Janet Jarrell, Executive Director janet@quinteartscouncil.org
Andrew Gray, Program Director drew@quinteartscouncil.org
Kim Lidstone, Bookkeeper qac@quinteartscouncil.org
Graphic Design: Drew Gray
The Quinte Arts Council is a not-forprofit, charitable organization, registration number 107869448 RR 0001. Published by: The Quinte Arts Council, P.O. Box 22113 Belleville, Ont. K8N 2Z5.
Material may be reprinted only with permission. Umbrella is available in digital format through Issuu. The information contained within is believed to be reliable, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. We do not assume responsibility for any errors and/or omissions related to submitted content.
A Message from the Executive Director
As we welcome summer, we’re excited to celebrate all that our digital issue allows us to extend: more artists, more images, and more support for our vibrant local arts and culture community. The digital platform gives us the freedom to showcase even more of the talent and creativity that make our region shine.
This issue is dedicated to celebrating the new generation of artists. We’re delighted to have two student interns, Arlo Newman and Lauren Little, joining us for the summer. Their fresh perspectives and passion will help us deepen our connection with emerging young artists in our community. We also congratulate and celebrate seven local students who have been awarded arts bursaries — our investment in the future of creativity and cultural expression.
Our 7th annual Pride exhibition reached new heights this year, with more artists than ever submitting their work to share messages of love, diversity, and resilience. We’re equally honoured to highlight Emebet Belete, whose Bridging Communities project continues to inspire and connect us through the power of crochet.
This season, we also extend a warm welcome to musicians living the dream locally: Hannah Georgas, Sean Sroka of Ten Kills the Pack, and the emo-punk band Arm’s Length on the release of their new album. Their contributions remind us of how music is the heartbeat of our culture - our community.
As we recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day, we honour the enduring strength, wisdom, and creativity of Indigenous com-
munities, whose stories and art are vital to our shared cultural landscape.
Finally, we celebrate Catherine Taylor as she steps into her new role as Emerita with Quinte Ballet — a well-deserved honour that acknowledges her lifelong commitment to dance and the arts.
Thank you for continuing to journey with us in championing the arts and culture of our region. Here’s to a summer of inspiration, creativity, and community.
Cover: Ron Waddling, Waltzing With Pride Back: Mataya V
Quinte Arts Council
Message from the Chair + Contributors
QAC
QAC
Photography
Music
Hannah
Fine
Brighton
Kids
Performing
Catherine
Theatre
Shatterbox
A Message from the Chair
On behalf of the Quinte Arts Council board of directors, I am delighted to extend our warmest greetings to you, our valued members. Reflecting on the past year, I am proud of the progress we have made together. We continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities of an ever-evolving arts landscape. QAC leadership has demonstrated steadfast commitment to amplifying the voices of Canadian artists in the Quinte region.
I would like to thank my fellow board members for their dedication and engagement. As we move forward, the QAC Board remains focused on long-term sustainability, good governance, and strategic oversight. We have spent time this year reviewing our
goals, strengthening our risk management framework, and ensuring we are well-positioned for the future.
The QAC remains dedicated ensuring that art continues to play an essential role in shaping the fabric of Canadian society - one that is accessible, inclusive, and celebrates collaboration.
We look forward to an exciting year ahead!
Brit
Brit Johnston Chair of the Board of Directors QuinteArtsCouncil
Contributors
Greg Teal
Kodie Trahan-Guay
Greg Ceci
Peter Paylor
Jennifer Shea
Ardith Racey
Arlo Newman
Scott Williams
Allison Nichol Longtin
Brit Johnson
Janet Jarrell
Welcome Lauren Little!
The Quinte Arts Council is delighted to welcome Lauren Little as our Social Media Community Manager for the summer.
Lauren Little (she/her) is a talented multidisciplinary artist currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Professional Music at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her creative practice spans painting, drawing, digital design, installations, dance, musical theatre, music production, and live performance.
Passionate about staying connected to the arts, Lauren is eager to expand community engagement throughout her time with the QAC. In her role, she will focus on boosting social media engagement, nurturing our digital community, and promoting the Quinte Arts Council along with local events and artists from across the region.
We look forward to all the energy and creativity Lauren will bring to the team.
Lauren Little
Everyone Under The Rainbow 2025
Quinte Arts Council
Joanne Kells
Celebrating Rainbow 2025: StrongerTogether
By QAC Team
The
Quinte Arts Cou-
ncil was full of pride this June as it hosted its 7th annual Everyone Under the Rainbow exhibition. This staple QAC event celebrates and lifts up the talents and expressions of local 2SLGBTQIA+ and allied artists throughout Pride Season.
Patrons were treated to a colourful expression of the unique lives, feelings, and experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and their art. Each piece displayed is the artist’s distinctive take on this year’s
Rainbow theme, ‘Stronger Together,’ which emphasizes the importance of community and inner strength, especially when faced with challenging times. It calls to action all of those within the community, but also for allies to stand alongside us. Stronger Together represents the necessity of a united front from people of all walks of life, and value everyone as equals. Artists worked in several mediums, including paint, mixed media, digital, poetry and crochet.
Now is an especially important moment to promote and not only listen, but to hear 2SLGBTQIA+ voices. It has been beautiful to see visitors of all gender, sexual, and romantic alignments, including allies coming to the Cultural Hub and appreciate the effort put forth this year. Everyone is always welcome and encouraged to help support community members displaying their art.
The Quinte Arts Council welcomed the community for the opening reception for Rainbow: Stronger Together and enjoyed hearing from the artists! Those present were privileged to view work from Arlo Newman, Ashley Ridder, Cat Currie, Daniel Fobert, Joanne Kells, Lisa Leskien, Lorraine Mackie, Phoenix Kimmerly, Ron Waddling, Sabian Ackles, Sam Smith, William Richards, Zak Rittwage, and a collaborative piece from the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community.
The QAC is a welcoming and safe space for individuals of all gender identities, gender expressions, sexual, and romantic orientations. Quinte Arts Council’s Executive Director, Janet Jarrell says "The 7th annual Rainbow exhibition at the QAC Cultural Hub celebrates the vibrant creativity and resilience of our
Belleville
Arlo Newman, Rainbow 2025: Stronger Together Welcome Book
community. With this year’s theme, #StrongerTogether, we are proud to showcase the largest number of submissions yet, a testament to the power of collaboration, equity and inclusion. At the Quinte Arts Council, we believe that art has the ability to unite, uplift, and inspire. This exhibition embodies our mandate to foster community engagement, amplify diverse voices, and strengthen the cultural fabric of the Quinte region. We are honoured to support and showcase the incredible talents of local artists as we continue to grow and thrive together.”
William Richards (Love is Love)
I find inspiration through many facets of life. Occasionally I am called to express my personal beliefs. Using various mediums I am able to transform my vision into an aesthetic statement. Using the cold and impersonal binary language of the computer and colours associated with gender and the trans community, I present a thought provoking visual with a simple message. 'Love is Love'.
Zak Rittwage (Fairy Springs)
I love using vibrant colors, and fluid lines, coming up with original designs that inspire me and using reference from real life and transforming it into something fantastical.
Quinte Arts Council
Zak Rittwage, FairySprings
William Richards, LoveisLove
Lorraine Mackie (Best Buds, June Afternoon, Fishtail Pond)
I play with oils, watercolours and charcoal however soft pastels and sanded papers allow me the most expressive means to render colourful paintings. Drawing has become an important element of my work as I explore figures in their environment.
Daniel Fobert (Dylan and Ross, Cape Coral)
I paint Oil on canvas, acrylic, watercolour. I have a page with the Quinte Arts Council and have been a member since 2016.
Arlo Newman (Obtrusive)
I am currently a grade twelve student at Nicholson Catholic College and am going into Animation and Game Design at Loyalist College in the fall. I’ve always been passionate about many forms of art; however, I have always been primarily focused on visual arts. Typically, I take a mixed media approach to my works, but markers are my primary medium. Obtrusive illustrates six of my 2SLGBTQIA+ friends wearing their pride in comic-panel-style close-ups. It’s an illustration of queer anger, defiance, and pride, as the world begins to take a scary turn once again.
Daniel Fobert, DylanandRoss,CapeCoral
Lorraine Mackie, FishtailPond
Lorraine Mackie, JuneAfternoon
Lorraine Mackie, BestBuds
Arlo Newman, Obtrusive
Catriona Currie (Enclosed)
Hi! I'm a grade 12 student going into conservation biology at Trent next year! My favourite way to create is by taking the things around me and using them to make art. These pieces summarize my experience with queerness over this year. I feel that Enclosed represents that although there are those who attempt to rid the world of queerness, we will continue existing.
Ron Waddling (Waltzing With Pride)
The original photograph I took of a group of young people gathering to waltz in Poland. The participants could all be gay or maybe half of them or maybe only this couple. What I wanted to achieve was an art piece that stated, 'it doesn't matter to the waltz or the enjoyment of the dance' whether they are gay or not...they were being strong together and enjoying life.
