Our Stōr(y) celebrates two great years of sharing creativity

Kevin September shares some bestselling freeze-dried rhubarb with guests from Toronto that will be sure to return to visit.

It has been two years since Kevin September opened the doors of Our Stōr(y) with the goal of showcasing the many diverse stories to be found in Stratford and Perth, Huron, Waterloo and Wellington counties. Through books, quilts, works of art and whimsies, September has curated an “Explorium Emporium.”

The evening of May 20 greeted guests to celebrate this milestone with September who collaborated with Pastoral Pond, a family run cidery and winery making their prized rhubarb wine. On hand were owners Aaron and Jacqueline Martin to share their four flavours of cider and rhubarb wine, with palate cleansing buffalo cheese made on their farm and the popular freeze-dried rhubarb candy.

“I think it’s important to not only mark the touchstones, as people say, but also to take a minute to thank those that it wouldn’t be without. Without those artists and makers that took a chance and entrusted not only their work, but their stories with me to share with the people that have come in and taken the time to listen to those stories and explore, we wouldn’t be talking about this,” said September.

Not only was it a celebration, it was also a bit of a pop-up art show to showcase Pastoral Ponds’ beautiful graphic artwork on their bottles by artist Camilla Kipp, also in attendance, offering prints of her designs inspired by the likes of Beatrice Potter.

September finds every day an inspiration himself as he has become the keeper of stories to share in the oral tradition of days past.

“There’s those connections and stories, those layers I guess that I really appreciate. That’s why I love every day because there’s always a different story I come home with. My wife gets the whole burst of stories I’ve inherited from people I have met in the day,” said September. “It keeps me wanting more and wanting to learn more, wanting to meet more folks.”

All good qualities for the average person, but for a self-proclaimed introvert, it is life changing.

“When I’m in an environment that I’ve curated and talking to like-minded folks, whether that’s the artist that brings me their work or the customer that’s come in to admire or purchase something, you can drop all the masking and pretense and just share a laugh,” September said.

After two years, the impact of owning and operating his own store has been positively affecting his own approach to art and his abilities as well. His curiosity has led to new challenges and he’s learning to apply discipline to pursuits.

“My whole life I’ve wanted an art practice and I’m still not there but I’m definitely creating more and more regularly. And thinking about it more, not just winging it in the moment; working on certain things, being more passionate about things that I had thought about but hadn’t tried before,” he said.

Our Stōr(y) is located at 7 George St. W. Expect the unexpected. And a good story.