 What's your background in art? How did it get started? Art has been part of my life; as long as I can remember. Being an only child there was lots of time for creativity. My family is really creative, they were always making something and making things just felt like part of everyday. There was easy access to all kinds of materials whether it be paper, paint, wood, tools, sewing materials… you name it, I would make something with it. In middle school (Homedale) and high school (CECI,) visual art became a big focus for me. I always loved making art but this is where I had a chance to develop more technical skill and start to explore the ideas I wanted to express in my art. I then went on to the Visual Arts program and Western University and completed an Honors Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. Starting as a volunteer in high school, then working at the St. Thomas – Elgin Public Art Centre has been a big motivator because it really exposes you to art and artists in our area, I don’t think I would have ever realized the scope of our art scene, heritage and community without being there. What inspires you? Who are your biggest inspirations? I always feel inspired by looking at art, whether it be visiting an art gallery to see an exhibition, looking in books, sharing with other artists in the community or checking out art on Instagram. Seeing other artist being productive makes me feel like I need to get to work. Artists are amazing resources from telling you how they go about making something, a new medium/tool and they are a great source of motivation. Sometimes you just need to talk out an idea. Artist friends are generous and constantly help one another out. My family, partner, friends and local artists are my biggest inspirations. Being an artist is not always the easiest path and some of what you make and do may seem odd to some, so support and encouragement has been very key for me. I feel lucky and inspired when you see people come out for shows, take an interest in what you do, ask questions and let you show up with crazy things to work on, leave out strange things to dry in the middle of the night that could be startling but they don’t even bat an eye. What is your creative process like? I like to be working on several works at the same time, often using multiple mediums. I am not one to use a sketch book and save the idea for later. I have an idea and I start on it immediately. Making art and many other things is constant in my spare time; I can’t sit still and just relax with a good book. I also like lots of sounds when I work - it could be music, watching a movie, people over. Art requires long hours so sound, lots of light and coffee keep me energized. As you can imagine I have a lot of materials on hand at all times, the spare room is my art supply room but materials often live all over our place. Sometimes a medium itself can be the inspiration for new work, you may look at a material and that’s your starting point. I learn so much from constantly making, lots of how-to research, trial and error and switching back and forth between different mediums. Do you ever experience creative blocks? How do you move past them? I did experience a lot of creative blocks just out of university. I got too bogged down by the reasoning behind the art and I would not just get started. Once I just started to produce art and got out of my own head it really helped. Not everything you make will be for an exhibition and you won’t have to defend it in front of your peers and professors. Just keep making, you don’t have to show it to anyone, just keep active. Often my best ideas come from ‘mistakes’, you are forced to come up with a creative solution and develop new ideas. Where can people find more of your work? My work can be found at Gathered in Sparta, at the St. Thomas – Elgin Public Art Centre gift shop and sometimes I get to be part of local Exhibitions, I was just in a group exhibition at a relatively new space, Jac’s House on Sunset here in St. Thomas. I also love to take part in local Arts and Culture events like the Railway City Arts Crawl. I also post a lot of my work on Instagram @tippinkatelyn, people can message me if they are interested in something or get in touch for commissions.
If you could grab a drink with any artist in any medium living or dead, who would it be and why? I would grab a drink with Shary Boyle a living Canadian Artist. I have always been inspired by her work. Boyle uses a huge variety of mediums and does not seem to be intimidated to try lots of new things. She has represented Canada in the Venice Biennale and participated in many collaborations. I would love to talk about her career and inspirations. What do you want people to experience through your work?
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 What's your background in art? How did it get started?I am a self taught oil painter and have been painting for over 20 years. I started painting after I left my position as a production coordinator in the film/tv industry and had moved up north of Port Perry, Ontario. I have painted every day since. What inspires you? Who are your biggest inspirations?I find that there is an abundance of inspiration everywhere I look! Wherever I have lived, I found beauty and inspiration. You have to know how to look for it. I teach oil painting classes here in Port Stanley and I feel constantly inspired by the students in my classes. I also curate for the Art & Soul Cafe and the Windjammer Inn and the artists I meet while doing this are also inspiring. What is your creative process like?I am in the creative process 24/7! From the time I wake up and sit at the easel with a cup of tea, then out for a walk looking at the beauty surrounding me. I usually have 3-4 paintings on the go at a time in varying degrees of completion. I will be working on one, then have an inspiration and yank out another canvas and go at it! I really don't have a process, I just go with the flow. Do you ever experience creative blocks? How do you move past them?Never! If I feel even a little bit blocked I move my studio furniture around, everything has wheels on it for exactly this purpose.
If you could grab a drink with any artist in any medium living or dead, who would it be and why?I would love to sit down with Guy Goodwin or Robin Grindley, both known for their loose and joyful style of painting, and because they are interesting and make me laugh. I also enjoy Richard Clarendon and Peggi Kroll Roberts for their beautiful use of light and loose style of painting. What do you want people to experience through your work?A connection. Either by creating their own narrative to my figurative paintings or an emotional connection to a place or person to a painting I have created. Elizabeth Kusinski is a painter based out of Port Stanley Ontario. See her at the 2019 Railway City Arts Crawl or visit her website for more details.