I'm a 47 year old Queer, Trans and Non-binary Fiber Artist. I find crocheting to be a calming way to keep my hands busy while my mind motors on. I enjoy crocheting as a hobby and during the pandemic I picked it up again and learned so much more about the different things that I could create. I use different yarn fibers, weights and stitches to create many things. I've included 3 shawls, 2 baby blankets, 1 lap blanket, a shopping bag, and a shirt as examples of what I can create.
Ron Waddling, WaltzingWithPride
Catriona Currie, Enclosed
Sabian Ackles
Sabian Ackles
Quinte
2SLGBTQIA+ Community (Can't Stop the Music We're Still Here)
Bay of Quinte Pride. 2024 theme was Can't Stop the Music We're Still Here. This piece was created by members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community at our Pride in the Park event. We created this piece with ink and thumb prints.
Lisa Leskien (Stride with Pride)
In my latest series of paintings, I have been focusing on brightly-coloured, bold, yet tender paintings of socks. The sock, often overlooked and mundane, serves as a symbol of comfort, personal history, and the quiet moments of everyday life. Each brushstroke is a meditation on the small, private details that make up our lives, allowing these familiar objects to take on new significance.
Phoenix Kimmerly (Older Ladies)
I'm Phoenix Kimmerly, and I really hate painting! But I love to make weird things. I mostly do watercolor paintings, because I'm reminded to hydrate. This painting isn't meant to disturb anyone. But the truth is, even I'm scared of it. While I was painting this, I was feeling really positive. I hope that someone is able to see that positivity.
Art provides the perfect outlet when life starts to feel overwhelming, declares Joanne Kells Chalmers. Kells (her art name) is an award-winning artist based in Greater Napanee and believes that painting gives her a bolder voice, expanding her ability to share what’s on her mind. Her work explores emotion, energy, and movement through figurative or abstracted shapes, layers, and color. She is drawn to the creative freedom of abstraction, as it allows her to express feelings and ideas that don’t always need words. Each piece is built up with texture and contrast, using color and form to create a sense of rhythm and depth. Kells is interested in how simple marks or subtle changes in texture can evoke a mood or memory. She aims for her art to invite people to slow down, look closer, and connect in their own way. Whether it stirs calm, curiosity, or something unexpected, she hopes it offers a moment of reflection and feeling.
Joanne Kells, When?
Joanne Kells, Love
Joanne Kells, Guided
Ashley Ridder
Working and creating in the Prince Edward County area - Ashley is influenced by numerous artists, both locally, and from history to present. On her walls you will find: Frida Kahlo, Lora Zombie, Orphne Acheron, Henri Matisse, Francis Bacon, Alphonse Mucha, and Gustav Klimt - to name a few. When the mood strikes, she will pick up a camera, or sculpt poetry from her wild forest thoughts. She also feels incredibly blessed to have talented musicians in her life who will let her roar into a microphone with all the energy she can not get out through her hands. “Artistry is deeply inherent in all of us- just let yourself find some brushes, and play; get in the flow. Dive in ferociously.”
Samuel Watson-Smith (To Be Continued)
This is an unfinished trilogy for an unfinished war. The first comes from a place of optimism, written by a frustrated yet hopeful 20 year old. The second was written this year, almost exactly a decade later, in a time of growing animosity towards the lgbt community. Surrounded by stories of threats, attacks, and death. The third remains unwritten. It will hopefully depict a community that no longer has to live in fear. Through everything I am still an optimist so that is why I title it “to be continued” because not only do I hope I’ll be able to finish it one day, I know I will.
Samuel Watson-Smith, ToBeContinued
Ron Erwin is a nature photographer and digital artist.
After completely losing his sense of humour, Ron left his high tech career to pursue nature photography. His work ranges from traditional landscapes and wildlife to more experimental work including digital composites. For over 35 years Ron’s photos have been published in magazines, calendars, books and used in corporate interiors. After many years of editorial and commercial photography, Ron became a full time professor at Seneca's School of Creative Arts and Animation. He retired from Seneca in 2019 to return to photography full time.
Since February 2020, Ron and his wife Lori have been based in beautiful Prince Edward County, Ontario.
Ron is a member of Arts On Main Gallery in Picton Ontario.
Ron Erwin
Prince Edward County
Photography
Photography
Photography
HANNAH GEORGAS
HANNAH GEORGAS
Music
Parri Thomas
AHannah Georgas – Living the dream
By Greg Ceci
lthough Hannah
Georgas draws inspiration from a wide range of musical influences—including The Cranberries, Annie Lennox, Fiona Apple, and Sinéad O’Connor—her first and most cherished musical mentor was her father. Raised in a home filled with the sound of piano and the joy music brought her dad, it was no surprise when her parents enrolled her in lessons at the age of five. Her first teacher also became a significant influence, and at her mother’s insistence, Hannah completed her conservatory and theory exams for piano.
Soon after she began formal training, Georgas was writing her own songs and competing in piano festivals. She reflects, “I think my dad influenced how I felt about playing music. I saw how happy it made him when he performed and entertained people. I think it rubbed off on me. I remember feeling at a young age that writing and singing my own songs felt natural and made sense.”
Describing her sound as “magisterial indie-pop for introverts,” Hannah has enjoyed a steady climb since the release of her debut EP in 2009. That same year, she won CBC’s Bucky Award for Best New Artist and took home first place in a Songbird-West songwriting contest
in British Columbia. Her song You've Got A Place Called Home was picked up by Walmart for a national ad campaign, and an earlier version of the track was featured in TV shows Defying Gravity and Flashpoint. In 2010, her song Chit Chat was included in the Cyberbully soundtrack,
Belleville
Matt Gruber
Matt Tinney
and by 2011 she was nominated for both Best New Artist and Songwriter of the Year at the JUNO Awards. She earned two more JUNO nominations in 2013— again for Songwriter of the Year and for Best Alternative Album—and performed her song Robotic at that year’s televised ceremony.
While many artists dream of turning music into a full-time career, Georgas has made that dream a reality.
Her 2014 album I’d Be Lying If I Said I Didn’t Care won Pop Recording of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards, and her song Millions was featured in season three of Girls
When asked about her songwriting and production process, Georgas shares, “I’ll think of a phrase or a lyric that I really like and that will inspire more ideas. I’ll find an instrument and start playing around with different melodies. Sometimes songwriting is really quick and other times it takes a while. Once I figure out a song idea I’ll record it at home and then start thinking of production. It’s important that I’m involved in the production of my music and I really believe in collaboration. Over the years, I’ve realized that I enjoy bouncing ideas off of other artists and working with musicians, engineers, and producers in the studio.”
Georgas has toured internationally and opened for acts like City and Colour and Sara Bareilles. She’s also performed as part of Kathleen Edwards’ backing band. With two EPs and four full-length albums to her name—and another on the way— Georgas has built a distinctive musical identity and an impressive discography. Offstage, she’s the kind of person who knows the joy (and challenge) of raising a
puppy, believes deeply in kindness, and affectionately describes her fans as “the loveliest little sweethearts.”
While many artists dream of turning music into a full-time career, Georgas has made that dream a reality. Still, she remains grounded and focused, navigating an ever-evolving industry with creativity and savvy. Her advice for aspiring musicians is simple but wise: “Surround yourself with people you trust and take your time finding the right team. Be brave, don’t let other people make you feel dumb and write from an authentic and genuine headspace.”
With hard work, natural talent, a persistent mother, and an inspiring father, Georgas’s dream has become her life. The sky's the limit for this gifted Canadian songwriter—check out her music and merch, and keep up to date on new releases and live shows.
Music
David Bastedo
Music
Danelle Jane Tran
The Mind behind Ten Kills The Pack
By Greg Ceci
Sean Sroka is the pro-
ducer and creative force behind Ten Kills
The Pack, a music project that fuses punk’s raw energy with the storytelling
depth of folk. His songwriting is thoughtful and intimate, exploring the emotional landscape of the human experience with grit, honesty, and a sense of reflection. With a growing body of work and a 2024 Juno Award for songwriting under his belt, Sroka’s path proves that depth and vulnerability in music still resonate deeply.
The name Ten Kills The Pack itself evokes a sense of struggle—an acknowledgment of the challenges we face, the isolation we sometimes feel, and the complexity of navigating life and relationships. It sets the tone for Sroka’s entire approach: nuanced, emotionally layered, and unafraid to sit with discomfort in order to find clarity.
Sroka grew up in Mississauga but was often drawn to Toronto, visiting family and absorbing the creative pulse of the city. Eventually, he moved there full-time, supported by a community of friends and family who encouraged his musical
ambitions. His journey into music began with inspiration from the film School of Rock, followed by formal training in classical guitar at art school. But it was always songwriting that lit the spark. “I remember going to lessons before art school when I was 12 or 13 but being more interested in songwriting and my own songs. My instructor and I eventually made a deal where I agreed to learn the songs I was given as long as I could play my own songs for him.”
