New local artists display in Tillsonburg Town Centre

The Gallery of Goods, a new permanent art display in the Tillsonburg Town Centre, was unveiled recently. Left to right are: Mary Chiasson, senior property administrator, Tillsonburg Town Centre; Peyton Corriveau, artist; Tabitha Verbuyst, executive director Station Arts Centre; Stella Jurgen, artist; and Nicole Hancox, property manager, Tillsonburg Town Centre. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Local artists recently unveiled the Gallery of Goods in the Tillsonburg Town Centre.

The new display features three local artists painting two works each on panels shaped like shopping bags. The display is the latest collaboration between the Tillsonburg Town Centre and the Station Arts Centre.

Station Arts Centre executive director Tabitha Verbuyst said the idea came up during discussions with Salthill Capital, which owns the Tillsonburg Town Centre, about expanding the local artists’ work on display. She came up with the idea of creating panels in the shape of shopping bags to make it unique and easy for the artists to work on at home.

“The station is always proud to work with the community and showcase our artists,” Verbuyst said.

The Station Arts Centre held a juried competition in which artists submitted their concepts for display, describing the colour scheme and subject matter. About a half-dozen artists submitted ideas, and three were chosen last fall.

Verbuyst was happy with the results after it was unveiled on Feb. 18.

“It’s a whimsical, colourful hallway now,” she said.

Emily Mulhern, marketing manager for Salthill Capital, spoke highly of the partnership with the Station Arts Centre.

“At Salthill, community is at the heart of everything we do,” she said. “Our continued partnership with Station Arts Centre at Tillsonburg Town Centre reflects our commitment to supporting and strengthening the neighbourhoods we proudly serve. Thank you to Tabitha and her team for their continued engagement with us. We look forward to working with them to bring light to more local art in Tillsonburg.”

The artists

At 21, artist Peyton Corriveau is the youngest of the three chosen. She recently started her own business offering tattoos and commissioned art. Her two pieces highlight the town’s agriculture and Lake Lisgar.

“It’s the agriculture of Tillsonburg, the roots,” she said of the agriculture painting. “But it’s more than that, it’s the community growing and community sharing.”

Speaking about the painting of Lake Lisgar, she said, “It represents the different seasonal changes and how the mall is more than a shopping place, it’s where you can meet new friends or catch up with old friends.”

Stella Jurgen had her work on display in the overhead discs hanging in the mall’s centre court. Her work “Meet me at the mall” was inspired by sitting in the mall one afternoon, having a coffee, and sketching.

“I sat there a half-hour and experienced this thing you don’t experience in big cities where everyone knew each other,” she said. “This is the place to be.”

Her second piece, “Shopping Spree”, was also inspired by being in the mall. “It’s me walking in the mall, seeing whatever I like, and enjoying a coffee because it’s fun in here,” she said.

It is also local artist Megan McKiernan’s second time having her art displayed in the Tillsonburg Town Centre, as she was also part of the overhead display in the centre court.

“I created a watercolour full of joy and song that's unique to Tillsonburg,” she said. “In spring, birds appear, and tulips blossom, highlighting Tillsonburg's heritage. During summer, umbrellas are unfurled, and a Timmy's cup sits on a shared table. Fall brings falling leaves and festive decorations for everyone to enjoy, while winter brings family gatherings, blue jays, and the coziness of the season.”