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.

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Our summer program 2010  will be as follows:  The Wave Artists Tour ,

the weekends of June 12/13 and Sept 4/5.    See link.

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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.