Songwriting, for Sroka, is a fluid, often unpredictable process. When asked about his process Sroka remarked, “That's tough to answer because it is so different every time. Sometimes, it's as simple as when I'm messing around on the guitar and I just sing a melody and think it sounds pretty good. Then a word will pop out and I'll try and follow that word – maybe it just feels nice or I like the phonetics of it. Sometimes the word really opens things up or sometimes I might ditch the whole concept.”
Belleville
Over the years, Sroka has built an impressive and emotionally rich discography, working with Nashville publishers and major labels like Universal and Ishkode. His collaboration with Canadian artist Aysanabee stands out as a career highlight, earning him the 2024 Juno. Still, one of his proudest creative partnerships is with his partner, musician Hannah Georgas, particularly on her upcoming album So Faint. Sroka remarks, “It's nice to have someone who understands all the psychological pitfalls of the music industry and kind of go through that together. We also help to motivate each other and respect each other's space when writing.”
At the heart of his work is an ability to translate common human moments into compelling music. Sroka writes about everyday experiences—often the quiet, internal ones—that others might overlook. He captures the tension, the beauty, and the messiness of real life. It’s this emotional truth that gives his music its power.
Having walked the line between signed and independent artist, Sroka has used both experiences to shape a path that’s uniquely his own. He’s learned to trust his instincts, to take creative risks, and to build a career that aligns with his values. “I like helping people make their music and ideas happen.”
Whether performing solo in a strippeddown acoustic set or with a full seven-
piece band, Sean
The Pack offers audiences something rare: music that’s vulnerable, layered, and grounded in the reality of being human. It’s not always easy listening— but it’s real, and that’s what makes it unforgettable.
Tenkillsthepack.com
Photography by Danelle Jane Tran
Sroka of Ten Kills
Tessa Smith
Arm’s Length: From Quinte West to the National Stage
By Janet Jarrell
From the quiet streets of Quinte West to the national spotlight, Arm’s Length is making waves in Canada’s indie music scene. Since forming in 2018, this emo-punk quartet has steadily built a following with their personal lyrics and energetic performances.
The band features Allen Steinberg on vocals and guitar, Jeremy Whyte on guitar, Jeff Whyte on drums, and Benjamin
Greenblatt, who joined as bassist in 2022. Drawing inspiration from early 2000s emo and pop-punk bands like Taking Back Sunday and Knuckle Puck, Arm’s Length delivers a loud sound with emotional honesty.
Over the years, Arm’s Length has brought their emotionally charged performances to audiences far beyond Ontario. Their tours have taken them across North America and overseas, with stops
in cities like New York, Chicago, Vancouver, London (UK), Berlin, and Sydney, Australia. Each show has expanded their global fan base and deepened their connection with audiences who see themselves reflected in the band’s raw, relatable lyrics. Include - have played in some of the most epic Canadian locations like the Mod Club in Toronto.
Their debut EP What’s Mine Is Yours (2019), followed by Everything Nice (2021), laid the foundation for their growing popularity. But it was their first full-length album, Never Before Seen, Never Again Found, released in 2022, that truly established their voice in the genre. With introspective lyrics and a layered, thoughtful sound, the album earned praise from fans and critics alike for its depth and vulnerability.
In February 2025, Arm’s Length took a major step forward signing with Pure Noise Records, a label known for championing emerging talent. Along with their second studio album, There’s A Whole World Out There, released in May, 2025.
This new album offers a deeper dive into personal themes, including love, loss, mental health, and resilience. The lead single, Funny Face, explores the impact
Quinte West
of discouragement from loved ones and the emotional weight of codependent relationships. It’s one of the band’s most powerful tracks to date.
“We didn’t hold anything back,” says Steinberg. “This record reflects a really personal time in my life, and I think that honesty comes through in the music.”
Produced by Anton DeLost, who also worked on the band’s earlier material,
There’s A Whole World Out There maintains the emotional core of their sound while showcasing a more mature, confident approach. The result is an album that feels both intimate and expansive—a reflection of the band’s growth as artists and individuals.
To support the new release, Arm’s Length embarked on a spring tour, performing in venues across Canada and bringing their new material to life on
stage. Each show marked another milestone in a journey that began in a small Ontario town and now spans a growing national audience.
As they continue to rise, they carry with them the spirit of home—proving that powerful, meaningful music can come from anywhere, and reach everywhere.
armslengthmusic.com
Art on 62
By Scott Williams
Acool morning in
early May found three well-known Belleville artists – Jeannine Berscheid, Jan Coombs and Margaret Ruttan – in a small gallery in Madoc: Art on 62 (the name deriving from the gallery’s location on Highway 62). This is a “drop off” morning, one of many such mornings during which owner/curator Cid Palacio works with artists to select items for the gallery’s 2025 catalog. It’s a delicate process: “It might be a good piece, but
that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s meant for the gallery,” Palacio says. “Some art fits better with the market.”
Three weeks later, the enthusiasm and excitement at the gallery’s gala opening for the season would indicate that the collaborative but arduous process had all been worth it.
This is year three for Art on 62, and Palacio is justifiably pleased at how the gallery has evolved. From a roster of only
10 artists in 2023 – most of whom were from Toronto – the roster grew to 17 artists in 2024 and now 22 artists in 2025, 40% of whom are from Madoc, and 80% from the region, which Palacio defines as Sharbot Lake to Quinte West. “There are so many hidden gems in Madoc,” says Palacio. “I’m here to give local artists a voice, and new artists an opportunity to be part of a gallery.”
Palacio is an accomplished artist herself, with an enviable professional profile and an expansive body of work that has found its way into collections across North America and Europe. She describes herself as a “recovering banker”, having spent 33 years with one of Canada’s largest banks, the last seven at the executive level, before taking early retirement to focus on her art full time. Her intensity and determination make it easy to imagine her in the corporate world and she brings that same discipline and drive to her work as an artist. “It’s about putting in the work,” she says. “It’s about showing up. You may not be at your creative peak all the time – you still need to show up.”
Owning a gallery is new for Palacio, but “new” has never deterred her. In 2010,
Madoc
John Vlachos
just a couple of years into her career as an artist, she founded the Art for Cancer Foundation, one of Canada’s first creative arts charities focused on people grappling with that disease and suffering its treatments. In 2020 the Covid-19 pandemic spelled the end of the foundation (most clients were severely immunocompromised and couldn’t risk participating in the foundation’s programs) but not before literally hundreds of patients and their caregivers had attended workshops and experienced what Palacio calls “the healing power of art”.
Palacio describes her art as the first pillar of her career as an artist, and describes the Art for Cancer Foundation as the second. The third pillar is Art on 62, and she has big plans for the little gallery. “I was ambitious at the bank –and I still am,” she says, laughing. This year boasts increased wall space for hanging art, shelf space for physical artists, an expanded workshop program, new collaborations with the local artist community, an outdoor art show for mid summer, and a new series of Artist Talks featuring discussions with featured artists. All of which have value in their own right, but Palacio’s business
instincts are also evident: “Everything I do is about getting people into the gallery,” she says.
Palacio’s artist statement includes the line: “I love the excitement of a blank canvas, which to me signifies a new journey into uncharted territory.” What’s true for Palacio as artist is equally true for her as gallery owner and
curator. Three years ago the village of Madoc provided the blank canvas within which Palacio has created – and is creating – a charming and unique gallery experience in Art on 62. The territory may be uncharted, but Palacio appears to be navigating it toward great success.
arton62.com
Fine Arts
John Presseault, PineintheWind
Presqu’ile Waddling Art Centre
By Scott Williams
Alot has happened in
in a short time for the Brighton Arts and Cultural Council (BACC). In 2022 Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander and Deputy Mayor Ron Anderson approached local artist Des Rodrigues about starting a new Arts and Cultural Centre. A previous version – the well-regarded Brighton Arts Council, brainchild of multi-talented artist, actor and author Ron Waddling – had closed its doors several years earlier. Rodrigues took inspiration from Ostrander’s statement that without the arts in your community, you’re just bricks and mortar, and ran with it. Initial meetings were held, a notfor-profit corporation was created, and in December 2024 the new Presqu’ile Waddling Art Centre officially opened its doors.
The name of the Centre was deliberately chosen: Presqu’ile because the focus is broader than just Brighton; Waddling to recognize the historical connection; and Art Centre because they see themselves as different from a traditional gallery. The collection isn’t curated in any conventional sense. “On a monthly basis, artists themselves decide what they want to display and when,” vice-president Surina Hart explains. “We’re open to all our members. Pieces don’t have to be gallery wrapped, don’t have to be framed – it’s all open to their expression.” The business model is similarly unique: rather than a commission on sales, artists pay a vendor fee for any month in which they display their work, and artists even set their own prices. Apart from the vendor fee, 100% of the sale price goes to the artist.
