With a Wellington County Museum and Archives initiative to bring art to the community, Erin Mayor Lou Maieron sees a chance for part of the town’s heritage to come home.
The intent is for the museum to bring art and artifacts from the municipality back to the municipal hall. “We can look forward to a change of decor in the chamber and in the hallway.”
Maieron led into a story of how it all started.
“I went into Warden [Chris] White’s office where former warden Joanne Ross-Zuj’s beautiful painting of a swan was hanging up. I asked if I could have the painting brought to the Erin town office.”
Bonnie Callen, director of the museum at the time, said “No, we don’t let anything out of the county.”
But Maieron persisted and since then Callen retired and Janice Hindley became the new director of the museum and archives.
“Janice agreed with me that the public has paid for this artwork and archives, and why not share it with them?” Maieron said.
Town manager Lisa Hass said representatives came to the Erin offices to measure the wall to determine the available space. She said they may install a display case in the hallway.
“They were quite impressed with our available space,” Hass said.
Councillor Barb Tocher said the county has some unique, unusual and expensive artwork at the museum.
Maieron added, “And I have secured the picture of the swan … it’s not Brutus … but it looks very much like him. I put dibs on it.”
As part of that discussion, Maieron commented on Centre Wellington’s approach to promoting local art in that municipality.
“They promote local artists in Centre Wellington by having a display in the hall. I think it’s a great idea,” he said. He stressed he did not want to reinvent the wheel; he just wanted to bring that idea to Erin.
Maieron noted he used to look after the art show as a volunteer with the Erin Fall Fair, “So I know we have a number of great artists who do wonderful stuff.”
He asked council, “Why not promote the community by allowing them to put a display up?”