 Guest post by Kurtis Forster Tucked away in southwestern Ontario is the beautiful and small city of St. Thomas. Once a bustling hub with over 26 railways passing through it, the town continues to offer an abundant of recreational and economic opportunities. Home to over 41 000 people, it’s a stunning place to visit and live. Its rich history and small town vibe play major roles in the city’s current industries and culture. On top of that, here are 5 more reasons why you should visit St. Thomas, Ontario (and see why it’s a great place to live).  1. St. Thomas has a variety of annual events and festivals. Don’t let the size of the place fool you. The residents in St. Thomas know how to have fun. And consequently, they know how to create one heck of a celebration - just check out their annual Canada Day Fireworks show. In addition, the city’s annual events include the Arts Crawl, the Great Lakes International Airshow, Light the Night, the Iron Horse Festival, Beerlesque, the Conductor’s Choice Culinary Tour, and the Santa Clause Parade. In particular, the Iron Horse Festival is one of a kind. It’s even considered the greatest street festival in Elgin County. It involves various rides, street performers, food vendors, and more. The whole festival spans over 4 days in August. And it drives the funding for maintaining the old railway system (The railway system was built in 1872 and is a proud part of St. Thomas’s history). It’s definitely worth checking out. The Railway City Arts Crawl further keeps the winter months alive in St. Thomas with a spectacular display of local artists set in various venues throughout St. Thomas creating on-site. You don't want to miss this unique event! In addition, Beerlesque offers craft beer sampling, live music, food vendors, and more every May. The Conductor’s Choice Culinary Tour is also unique to the St. Thomas area - combining the area’s rich railway history with a culinary experience. All these events define the people and the city of St. Thomas, making it an exciting and enjoyable place to live.  2. The city is in an ideal location!In a quick 30 minute drive to the north, you’ll find yourself in the greater London area. In other words, a visit to a big city is just a drive away! Lake Erie is close to the south of St. Thomas - and it offers a variety of summer activities for the whole family. Beach day anyone? You won’t have to venture far. A short 20-minute drive and you’ll find yourself at Port Stanley Beach. It’s perfect for a day or afternoon adventure.  3. The attractions don’t disappoint. Have you ever been up close and personal with the biggest elephant in the world? In St. Thomas, you can be - at least in the form of a giant memorial statue. Jumbo the Elephant was the biggest elephant of his time. He travelled around partaking in one of the biggest circus shows on earth. Unfortunately, Jumbo met his demise with an unfortunate bump with a locomotive in 1885. The statue, erected in his honor, weighs 38 tons and stands at a whopping 4 metres. It was built in 1985 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his death. And today, it continues to draw visitors from miles around. For beer enthusiasts, the Railway City Brewing Co. doesn’t disappoint. Many of the craft beers are named after historical events - such as the Dead Elephant Ale. All beers are locally made and crafted. Get a tour of the place and grab a few souvenirs while you’re at it! You can also hop on over to the Railway Museum or Elgin Military Museum to take a dive into the area’s historical past.  4. The parks offer a variety of recreational opportunities. The stunning Pinafore Park covers 90 acres. If you love the great outdoors, you’ll live in this place. It has gardens galore, beautiful green space, a wildlife sanctuary, and much more. Take the family for a picnic or a stroll through the park. Make it a weekly affair! Waterworks Park is also located in St. Thomas. This park was the first publicly owned park in St. Thomas. It’s origins go back to the 1900s. 25 acres around the Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) pumping station and water treatment plant was not needed for waterworks purposes. Consequently, the land was developed as a recreational spot for citizen use. Beautiful water gardens were developed in 1932 - which still exist to this day. Today, the park is further home to a splash park as well as trails that allow for cross-country skiing in the winter months. The community centre and YMCA further offer opportunity for ice skating, swimming, running, and more.  5. For railway enthusiasts, it’s the perfect place. With its rich railway history, individuals interested in the railway systems of North America won’t want to skip out on a visit to St. Thomas. Due to the city being a major junction for the railway in the 1800s, many buildings arose from this point in time and the city saw vast growth. St. Thomas wouldn’t be the city it is today without the railway system. It has even been called the ‘Railway Capital of Canada.’