The variety of art on sale is remarkable. “There are many artists here who would never have shown their work”, says Hart. “But now they've become members, now they’re starting to display, now they're selling their work”. Adds Rodrigues: “That’s really about building confidence” – a theme he returns to repeatedly. The programs offered at the Centre show similar breadth: drum circles, sound baths, yoga classes, music jams, workshops on every topic imaginable: watercolour, wood carving, pen and ink, pet portraits, air dry clay… the list goes on.
Diversity also extends to the ages of participants, and young people are especially well represented. A three-day youth camp on March break covered multiple art genres (sculpting, line art,
painting, photography), the BACC’s inaugural fundraising gala featured a juried show for high school students, and student volunteers in search of community hours often staff the Centre. At the other end of the age range, the “Artful Journeys” program for seniors shows how the BACC extends its reach out into the community. “We know our seniors can’t come to us, so we’re going to them,” says Hart, explaining how workshops are conducted onsite at the area’s four seniors’ residences. “No matter what level they are at with their art, or with their aging, we’re creating unique workshops just for them, and we do it every month.”
The BACC’s signature event is Art in the Park, held on the August long weekend in partnership with the Downtown Business Improvement Area. This August will be its third iteration, and the event grows in stature and in offering each year, featuring 30 artists and attracting about 5,000 visitors in 2024.
Future plans for the BACC include an innovative Art Healing Therapy Program for military and first responders living with work-related trauma. “First responders see so much,” says Hart. “Art has been proven to be an effective outlet – a way they can come together in a safe way to express themselves and heal.”
With so many different things going on, it can be hard to remember how young the organization really is. After summarizing all their programs and events, even Rodrigues sounds surprised: “Things have happened by leaps and
bounds. To think of what we’ve accomplished in a year and a half… it’s pretty astounding.” brightonartsandculture.com
Kids Inclusion Art Show
By Scott Williams
Asuccessful community project arguably needs at least two things: a visionary who will drive the project’s success, and an engaged and fully supportive community. Luckily, the Kids Inclusion Art Show has had both.
The event is the brainchild of Brandy Ringelman, owner and curator of These 4 Walls gallery in Trenton (profiled in this magazine in Spring 2022). A few years ago, Ringelman partnered with Community Living to create a small art show for children on the topic of inclusion, and a year later ran a show for High School students. In both shows, she says, “The talent was amazing, but they struggle with budget at the schools, so sometimes the materials weren't the best. On opening night I could see that some of the kids were feeling a little insecure, and
that bothered me. So I took two years and made that right.” The result is a show in which young artists in Kindergarten through Grade 12 create “squarefoot” pieces of art – acrylic paintings on professional-grade 12x12 canvases. “There's no grading, there's no best in show, nothing is for sale,” Ringelman says. Instead, “let’s all get together to celebrate each other regardless of any unique abilities or any insecurities anyone might have.”
In early 2024 Ringelman reached out to schools in Quinte West and that year had 480 participants. In January of this year she sent out the same invitation to the same school administrators and was inundated with 2081 registrations – a fourfold increase in one year. “It’s the largest kids square-foot art show I can find anywhere,” she says. What changed? Ringelman believes it was what the faculty and administrators experienced in the first year. Murray Centennial school is a case in point, going from 50 participants in 2024 to 500 in 2025. Brandi Hollinger is principal and says, “To be able to have these beautiful professional canvases and beautiful acrylic paints is phenomenal. And students have an opportunity to have a skill of theirs highlighted in such a meaningful way.”
Ringelman credits many partners for the success of the venture. “We’ve had a lot of great community players,” she says.
Jordan Barlow, manager of the local Napa Auto Parts store, says community is the whole reason they’re involved as a venue. “We’re part of the community and we’re here to support the kids in that community.” (When store owner Percy Barlow contacted Ringelman earlier in the year and asked what they needed, Ringelman told him, “Money and space.” Barlow simply said, “OK” and offered both.) “It's such a beautiful example of the community coming together,” says Hollinger at Murray Centennial. “It’s not the school, not the gallery, not Community Living… it’s everybody. We are raising these kids. There’s that old notion of
Quinte West
‘It takes a village’ and this is an example of that, in action, right here.”
The experience of the show has been impactful on everyone involved. Ringelman describes how one teacher dropping off artwork became quite emotional. “She showed me one canvas and said, ‘You know this artist? He's nonverbal. He doesn't speak. And he painted planet Earth.’” Ringelman reflects: “That student that's nonverbal, he now knows that he can communicate with paint, and we now know that he can communicate with paint. So how long might it have been – how much time might have been lost – before all that got sorted out? It might never have happened. And these are just the stories that trickle down to me. How many others are there?”
How many others? Likely a couple of thousand. Every child has their own story, their own challenges, their own unique abilities. But thanks to Ringelman and her many collaborators, every single child involved in this world-leading project has had an opportunity to shine. Hollinger, principal at Murray Centennial, sums up: “It’s very impressive. It’s inspiring.”
The Kids Inclusion Art Show 2025 runs through the end of July at locations across Quinte West.
@these4wallsgallery quintewest.ca
Fine Arts
The Latin term emerita
is used to describe a woman who has retired or stepped away from a role, but retains her title as an honour—an enduring recognition of a lifetime of dedication and excellence. Or, as Catherine Taylor puts it, “a love affair that hasn’t ended.”
Grace in Motion: Catherine Taylor’s enduring impact on Ballet
By Ardith Racey
For the past 13 years, Taylor has been the Artistic Director of the Quinte Ballet School of Canada (QBSC) in Belleville. Stepping back from that role was no easy decision—it has been the focus and love of her life since she was five years old. While she says she’s still figuring out what her new title means, one thing is certain: “I plan to stay connected with the school. I hope to be able to continue to do a little bit of teaching, helping with rehearsals, private coaching – I want to be able to find that balance with some work, and not all work, because that’s what I’ve always done.”
That continued connection is a gift for the school. Watching Taylor teach is to witness a virtuoso at work—sharing not only her deep knowledge and sharp eye for form and movement, but also her joy. She can be thoughtful, methodical, and spontaneous, all within a moment.
In ballet, it's often said that the art chooses the dancer—but not for Taylor. Her love affair with ballet began when she saw a performance of Coppélia at age five. She told her parents that she “wanted to be a dancer and marry the guy on stage.” Ever supportive, they
enrolled her in the National Ballet School of Canada, where she trained throughout her elementary and secondary school years. She later joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in the late 1970s, performing in classics like Swan Lake, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, and The Nutcracker
Taylor began teaching in the 1980s— partly due to injury, but also because she discovered a deep love for it. “After a few months in, I realized how much I loved teaching. It seemed to fit my personality,” she says. Over the next two decades, she worked with international choreographers and staged company performances across Canada, the U.S., and abroad. “Join the ballet and see the world,” she laughs.
“I have worked with some of the greatest choreographers in the world and that’s how you learn – you see what their eye is looking for. And as you age, you learn to teach differently – it’s like muscle memory. I can’t show it, but I can give some sort of direction,” says Taylor.
“Ballet is tough . . . and dancers need feedback. I make a judgement call on what I see, but in my mind now and in my
Belleville
Bob House Photography, IG
heart, I try to figure out how I give feedback that’s going to be straightforward, but helpful,” states Taylor. “It’s all about anatomical alignment and musical use of the body, and coordination. And a lot of it is common sense. It’s almost scientific in the strangest way. Today, dance teachers know more about anatomy – there’s better training for teachers. It’s a business.”
“I really feel that this art form and just taking ballet is a lesson in resilience and discipline and transferable skills into any walk of life where dance doesn’t become the outcome. That’s what we really try to establish - a positive work ethic and a supportive environment,” a concept which her career exemplifies.
In 2012, Taylor took on the role of Artistic Director at QBSC, despite having never run a ballet school. “I had to take on a lot of administrative work, and I began to see what the school really needed. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone—and these past thirteen years have been interesting, marvelous, fun, challenging… good and bad. We even went through Covid. It’s been a defining chapter of my life.”
The school operates on two levels. Its professional training program, in partnership with the Hastings County Board of Education and Centennial Secondary School, provides academic and artistic training and stages two major productions annually. It also offers a range of recreational programs, from beginner adult ballet to a summer intensive and a 'Dancing with Parkinson’s' program—a varied and dynamic schedule.
“Ballet has always been a life choice versus a job,” says Taylor, “and I’ve been smitten with it since I was five, but I do feel it’s an appropriate time for me to step down, to step back. It’s always good to bring new, fresh energy and support it.”
Taylor claims that she “walked on the shoulders of Brian Scott – he came here in 1970 and created this school. It took a lot of work and people supporting him and believing in him and the concept of having a professional ballet school in Belleville.”
