The Art Current movement hopes to shine a spotlight on artists working in rural or isolated areas.
Artists operating out of places like the Sault can be at a disadvantage. Being hours away from a metropolitan area means having fewer opportunities to have their work shown in larger galleries, a more difficult shipping process as well as a harder time acquiring materials.
This pop-up exhibition, a part of that movement, is the first in an upcoming series focused on high school students considering work as a professional artist as a full-time career. Ashlyn Pallot is currently a student at St. Mary's with aspirations of attending Ontario College of Arts and Design.
"This is my first self-directed art exhibition," says Pallot. "It's helped me prepare as an artist and a person."
"The dream," says Annie King, an artist/curator/part-time university instructor living and working in northern Ontario, "is to have a mobile gallery that can travel around, showcasing artists that work in rural areas but also servicing communities that don't have access to contemporary art.
"And I get a lot out of it too," says King. "I crave seeing new artwork and learning about new artists. I get to provide them with opportunities and, in turn, they share their work with the world."
The pair also offer a kind thank you to Christine Cloutier of Soo Dance Unlimited for offering the exhibition space.
If you'd like to learn more about the Art Current movement or get involved, you can reach out to Annie King via Instagram.