In assembling "The Fulcrum of the Arts: Canadian Culture and Alma College, 1881-1939" guest curator Susan Butlin and the Elgin County Museum have brought together an exhibit rich with evidence that Alma College, especially in the years 1881-1939, was "much more than just a high school". Drawing from public and private collections, it also reunites many art works formerly in the Alma College art collection. They are shown alongside little before seen work by Alma art graduates, guest artist lecturers and teachers, and St. Thomas artists to narrate a story of the growth of the Alma College Fine Arts Department.
In the Sept/Oct 2013 edition of Relish Elgin, Susan Butlin wrote about the evolution of the exhibit and invites others to discover Alma's central role in the development of the Canadian Arts community.
At the exhibit's opening on April 8th, Elgin County Museum curator Michael Baker noted that it was 1 1/2 years ago when the museum had hosted Susan's talk on her book "All the Girls Have Gone" which brought the story of Alma to a close. That work led to discussion of taking a closer look at the college's contribution to culture in our region. Susan was on hand at the opening to highlight some aspects of Alma's role as a locus for the arts in the years before the advent of the Massey Commission. Several Alma alumnae were also present - among them was Evelyn Knight who spoke about her experiences as an Alma day student and later art teacher, and the focal point the college was in her life.
At the exhibit's opening on April 8th, Elgin County Museum curator Michael Baker noted that it was 1 1/2 years ago when the museum had hosted Susan's talk on her book "All the Girls Have Gone" which brought the story of Alma to a close. That work led to discussion of taking a closer look at the college's contribution to culture in our region. Susan was on hand at the opening to highlight some aspects of Alma's role as a locus for the arts in the years before the advent of the Massey Commission. Several Alma alumnae were also present - among them was Evelyn Knight who spoke about her experiences as an Alma day student and later art teacher, and the focal point the college was in her life.
Above: photos from the exhibit opening; Susan Butlin (top middle); antique collector Jeff Moyes who lent his Alma dolls - it was a tradition for students to display a doll from their home country at the college (middle right); Evelyn Knight (bottom left & middle).
Above Alma Alumnae in attendance at the exhibit opening.
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