Streetscapes of pandemic: Artist highlights Port Colborne businesses in new display
Back in the early stages of the pandemic lockdown, staving off the doldrums was a task unto itself.
“I started going for a lot of walks. What else was there to do?” said Port Colborne artist Mary Burke. “I started to notice that, even though times were tough and everything was going crazy, there were still a lot of local businesses who were open, helping serve the community.”
From the local pharmacy staying open to make sure Port Colborne residents had access to vital medications and supplies, to the local butcher staying open to make sure people could still get a nice cut of meat, Burke said she marvelled at how many places kept on trucking during such a dark time.
“I wanted to highlight the resilience of those businesses and the community spirit it took to keep going through those times,” said Burke. “So this became my pandemic project.”
Burke uses long strips of wood to paint streetscapes. She also uses large square blocks to highlight single storefronts; local places she said inspired her when she saw them persevering and adapting to the new pandemic times.
Places like Lemayzzz Meats, which quickly transitioned to an online ordering and curbside pickup system, motivated Burke to keep her artwork going during the pandemic also, so she chose them as one of her first new artworks.
She produced enough of them to collect the local scenes into an exhibit, “Reflections of Niagara: Connecting Ontario’s small town heritage,” which will be on display as the latest offering at Arts Place Gallery in Port Colborne.
Her work will be on display at the gallery from Oct. 4 through Nov. 29. There is an artist meet and greet scheduled for Oct. 18 from noon to 4 p.m. The gallery requires masks for entry and physical distancing protocols remain in place.
Arts Place Gallery is located at 714 King St.