Contributed photo: Barbara Brown has been curating art galleries for military, first responders and hospital practitioners through her community-building initiative, The Steel Spirit.
The Steel Spirit is putting out a call for submissions of artwork from serving and retired military, first responders and hospital practitioners for an upcoming gallery in Creemore.
Barbara Brown, founder of The Steel Spirit, trained as a paramedic, and her husband’s background is in military and policing. Brown started setting up art galleries a decade ago as a way to connect with people when her husband was going overseas for a year as a war crimes investigator.
Living in Barrie but not being from there she didn’t know many people.
“I needed to figure out a way to keep myself busy, keep perspective and not worry about him all the time, and I enjoyed doing artwork myself,” said Brown, although her own work has never been included in the shows she has organized across the country. “I thought, wouldn’t it be nice if I put together an art gallery and told other people’s stories.”
The first gallery at city hall in Barrie featured 10 artists from Base Borden and the opening reception was attended by 90 people.
“I was blown away,” said Brown.
Encouraged, and not wanting to disappoint those who asked when the next show would be, she persevered. The following year she opened it up to first responders and the show doubled in size. From there it has continued to grow very organically through connections she’s made along the way. There have now been over 90 artists involved across the country.
Brown said she has kept going because she really enjoys it and has made a lot of good friends.
New and returning artists are welcome to submit in a variety of mediums including painting, drawing, photography, leatherwork, poetry, woodwork and more. All levels of new and returning artists of any age, with and without PTSD/OSI, are welcome to participate.
The gallery will be installed at Creemore Station on the Green from August 22-29, and will be presented in partnership with 5th Street Creative Initiative, an organization that offers youth theatre, music, and art therapy.
The charity is expanding its summer camp programs to include Creemore and New Lowell and the gallery will be part of its new 5th Street Community Cultural Festival. The opening day, Saturday, Aug. 22, will include talks, music by emerging 5th Street Creative songwriters and booths by first responders. Doors open at 1 p.m. Talks start at 2 p.m. The reception is free for artists and $15 for other attendees. Ticket fees go towards paying emerging songwriters that are performing at the grand opening and the venue rental.
Every artist is responsible for transporting their artwork to and from the gallery.
Anyone interested in participating is asked to contact Brown by July 6 at barbara@thesteelspirit.ca.
For more information, visit thesteelspirit.ca.
