Art Centre

The original Ponemah grocery store and post office has been transformed into a place for community activities at Ponemah Beach Central on Central Ave. at Railway Street in the Village of Dunnottar.
The 24-by-40 ft. building, dating back to 1929 or earlier, housed the grocery store of the Foures and Wilkinsons as well as the Ponemah Post Office from 1929 until 1968.
The building was purchased in 2001 by Tannis and Cornelius Froese and restoration began in 2002. It had to be lifted to save it and a new beam and roof installed. As the work of gutting the interior began some archival items were recovered . They found some Free Press printers press proofs dating from the 1940’s and newspapers and card board boxes which had been used as insulation in the walls and ceiling.
The original knob and tube wiring had to be removed and replaced to the year 2000 commercial standards. As it is an uninsulated building to date it remains a summer use only work in progress.
It opened officially on Sept 6 , 2003 with a display of local artists recent paintings, sculptures and pottery.
This privately owned and operated community meeting place and Art Centre for the neighbourhood is a major asset to the Village.
This vintage building has become the host of an annual weekend of Quilt shows, Fiber Festivals and the local artists ”Wave” show and sale. There are scheduled summer weekly watercolour painting sessions and quilting lessons. The space is used to show t-shirts and to display the original art raffle quilt of the year. Selling t-shirts and quilt raffle tickets help fund the Dunnottar Station Project across the street.
Every July 1 st for the past 11 years this group of neighbours has hosted a big Canada Day celebration with a fun non-commercial parade and a picnic. Most folks walking and riding in the parade wear costumes or red and white.
Another great photo op! Everyone was welcome to join in the fun.
Our season ended on Sept. 7th 2009 Just as the weather improved!
“THE ARTFUL BRA “
Winners of the Artful Bra Challenge:
Over all Winner -(most funds raised) - “Fisher Women Bra” Joan Selkirk and Colleen Weibel
Best In Show - (Most Votes) - the “Over the Shoulder Boulder Holder” by Evelyn Ward de Roo (2nd) - ” In full Bloom” by Jo-Anne Lemay.
Most Creative - “Make Mine a Double D Strawberry Daiquiri” by Sisters, Linda Einarson,Chris Sargeant and Zoe Brittain. (2nd) - “Pink Icing Bras” by Katie Lawrence.
“Prettiest” - Tu Tu Tuutsie” by Kathryn Gardiner. (2nd) - “In full bloom” by Joan Simmons.
“Most Amusing” - “Udderly Delightfull” by The Fisher Veterinary Clinic by Carol and Erin. (2nd) “Cupcakes” by Karen McConkey
and “Most Outlandish” - ” Udderley Delightfull” (Both categories) won by The Fisher Veterinary Clinic - Carol and Erin. (2nd) - “Guess the 40DD” by Ron Bodner
Congratulation all for a fun summer and a great fund raiser for N.E. Palliative Care locally (over $3,000.00 raised)
Last summer we held a contest to see who could come up with the most unique, artistic, interpretation of a BRA. There are 144 entries. The largest is a 13 foot May Pole of almost 100 bras and the smallest was a Barbie Bra. What fun and successful too!
This was a fund raiser for Palliative Care in the area. Anyone could enter their creation. Voting was by ballot during the month of August to see who is voted the Best in Show etc.
The Gala held on September 26th in Frazerwood had 3 bras auctioned. All proceeds going to the N. E. Palliative Care program.
Also the Artful Bra Show was displayed at The Bay down town store lingerie dept on Sept. 10/11, 2009.
On Sept 19th there was a selection of them displayed at the “Harvest for Charity” event near Stonewall. ( Hwy 70 & 7 at Lilyfield Farms.) A Rocklands Antique Club Event, this was a fund Raiser for N.W. Palliative Care and a Tin for the Bin in Stonewall.
On October 1st the bras were at the Sears store in Polo Park.
Fall 2009 a selection of the bras were be seen at The Westhaven and Amber Meadow
Seniors residences.
_________________________________________________________
Our summer program 2010 will be as follows: The Wave Artists Tour ,
the weekends of June 12/13 and Sept 4/5. See link.
_____________________________________________________
Other weekend Events from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Weekdays Painting on Wednesdays 1:00 to 4:00 PM ($5.00 drop in fee)
Weekdays Quilting on Thursdays 1:00 to 4:00 PM ($5.00 drop in fee)
2010 — all about Hats with an
“Artful Hat Challenge”
summer - Thursday, July 1, 2010 , the 12th Annual Canada Day Parade
Gather near the Station for the best parking and viewing 10:00 AM
September 11, 2010 Raffle draw for a fund raiser
for the Dunnottar Station is a wall hanging quilt 50″x50″
Called “Gazing - Spring 2010″ made by Betty Jackson
Winners 2009 are: Shore Birds raffle Quilt —- Della Beattie
Gift certificate , Cottage Comfort —— Chris Sargeant
Dunnottar Station T-Shirt —————– Sue Quinn
Volunteers helping to run Ponemah Beach Central - Art Centre are
Elaine Twanow, Raye Anderson and Barb Morris
Some of the community volunteers who helped establish this creative corner including the Station Museum are: Tannis & Cornelius Froese, Bruce Smith & Betty Jackson, John & Barb Morris, Don Bowles, Elaine Twanow, Rick Gamble, Susan & Alf Goodall, Jason Oliver, Lou Fontaine, George Thompson, Robin & Cydnie Mather, John Muir, Daniel Aikens, Jack McDowell, Ian Livingston, Dave Thompson, Frank and the late Mardi MacKinnon, to name a few.


