Supporting amateur arts
By Chris Simon

Photo by Chris Simon Gallery on Queen owner Ingrid Schienke sets up a window display of paper mache from artist Lindsey Byers last week. The display is part of the annual Art on Main event, where about 45 local businesses display various works of art.

A display in Ingrid Schienke's storefront window could be the start a young artist needs.

It's one of the reasons why the owner of the Gallery on Queen in Cookstown annually participates in the South Simcoe Art Council's Art on Main event.

"It's important to support the local artists, as well as the more well known artists," she said, standing in her gallery recently. "It gives them a chance to show their work, you want to support that as often as you can. They have to start somewhere ... a lot of these people are not doing it for a living. They're doing it more as a hobby, or because they love doing it, so for what it is, it's well done."

Schienke's storefront display was created by artist Lindsey Byers. Her work includes several paper mache animals such as cats, chickens and pigs. The window display has also been complimented with work by professional painter Cindy Roddick-Smith.

In total, six Cookstown businesses will join shops and restaurants in Beeton, Tottenham and Alliston, prominently displaying works of art by local residents in their storefront windows.

But the event also gives local businesses an opportunity to promote their products, said Schienke.

"It's good for the gallery to be part of community things, but it's important for everyone, in every store to expose and support the arts," she said.

About 45 businesses are participating in the event, which is in its fifth year. The event was created by business owner Irv Broder, as a means for artists and store owners to work together and promote arts in the region.

Two-dimensional, threedimensional and photographic art has been placed in the windows of participating stores. The public is encouraged to view the art, and can pick-up guidebooks in participating stores. Those guidebooks contain lists of stores and artists taking part, as well as several local restaurants.

In the back of the guidebook, a section entitled The Language of Art discusses the design principles and elements used by artists in creating their work.

The public can also vote for their favourite artist. Ballots and ballot boxes are displayed in participating businesses, and residents are permitted one vote in each town.

Ballots for favourite artist will be entered into a separate draw for prizes, while the artwork will also be judged by a panel of artists in two-dimensional, threedimensional and photographic art categories.

Monetary prizes will be awarded to the artists who win People's Choice awards.

The event runs until May 19. For more information, visit www.southsimcoeartscouncil. com.