The Durham West Arts Centre is a 'hub' organization working to establish links with artists, arts groups and arts lovers. We host exhibitions, activities and events at the Centre as attractors. We want to meet and talk to the groups and individuals who are willing to help build the infrastructure for a permanent arts centre in Ajax-Pickering.
An Astounding Exhibition Comes to Durham
Through hard work, perseverance and incredible good fortune, the Durham West Arts Centre is one of 26 venues across Ontario participating in the Ontario Association of Art Galleries' 85th Celebrations of the first exhibition of the Group of Seven. This provincial celebration between March and December of 2005 is heavily supported by the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Durham's exhibition, The Thomsons of Durham: Tom Thomson's Family Heritage features original art works by Tom, Margaret, Fraser, Henry and George Thomson. The astounding part of the exhibition will be the historical panels illustrated with family photos provided by Thomson relatives. Visitors will be able to trace the stories of Tom's grandparents back to the Isle of Skye and the Aberdeen area of Scotland in the 1700s. The tales involving Scotland, emigration, the Upper Canada Rebellion, the Civil War, the first Biologist of the Province of Ontario and even a connection to Sir John A. Macdonald, are the stuff of movie scripts. Even if Tom Thomson weren't one of Canada's foremost artists, the stories of early Canadian life centered in Durham would be interesting. The exhibition also features a Powerpoint slideshow of images from the National Archives and study materials for school tours.
Book early for the 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. school tours. Summer months there will be tours specifically for seniors' groups of 8 or more. A catalogue will be available to purchase - the first publication of the Durham West Arts Centre!
More on Tom Thomson, his family and roots in Durham at DWAC:
An Astounding Exhibition Comes to Durham; Art Exhibition;(features three original Tom Thomson paintings plus works by Fraser, George, Henry Thomson, Helen Fisk Young, Margaret Tweedale and an 1832 sampler by Elizabeth Brodie, Tom Thomson's grandmother); Book Talks; Bus Tour; Music in the Thomson Homes;The Thomsons of Durham: Tom Thomson's Family Heritage the book; What the Thomsons Read; Download pdf book order formfor The Thomsons of Durham: Tom Thomson's Family Heritage.