Gibson Gallery, bookshop team up for “The Stories We Tell” pop-up exhibit

to save the building and the gallery has been operating out of there since 1969.

Gagnon outlined the work that has gone into the building, from raising floors to maintaining the brickwork among the many projects, with the caboose being added over the years. He noted upgrading the caboose is the next project the board hopes to complete.

Board member Carole Deschaine noted the Fort Malden Guild of Arts & Crafts was actually formed in 1945 and originally hosted its meetings at Fort Malden National Historic Site of Canada. They had four sub-committees at first, with that growing over the years.

“We now have 12 different committees,” she said.

Greater Essex County District School

Board.

Art by the River is the gallery’s biggest fundraiser, Gagnon said, with it growing from a show that ran around the perimeter of the site to one that now has over 170 vendors. Rain or shine, the show is presented at Fort Malden with this year’s show coming Aug. 26-27.

“We want to create a greater awareness (of the gallery), who we are and what we have to offer,” said Gagnon.

By Ron Giofu

local business has teamed with a local art gallery on a new pop-up exhibit. The Gibson Gallery has teamed with the River Bookshop on “The Stories We

Tell,” an exhibit that is being presented in the bookshop’s “Hole in the Wall” upstairs event space. It opened last weekend and continues June 16-18 and June 23-25 with it being open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Syl Gagnon, president of the Fort Malden Guild of Arts and Crafts, said they believe the gallery is “one of the gems no one knows about.” The guild operates the gallery, which is located at 140 Richmond St.

Pointing out the building is a former Michigan Central Railroad station, he said it used to house a men’s waiting room, women’s waiting room and ticket office. It was converted into an art gallery thanks to the work of the late Hazen Price

Deschaine credited the work of Price to save the building, as well as the many contributions of Florence Gibson, for whom the building is named. The guild was incorporated in 1975 with the mandate to help encourage fine and applied arts and crafts in Amherstburg as well as all of southwestern Ontario.

Trudy Dempsey, also a board member and artist, said there are four art guilds that operate out of the gallery, including a new night guild that allows people to come in after hours to work on their art.

“We’re always looking for new guilds,” said Dempsey.

The work in “The Stories We Tell” was from the “artist station guild.”

The Gibson Gallery also wants to foster work in the community and encourage young artists, citing the partnerships with North Star High School for the “Artists of the Future” exhibit and the recent “Student Pix” exhibit with the

The gallery is also laying out a challenge about a former gallery that operated in Amherstburg. They are seeking information on the ABS Gallery, that once operated on Dalhousie St. People who can offer more information could be eligible for prizes.

Barrie Brewin, a former gallery president, recalled the work he and wife Sue put in as well as the late Ann McKerrow. He recalled upgrades that were done to host Group of Seven exhibits as well as exhibits through the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). He praised bookshop owners Richard and Colleen Peddie for the work they have been doing to foster the arts community in Amherstburg.

Brewin added he is proud of the work that has been put into the Gibson Gallery and noted many have contributed to its success.

“They put so much into it,” he said.

Richard Peddie said he and Colleen have looked to partner with the Gibson Gallery for the last three years. He said they have wanted to increase the “arts feel” of the town” and have had presentations and events to do that, believing arts can lead to a more vibrant community.