The City of St. Catharines' public art exhibits provide the opportunity to experience original art, historic photos, or cultural treasures that reflect St. Catharines' stories, creative self-expression, experiences and perspectives. Our exhibits are coordinated by the Cultural Services office with support from the Public Art Advisory Committee.
Current Exhibitions
Waterscapes
On View: Sept. 15 to Winter 2023
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
Water - one of nature’s primal elements - plays an important role in our everyday lives.
“Waterscapes” features pieces from the City of St. Catharines Civic Art Collections. The exhibit showcases how water flows into our everyday lives. It can be seen as an important element to each displayed piece, even if unintended.
Featured Artists: Diego Chaves, Danny Custodio, Joseph Hallam, Pete Malaguti, and Melanie Pyke
Branches
On View: June 13 to Oct. 20, 2023FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
Opening: Tuesday, June 13 at 5 p.m.
Experience the resilience and creativity that has blossomed from the streets of downtown St. Catharines in Branches, an exhibition showcasing a diverse array of individual and collaborative artworks that emerged from Art Me Up's drop-in arts program, symbolizing the new growth and vitality following a long winter of COVID-19, reminding us that passion and creativity have deep roots and high branches, even in the face of unimaginable struggles and the coldest of days.
Public Life and Celebration in Nature
On View: April 13 to Fall 2023
Richard Pierpoint Park
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 13 at 4 p.m. (Rain date: April 20 at 4 p.m.)
Rodman Art Institute of Niagara (RAIN) in partnership with the City of St. Catharines created a public art exhibition to accompany the renaming of Centennial Gardens to Richard Pierpoint Park. The exhibition features artists Brendan Fernandes, Tabitha Lewis, and Wayne Moore.
“Over the last few difficult years under the pandemic, public parks have become essential therapy. The timing of this renaming and commemoration aligns with a re-opening of public life and celebration in nature. In difficult times, community-based practices such as communal storytelling and public art are essential in helping us imagine and create a brighter future.” - Raven Spiratos, Curator
City of St. Catharines 14th Annual Juried Exhibition: Open-Ended
On View: Sept. 22, 2023 to March 15, 2024
Third floor of City Hall
“If we judge objects merely according to concepts, then all representation of beauty is lost. Thus there can be no rule according to which anyone is to be forced to recognize anything as beautiful.” – Immanuel Kant, The Critique of Judgement (1790)
“open-ended" asked artists for nothing. By asking for nothing the exhibition invites viewers to focus on the exploratory process of creation. The exhibition will feature the artists’ imagination and ask the viewer to embrace the visual. There are endless possibilities for the ways in which open-ended art can be created and viewed, hence nothing specific can be asked. “open-ended” will bring the artists creative process to the forefront.
Featured Artists:
Emily Andrews
Kim Collins
Danny Custodio
Dillon Douglas
Mike Elliott
Karen Klucowicz
Chris Liszak
Melanie MacDonald
Kathy McBride
Laurie Morrison
Donna Szoke
Rachelle Wunderink
Exhibit Locations
Some exhibits are permanent or installed on a temporary basis found throughout City buildings, parks and property, and in the community, while others are displayed on a rotating basis and can be found at: