Gallery In The Grove
Gallery in the GroveOver forty years ago, a group of women in Bright’s Grove dreamed of a public art gallery that would support and inspire local and regional artists through exhibitions and education. Their vision was born at Gallery in the Grove and it continues to thrive and grow to this day.
Located in beautiful Wildwood Park in Bright’s Grove, the gallery is on the second floor of the historic Faethorne House, while the Bright’s Grove Library operates the main floor of the building. “The gallery is located in a 150-year-old building in the middle of a park in Bright’s Grove,” explains Kirsten Kilner Holmes, volunteer chairperson, “From the second-floor windows, you can see beautiful Lake Huron. Inside, visitors enjoy quality exhibitions in a beautiful gallery atmosphere.”
The Gallery hosts up to six exhibitions a year that bring visitors from around the region and showcase local and national artists. These exhibitions offer a home to the work of both emerging and established visual artists and they build awareness, appreciation, and pride among the Sarnia-Lambton community. But it’s the quiet work the Gallery does behind the scenes that is perhaps the most enduring. It is here where they support the next generation of local artists. Gallery in the Grove has awarded more than $140,000 in scholarships to high school students moving into post-secondary arts programs.
The Gallery receives support and donations from service clubs across Sarnia and from local donors. All of the funds received — including a commission from art sales — go directly to the education fund. “We are very passionate about arts and arts education in Sarnia-Lambton,” says Gwen Moore, volunteer Education Manager. Thanks to another Gallery program, VALS (Visiting Artists in Lambton Schools), students in Grade 6 can connect directly with professional artists. “Before COVID we were serving over 30 classrooms across Sarnia-Lambton with this incredible opportunity for students to meet artists and explore the world of visual arts,” explains Gwen, “The program is back up and running now and is always featured in our annual Fast Forward Student Exhibition every May. Teachers love the program because the opportunity to work with professional artists engages the students and they develop confidence and pride in their work.”
Gallery in the Grove is 100% volunteer-operated with a board and over 60 dedicated, passionate volunteers. The volunteer board and staffers are the keys to the success of the gallery. The installation team curates and hangs each exhibition with care and an eye for detail, always striving for a unique presentation of an artist’s work.
The future of Gallery in the Grove is bright with a full exhibition calendar in 2022 and 2023 including a Juried Exhibition in the spring of 2023. A project with volunteers and staff from the City of Sarnia and the County of Lambton is moving forward with a 7,000 sq. ft. library expansion and will include moving Gallery in the Grove onto the main floor of the building, making the space fully accessible. Visitors are always welcome in the gallery and anyone interested in volunteering can contact the gallery through their website at www.galleryinthegrove.com.
Related Stories
The Cobbler Shop
Don Nesbit bought The Cobbler Shop, located at 1143 Confederation Street, from his father, Don Nesbit Sr., in 2011. The original shop opened in 1991 and was located right across from our current location. He started out by repairing shoes, luggage and sports equipment and selling shoe care products.
Race to Erase
Seeing an opportunity to spruce up the outdoor kindergarten play area at London Road Public School (LRPS), London Road staff jumped at the chance to make it a reality. In her second year of teaching kindergarten at LRPS, Sandra Ross reached out to Race To Erase, which annually holds fundraising events.
Lambton Elderly Outreach
Lambton Elderly Outreach (LEO) is a not-for-profit agency that provides support services in Sarnia and Lambton County for seniors over the age of 60 and adults with disabilities. Bill Yurchuk has been LEO's Chief Executive Officer since 2014. The most rewarding part of my job is knowing that ou
The Book Keeper
A newspaper clipping from The Book Keeper's grand opening on September 27, 1980 hangs on the wall in Susan Chamberlain's office. The store's history is often front-of-mind for her. The Book Keeper originally opened in Northgate Plaza and has moved to different locations within the plaza throug
Related Stories
The Eye Opener
It's unusual to have three opticians under one roof, but that's what you will find at The Eye Opener in Corunna. Mark Hodgins opened the business in 1979 on Lyndock Street and by the early eighties, moved to 219 Hill Street, where...
Hashtag Local
When Raveena and Diya Duggal saw their mom and dad giving away items from the home and money to perfect strangers, they wondered what was up. Makes sense considering they were just nine and six years old at the time. My mom told me she likes to help people that are less fortunate than we are, and
Hucker Floor Coverings
Charlie Hucker started working in the flooring industry when he was 18 years old. In 1992, after many years in both installation and sales, Hucker bought a shop-at-home flooring franchise. All the flooring samples were in his van and he brought them right to the customer's home. Ten years later, h
Dr Vanessa Curran Family Dental Care
Dr. Jessica Bourassa and Dr. Vanessa Curran have a lot of titles. Mothers, wives, dentists and twin best friends. They are Sarnia girls, who after graduating from St. Patrick's High School in Sarnia, attended the University of Wes...