HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-02-21, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019. PAGE 19.
Find fullness in God
Stevenson now president of Festival Art Gallery
Carl Stevenson of Blyth is now the
president of the Blyth Festival Art
Gallery and is looking forward to a
strong and diverse first season this
summer.
While Stevenson had been a
patron and supporter of the gallery
for years, he first became a member
about four years ago when his
daughter, Kelly, was featured at the
gallery for her first-ever individual
show.
He soon took the next step and
became a member of the gallery’s
executive, walking right into the
vice-president role. Stevenson said
he wanted to be involved because of
his daughter’s involvement and due
to his love of art, though he never
considered himself much of an artist,
aside from his work in photography,
which he had submitted to the
gallery as part of its annual
community show.
As the vice-president, he filled in
for the president at functions, exhibit
openings and speaking engagements
if the president wasn’t able to attend.
However, what really interested
Stevenson during that time was
being a member of the selection
committee.
Being able to go behind the scenes
of the selection process and visit
with artists in their studios was very
inspirational, he said. Because often
the artist would pitch a concept for a
new exhibit, the art that would be
featured at the gallery for the
coming season would not yet have
been created, so listening to an artist
speak about their vision and
inspiration was a very interesting
part of the process.
“It’s really interesting to see how
[the artists] put themselves into their
work. In a lot of cases you can see
them develop over the years,”
Stevenson said.
In the years since Stevenson has
been involved, he says he’s proud to
see the diverse artistic offerings
season after season. Being open to
and accepting of all types of art is
crucial to what the gallery does, he
says.
So, when it was time for a new
president, Stevenson was willing to
take over the position, saying he had
learned plenty over the years as the
vice-president and thought it was
time.
The transition began in late
November, so Stevenson hasn’t had
much time in the position, but he
says that an exciting and diverse
season has been chosen for this year
and he’s looking forward to being
able to share more details in the
coming weeks.
As far as what the gallery
accomplishes season after season,
Stevenson says that it’s a crucial part
of the Huron County art picture,
encouraging artists from the
community and serving as a stage
for artists who may not find one
elsewhere.
He has seen firsthand the effect
that a Blyth Festival Art Gallery
show can have on a young Huron
County artist.
When Stevenson’s daughter
Kelly’s work was featured at the
gallery, he said he saw a definite
uptick in her confidence from the
sheer exposure of the show.
Having a show at the gallery, he
said, puts an artist’s work in front of
thousands of people over a three- or
four-week period, often reaching
people that would have never
otherwise have connected with the
work of a particular artist.
Since he first became involved
with the gallery, however, Stevenson
says that his favourite function the
gallery serves year after year is
hosting the annual student show.
Welcoming artwork made by
students from the community is an
amazing experience and Stevenson
says he’s consistently impressed and
astonished at the high level of art
that comes into the show every
season.
In addition, like some of the artists
who apply for regular season
professional shows, Stevenson has
seen student artists grow from
season to season as they submit their
work to the student show. They also
have a different outlook on art and
the world, Stevenson says, so to see
what they come up with every year
can be an eye-opening experience.
For the coming season, Stevenson
will be the president of the gallery,
while the vice-president spot
remains vacant. Colleen Schenk is
the secretary, while Cora de Vries is
the treasurer, Rob Tetu is the
communications and education co-
ordinator and Bruce Stainton is the
exhibition committee chair.
For more information, visit the
Blyth Festival Art Gallery on
Facebook or at blythfestival.com.
Continued from page 13
splintered families – all of these
empty life of it fullness. In a sense,
instead of Naomi (beautiful and
pleasant), our lives have become
Mara (bitter). True, there can be
much about life that is beautiful, but
it could be so much better.
The story of the human race
continues. Boaz gave up his own life
by offering all that he had to fill
Naomi’s life again. t is rather
significant that one of the
descendants of Obed, Boaz and
Ruth’s son, is Jesus Christ. Like
Boaz, he has become our guardian-
redeemer, giving up his life so that
we can experience God’s blessings.
Naomi’s life because full again
because Ruth and Boaz thought of
her first. When Jesus came to this
earth, he did not seek his own rights
and freedoms. Rather, he gave his
life, dying on a cross to redeem us
from our empty way of life. Through
believing that his death is
redemptive, our relationship with
God is restored, and when it is
restored, we can know again God’s
fullness. That fullness may not take
the form of a big house or lots of
money. For some of those who
believe in Jesus Christ, it does not
even take the form of a full stomach
every day. But when we know that
we have a God who is Almighty and
who cares about us, our hearts
become full. They become full
because we know that the Almighty
God who loves us will take care of
us for now and for eternity.
Naomi’s memory lives on through
Obed, but in Jesus, we have more.
When we allow him to become our
servant, by accepting the gift of his
self-sacrifice, we have the sure
promise of not only living on in
someone’s memory but of living on
forever in eternity.
The story of Ruth, while it
remains a beautiful story of a
courageous woman who was willing
to sacrifice herself for her mother-
in-law, is also a story of God as he
fills the life of a woman who had
been emptied of all she had. This
story can move us to self-sacrifice,
but it is also meant to return us to
God and, when empty, find our
fullness in him.
egirebyegivor carfoAn in-person social network f ers by car
oonnection Grer Cegiv
Providing peer and resource connections for caregivers in Huron and Perth Co
e and/Caregivers provide support, assistanc /oor care, for family members and f
in need. Being a caregiver can be rewarding and fulfilling. However, caregiver
feel alone and overwhelmed in their journey.
If you are a caregiver and would like to connect with other caregivers in Huro
Perth Counties, please join us at an upcoming Caregiver Connection Group.
These groups are hosted by caregivers for caregivers - come as you are for a
snack and conversation!
Car
Stratford Public Library Group
19 St. Andrew St., Stratford
2nd Monday of the month – 10:00 to 11:30am
4th Monday of the month – 1:00 to 2:30pm
Brussels Library Group
650 Turnberry St., Brussels
2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month – 2:00 to 3:30pm
For more information call Huron Perth Community
Support Services Network at 1-844-482-7800.
ersiv
ounties
friends
rs often
on and
a coffee,
up
A new era
Carl Stevenson, seen here on the left in a green dress shirt, has now taken over as the
president of the Blyth Festival Art Gallery after numerous years as the vice-president. He is
looking forward to another diverse season at the gallery this summer. He and other members
of the gallery executive are seen here last summer at the opening of Kathy White’s fibre art
exhibit. (File photo)
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Family business
When Blyth artist Kelly Stevenson was featured in her first
solo exhibition, “Who Heals You”, at the Blyth Festival Art
Gallery, seen above, her father Carl became involved with
the gallery’s executive. He has seen first-hand the positive
effect the gallery can have on a young artist. (File photo)
BUY? SELL?
TRY CLASSIFIED