ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL JULY 2013
When Michael and Ellen Dumas heard of the intent of Community Living Peterborough to host a 60th year celebration of building inclusive communities, they proposed an exhibition that would exemplify both the creative impulse and the culture of inclusion. The underlying premise was to create a display by, and of, residents of the County of Peterborough. The response was overwhelming, with volunteers quickly stepping forth to offer their time and expertise on the development and planning board, to work on receiving and transporting, advertising and promotion, event staging, and the designing and installing of custom display walls. Significant cash and product donations were forthcoming and were used to offset a host of related expenses and features.
Peterborough in Portrait - Art Work by Wayne Mutton “Going to the Gala” Model: Carol Mutton 2013 © Copyrights. All rights reserved.
Peterborough in Portrait - Art Work by Ann Talbot “Cheers” 2013 © Copyrights. All rights reserved.
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Michael Dumas, whose artwork was featured on the cover of ATIM’s Top 60 Masters of Contemporary Art 2013, acted as lead curator, personally taking part in many tasks from preplanning to installation and receiving of guests and patrons. For Michael, the appeal lay in the opportunity of public service coupled with a sense that an exhibition truly integrating artists and models in a communal way was quite unique in public art displays. Michael says that ‘’Peterborough is but one of 117 Community Living associations in Ontario and 420 across Canada, and we hope that this inaugural exhibition will provide a blueprint for other communities to host similar events across the country. The dynamic power of art can be so very inspiring and fulfilling and this is another way of providing both a creative and unifying social force in our lives.” The concept behind the Peterborough in Portrait: Our Inclusive Community Art Exhibition had everything to do with the degree in which we all, as individuals within our respective societies, relate to one another. The diverse experience of every resident, be it influenced by age, gender, race, economic status, political leaning, health, abilities or disabilities and so on, forms a mosaic that defines the larger community. The overall vibrancy and prosperity of a human environment depends very much on how accessible it makes itself to the individuals it is comprised of. The premise that all people should live in a state of dignity, share in all elements of living in the community, and have the opportunity to Cont. Next page. July 2013
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