ArtPontiac opens for 2022 season

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Lynn Cameron, Mayor of Portage-du-Fort welcomed guests on behalf of the Municipality and encouraged everyone to return to see the other exhibitions coming later in the season.

Cheryl Dolan

PORTAGE-DU-FORT – The grand opening of artPontiac’s new Art Shop and the first exhibition of the 2022 season was held at the Stone School Gallery in Portage-du-Fort on Friday evening, June 3. The vernissage for the textile and fibre art exhibit “Conversations” was a huge success with the building filled with artists and visitors. The theme, “Conversations”, explores the relation between “the fibre of your being to the natural fibre of your body on a daily basis”. The works on display, created by a group of artists calling themselves Fibre 15, are beautiful and varied using weaving, embroidery, creative stitching, beadwork, applique and more.

It was the first time MP Sophie Chatel had visited the Stone School Gallery. She expressed her appreciation of artists who “kept us together during the pandemic, who innovated in many different ways to stay connected with us.” Chatel quoted Thomas Merton, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time,” adding,

“I think it is so true.”

The newest addition to the Stone School Gallery is an Art Shop which previously was another exhibition space. The shop has a wide collection of art from 35 artists including paintings, prints, photography, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, scarves, cards and more. There is something for everyone. Another plan is to offer free coffee for visitors to enjoy while they stop at the shop and gallery before continuing on their way to another destination in the Pontiac.

Maria Connell, Communications Director of artPontiac stated: “The Pontiac is an undiscovered jewel, and it definitely has a lot of culture, heritage and history. A lot of the artists have come together to promote the culture and art of the Pontiac but also to put Pontiac on the map so other people can discover what’s here. It would be really nice to share the Pontiac with everyone because I think it is not well known.” Gallery hours are 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday.