Officials: new exhibit a reminder the most important aspect of life is a sense of connection

ELORA – The Elora Centre for the Arts (ECFTA) is offering a new exhibition in its gallery by award-winning northern Ontario artist Bruce Cull. 

The exhibition, entitled Connection and Response “reminds us that we are participants in, and part of the physical world we inhabit,” ECFTA officials say. 

“Cull’s work expresses his fear of lost connection with each other, with our environment and a hope that we will rediscover old, new and better forms of connection.”

“I live in a geographically isolated place” says Cull. 

“Yet I feel less isolated than many people in crowded urban environments.”

Many of the objects incorporated into his work have been salvaged from the land he lives on. His stewardship of the land speaks directly to his connection with it. 

Cull lives in rural northeast Ontario, near Earlton in the Timiskaming District, about 60km south of Kirkland Lake and almost 600km north of Elora. 

He lives on 200 acres, in a studio that was once a granary for cattle. Cull has always lived in rural areas, which as nourished his lifetime environmental awareness that has impacted his artistic practise.

As Cull explains, “we begin our lives connecting to our parent, our siblings and gradually extending those relationships outward to a greater world of friends, co-workers and others whom we encounter on this journey. 

“Most of all, we reach for mutually nourishing intimacy in partner relationship and this connection of love brings us hope and strength,” he adds. 

“My hope is that the Centre Wellington community and beyond will engage in a dialogue with this exhibition, finding meaning and connections to their own lives.”

The exhibition will run in the main gallery until Sept. 11. An opportunity to meet the artist will be held on the final day of the exhibition – everyone is welcome to attend the artist reception on Sept. 11 from 2 to 4pm in the gallery at the Elora Centre for the Arts.

For more information, visit eloracentreforthearts.ca/connection-and-response-exhibition-by-bruce-cull.