Have your say on the best in turtle exhibit

Turtles and turtle habitat are the focus of “Slow and Steady”, the current exhibit at the Station Arts Centre. This people’s choice exhibit runs until July 11. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Slow and Steady may be the name of the new exhibit at the Station Arts Centre, but it is proving to be anything but.

The exhibit, which opened in tandem with TurtleFest on June 13, was a first. However, it saw higher attendance than is typically seen for the TurtleFest opening or an exhibit launch.

“It was a great opening,” said Station Arts executive director Tabitha Verbuyst. “We had 75 people show up with (MPP) Ernie Hardeman cutting the ribbon.”

Typically, 60 people is considered good attendance for an opening. It also more people than usually shows up for TurtleFest’s launch.

“It was much more vibrant,” Verbuyst said. “They had a way bigger turnout.”

The concept for the exhibit came from a TurtleFest committee meeting. Verbuyst is on the TurtleFest committee, which she said was discussing ways to bring out more people to the opening.

“I pitched the idea of doing a TurtleFest-themed exhibit,” she said.

What resulted was Slow and Steady, an exhibit that must feature either turtles or turtle habitat. Nearly 30 artists submitted 36 works for display in the exhibit. These include paintings, drawings, clay sculptures, mixed medium, papier mache and photography.

This is a people’s choice exhibit where gallery visitors vote on their favourite turtle pieces by submitting a ballot. The exhibit runs until July 11, and the Station Arts Centre is open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All of the pieces in the exhibit are for sale. The top choice in the exhibit will receive $250.