NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF BARRIE
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Six renowned artists will transform locations along the shore of Kempenfelt Bay and downtown Barrie into temporary art installations as part of the City of Barrie’s Seeds to Sow exhibition, which takes place from Sept. 27 to Nov. 8, 2024.
The exhibition is supported by the Barrie public art committee (BPAC) and aims to revitalize Barrie’s public spaces, spark meaningful conversations and promote cultural awareness.
“Culture and creativity are essential to building healthy, complete communities and strengthening our economy. The City of Barrie is proud to host the selected artists who’ve created original artwork for our city as part of this temporary public art exhibition,” said Mayor Alex Nuttall. “I hope this exhibition helps instill a sense of civic pride in our community and encourages new residents, visitors and employers to come discover all that Barrie has to offer.”
Temporary artwork installations will be on display at the following locations:
- Barrie City Hall (70 Collier St.) – Adrian Blackwell, A New UFO?
- Rooftop Garden at the downtown Barrie Public Library (60 Worsley St.) – Amy Bagshaw, In Your Place
- Barrie North Shore Trail Head, north end of Centennial Beach, and Will Dwyer Park – Lisa Hirmer, We Are Atmosphere
- Lion’s Pavilion at Centennial Beach (65 Lakeshore Dr.) – Lou Sheppard, Uncharted Waters (Kempenfelt Bay)
- Will Dwyer Park (81 Lakeshore Dr.) – Native Art Department International, East and South Composition
- Allandale Station Park (285 Lakeshore Dr.) – Ted Fullerton, Germinate – Green Man
“This temporary public art exhibition is a unique opportunity to raise Barrie’s profile as an arts and culture destination, enhance the experience of our outdoor spaces for residents and visitors and drive tourism, talent attraction and downtown development,” said director of Invest Barrie Stephannie Schlichter. “This exhibition would not have been possible without the generous support of our partners and sponsors. Thank you for your contributions and commitment to the arts and our community.”
Public Opening Event
A public opening reception will take place on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 1-3 p.m. at the Sandbox Centre (24 Maple Ave., second floor). The public are invited to meet the artists and curator Katie Lawson and experience the exhibition.
In addition to the six installations, the MacLaren Art Centre will host a satellite exhibition in the Carnegie Room entitled Their horizon was mountain, their distance reveals, with new work by Derek Liddington.
A series of free public events will be available as part of the exhibition. Events include an artist performance by Lou Sheppard (Sept. 28); Fall Native Plant Sale + Native Seed & Plant Collage Workshop (Oct. 2); Spare Room - Seeds to Sow discussions (Oct. 3 & Nov. 1); Seeds to Sow interactive walking tour (Oct. 5); Discover, Draw, Dance (Oct. 12) and Seeds of Barrie’s Past – Immersive Experience Tour & Creative Response (Oct. 27).
Seeds to Sow is generously supported by OCAF, Downtown Barrie, Joan Gilroy, Flying Monkeys, Kim Kieller, Anne Menzies, Barry and Elizabeth Peacock, RBC Wealth Planning, Leading Edge Earthworks, Joan Lehman, Rotary Club of Barrie – Huronia, Seven Elements Wealth Management and a generous anonymous donor.
For more information, including a map of artwork locations, artist bios and public programming details, visit barrie.ca/SeedsToSow.
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