QBSC celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022. Under Taylor’s leadership as its fifth Artistic Director, countless young
dancers have pursued their dreams. And with her new title of Artistic Director Emerita, her legacy—and her love affair with ballet—will continue..
quinteballetschool.com
"IShatterbox Theatre: She Kills Monsters
By Greg Teal
n a time before
Facebook , World of Warcraft, and Massive Multiplayer Online RPGs, there once existed simply a game. Forged by the hands of nerds, crafted in the minds of geeks, and so advanced in its advanciness it would take a whole second edition to contain its mighty geekery.” — Narrator, Qui Nyguen
Since its Off Off Broadway world premiere in 2017, She Kills Monsters by Qui Nyguen has been delighting audiences with an insider’s glimpse into the world of nerd culture. This heartfelt, high-energy play is an exploration of grief, identity, and the healing power of fantasy. On the surface, it’s a geeky, action-packed adventure through a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. But beneath the dragons and sword fights lies a poignant story about connection, acceptance, and loss. The latest production, presented by The Shatterbox Theatre Company of Prince Edward County, continues this proud tradition.
The play follows Agnes Evans, an ordinary high school teacher struggling to connect with her younger sister, Tilly—a self-proclaimed “D&D nerd” who tragically dies in a car accident. When Agnes discovers Tilly’s homemade Dungeons & Dragons module, she embarks on a journey through the fantasy world her sister created, guided by Chuck ‘DM’ Biggs, a local dungeon master. What begins as curiosity soon becomes a quest that intertwines Tilly’s fantasy realm with Agnes’s real-world emotional battles.
Nyguen’s script masterfully blends humor, fantasy, and emotional depth. The dialogue is sharp and self-aware, peppered with pop culture references and nerdy nods, yet never pandering. Instead, the fantasy framework reveals profound emotional truths. The monsters Agnes faces—gelatinous cubes, succubi, and cheerleader demons— serve as metaphors for her real-life struggles: unresolved grief, repressed anger, and the painful realization that she never truly knew her sister.
Prince Edward County
Staging She Kills Monsters is no small feat, with its fast-paced action sequences, imaginative costuming, visual effects, and seamless shifts between fantasy and reality. The Shatterbox Theatre Company embraces these challenges head-on. From the ethereal opening narration and nostalgically bombastic soundtrack to the hilariously over-the-top performances, audiences are swept into a world of adventure that reminds us all: “Even when we retreat into fantasy, we’re actually finding
the courage to face reality. Whether you’re a lifelong gamer, a theatre lover, or someone grieving a loss of your own, this story offers a space to laugh, feel, and remember you are not alone in your quest.”
— Julie Lane, Director
shatterboxtheatre.com
Photography by Sean Ferguson, I G
One Act Plays return to the Pinnacle Playhouse
By Peter Paylor
Short plays are maki-
ng a comeback…again. In the early twentieth century, the triple bill was still a popular part of the theatre season – three short plays in place of one long one. Actors loved them, because they gave lesser-known members of the company an opportunity to show what they could do. But attendance began to wane. Producers found that they needed to stick with the big-name stars if they wanted to fill big houses, and bigname stars only wanted big roles. They wanted no part of short plays.
Lamenting the decline of the short play, Noël Coward took on the challenge of reviving the form in 1936 with Tonight at 8:30, a series of nine one-act plays that would run three at a time on successive evenings. “A short play,” he wrote, “having a great advantage over a long one in that it can sustain a mood without technical creaking or over-padding, deserves a far better fate, and if, by careful writing and producing I can do a little towards reinstating it in its rightful place, I shall have achieved one of my more sentimental ambitions.” The shows ran for 157 performances in
London’s West End and another 118 on Broadway before Coward grew tired and decided to move on. The one-act play was soon relegated to amateur community theatres, and even then, mostly to regional festivals until the festivals themselves started disappearing one by one.
The Belleville Theatre Guild (BTG) revived the one-act format in 2014 with their First Annual Evening of One-Act Plays, a series that ran for several years. After a brief hiatus, they return this year with Theatre August—a showcase of six one-act plays, most written by local playwrights.
Picton’s Keith Taylor is no stranger to BTG audiences, having had several oneact plays produced in recent years, including Tea and Cookies, which won the Audience Choice Award at the Eastern Ontario Drama League One-Act Play Festival in 2023. Taylor returns with Her Parents, directed by Abbie Schmitz. Taylor’s introduction to playwriting was through a course at Loyalist College taught by veteran Stirling playwright Caroline Smith. This time around, Smith has her own play included in the program, Pork Chops, which is her first oneact play “I have an ideas file,” she says. “I
Belleville
Gerry Fraiberg,
came across six pages I wrote one morning a couple of years ago and I thought there might be an idea there…not a big enough idea for a full-length play, but then all of a sudden…”
“You can get a lot of story packed into a little bit of time,” she says. “It’s a lesson in how to keep the stars in unison.” Smith is directing her own play. “I’m a control freak,” she says.
Hope For the Future is a post-apocalyptic zombie play by Belleville’s Matthew Sheahan. “The title is ironic,” he says. “The play asks whether we’re ever really searching for a way forward or if we’re just looking for a way to control people. Zombies are a metaphor. There are no zombies in the play.” Sheahan teaches drama at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute in Picton. Before submitting the script, he had his students read the play. “It’s great to have that access,” he says. “It’s a learning tool for them as well…to see me make myself vulnerable for them just as I’m asking them to be more vulnerable for me.” The play is directed by Teresa Marie Allen. “I’m happy about that,” says Sheahan. “I have confidence she can deal with the darker side. I’ve seen her do it before.”
“It feels good to have trust from the playwright,” says Allen. “And it feels good that the playwright is also a friend. I’m excited. I can’t wait to see what we can come up with.”
Adam Orr is directing Sylvia and Me by Belleville playwright Margaret Ruttan. After many years in the theatre, both on stage and off, this is Orr’s first time directing. “It’s great to have the playwright there to help guide me,” he says. “Margaret has been there before. I also have a great cast. No one will let me go wrong.”
Rounding out the program are They’re At It Again Johnny, written and directed by Belleville’s Leondra King and Three Inch Heels by Ottawa’s Ron Davies, directed by Bryan Coates. For King, this marks the first time one of her plays has been produced—an exciting milestone for any playwright.
Theatre August: Six One Act Plays runs August 22, 23 and 24 at The Pinnacle Playhouse.
Who Is Telling Our Local Stories?
By Janet Jarrell
"Ata time where information is more accessible than ever, the reality of local journalism tells a different story. Newsrooms are shrinking, essential programs are disappearing, and major social media platforms are suppressing the very content that keeps communities informed. As the landscape of local news continues to shift, we must ask ourselves: Who is telling our local stories, and what can we do to ensure they continue to be told?
One of the most significant losses to our region’s journalistic integrity is the closure of the Photojournalism program at Loyalist College. For decades, this program was a beacon for aspiring photojournalists, producing award-winning graduates who captured the heart and soul of our communities. Its closure
is not just an educational loss—it is a cultural one. Without institutions dedicated to training the next generation of journalists, the future of local storytelling becomes uncertain.
At the same time, the Belleville Intelligencer, once a robust source of regional news, has experienced a dramatic decline in staff. Like many local newspapers, it has faced financial challenges, corporate restructuring, and diminishing resources. Fewer reporters mean fewer in-depth stories, less investigative journalism, and ultimately, a community less informed about the issues that directly impact them. A strong local press is essential for holding power to account, sharing the achievements of local citizens, and preserving the history of a place as it unfolds. Without it, critical voices and narratives risk being lost.
“The number of local news outlets has been in significant decline in Canada, leaving suburban residents in particular "starving" for local coverage, a new report found — and creating gaps for misinformation to take hold.
The report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found that almost 2.5 million Canadians live in a postal code with either one or zero local news outlets, double the proportion from 2008.
Put bluntly, "local news is dying," said David Macdonald, report co-author and CCPA senior economist.” CBC.ca
Arlo Newman
“The decline of local journalism is a detriment to our society; it has created “news deserts” throughout our country, leaving many in rural areas uninformed.” says Tim Meeks of the Belleville intelligencer
“We live in a global society in terms of trade and military alliances; however, the majority of us live in small, tightknit communities. We do our shopping within a seven-km radius of our homes, so local journalism is imperative to sharing information pertaining to that community. It encourages civic engagement, covers important and relevant regional news, promotes local culture, and provides a strong sense of community.”
Adding to the challenge, major social media platforms such as Meta and Google have restricted access to local news, further silencing community voices. Many residents relied on these platforms to stay up to date with regional happenings, but algorithm changes and policy shifts have made it harder for local news to reach audiences. When these digital spaces no longer amplify the stories that matter most to our communities, we must actively seek out alternative ways to stay informed.
So, where do you go to get your news? Do you subscribe to a local paper, listen to independent radio stations, or support community-based publications like Umbrella? Do you attend town hall meetings, follow local blogs, or engage with grassroots journalism initiatives? Ensuring the survival of local journalism requires action, whether that means paying for a subscription, sharing news directly with friends and family, or advocating for policies that support independent media.
