Shell of a Place art contest winner announced

Tabitha Verbuyst, left, Executive Director of the Station Arts Centre, presents a recognition certificate to Shell of a Place winner Tricia Franklin. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

There is a little serendipity that the winner of the Station Arts Centre’s Shell of a Place art contest was a turtle painted on a paddle – both of which are at home in the water.

Trisha Franklin was the winner for her turtle painting on a canoe paddle. She found the paddle in St. Catharines, originally painted white, with the owner intending to paint on it, but not completing the task.

Franklin sanded it down, filled all the cracks but one with glue, and applied hemp oil on the wood.

“I left one on the bottom because life has cracks; it didn’t have to be perfect,” she said.

The Shell of a Place theme was designed to highlight the concept of turtles’ homes. The exhibit opened during Turtle Fest and allowed gallery attendees to vote for their favourite piece.

Station Arts Centre Executive Director Tabitha Verbuyst said more than 1,000 votes were cast, and Franklin was ahead by a significant margin over the next closest piece.

“It was really cool to see something different,” she said. “It wasn’t original media.”

Franklin explained there was a tree in her painting to represent home, and the turtle's shell is also its home. Her artwork also has a moon in it.

Growing up near Brownsville, Franklin is a member of the Station Arts Centre and joined Bridge Street Artists. Now living in St. Catharines, she has worked on several different murals there for non-profit groups.