscrawl.com.

Amongst the artists were ones who …

• Have come to our community after having tried others and express enthusiastically that, arriving here, they have found a place that just feels “right”.
• Grew up in Elgin County, left and returned with refreshing ideas and interesting ways of interpreting them as artists and entrepreneurs.
• Participated in “The Crawl” since year one, have returned each year and are excited to see it grow, bringing back repeat visitors and new ones.
• Teach, mentor and support a vibrant art community.
• Create an encouraging environment for young artists.

Some of the Arts Crawl artists of the future who appear in the video are pictured below.

Peter Robson grew up in England, the eldest of five children in a busy, noisy household. He turned down a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in order to help out at home, but he was intensely driven from an early age to learn through reading and to seize opportunities for artistic training. He emigrated to Canada in 1966.

Eleanor was born in Scotland, came with her family to Canada in 1956 and grew up in Toronto.   At age sixteen, she started a dancing school which grew from a few students to 350. She completed Honours English at University of Toronto, paying for most of her education through funds from her business. Upon graduation she got a job on a 4-month trial basis at a high school in Mississauga, but quickly decided teaching wasn’t the career for her.  She laughs, “The fact that I was barely older than the students and had zero practical experience may have had something to do with that.”

When she answered a Toronto Star advertisement for an executive assistant to a rug and tapestry designer she met her future husband, Peter.  “He was designing handmade rugs and tapestries for places all over the world; in effect what he was doing was watercolours. My job was to transfer that information into a formula for people producing the rugs.” 
 
Over the years, as they worked together in their carpet retail businesses, Peter would often say that someday he would like to go to a little village in England and sit by the river and paint. Then, while they were living in Barrie, tragedy struck. Ian, Peter’s middle child of three from his first marriage was killed in a car accident. Devastated, he and Eleanor sought a quiet place of refuge. Peter was familiar with Sparta and had family nearby so that’s where they chose to make a new home.

The two decided that Peter would paint. Eleanor remembers, “There was no master plan. We just wanted to do something he had always wanted to do. We had no idea if people would like what he did. I got a job in London. Peter went out into the countryside and painted and came back and painted some more, working out of a rented space at the west end of the Sparta Tearoom. In April of 1982 he had completed seventeen watercolours and they had a gallery opening, with the pieces unframed and propped on shelves.  Eleanor remembers, “They all sold. We were tickled and thought, well maybe there is a possibility of doing this for a living!”

Peter’s artistic talents, ever-growing repertoire of techniques and broad knowledge of poetry, mythology, history and literature meant he was comfortable in a wide variety of styles.  He and Eleanor developed the gallery and with each year it was discovered by more and more people. They also made connections which led to a blossoming demand for commissions of Peter’s work.

Over the years, the Robsons also purchased nine of Sparta’s historic buildings which were ramshackle at the time (including their own gallery and home, “The Abbey”). They restored them, preserving the facades, and hoped others would be attracted to Sparta to live and work as artisans.

Son Steve Robson joined the business as it expanded to include custom framing. Many of Peter’s paintings helped to raise significant funds in support of local charities. He and his brother Alan created the sculptures for the Pinafore Park “Memory Garden”, which he proudly called “a work of love”.  In 2011 he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship Award through the St. Thomas Rotary Club in recognition of his community service.
 
Due to health problems over the past few years Peter had to cut his once fourteen hour work days down to a few hours. However, right up until his death, he continued to forge ahead, managing to accomplish a lot in a limited amount of time. Although the Robsons’ community involvement during those years was a little more in the background, they continued to contribute generously whenever they were asked for donations of artwork. 

