Friday, May 29, 2009

Thunder Bay Art Gallery Showcases "The Waking Giant"

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery (http://www.theag.ca/) is one of my personal favorite gems in the community. Tucked away on Sibley Drive on the Confederation College campus, this center features one of Canada's most extensive permanent collections of Woodland Aboriginal Art and is always showcasing unique local, national and international exhibits in its three exhibition halls. Its also a fantastic location to hold a meeting or workshop, with a conference room that can hold about 60 people comfortably.




While there today for a workshop, I had the pleasure to catch up on things with the Marketing Director, Alastair MacKay, who introduced me to "The Waking Giant" a children's book produced by the Gallery's Art Access program. I knew of the project and had a chance over a year ago to see the individual prints on display at the gallery. The project was born out of the attention provided to the Sleeping Giant 2 years ago in CBC's Seven Wonders of Canada contest and has now been produced in a limited print run book that is suitable for children in grades 1-3. The artwork is great and the story, of the Giant waking up to stretch, is fun.

The book is available for purchase at the Gallery's gift shop, a great little gem in itself that features unique jewellery, books and other items. In this day of promoting sustainability in the tourism industry, their new reusable shopping and gift bags make a great statement and promote the Gallery.

The Gallery is an attraction everyone in the local tourism industry should visit-and revisit regularly. Its a great place to take family and Friends and to recommend to visitors. It represents the cultural fabric of our community and makes a great destination year around. Getting there is easy. Just take Sibley Drive off Balmoral Ave or the college's main entrance off Golf Links Road.

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