New art installation in Tillsonburg Town Centre

With the new circular art on permanent display in the Tillsonburg Town Centre behind them, participants in the official unveiling pose with originals of the pieces that are part of the display. Left to right are Rhonda Franks, artist; Tabatha Verbuyst, executive director Station Arts Centre; Nicole Hancox, property manager Salt Hill Capital; Mary Chaisson, senior administrator Salt Hill Capital and Saumya Verma, assistant marketing manager Salt Hill Capital. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

A new art display in the Tillsonburg Town Centre adds an interesting flare to the mall’s centre court.

In partnership with the Station Arts Centre, nine plexiglass discs with the work of local artists were hung recently in the mall’s centre court. And in this case, hung means hung from the ceiling, so look up to catch a glimpse of the art. Three of the translucent discs are a four-foot diameter and six are three feet across.

Nicole Hancox, property manager with Salt Hill Capital which owns the mall, described the art, saying it adds “vibrancy” to the mall.

The process to the official unveiling that took place on Feb. 12 started over a year ago. Roselyn D'Ascanio, senior director of marketing with Salt Hill, had an idea for a permanent art installation. Discussing her ideas with Station Arts Centre Executive Director Tabatha Verbuyst, the concept for the hanging discs was born.

Verbuyst said a call out to artists was done last September under the theme “What does Tillsonburg mean to you”. Each artist submitted three works, which were chosen by a juried process. The winning artists – Megan McKiernan, Stella Jurgen and Rhonda Franks – will have their works permanently on display. The selected works encompass many different aspects of Tillsonburg, from a turtle for Turtlefest to the Harvards.

“Their works not only encompasses the community aspect, they include the cultural aspects,” Verbuyst said. “There are a lot of amazing things that make us want to celebrate the town.”

The originals of the paintings will be permanently installed within the Tillsonburg Town Centre.