RIVER

River: A Year in Colour

Exhibit, video and drawings to colour

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:  River video

Centre patrimonial de la Maison Fairbairn

45 chemin de Wakefield Heights, Wakefield Quebec

July 7, 2023 to September 3, 2023

7 days a week from July 7 to August 13th (9am to 5pm)

weekends only from August 19th to September 3rd (9am to 5pm)

During the worst year of the pandemic when the population endured multiple ‘lock downs’, STO Union hijacked the insert advertisement section of the regional newspaper and replaced it with an art project that invited everyone to colour and join in.

Every season, the public received a drawing in The Low Down to Hull and Back newspaper that depicted the Gatineau River at that time. The insert also prompted storytelling appropriate for that place and time.

Four beautiful drawings of the river were created and the community responded with almost 200 entries.

The project included multiple workshops and, in the end, a moving video captured this amazing community project.

River, the video, exhibit, and drawings now exist as a project for other communities to participate in.

We recognize this season of letting go along with our pandemic reality can result in feelings of grief. If you or someone you know is struggling or in distress, please know you are not alone. It’s important to reach out to get help. Some resources include Kids Help Phone, Canada Suicide Prevention Service and Quebec Crisis Intervention. The Canadian Mental Health Association also offers resources to support mental health during the pandemic.