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PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT social distancing and masks WILL STILL BE IN EFFECT AND WILL be mandatory when visiting.
Exhibitions / Submissions
Exhibitions at the Public Art Centre take place in our Gallery ONE, TWO and THREE. Tours are free of charge and can be organized in advance for school and community groups. For more information please see Education Programs.
Current Exhibitions
On the Line
Gallery One and Two
June 18 to July 30, 2022
The inspiration for this exhibition comes from a 2016 episode of Revisionist History, by Malcolm Gladwell. The episode, The Lady Vanishes, tells the story of the place of women artists (or lack thereof) throughout the history of art and art collecting. The term, on the line, refers to the hanging of art. A work of art displayed prominently in an exhibition and at eye level is considered on the line.
For far too long, women artists were not located on the line or in many exhibitions and public collections. The Public Art Centre has and continues to place importance on collecting and exhibiting the works of women artists, both contemporary and historical. This permanent collection exhibition is focused entirely on local and regional women artists, their work, and heir extraordinary determination to create.
"And She Can Cook..."
Josepha van den Anker
Gallery Three
June 18 to July 30, 2022
Josepha van den Anker, throughout four decades of her career, describes herself as a "figurative artist", a painter and printmaker. Influenced by media imagery, archaic iconography, quotations by writiers and philosophers, her art often reflects a personal narrative... engaging the viewer in the psychological drama of human emotions and questioning the confines of self in the Power Politics of Society. Born in Holland, JvdA is a naturalized Canadian Citizen.
An honour's Graduate of the Ontario College of Art, 1976, she has continuously exhibited in Canada, and while living in Ireland and Holland for several years.
Upcoming Exhibitions
ART IN BLOOM
SUSAN GARRINGTON
August 6 to September 23, 2022
Gallery One and Two
The St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre is pleased to present, ART IN BLOOM, by Susan
Garrington, from August 6 to September 24, 2022, in gallery One and Two. ART IN BLOOM is an exploration of plants that bloom along highways, in woodlands and in local gardens. A celebration of colour, form and pattern designed to share the artist’s wonder and happiness.
Illuminated Impressions
August 6 to September 23, 2022
Tabitha Verbuyst
Gallery Three
Drawn to illumination and movement, Tabitha Verbuyst oil works focus on a fleeting moment in everyday life and landscape, the dreamlike memory of the otherwise past and forgotten. The enigmatic image with dramatic high contrast using vibrant palettes layered over and over again creates a richness and depth. This disassociates the viewer with the location and instead turns focus to the movement, vibrancy, emotion and beauty within that moment.
In contrast to the vibrant palettes of her oil paintings, Tabitha’s other passion is creating detailed ink and watercolour works of delightful memories, favourite locations and best kept secrets. Using a variety of ink pens, Tabitha captures the unique characteristics of each space, then adds splashes of watercolour to bring each cherished piece to life.
Verbuyst has attained a BFA degree from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University and an Advance Diploma in Fine Art from Fanshawe College. She has participated in various solo and group shows including the annual Oxford Studio Tour, 2022 100 Kellogg Art Comp, 2021 Women in Culture, Ingersoll Art Gallery, 2019 Visual Elements, Woodstock Art Gallery, Woodstock, 2017 Evanescent, and Satellite Project, London. Verbuyst enjoys books with mystery and thrills, sketching beautifully dilapidated houses and anything that involves spending time with her family. Verbuyst practices and resides in Tillsonburg, Ontario, and is the Program Coordinator/ Curator of the Station Arts Centre Gallery.
Past Exhibitions
Ting - Editorial Cartoons
Until April 10, 2021
Merle "Ting" Tingley was born in Montreal in 1921 and is recognized as one of southwestern Ontario’s most influential cartoonists. He joined the Army Signals Corps in 1942, and in 1943 became staff cartoonist for The Khaki, the Canadian army’s official bilingual magazine.
In 1947 he bought a used motorcycle and toured the country showing his portfolio to numerous editors, before, out of desperation, he took a job retouching photographs at the London Free Press. Ting's fortunes improved when an editor on that paper noticed a cartoon Ting had drawn of the mayor during the municipal election. The editor was impressed with the drawing and Ting become the resident editorial cartoonist at the London Free Press until his retirement in 1986.
The Public Art Centre has more than 100 works by Ting in our permanent collection. These works document an extraordinary career and the political and societal events (locally, nationally and internationally) from the 1940’s to the 1990’s.
UNMASKED: Portraits from the Collection
August 15 to September 26, 2020
Gallery ONE & TWO
Drawing from a collection of over 1900 works of art, UNMASKED: Portraits from the Public Art Centre’s collection, features portrait works that explore how artists have chosen to portray themselves and their subjects. Created in all media, from plaster sculpture to oil painting, the works in this exhibition can inspire ourselves to see others with empathy and understanding.
As we are confronted each day with mandatory mask regulations and social distancing rules many find it difficult to connect with others. So, we think this is an opportune time to reassess the significance of self-portraiture and portrait art in relation to our current time in history.
The exhibition contains examples of self-portraits, with Dorothy Stevens’, Untitled Self Portrait, c. 1940, that is rarely seen. It also includes works by Mackie Cryderman, Clark McDougall, Bob Bozak, Marion Long, Greg Curnoe, Kathleen Daly, Gerald Pedros, Robert Reginald Whale, Norval Morrisseau and many more.
UNMASKED is curated by Laura Woermke, curator and Sherri Howard, program director at the Public Art Centre. The exhibition will also include self directed educational prompts to further develop your experience and exploration into the world of portraits.
Online Exhibits
With an evolving collection of more than 1900 works of art, we invite art lovers to browse our online exhibitions. Many of the selected works are by artists that have been featured in our exhibitions and some works have never been seen yet.
Visit 
online exhibitions
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Call for Artwork
in view of the artist
Annual Juried Exhibition
October 1 to 22, 2022
Deadline for submissions
Saturday, September 17, 2022
ELIGIBILITY
Any artist over 18 years who resides in Southwestern Ontario and a member of the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre.
(to purchase or renew your membership please visit membership or call 519 631-4040)
Works entered must be an original composition created by the entrant.
Submitted artwork must have been created within the past three years and not previously shown at the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre. All mediums are acceptable. No copies from other artists, from published material or supervised work will be considered.
Please read the application form for more details.
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Exhibition Submission Guidelines for Artists and Curators
It is the mandate of STEPAC to advance knowledge and understanding of the visual arts within St. Thomas and Elgin County through exhibitions, acquisitions, lectures, public programs, education programs, traveling exhibitions, and adherence to standard museum practices. STEPAC seeks to present and facilitate a broad range of visual art practices and to reflect excellence through all aspects of its programs.
STEPAC’s exhibition program is invitational, and the also accepts exhibition proposals on an ongoing basis from artists and curators. The exhibitions are booked at least two years in advance.
Submission Guidelines:
- Current CV
- Up to 20 digital images of recent work, with accompanying image credit list detailing artist’s name, titles, dates, medium and dimensions of each work; this can be done by sending a USB, link to a website or online portfolio.
- A brief description of the proposed concept.
- Any additional relevant material such as publications and critical reviews.
- If mailed, a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like your materials returned.
In the event that the proposed artworks have not yet been produced, please provide a detailed description of the intent in addition to support material featuring past work.
Please remember to contact the Art Centre if you have a change of address and/or telephone number.
Please note, the Art Centre will only reply to proposals in which it is interested.
Submit applications by mail to:
St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre
Attention: Curator
301 Talbot Street, St. Thomas, ON. N5P 1B5
Email applications here...
Attention: Curator
Submission Guidelines for Artists and curators