Artists transform the Grand Bend Legion into a beautiful gallery

When you picture a Royal Canadian Legion, you probably don’t think of bright, airy lavender walls and gallery lighting. 

But the team behind Paint Ontario, an annual art show, sale and exhibition, has transformed the Grand Bend Legion into a space with proper lighting, seating and displays of paintings that feature landscapes, people and animals. 

“When you look side to side, all the way around, you’re 360 surrounded by art pieces,” said curator Teresa Marie Phillips, who has been involved in the Paint Ontario event for more than two decades. “We represent lots of styles. Watercolours, oils, acrylics, contemporary works — nothing abstract, but we get pretty close, with impressionistic work.” 

“We have brand new artists and artists we have seen many, many times,” Phillips said. 

More than 500 artists from across Ontario send in their work to be judged and chosen for the show, which is unique for its size and for the amount of work that goes into creating a space that is lit well and displays the art in as professional a way as possible, she added. 

“There’s so much to see that there’s something or everyone and everything is for sale. All the money goes back to the charity and does good in the community,” Phillips said. 

Filling a gap

The show opens May 3 at 4 p.m. and runs over three weekends, ending May 20. Tickets can be purchased for one day or for as many visits as you like. The event also features workshops and speakers, demonstrations and an Indigenous storytelling tent. 

“We really fill a gap for artists between learning to become an artist and finding a gallery,” Phillips said. “An artist’s work not seen is sad. This is an opportunity for the community to come together and because we’re non-profit, all of the money that comes in stays in the community and funds more projects.” 

Phillips, who is a painter and works mainly in set design, wanted to create a space where the artists’ work can shine, she said.

“It’s all about the lighting because you can’t see an art piece unless it’s properly hung,” she said. “When an artist you can see how special it feels to them.”