The future of our local stories is in our hands. Without dedicated journalists and engaged readers, we risk losing the narratives that define our community. Essentially, we must support the voices that keep us connected, informed, and empowered.
Independent Radio Stations:
91X FM (CJLX): Based in Belleville, 91X FM is a campus-based community radio station offering a diverse range of programming, including local news, music, and cultural content.
91X FM CJLX
99.3 County FM (CJPE): Serving Prince Edward County, this community radio station focuses on local news, events, and a variety of music genres, emphasizing content relevant to the local community.
99.3 County FM
Rock 107 (CJTN): Located in Trenton, Rock 107 delivers classic rock music alongside local news updates and community event information.
Rock 107
CJBQ 800 AM: Operating out of Belleville, CJBQ offers a full-service format that includes country music, local news, and talk shows, catering to a broad audience in the Quinte area.
CJBQ 800 am
Cool 100.1 FM (CHCQ): This Bellevillebased station specializes in today's best country music and has been recognized multiple times by the Canadian Country Music Association.
Starboard Communications LTD
Local Blogs and Grassroots Journalism:
Quinte Arts Council Blog: Hosted on the Quinte Arts Council, this blog features articles about local arts, culture and heritage.
QAC Blog
Bay of Quinte Blog: Hosted on the Bay of Quinte tourism website, this blog features stories about local events, outdoor activities, and profiles of communities within the region, including Belleville, Quinte West, and Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.
Bay of Quinte Region
Quinte Field Naturalists Newsletter: Affiliated with Ontario Nature, this newsletter provides insights into local environmental issues, conservation efforts, and nature education specific to the Quinte area. naturestuff.net
Local Newspapers:
The Belleville Intelligencer: Serving Belleville and the surrounding area, this newspaper offers coverage on local news, sports, and community events.
Intelligencer
The Trenton Trentonian: A weekly newspaper published in Quinte West, focusing on community news and events.
Trentonian
The Picton Gazette: Established in 1830, it is Canada's oldest weekly newspaper, providing news and information for Prince Edward County.
Picton Gazette
The Community Press: Serving the Quinte region, this publication covers local news, events, and community stories.
CommunityPress
County Weekly News: Focused on Prince Edward County, this newspaper delivers local news and community updates.
County Live
Television Stations:
YourTV Quinte: A community television station offering local programming, including news, sports, and cultural events. Available to Cogeco subscribers on channel 4 and in HD on channel 700.
YourTV Quinte
CICO-DT-53 (TVOntario): A publicly funded educational television station serving the Belleville area, offering a range of educational and cultural programming.
TVO News
Online Media:
Quinte News: An online news portal providing up-to-date coverage on local news, weather, sports, and events in the Quinte region.
Quinte News
InQuinte.ca: Offers news, sports, entertainment, and community information relevant to the Quinte area.
InQuinte
Countylive.ca: Focuses on news and events in Prince Edward County, providing timely updates and community stories.
County Live
An Inclusive literary community in our own backyard
By Allison Nichol Longtin
Writing is often a solitary activity—but eventually, every writer craves community. The Belleville Public Library offers the perfect answer for writers of all ages and experience levels: the BPL Writers’ Collective. This member-led group meets every other Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the library, where writers share their work, receive encouraging feedback, and explore new prompts and challenges designed to spark creativity.
Anne McSommers, a Belleville-based writer, joined the collective in 2022 and stepped into a leadership role in 2024. After actively participating in Montreal’s vibrant literary scene, Anne relocated to Belleville in 2021. Looking to reconnect with a writing community, she found the BPL Writers’ Collective thanks to her mother, who heard about it on local radio.
Open to all—whether you're a hobbyist, a professional writer, or just getting started—the collective welcomes
anyone with a passion for storytelling. Meetings are structured yet supportive: members take turns reading their work aloud, with each writer given four minutes to share. Feedback is positive and constructive, focusing on what works and why. The goal is to help writers grow
in confidence, especially when it comes to the often-daunting task of sharing their work.
At the end of each session, a member offers a new writing prompt or challenge to keep the inspiration flowing.
Belleville
Allison Nichol Longtin
Allison Nichol Longtin
The group embraces all genres and styles—from fiction and nonfiction to horror and beyond—and includes members ranging in age from teens to seniors.
In addition to regular meetings, the group occasionally hosts member-led “craft sessions,” diving deeper into specific aspects of the writing process. An upcoming session will explore the portrayal of characters with disabilities, featuring research, discussion, and best practices to support authentic representation.
Every year, the collective compiles and prints a book of member-created pieces, with McSommers taking a lead role in its development. Submissions of up to 2,500 words, accompanied by author bios, are included in each volume. Though not yet commercially published, the books are printed and distributed by members. Submissions for the next edition close in July
2025, with a holiday release planned. Volume four is already in the works for 2026, and the collective is actively recruiting members and literary-minded volunteers to help with editing and production. Volumes one and two are available to read at the Belleville Public Library.
The best part about joining the BPL Writers’ Collective? Community. The chance to talk with other writers, receive helpful feedback, and explore diverse genres and styles in a safe, welcoming space. For local writers, it's a much-needed place to learn, share, and grow.
To learn more, visit bellevillelibrary.ca
To register, email infoserv@bellevillelibrary.ca
Or call (613) 968-6731 ext. 2037
Woodcarving: A
Time-Honoured Tradition Thriving in Quinte. Carving is one of the oldest forms of artistic expression, and woodcarving in particular remains a valued heritage craft. The Heritage Crafts Association lists it as “Currently Viable,” meaning there are still enough people teaching and practicing the skill to sustain it—for now. But without support, the clubs and communities that pass on this tradition to the next generation may not survive.
In the Quinte region, woodcarving has seen a recent resurgence. Just a few years ago, the Quinte Woodcarvers Association (QWA) would not have described themselves as thriving. Formed in 1990, the QWA has long had a core of passionate members, but interest in the craft had begun to decline. Then, during the pandemic, people found time to explore new hobbies—and QWA’s membership began to grow again.
Woodcarving has evolved over time. While modern carvers may use power tools, many still find comfort and satisfaction in the traditional methods. For QWA member Rob Therrien, there’s something uniquely calming about carving by hand.
“I believe that some feel that carvers whittle away at a random piece of wood and hope for the best after a short period of time,” says Therrien. “I know now that it takes a considerable amount of time to complete a carving, and most carvers regard their work as a piece of art—as it should be.”
He encourages newcomers to try the craft for themselves. “Join a club or at least make contact with club members. I’m always amazed at how generous carvers are in helping new learners. I’ve seen countless examples of carvers giving wood, tools, patterns—and most importantly, their time.”
Woodcarvers: carving their way onto the Quinte cultural landscape
By Kodie Trahan-Guay
The Quinte region is home to many master carvers, many of whom act as mentors at the QWA. Member Craig Alderson is proud to be part of such a vibrant community. He sees carving as an incredibly expressive art form.
“I view carving as one of the most expressive visual arts. I think Da Vinci would have agreed—it involves shape, colour, form, and can be abstract or realistic,” he says. “The one quality I strive for is originality—to create and produce my own work from start to finish.”
For many carvers, the process is deeply personal. In her second year of carving,
Belleville
Lisa Thompson
QWA member Lisa Thompson created a relief portrait of herself and her late father. She entered it into a competition— and won first place.
“My dad never saw any of my carvings— he passed away before I started to carve,” she shares.
Serge Moisan, Past President of the QWA, recalls taking a woodcarving class at St. Lawrence College that involved creating a life-sized Bluebill Drake in a preening position. The project took 30 weeks of Thursday night sessions to complete. After moving to Tweed, he found the QWA and was warmly welcomed.
“The President at the time was Ken Hicks. I met the duck carvers—Grant Park, Bob Trottier, Bob Danahy—and these guys really made me feel at home,” says Moisan. “They asked me to bring one of my carvings, so I brought my Bluebill. Then Grant Park took it to the world competition where it placed fourth in the novice life-size decorative floating category.”
Newer member Karen Munro joined the QWA after seeing a Facebook post about an open house. Despite being impressed by the other members' work, she wasn’t intimidated. “I reminded myself I had to start at the beginning,” she says.
Her preferred style is relief carving, a technique that requires patience and precision. Being part of the QWA gives her access to support when she’s stuck—and she also turns to YouTube for tips. She wants people to know how accessible the craft can be.
“We live in a time where everything is immediate. Delayed gratification is waning, and people don’t experience the relaxing mental health benefits of woodcarving,” Munro says. “The peace and calmness as you carve is something I think each of us enjoys. It’s not about the results so much as the journey. You see the form slowly emerge from the wood.
I believe modern technology has taken away the appreciation for handcrafted artistry. It’s important that we keep this craft alive.”
Alderson agrees and offers simple advice for those curious to try: “The first thing is to start—and push yourself to continue. Join a club for support and learning. Start simply—but simply start.”
quintewoodcarvers.ca
Crafts
Trudy Legacey
Karen Munro
Celebrating 25 Years of the Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na Language and Cultural Centre
By Jennifer Shea
The Tsi Tyónnheht
Onkwawén:na Language and Cultural Centre (TTO) in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory is celebrating a major milestone—its 25th anniversary—this year. The celebration will be part of the Territory’s annual community events on National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Founded by a group of parents concerned about preserving the Kanyen’kéha (Mohawk) language and culture for future generations, the Centre has grown from a grassroots initiative into a cornerstone of cultural revitalization.
“We simply wanted to establish an immersion school for our kids,” says Bonnie Jane Maracle, a Director on the TTO
Board since its establishment. “Because we didn’t have any (native language) speakers in our community, we had to back up and set up some programming to create some. We started with adult immersion; we got some adults speaking, then they were able to become the teachers of a kids’ program.”
That children’s program continues today as an immersion school serving students from Kindergarten to Grade 5. The school is currently at full capacity with 25 students, and over the years, the Centre has expanded its programming to further support Mohawk language and cultural learning.
Reflecting on the Centre’s evolution, Executive Director Callie Hill says their
focus has expanded. “Twenty-five years ago, in terms of Indigenous language revitalization, many communities and nations were thinking that the way to do that was through children, and through children’s immersion programs.”
Tyendinaga
“Coming into 2025, we have realized that, in order for our language to thrive as a living language, we really do need to have adult speakers. So, a lot of research and programming now has started to focus on developing adults as speakers of the language.”
Board Director Karen Lewis emphasizes the broader significance of the Centre’s work. “The Centre functions as a beacon of hope that what was lost can be reclaimed,” she says. “Like any language, ours contains knowledge of our ways, our traditions, ideals and cultural practices. In terms of identity, it helps us remember ours and know it is worthwhile.”
One of the Centre’s most exciting developments in this anniversary year is the construction of its first purpose-built facility, located on the former Shannonville World’s Fair site on Salmon River Road. The new building will house three classrooms—expanding the Centre’s capacity to serve up to 60 students—as well as a large kitchen, a multipurpose room for additional programs, an art studio, and a recording studio for language documentation.
“We will have a big kitchen and another classroom off the kitchen for additional programming, an art studio, and a recording studio to do documentation of language,” says Callie. “We also have plans to rehabilitate the lands around
the building because we’ve disturbed it and we want to live very lightly on the land with this building. We want to replace everything that we’ve displaced outside.” The new building should be completed this fall, with an official opening toward year-end.
Bonnie Jane laughs when she says the TTO’s original five-year plan of building its own school has taken five times longer, but she emphasizes that the Board’s focus over the years has been quality versus quantity. She adds that it has taken time for the community to become aware of, and embrace, the Centre. Many local residents have been involved through the years, each contributing something toward the growth and development of the Centre.
The new TTO building will showcase everything the Centre has to offer, and it symbolizes the community coming together with pride.
Callie notes, “Our Centre will have our own home now, purpose-built for what we do, the type of education we provide. Previously, we’ve lived in leased places throughout our community. This new building is going to increase the prestige and importance of language and culture to everybody in the community. They’re going to see we’re not going anywhere.”
tto-kenhteke.org
A Local Perspective on National Indigenous Peoples Day
By Jennifer Shea
Tyendinaga
Observed across Can-
ada on June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day is a time to recognize and celebrate the richness and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultures, stories, and traditions. For many Indigenous people, this day brings forth a complex mix of emotions. To honour these perspectives, we invited Indigenous artists who have been featured in past issues of Umbrella magazine to provide their perspectives.
“Growing up, being a part of my community, you were taught the importance of unity, and peace for those around you but also to have respect for the environment, and future generations. The 21st of June should not only be a day to celebrate the beauty of our art, culture and traditions but also be a day to listen and learn about what makes us so resilient.”
Kory Parkin - koryparkin.com
Kanyen'kehà:ka Artist & Digital Creator
“For my family and I, this is a day where we share space with our community members and kin. Together, we bear witness to each other, celebrate our successes, and acknowledge that we are still here, we have done some good work, and we still face immense challenges in our communities. Together, we reflect, take stock, and step forward.
We are standing on the shoulders of those who have come before us, who
have worked hard and fought to ensure our words and ways were not lost, so that we can carry forward our languages, traditions and teachings.
This year, I'm reflecting on the legacy of my former teacher, Kariwénhawe Dorothy Lazore, who started her journey to Spirit World in early spring. Kariwénhawe had a tremendous impact on revitalizing and promoting the Kanyen'kéha language across our communities. I am privileged to have learned from her; and she reminds me that continuing to learn Kanyen'kéha is an important part of my journey.”
Allison Lynn - allisonlynn.ca
Kanyen'kehà:ka Visual Artist
“This day serves as an opportunity for all individuals, especially those newcomers to our lands, to learn about and acknowledge the original peoples/stewards of this land—who hold deep knowledge, traditions, inherent rights and historical connections to our country.
David R. Maracle
Allison Lynn
Kory Parkin
Allison Lynn, Tick
Indigenous communities follow longstanding protocols that guide expressions of gratitude and respect for the elements that sustain our life. Through prayer, ceremonies, and teachings, we pass down invaluable knowledge to our younger generations, instilling an understanding of the importance of caring for the land, respecting Mother Earth, and preserving our traditional medicines.
Every day is Indigenous Peoples Day for me, my children and my grandchildren; as a Kanien’kehake person from the Peacemaker’s Territory, knowing the struggles our ancestors have had to endure and overcome, it is important that everyone joins us in celebrating and continuing to celebrate the resilience of our Indigenous Nations of Turtle Island and beyond.”
David R. Maracle - davidrmaracle.com
Kanyen'kehà:ka Stone Sculptor, MultiInstrumentalist, and Entrepreneur
“I celebrate my culture and my connection to the land and spirit through visual art. I celebrate a history that was lost not only to me, but to thousands of survivors and their families.
I am safe to express my loss to the world, to express my need to learn our teachings, and our rich history, a privilege that was taken from me. My family members lost their heritage, their roots, their connection to where the soul is bound to their ancestry.
This day of recognition for the Nation gives me a moment to pause and realize I am not alone in how I feel. I am not alone in my loss. I am not alone as I stumble to seek the knowledge held from me. Our nation mourns a past that has cast a shadow on our beautiful land, a nation that now recognizes the need for truth and the need for reconciliation.
I am grateful that I am free to ask, learn and go forward proudly proclaiming my blood ancestry and want those around me to feel the same pride and stand tall as we hold hands and celebrate each other and embrace our past to promote healing in our communities.”
Angela Wiggins -angelawigginsart.com Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) Visual Artist
“For Indigenous people, most of us celebrate being Indigenous every day in our actions and efforts put forth into the world. We must continuously
work hard to try to revive and restore our culture and knowledge. Certainly, it is a day to celebrate our continued existence, our various cultures and our efforts to grow stronger.
To be truly meaningful, Indigenous Peoples Day requires Canadians to do some deep introspection and arrive at a heartfelt recognition that the general wealth and abundance enjoyed by the average Canadian is a direct result of Indigenous Peoples being willing to share our lands, and then being taken advantage of by unfair treaties and laws that were designed to destroy Indigenous Peoples and our connection to our lands.
While we can’t change the past, we can change the present, and the future of our relationship.”
Robin Tinney - robintinney.ca
Algonquin Indigenous Artist
Robin Tinney
Angela Wiggins
BRIDGING COMMUNITIES
BRIDGING COMMUNITIES
Bridging Communities: Emebet Belete’s Vision for a Crochet-Covered Bridge
By QAC Team Belleville
Belleville-based mix-
media artist Emebet Belete is known not only for her captivating, internationally exhibited artwork but also for her deep commitment to arts advocacy and community engagement in Eastern Ontario. A long-time member of the Quinte Arts Council, Belete’s creative energy continues to inspire through her latest project: Bridging Communities.
Bridging Communities is a large-scale public art installation that will see
Belleville’s Upper Front Street Bridge transformed with vibrant, hand-crafted crochet pieces. This joyful “yarn-storming” effort is supported by the City of Belleville and the Ontario Arts Council and will be installed once the city completes scheduled bridge renovations.
Belete has been leading this ambitious initiative through workshops and crochet circles across the Quinte region, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds. Currently, she is teaching
elementary and high school students and running weekly community workshops at both the Belleville and Quinte West Community Health Centre and here at the QAC Cultural Hub.
While the bridge installation is still to come, the Quinte Arts Council hosted a special exhibition at the QAC Cultural Hub in May to showcase the collective progress made by project participants. Using weather-tested materials, the colourful, large-scale crochet works will be suspended from ceiling to floor—high-
lighting the artistry and dedication of dozens of volunteers.
“Emebet’s work exemplifies what community-engaged art is all about—bringing people together, inspiring creativity, and transforming shared spaces,” says Janet Jarrell, Executive Director of the Quinte Arts Council. “We’re honoured to support this project and proud to shine a light on the incredible contributions of everyone involved.”
