Students and alumni called to submit artwork that reflects welcoming spaces

The Student and Learning Services (SLS) team at Georgian is offering a unique opportunity for students and alumni to submit artwork that may be displayed at the Barrie, Orillia and Owen Sound campuses. Georgian has also partnered with Cloud Gallery, located in Orillia where selected art pieces will be on display from March 22 to 24.

This initiative was launched to display art that reflects welcoming spaces for individuals accessing Student and Learning Services, which include mental health, well-being, and accessibility.

Georgian is proudly committed to helping support students’ academic journeys while creating supportive environments with SLS.

We want to create an environment that’s warm and welcoming for individuals accessing services that help them to flourish both inside and outside of the classroom. We’re hoping this initiative will encourage students to share their experiences with SLS and Georgian.
Danielle Mink, Director, Accessibility and Well-being.

Student Herbert Pryke is studying the Developmental Services Worker program at the Owen Sound Campus. Returning to school as a mature student Herbert’s experience with SLS has helped him to organize and prioritize, but also to slow down and breathe.

Herbert’s painting is inspired by one of his favourite local landscapes, Indian Brook where a quick walk through the woods leads to a clear babbling brook, where trout leisurely pass by unamused and further opens up to beautiful Georgian Bay.

How to participate

Students and alumni interested in participating are asked to submit a piece of art that represents strength, resilience, tranquility, spirituality, compassion, connection to others, and connection to the Georgian community. Selected artwork will be displayed at the Barrie, Orillia and Owen Sound campuses and will also be displayed at Cloud Gallery in Orillia from March 22 to March 24. Cloud Gallery will be hosting a reception on March 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. and is open to students, alumni, employees and the public to view art pieces created by the Georgian community.

Student Herbert Pryke with his painting "Just around the Bend" at the Owen Sound Campus. — *Student Herbert Pryke with his painting “Just around the Bend” at the Owen Sound Campus.*

Inspiration for artwork can include connections to the college community, including familiar local landscapes, or images that represent accessibility, mental health, and well-being.

As selected artwork will be displayed publicly, images that contain violence, self-harm, nudity, profanity, triggering or offensive images related to political, cultural or religious symbols will not be accepted.

How to submit artwork

For existing artwork you’d like to submit, please send a photo to studentsuccess@georgiancollege.ca, Subject line: SLS Art Submission.

For a new artwork piece, send a sketch of your proposed artwork to studentsuccess@georgiancollege.ca, Subject line: SLS Art Submission.

Please include a brief biography of yourself, your student journey and your connection to the community and the dimensions of your artwork in your submission.

All submissions are required by March 14 to be considered for the exhibition. Selected artwork will require transportation to the Cloud Gallery by March 21. Selected pieces will be compensated for the cost of creation and transportation.

Questions? Reach out to studentsuccess@georgiancollege.ca.

About Cloud Gallery

Cloud Gallery is a hybrid art gallery run by Mark and Blake Fletcher that showcases original art inspired by Ontario’s natural beauty. The father and son duo started the gallery to combine their love for art with their extensive business experience. Cloud Gallery is located inside a stunning, 10,000-square-foot heritage building in the heart of downtown Orillia. Visitors can browse a constantly rotating display of over 100 paintings, selected from 30 of Ontario’s best landscape artists.

The Gallery has an impressive online presence and has received extensive media coverage, including being highlighted in the Globe & Mail in October 2022 as one of the 4 “Best art-related day trips outside city limits”.

The reception of the business since opening in April 2021 has been beyond our wildest expectations. We truly love what we do – unleash the power of art for our clients to energize and beautify their spaces!
Mark Fletcher

The Georgian connection

Cloud Gallery has a long-standing connection with Georgian College where Mark Fletcher has been a full-time business faculty member for 15 years, teaching courses on entrepreneurship and investing. Corbin Crawford-Joslin, Cloud Gallery’s senior art advisor, is an alumnus of Georgian’s Advertising and Marketing Communications program. The Gallery has become a destination across the region serving Barrie, Muskoka, Orillia, and other areas near Georgian College’s seven campuses.