Paige Seburn
Niagara Now/The Lake Report
The Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre has had a busy start to the fall season, starting with the announcement of this year’s winners of the annual Hydro Box Beautification Competition.
Held each year as an arts competition to find works of art to install on selected hydro boxes in Niagara-on-the-Lake, this year saw artists Jeannie Manning and Lynne Gaetz win for their works, “Into Our Woods,” and “Turbulent Silence,” respectively.
These works were selected as the winners by a jury, picked from 22 submissions: acrylic and oil paintings, mixed-media works, ink art, photography and collages.
Both Manning and Gaetz’ original works depict forests, Manning using acrylic paint to depict vibrant-green trees and Gaetz using mixed media to show faces, objects and phrases embedded in tree trunks.
Alongside Manning and Gaetz, Yenis Camargo won the People’s Choice Award, voted on by visiting members of the public, for her acrylic painting of the clock tower cenotaph, titled “Heart of the Community.”
The winners were announced at an award ceremony on Sept. 12, and each winner received a $500 honorarium.
Jodi Eppler, the Pumphouse’s administrative assistant, expressed her enthusiasm for Camargo’s work and said she paused to appreciate the applause during the ceremony, feeling proud and grateful that her piece won.
“She’s just full of life and exuberance about community, which really shone during the awards ceremony,” said Eppler.
During Culture Days — a national event highlighting the importance of arts and culture in Canadian communities — the Hydro Box Beautification Competition at the Niagara Pumphouse Art Centre’s Walker Room Gallery showcased the multifaceted local talent of Niagara region artists.
All 22 artworks are on display at the Pumphouse until Oct. 21.
Artists drew inspiration from themes such as nature, landmarks, and the rich history of the area, with a special emphasis on submissions that highlighted the importance of community.
In addition to the competition, the Pumphouse Centre proudly hosted an enchanting solo exhibit by local artist Grace Marquez, titled “Immersion.”
Eppler said her captivating artwork brings the wonders of the water world to life, inviting attendees to explore the transformative power of nature.
Marquez’s beautiful depictions of underwater scenes have resonated deeply with the community, Eppler added.
“Culture Days bring awareness to the place that we have, our community, and to the fact that we have such a great amount of amazing artists and artistic people in our community,” she said.
“Niagara-on-the-Lake is not just about the wine or the music — it’s about the visual art too,” Eppler said.
We’re about making sure that, in many ways, we can provide art for all.”
The winning artworks will be unveilled and installed on the selected hydro boxes later this year.
