The small but mighty cultural hub of Port Medway is hosting an art show July 6-15 at historic Seely Hall.
Curated by Rachel Summers and Louise Sinclair, the exhibition features paintings, photographs and sculptures by six local artists, including the two curators.
Painter Fran Whitelaw has participated in Port Medway art shows for more than a decade, but has something unique planned for the Seely Hall show. “I’ve done some writing to go along with my paintings this year, which I will exhibit in a portfolio of poems and sketches, as well as some paintings,” she said.
Whitelaw’s creative process has recently been influenced by “a flood of verbal as well as visual stimuli,” leading her to adopt an experimental approach.
“I’ve never exhibited words along with art before,” she said. “The words are very visual, they’re haiku poems which state something in very simplistic terms.”
In recent years, community art shows have been held in the warehouse in Port Medway Lighthouse Park. But an invitation to hold this year’s event at Seely Hall was too good to pass up, said Summers.
“We really wanted to have the show in Seely Hall because it’s such a wonderful space,” she said. “It’s just beautiful.”
Constructed in the mid-19th century and used for many years as both a commercial location and a public meeting space, the building is being brought back to life after years of neglect. It was purchased in 2016 by Port Medway residents Philip Slayton and Cynthia Wine. Refurbishments began last year with an eye to providing the space free-of-charge for community events.
The art show is part of the larger cultural scene in the quaint seaside community.
Live music is a fixture at the local pub, restaurant and market known as the Port Grocer. There is a centrally located art and design studio. And then there’s the Port Medway Readers’ Festival, which this year will feature Michael Ondaatje among four authors who will give readings and hold book signings.
In addition to Summers, Whitelaw and Sinclair, the artists participating in the Seely Hall show are: Pam Purves, Doug Guildford and Susan Feindel. Admission to the event is free.
LighthouseNow Progress Bulletin
July 11, 2018
Scott Costen 