The exhibit is an artists’ exchange where Canadian, Swiss and German works will be on display at the Helson Gallery and then later in Europe
Walking into the Helson Gallery, it’s easy to see why visitors are awestruck by the interior. It is, after all, a repurposed church and houses of worship are meant to give a feeling of the divine.
But that’s only a surface-level understanding of this local gem, located inside the Halton Hills Cultural Centre on Church Street. Looking deeper into the behind-the-scenes work of the gallery, one will find this humble small town gallery’s international footprint.
The Helson’s latest exhibition, The Transatlantic Paper Trail, is an exchange program between nationally-renowned Canadian artists and similar ones in Europe.
The exhibition will run from today (Nov. 29) to Feb. 25 and it’s free to visit. Art lovers can partake in a grand opening with live music on Dec. 3 between 1 and 3 p.m.
“Anyone would probably have to travel to Toronto to see an international exhibition. So I think we’re bringing great value here,” Helson Gallery curator Kara Bruce told HaltonHillsToday.
Once the exhibition is over, the works on display at the gallery will go to Europe (country to be determined) – a feat only possible through the Helson’s long reach.
The foreign artists in the exhibition are Uta Jeran, Karoline Koeppel, Reinhard Fluri, Konrad Gruber and Rudolf Stüssi.
The works of Canadian artists Neville Clarke, Linda Kemp, Peter Marsh, Lin Souliere and Rayne Tunley will be on display alongside their Swiss and German counterparts. They are members of the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (CSPWC) – an almost century-old collective partly founded by Group of Seven artist AJ Casson – but also formed their own group called Pentavision.
This is not the first time the Helson held an international exhibition. Last year, the gallery held Couleurs d’Ailleurs. Pentavision members had their works on display in Château de Grouchy, northwest of Paris, as well as in Georgetown.
“We ended up selling a French piece. So for that French artist, they can say ‘I’ve sold internationally,’ which is huge,” Bruce said.
Stüssi – a former teacher at OCAD and past president of the CSPWC – was Pentavision’s connection in Europe. Tunley recalled that he “jumped” at the chance to feature the other four European artists in Georgetown when her group pitched the idea to him.
“I think it’s just interesting because of the different visions that come out of each country,” Pentavision artist Rayne Tunley said in speaking about the importance of international exhibitions.
“[An international exhibition] shows you the diversity of people who paint in other places. And that’s enlightening for artwork is a reflection of society. The artist brings a message to you somehow,” said artist Peter Marsh.
When asked why she came back to the Helson to display her work, Linda Kemp said she felt the space was “a spiritual sensation” that was also “humbling.”
“I just walked in and saw the light and the [stained glass] window and the sound. It was more than a visual experience,” Kemp recalled.
The Town of Halton Hills website has more information on the exhibit. The Helson Gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
