The Wellington County Museum is opening vaults filled with over 2,000 pieces of art and is going to display its treasures across the county.
Wellington Place administrator Janice Hindley came to Centre Wellington’s committee of the whole Nov. 14 as part of the Art in Public Places project.
Beverley Cairns has been bringing art for display to the township office and Fergus Sportsplex for several years, changing the pieces every month so people can become familiar with all the talented artists in the community. The work includes everything from oil paintings to textile works.
Cairns presented a display this month that features Evita Schvallbe, who works in textiles. The works she brings hangs in the main hall and in the council chamber.
Cairns then introduced Hindley to council.
Hindley said the first artist from the county’s collection. She said Percy Runnells was born in the township in 1920, and she supplied a large number of works by Runnells, including a portrait by another artist, plus Runnells’ self portrait.
She said the artist did a large body of work over the years and she hopes at some point to do a retrospective of it.
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj said of the Runnells art, “It brings a smile to my face. It’s been so long since I’ve seen it.”
Hindley said Runnells painted local scenes, such as farms and homes.
She promised “to open the vault” and added, “We will be changing displays every six months.”
Hindley said she started in Centre Wellington because that is where Runnells was born, but she promised every municipality will have an opportunity to see the museum’s collection in the coming months.
She added the museum’s collection is extensive and people should have an opportunity to get to see it.
Cairns added it is good to “get some of these paintings out in the public.”
