Gallery Hours
Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Weekends 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Centre Wellington District High School –Fergus
Lindsay Adams
Elizabeth Barnes
Jessica Buchanan
Alanah Crouse
Courtney Elliot
Yanna Hanscomb
Emily Martin
Madeline Neff
Kaitlin Pletch
Stephanie Poirier
Camiee Reed
Brittany Schantz
Genevieve Shave
Christina Simmons
Laura Sloan
Norwell District Secondary School – Palmerston
Josh Alexander
Thomas Bexton
Justin Freeland
Sarina Doer
Ammanda Grice
Dani Hill
Mary Jones
Leanne Kochut
Terri Lee
Aaron Lyons
Danielle McConnell
Jared Shiels
Marina Signer
Lea-Ann Snyder
Thomas Van Stee
Nikki Winger
Megan Wright
Ashley Zwarycz
Katie Zwarycz
Wellington Heights Secondary School – Mount Forest
Mike Ashley
Conor Bierne
Matt Doney
Suzie Florence
Emily Hodges
Jessica McEwen
Natalie Orr
Sarah Pride
Brittany Sivill
Sarah Stokes
Jamie Woods
High school is arguably one of the most frustrating times of a teenager’s life. However, the high school art room can be a haven for creative spirits, a place where students explore, create, and share their passions. “Youth Explosion”, features the works of selected grade 11 and 12 students from Centre Wellington District High School in Fergus, Norwell Secondary School in Palmerston, and Wellington Heights Secondary School in Mount Forest. This exhibition will promote the work of these young people, and enable us to see the world through their eyes. Their works often reflect their questions, pleasures, struggles, and hopes for the future. Dorothy Ames, Chair of the Elora Centre of the Arts, knows first hand how important art programming is in high school. “I didn’t do well with the “3 Rs” – reading, writing and arithmetic. The stress of being expected to do well in those subjects can be overwhelming. If it hadn’t been for the great teachers that I had, who saw that my strength was in the arts and fostered that talent, I would have been one of those kids that fell through the cracks. It’s imperative that students who do well artistically be given a showcase to let their special talent shine through”. The exhibition will feature a cross section of the best work from each school. The teachers are thrilled to have this opportunity to further promote the artistic talent of the teens by allowing them to show their works in a gallery setting. “I’m really pleased that there is a vehicle for these students to show their work,” says Phil Irish, local artist and gallery curator. “When I was in high school, we didn’t have any place to show our art. There was a group of us who stayed after school and used the art room like it was our own personal studio. Being able to have their work in a gallery will open their eyes to what lies beyond the classroom, and encourage them to think beyond high school and towards a career in something they are already passionate about.”
Centre Wellington District High School – Fergus
Norwell District Secondary School – Palmerston
Wellington Heights Secondary School – Mount Forest
High school is arguably one of the most frustrating times of a teenager’s life. However, the high school art room can be a haven for creative spirits, a place where students explore, create, and share their passions. “Youth Explosion”, features the works of selected grade 11 and 12 students from Centre Wellington District High School in Fergus, Norwell Secondary School in Palmerston, and Wellington Heights Secondary School in Mount Forest. This exhibition will promote the work of these young people, and enable us to see the world through their eyes. Their works often reflect their questions, pleasures, struggles, and hopes for the future. Dorothy Ames, Chair of the Elora Centre of the Arts, knows first hand how important art programming is in high school. “I didn’t do well with the “3 Rs” – reading, writing and arithmetic. The stress of being expected to do well in those subjects can be overwhelming. If it hadn’t been for the great teachers that I had, who saw that my strength was in the arts and fostered that talent, I would have been one of those kids that fell through the cracks. It’s imperative that students who do well artistically be given a showcase to let their special talent shine through”. The exhibition will feature a cross section of the best work from each school. The teachers are thrilled to have this opportunity to further promote the artistic talent of the teens by allowing them to show their works in a gallery setting. “I’m really pleased that there is a vehicle for these students to show their work,” says Phil Irish, local artist and gallery curator. “When I was in high school, we didn’t have any place to show our art. There was a group of us who stayed after school and used the art room like it was our own personal studio. Being able to have their work in a gallery will open their eyes to what lies beyond the classroom, and encourage them to think beyond high school and towards a career in something they are already passionate about.”