Art Windsor-Essex has helped turn St. Clair College’s main campus into an outdoor art gallery.
Local art collector and philanthropist Stephanie Zekelman selected eleven works by eight artists to be placed throughout St. Clair’s main campus in the latest edition of Look Again! Outside, join various outdoor artwork located throughout downtown Windsor and nearby Amherstburg.
"It wasn't a decision, and it was the only decision - St. Clair was the only place to do it," Stephanie Zekelman said about selecting St. Clair for the outdoor art gallery. “Esthetics are very important to me, and I collect art, and I wanted to bring that art to the students at St. Clair and the entire community. We decided to go with modern art because it is a modern, young environment here, and we wanted to bring that kind of energy. So that's why we chose this location. It's something different than in downtown Windsor or Amherstburg.”
Look Again! Outside: St. Clair College will be on display for several years. Canadian and international artists featured in Look Again! Outside: St. Clair College includes Marcel Barbeau, Jack Bush, Allyson Clay, John Kissick, Rita Letendre, Jahan Maka, Gordon Rayner, Takao Tanabe, and Victor Vasarely. The artwork on display intends to enrich the experience of walking around campus, and viewers are encouraged to engage with the displays to consider new perspectives and ways of thinking. The 11 original works are strategically located throughout the main campus in South Windsor and walking areas for students, staff and the community to enjoy.
View Campus Map of Artwork Locations
Stephanie Zekelman believes the large reproductions will bring bold colour and abstract shapes to public spaces and walking paths across campus, provoking thought and sparking new conversations.
“I think art makes you yearn for more. Maybe you will dig deeper into these artists and visit AWE. Maybe this can become someone's passion, too," Stephanie Zekelman said. “As the College campus grows, we hope this will grow as well. I hope to see this grow and evolve in the future and maybe bring some sculptural element to it as well.”
Several St. Clair College students, staff and faculty were involved in producing this unique project, including the design, planning, fabrication, and installation. Frames for the reproductions were fabricated using Atlas Tube Steel.
“This project is assembled with passion, intelligence, and remarkable vision,” said AWE’s Executive Director, Jennifer Matotek. “On behalf of Art Windsor-Essex, I want to express my gratitude to the Zekelman Foundation and everyone involved at St. Clair College. Their thoughtful collaboration is aligned with our mission to present the creative work of artists in multifaceted ways, keeping public art and curiosity alive.”
Look Again! Outside: St. Clair College was made possible by a donation from the Stephanie and Barry Zekelman Foundation, Ontario Trillium Foundation, and with the support of St. Clair College. Established in 1943, Art Windsor-Essex is the largest public art gallery in Southwestern Ontario. With a permanent collection of over 4,00 artworks, AWE shares Canadian, Indigenous, and contemporary art with the Windsor-Essex community.
Brett Hedges
