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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-09-20, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012. PAGE 19. Competitions well attended at 2012 Threshers Reunion Exhibit brings best of Art Bank together Continued from page 11 Marys who finished second and Maria Peppler from Orangeville who finished third. The Dikzy Chix from Milverton took the junior group award and Two Lucky Guys from the Stratford area took the open group top spot. On Saturday, 23 fiddlers did their best to take top spots while judges Matthew Johnson of Waterdown and Karl McNaughton of Clinton graded them. In the 70 years and over category, John Kukoly of Welland took first place, Mark DeLong of St. Marys took second place, Alex Aldcorn of Badjeros finished third place and Mary Pearson of Little Britain finished in fourth place. In the 50 to 69 years old category, Al Windmeyer from Kitchener took first place, Ken Cook of Dorchester was second place. Shirley Wardle of Thamesford finished in third place and Donna Aldcorn of Badjeros finished in fourth place. In the 19 to 49 year old category, Cassandra Swan of St. Catherines took first place and Jeff Miller of Dashwood took second place. Other top spots went to the following competitors: • Mary Sabourin of Wingham took first in the nine years and under category. • Elyse Varney of Paris took first place in the 12 years and under category. • Joseph Flynn of Sebringville took first place in the 18 years and under category. • Ashley Giles and Jeff Miller took first place in the first-ever duet competition at the event. • Ashley Giles from St. Mary’s took first place in the open class. Van Egmond said that the competitions, as well as the jam sessions and concerts throughout the week and weekend were well attended. After a dozen successful years, the Huron County Art Bank faced a crossroads in 2012 when the original funding that made the program possible ran out. Thanks to a recent decision by Huron County Council, however, the show has now become part of the county’s annual budget. Last month a presentation was made by Huron County Librarian Meighan Wark that compiled comments made by those who had participated in the Huron County Art Show in the past, detailing its importance to the art community in Huron County. The comments came from a focus group session that was held in Goderich in June. In an interview with The Citizen, Wark said the feedback was “overwhelmingly positive” towards continuing the program. Wark says continuing the art show will now become part of council’s annual budget discussion. Because 2012 had the potential to be the final year of the program, and certainly the final year of the program in its current form, Wark and others decided to compile a collection of award-winning works from the Huron County Art Bank over the past 12 years and create one large collection, which is on display at the Huron County Museum in Goderich until Nov. 4. Picturing Huron County: a retrospective exhibit of the Huron County Art Bank was also on display for the summer, closing on Sept. 2. Blyth-area artist Ron Walker has several pieces of his work in the Huron County Art Bank and speaks very highly of the program. In an interview earlier this year, Walker said the program has done so much for art in Huron County and prior to the decision to continue the funding, he said it would be a shame if it were to be discontinued. He said the program, and the people who helped create it, including Susannah Lattimer and the members of Huron County Council in 2000, were very forward-thinking and they have done so much to encourage and foster creativity in Huron County by creating the art bank. The art bank afforded Walker many opportunities to showcase his work, which he credits back to the founder and woman who provided the funding for the program in the first place: Susannah Lattimer. Lattimer was a descendant of the Craig family from Morris Township and in 2000, Lattimer’s estate made a bequest to Huron County and the council of the day thought it fitting that an art show/collection would be an appropriate use for the funds. It was expected that the show would go on for 10 years, but it continued for 12, with the funding drying up in 2012. The concept behind the show was that every year there would be a call for submissions and three winners would be chosen, and purchased by the County of Huron. After being displayed for several months, the pieces would then become part of the Huron County Art Bank and have a permanent place in a multitude of county buildings. One of Walker’s long, panoramic pieces, for example, Wark says, has been displayed in the Huron County Health Unit building in Clinton for years. Wark says that the collection has presented an interesting view of Huron County, as the pieces, in order to be eligible for the Huron County Art Bank, had to depict the artist’s “Huron Roots” in the work. The collection features works by Walker, Paul Sholdice, Tristan Eekhoff, Catherine Weber, Elizabeth Van Den Broeck, Gwen Smithers- Kiar, Madelaine Roske, William Creighton, Paul Carroll, Barbara McKnight, Paul Cousteils, Anne Laviolette, Barbara Grace and Elizabeth H. Carr. This is the first time the entire collection has been together in one gallery on display. With his third place prize in this year’s show, Walker’s pieces have placed seven times over the last 12 years. “Swamp on Limekiln Line” earned Walker third place in 2000, the show’s first year. He would continue his success with the show in 2004 with a second place prize, a third place prize in 2005, a second place prize in 2006, first place in 2007 and another top prize in 2009. His piece “Swamp on Limekiln Line, #1, Series 3” earned him third place in this year’s show. Accompanying Walker’s several pieces currently hanging in Goderich is a plaque featuring a biography and a quote from an audio interview in 2011 on his thoughts on what it takes to be an artist. The plaque reads, “I think the business of the artist is to be visually aware, you know, and if you’re not, well I don’t think you can be an artist.” For more information on the Huron County Art Bank, visit the website at www.huroncounty.ca/ museum/artbank.php Happy 30th Birthday Eileen Love, your family Congratulations to Judy Bondi who graduated from Medix College, Kitchener as a Registered Dental Hygienist. Love Rob and Alivia, Mom and Dad, Janelle and David. Graduation Congratulations to Janelle Bondi who graduated from Conestoga College as a Registered Practical Nurse, April 2012. She is presently employed at Braemar Nursing Home. Love Mom and Dad, David, Judy and Rob Graduation Entertainment Leisure& On display Blyth-area artist Ron Walker is featured prominently in this fall’s exhibit at the Huron County Museum in Goderich celebrating the 12 years of the Huron County Art Bank. Walker has placed in the show’s top three six times over the last 12 years. The show began out of a bequest from Susannah Lattimer, but will be continued thanks to a decision by Huron County Council. (Shawn Loughlin photo) By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Get entertainment information on the Entertainment section of our website at www.northhuron.on.ca