Eleanor acknowledges that Peter’s passing was an enormous change but she was determined to carry on in the same spirit – sustaining the business, being involved in the community and finding personally enjoyable and meaningful activities to replace the gaps created by Peter’s absence.
Eleanor notes, “I love the business. Steve and I have worked together for more than thirty years. Some of Peter’s work had never been reproduced – we have kept very good archival records and can often bring back the original work as reference so that we can offer new prints.” Although the ‘romantic’ landscapes have a timeless appeal, Peter also did many ‘impressionistic’ style plein air paintings which have never been seen. She sees many opportunities for keeping the gallery offerings fresh along with continuing to provide complete custom framing services. 

Eleanor is also working on a retrospective show of Peter’s work at the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre in 2017 (May 13th to July 1st). Preparation has entailed selecting pieces to represent a lifetime of work and arranging for loan of original pieces. Some of them will be coming from a distance - “Gateway to the Millennium” is a very large canvas which was a fundraiser for Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket and is currently on Vancouver Island.

The exhibit will also feature a massive incomplete canvas displayed with scaffolding and brushes – a museum replica of JMW Turner’s  “The Wreck of the Minotaur” along-side one of Peter’s finished replica pieces. “Peter loved to work on museum replicas of work by artists he admired like John Constable and William Turner. They took a great deal of time and because they can’t be reproduced, not many people got to see them. Steve and I are really looking forward to the show and I think Peter would have been very pleased about it.”

Just for fun, Eleanor has stepped back into her dancing shoes, reviving one of her early passions and lending her talents to several projects. She choreographed a routine for Aylmer Community Theatre’s production of “Dearly Beloved”, and is working on a couple of surprises for St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation’s “Black Tie & Pearl’s” 1920s themed gala fundraiser.

She has also become very happily involved with the St. Thomas Railway City Rotary Club. She admires the support for local and international causes given by many service organizations and wanted to contribute in that way. After attending a few meetings of Railway City Rotary she decided that this group was a good fit for her. She is obviously proud of the achievements of this relatively new club and their support for organizations like Inn Out of the Cold, Fresh Start, and Caring Cupboard, their encouragement of youth involvement through their “kids division” and their work to help eradicate polio worldwide.

Though she keeps very busy, Eleanor notes, “Peter is with me all the time. All of these things that people say tend to become cliché. But it’s not. Everyone goes through these situations in a different kind of way. I am lucky – I am surrounded all the time by the work and by him. My house is like an old shoe, I just put it on. I admit, I have conversations with him.”
She has also become attuned to noticing little coincidences of events.  Eleanor often proudly wore Peter’s Paul Harris Award pin from the Rotary Club.  A chance encounter with a Rotarian who noticed it resulted in her connecting with the Railway City Rotary group, which she later learned had been chartered the month Peter passed away. By chance, Peter’s show at St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre will mark the third anniversary of his passing. There are plenty more examples and Eleanor says, “I believe in serendipity.”

As a member of the Railway City Rotarians, she was pleased to take part in the annual teddy bear drive for Christmas Care at the Stars games before Christmas last year. The fact that she and Peter had been long-time Stars fans, and that Peter had indulged her love of teddy bears by giving her many as gifts over the years made the experience particularly meaningful.
  
Eleanor is also excited about another teddy bear gift she discovered after Peter’s death. Back in the 90s, he had dreamed up an imaginary land of bears with locations like Tiny Town, Wobbly Woods and Village of Sparta. He created twenty-four lovely whimsical watercolours and his close friend, John Peowrie composed short poems to accompany them. They had worked on the idea on-and-off over a period of four months and Peter had put together an outline for “The Story Time Bear” and filed the pages in a binder.  However, both men had busy careers and the project was put on a shelf and forgotten.

Eleanor is anticipating with pleasure the work of putting together the book Peter had in mind, and donating it for a fundraiser. “After Peter passed, I found the manuscript and felt it was just like opening an amazing Christmas gift. With it I could create something wonderful. And that would just tie everything together.”

Find out more about Peter Robson Studios & Gallery at www.peterrobsonstudios.com. Visit the gallery at 46340 Main St, Sparta or call 519-775-2522. 

Article thumb photo is The Mill Pond.