Emebet Belete grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In 1985 she was accepted into the Addis Ababa School of Fine Arts - she was one of only 4 female artists to enter the school that year, and one of a handful of students selected from over 500 applicants.
After graduating, she worked as a studio artist. She was written up in Revue Noire (Paris) as an up and coming Ethiopian artist. Among her other achievements was editing and publishing the first catalogue of women artists' work in Ethiopia (FOWA: the Friendship of Women Artists), an organization that she led in its first few years. (It still works to promote art education in Addis Ababa schools, and to support new artists entering the profession.)
In 1997 she emigrated to Canada, where she completed both fine arts and education degrees at Queen's University, and continued to work as a studio artist.
Travel has always been part of her life. In 2008, she moved to TEDA, Tianjin, China with her family, where she taught art to an enthusiastic group of elementary students at Teda International School, as well as continued creating her own artwork, often inspired by the images around her.
She returned to Canada in 2013, where she can now be found in Belleville, On, creating art in her studio, and running educational workshops. (Emebet was an Ontario Arts Council Artists in Education Grant winner for the 20152016 year.)
artwithpassion.ca
QAC Profile
Quinte Arts Council
SAHARAN BEAUTY
SAHARAN BEAUTY
QAC hosts SaharanBeauty–TheMagic of the Dunes and the BerberTent
By QAC Team
This July, the Quinte
Arts Council presents an exotic installation that promises to awaken your senses and transport your imagination. Saharan Beauty – The Magic of the Dunes and the Berber Tent by established contemporary mixed media artist Rhonda Nolan.
Rhonda Nolan isn’t afraid to take viewers on a journey. Through her bold adventures in paint and sculpture, Nolan’s evocative work renders global experiences manifest. This time, she’s taking us to Morocco.
Nolan writes, “See the wonders of this beauteous land, through my heartened marks. Hear the soundlessness of the
Sahara and feel the radiant sand on your skin. Allow it to overtake you. Your senses will be heightened as you walk the dunes. You will learn to slow down. Meditate on this great expanse and the incredible freedom it offers you.”
Nolan’s installations are deeply personal and richly layered, grounded in shifting narratives and driven by raw energy and
Belleville
a desire to share. She is both storyteller and guide—leading us through some of the world’s most enigmatic spaces with honesty and intuition.
"This is the Morocco I have come to know, inside the Berber tent"
“My art conveys a process of problem-solving,” she explains. “My paintings are a conversation between form, energy, texture, and intuition. I’ve developed a personal pictorial dialect—a language of mark-making and symbols that speak from the moment of creation. I feel most authentic when I express myself through strong graphic shapes and gestural marks.”
Some of the works featured in Saharan Beauty debuted at Nolan’s solo show at Dar Cherifa Cultural Centre in Marrakech in 2024; others have been unveiled for the first time in this installation.
“I needed to express this in paint,” says Nolan. “To make simple, strong marks and lay them on the dunes—to capture this desert time, this special place. Each piece is imbued with love, always.”
She continues, “In Morocco, I return to a simple, timeless, sensual beauty—revealed slowly through weather-worn Amazigh and Berber artifacts, stories, music, and ritual. I want to hold on to the colours, scents, textures, and rhythms
of a life so unlike my own. This is the Morocco I have come to know, inside the Berber tent.”
View exhibit rhondanolan.com
QAC Profile
Quinte
Quinte Arts Council 2025 Student Bursary Recipients
By QAC Team
The Quinte Arts Council is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2025 graduating student bursaries.
Each year Quinte Arts Council (QAC) awards six bursaries to students graduating from secondary schools in Hastings and Prince Edward counties who are interested in pursuing post-secondary education in an arts-related field. These scholarships are designed to support young creatives as they take the next steps in their artistic journey.
QAC Student Arts Bursary
The Quinte Arts Council awards two bursaries.
Arlo Newman , a graduating student from Nicholson Catholic College, planning to study Animation and Game Design at Loyalist College.
Rafi Ramji, a graduating student from Nicholson Catholic College, planning to study Film Production at Toronto Film School.
Hugh P. O’Neil Student Arts
Bursary
Hugh P. O’Neil Bursary, one bursary will be given to students graduating from the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board and one bursary will be given to students graduating from the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board.
Charlotte Plante, a graduating student from St. Theresa’s Catholic Secondary School, planning to study her Bachelor of Art at Queen’s University.
Leah Hagan, a graduating student from Centennial Secondary School, planning to study the Post Graduate Ballet Bridge Program at Victoria Academy of Ballet.
Susan Richardson Bursary
Well-respected Belleville Choral Society alumni Susan Richardson was a recipient of a Quinte Arts Council’s Arts Recognition Award and provincial Arts and Culture Award. This bursary was established in her honour.
Arlo Newman
Rafi Ramji
Charlotte Plante
Finn Dutton, a graduating student from Centennial Secondary School, planning to study a Bachelor of Music at Humber Poly.
Elaine A. Small Bursary
Singing under the name of Elaine Steele, Elaine A. Small fashioned a successful career as a chanteuse in the late 1970s, while travelling the USA and Canada. Elaine returned to York University to complete her Honours degree in English, followed by a Master’s degree. She then attended the Humber School for Writers in Toronto. Today, Elaine supports young artists pushing boundaries in pursuit of their own dreams in the form of a bursary.
Cassandra Morgan, a graduating student from Eastside Secondary School, planning to study Theatre Studies at Guelph University.
Anita Binnie Award for the Performing Arts
This bursary aims to support and encourage students who demonstrate exceptional talent and dedication in the performing arts. It is awarded to individuals who have shown outstanding promise and commitment to their craft, embodying the spirit and passion that Anita Binnie herself exemplified. Shawn Newman, supported by friends and family, created the award in 2023 to honour Anita, who was his long-time dance teacher and mentor throughout his youth growing up in Belleville.
Cameron Weaver , a graduating student from Centennial Secondary School, planning to study Contemporary Dance at Concordia University.
“Supporting the next generation of aspiring local artists has always been a core principle for the Quinte Arts Council,” says Executive Director Janet Jarrell. “The QAC is proud to continue offering opportunities for graduating students in the area seeking a future in the arts.”
Quinte Arts Council remains dedicated to supporting young artists in our community and fostering their growth and development.
For applications and further information about eligibility for arts education opportunities please visit: quinteartscouncil.org
Finn Dutton
Cassandra Morgan
Cameron Weaver
Leah Hagan
Arlo Newman, Obtrusive
Obtrusive & Carl Wiens' Origin
By Arlo Newman Belleville
I am currently a grade twelve student at Nicholson Catholic College and am going into Animation and Game Design at Loyalist College in the fall. I’ve always
Arlo Newman, Obtrusive
An 11” x 14” mixed media piece, Obtrusive , illustrates six of my 2SLGBTQIA+ friends wearing their pride in comic-panel-style close-ups. They are accompanied by the phrase “PRIDE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A RIOT,” as well as lyrics from the song, “I’m Not “Supposed” to Be Anything” by the band She/Her/ Hers around the border. It’s an illustration of queer anger, defiance, and pride, as the world begins to take a scary turn once again.
As a queer individual myself, I believe that it is vital to express queer joy; however, I think it’s also integral to illustrate queer anger alongside it. Pride began as, and still is, a riot. I am angry that I am forced to be scared. I did not strive for perfection in my art because we are not perfect, no one is perfect, but we exist nonetheless and should be allowed to do so.
been passionate about many forms of art; however, I have always been primarily focused on visual arts. Typically, I take a mixed media approach to my works, but markers are my primary medium.
Carl Wiens, Origins
Carl Wiens is a local teacher and artist whose creative journey has spanned a wide range of media. These days, he primarily works with acrylic paint on wooden canvases. His illustrations have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal , and Canadian Geographic . After finding that freelance digital art no longer felt rewarding—particularly with the rise of AI—Wiens shifted his focus back to traditional techniques. He has also illustrated two children’s books and places a strong emphasis on thoughtfulness and embracing surprise, both in his art and in life.
One of Wiens’ recent and current favourite pieces is Origin, a 97” x 48” diptych created with mixed media on a birch panel. The piece features numerous animals, all facing toward the right, and depicted in similar size and weight—an
intentional choice that reflects his interest in pattern and symmetry. Origin highlights biodiversity, a theme Wiens is deeply passionate about.
Known for his diverse styles—ranging from cartoon-inspired works to pieces approaching realism—Wiens consistently evokes a distinct and effective emotional tone in each artwork. His attention to detail is a hallmark of his practice. While his pieces often appear smooth and polished, there’s always a painterly, human quality that shines through. Origin beautifully showcases this, with its intricate animal renderings and expressive, natural paint splatters that add to its organic charm.
carlwiens.com
QAC Profile
The aim of “Local Reflections” is to connect emerging artists with established creatives, while fostering critical thinking and appreciation of Art within the local cultural landscape.
