"Adopt a Painting" Program
The St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre is the holder of our community's valuable resource "the permanent collection". Some of the works depict our visual history and document historic changes to our city and county. But, due to improperly conserving these artworks, we run the risk of losing them forever. For example, the acid in the card board backing and non-archival mats are eating through delicate watercolour paintings leaving them irreparable.
"ADOPT A PAINTING" for only 100.00 will save two wonderful works of art by providing acid free environment they deserve! For more information please contact Laura Woermke lwoermke@stepac.ca.
Permanent Collection Statement of Purpose:
The St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre’s Permanent Collection is one of the largest and most significant in the St. Thomas and Elgin County region, made up of approximately 1500 artworks of local, regional, national and international origin in a variety of media, with special emphasis on contemporary and historical Canadian art, - in particular Canadian - and on the artists associated with St. Thomas and Elgin County. The historical component of the Collection is based on approximately 400 works by local artists from the 19th and 20th century, with content that demonstrates our important history, which includes, oil paintings, prints, sculpture and watercolours. Several major gifts of artwork have been made to the Collection, including the St. Thomas-Smith and Clark McDougall works and through a purchase of the artwork from
McDougall Group donates a large quantity of early and later finished works by Clark McDougall to the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre
The St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre is pleased to announce the recent acquisition of works by Clark McDougall to the permanent collection. It is with great gratitude that we acknowledge this important gift of works which have been donated by the recently formed McDougall Group. The group includes David Bruce Lemon, Nephew, Eric Nicolaas Lemon, Great Nephew, Peter Miller Lemon, Nephew, John Stephen Levack, Nephew, Robert Gordon Lemon, Nephew, Aedon Ross Lemon, Great Nephew, Grant Peter Lemon, Great Nephew, Paul Douglas Lemon, Nephew, David Lemon in trust for Jay Paul Lemon , Great Nephew, David Lemon in trust for Amy Margot Lemon – Great Niece, and Robert James Harold Levack, Nephew. Below is a information note on events leading to the recent acquisition of Clark McDougall works from the recently formed McDougall Group to the St. Thomas - Elgin Public Art Centre
Below is a information note on events leading to the recent acquisition of Clark McDougall works from the recently formed McDougall Group to the St. Thomas - Elgin Public Art Centre
1. December 17, 1980, Clark McDougall dies– his estate including most of the unsold artistic output of his entire life passes to his brother Donald McDougall and Don’s wife Marion McDougall of St. Thomas.
2. 1983 – 2009, Donald and his wife Marion engage the Mira Goddard Gallery of Toronto to represent and market Clark’s works – Don and Marion also establish the Clark McDougall Visual Art Scholarship – providing financial assistance to graduating Elgin County high school grads who go on to study Fine and Visual Arts in College or University.
3. 1984, Donald McDougall dies and art estate passes wholly to Marion McDougall who oversees art sales in consultation with her nephew Peter Lemon of St. Thomas through Mira Goddard Gallery
4. 2004, Marion and Peter negotiate donation of Clark’s large body of archival works (approx. 35,000 pieces)– sketches, preparatory drawings, unfinished works and extensive slide collection of local landscapes to the McIntosh Gallery at the University of Western Ontario in conjunction with curator Catherine Elliot Shaw.
5. Spring 2009 - present, Marion and Peter engage the Michael Gibson Gallery of London Ontario to represent the Clark’s remaining unsold art.
6. Summer 2010 Marion and Peter donate Clark’s multi volume hand scripted daily diaries to the Weldon Library at the University of Western Ontario
7. Feb 28 2011, Marion McDougall dies leaving the remaining unsold art works to her immediate family, comprising nephews, great nephews and a great niece (the McDougall Group) now managed by nephew Peter Lemon
8. December 2011 – the McDougall Group donates a large quantity (220 pieces) of early and later finished works – signed and unsigned, to the St. Thomas- Elgin Public Art Centre
PERMANENT COLLECTION