Callander Museum celebrates art, inclusion

The Callander Bay Heritage Museum and Community Living North Bay are partnering to celebrate inclusive artwork. A new art show called ‘Adventures in Art’ explores the work made by clients of the non-profit organization who live with intellectual disabilities.

Artists Damien, Suzie and Gayle stood by their artwork on the wall inside the Alex Dufresne Gallery as the show opened. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)Artists Damien, Suzie and Gayle stood by their artwork on the wall inside the Alex Dufresne Gallery as the show opened.

"I get to do art with my friends. A time to spend with my friends. Come see our art," said Gayle Reynolds

In total 22 artists are emphasizing and celebrating inclusive art.

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Back in 2015, Karen Sherry, the past chairperson of L’Arche North Bay, approached Community Living North Bay’s participation support worker Shannon Johnson seeking to partner with them to host an art program for people both with and without intellectual disabilities to come together and have shared creative experiences.

In April 2016, a three-month trial run was offered at Community Living and Sherry was the first of many artists to teach the participants helping to produce art for the enjoyment of doing art. The first session had 35 people. Over the next two years, there have been many people whom participated in the ‘Adventures In Art’ program.

"The artists take pride in their work and enjoy being able to express themselves," said Johnson.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic began, the gallery opened its doors to the artists to do art classes inside and will re-start those classes again next month.

"The artwork is different styles. One is acrylic pour. A very inclusive artwork that you can do as it involves pouring pain on the canvass and moving the paint around a little bit,” said Natasha Wiatr the museum and art gallery’s curator.

Community Living North Bay also partnered with the venue in 2019 to hang the artists’ work on the gallery walls. Wiatr said she is pleased to welcome the artists back to the gallery four years later.

"So to give them the chance to show off what they do and have the public come and see that is beneficial," she said.

Johnson said what’s particularly nice about this art show is that visitors and viewers who decide to come see the art won’t be able to tell if the art was made by someone living with an intellectual disability or not.

A piece titled 'Bubbles' on display at the Alex Dufresne Gallery as part of 'Adventures in Art' show. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)“Everyone is equal,” she said.

“Everybody gets to shine whether they have a disability or not.”

The show will remain on display until May 20 with the gallery open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Artists Damien, Suzie and Gayle stood by their artwork on the wall inside the Alex Dufresne Gallery as the show opened. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)For more information on this show and what the gallery and museum have to offer, visit their Facebook page.