St. Thomas is waiting for you! Plan your next weekend or week getaway in St. Thomas. Come explore the beautiful and quaint town, and all it has to offer. Kurtis Forster is a real estate for Team Forster. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise about buying and selling real estate. Their team focuses on London, St. Thomas, Dorchester & surrounding areas.  As December rolls in, the Holiday Season is in full swing! Between shopping and gatherings we often throw our routines out the window and forget to take care of our own needs. To help you out this season, we put together a locals guide to Holiday Self-Care to ensure that whether you are visiting the Railway City this season or call it home, you will find something to bring some balance to the festivities over the coming weeks.  While you are exploring the shops, stop in to a local coffee shop to warm up and refuel. If you are in a hurry take it to go, but if you have the time to enjoy an uninterrupted cup give yourself that gift! Try a locally roasted Las Chicas brew at Streamliners or wander to Why Not Cookies in the West End.  St. Thomas is full of great places to grab a treat for yourself or someone else. If you need to streamline your holiday party planning you can order sweets from many spots to bring a #tasteofstthomas home with you. Many stops are worth the drive to St. Thomas all on their own with treats like Ice Cream filled Donuts, International Award Winning Chocolates, unique sweets , and so many more!  Take a wander around town and check out all the lights! Drive into Pinafore Park and see what volunteers have done to Light the Night this holiday season or wander around your favourite neighbourhood. Pick up a walking tour map at the Railway City Tourism Office for some historic routes to get your started!  Take out takes on a whole new meaning when you can stop at Salt & Pepper Meals to pick up weeknight dinners for the family. You can make sure everyone is getting FED (Fresh. Easy. Delicious) and make the most out of your time this extra busy season.  There is something about a cup of tea that just makes you want to slow down. Pick up some new loose leaf or herbal blends by visiting infuZed tZ at Elgin Centre or take the drive out to Wildflowers Farm to pick up a blend that's right for you and take that moment to slow down and reflect on how well you are doing on your shopping list.  The Peaceful Path Drop in for a Yoga class at one of the studios around town and re-balance the hustle and bustle. Each studio offers something a little different and many have special series or events happening throughout the season. Find the one that's right for you by visiting our Spas & Wellness page.  Fill your home with the scents of the season and find the essentials that help to create a sense of calm amidst the business. Take a workshop and learn how to use oils for yourself or make some of your holiday gifts this year! If calm is what you need most go visit Steed and Company Lavender and stock up for all your relaxation needs.  Sometimes when the weather outside is frightful, and the fire is so delightful you just want to curl up with a book. Check one out at the St. Thomas Public Library, browse Coles at Elgin Centre, or peruse the used books at Books and Beats on Ross St.  Whatever the Christmas Season has in store for you, be sure to take the time to enjoy it. If you need some help relaxing our Spas and Wellness page might have some suggestions for you. Get a massage. Have someone help get you Holiday Party ready. Get your nails done. Amidst all the thoughtful gift shopping and holiday preparations, don't forget to give yourself the gift of self-care the Railway City way!
 
 It’s time to crack out the Winter jackets as the winter season is slowly creeping upon us. Soon enough all the Autumn leaves will fall and snow won't likely be far behind. Christmas festivities are already popping up around St.Thomas and all are encouraged to join in the celebration or the season! We gathered up a few to get you started!  This year marks the 23rd annual Christmas Tour of Homes event. Presented by the Rotary Club of St.Thomas the Christmas Tour of Homes will take place November 9th, 10th, and 11th. The event highlights five sites with the potential of experiencing the candlelight preview. For those interested in touring festive homes be sure to visit the event on any of the three event days!  Get your holiday shopping well underway with one of the Christmas Markets happening in town! Weekends in November - Christmas at Canadale November 17 - Horton Christmas Market November 21 - CASO Night Market December 2 - ECRM Christmas Market December 12 - CASO Night Market  The St. Thomas Downtown Development Board hosts a tree lighting celebration annually to kick off the start of the festive season. Along with an early visit from Santa Claus the tree lighting celebration is hosted out front of City Hall. This free event will occur on November 16th, 2018 at 5:30pm and we encourage all to join the many other Railway City residents in this annual tradition.  Another St.Thomas tradition to officially welcome Santa to town is the Optimist Santa Claus Parade! This is a perfect event for families as kids will be aching to get a glimpse of Santa Claus before the Christmas holidays begin. As well, the Santa Claus Parade is a very entertaining night with great things to offer! Be sure to join in on the celebration on November 17th starting at 6pm. Pop in to Railway City Tourism for a quick warm up before the parade where there will be samples on hand from InfuZed Tz and Las Chicas del Cafe from 5-6:30.  Starting November 17th, Light The Night will be open to the public from 5pm - 11pm. This volunteer run initiative deck Pinafore Park out in thousands of lights for people to enjoy. Come out to the park a get a little festive through the holidays.
Thanks to Emily Olsen and the Establish Media team for this guest post about the Culinary Tour! Check out their website for a video of the adventure too! Conductor’s Choice – A Culinary Experience on Rails was truly an eye-opening event to the abundant culinary talent in St. Thomas and Elgin County. It included a day-long tour to different foodie destinations in the area and ended with dinner and a show at the ELGIN COUNTY RAILWAY MUSEUM. Guests had the option to experience just the tour, just dinner, or enjoy the full day of events. The tour began at the historic CASO STATION for a brunch by Fanshawe College’s culinary students and St. Thomas’s own coffee roastery, LAS CHICAS DEL CAFE. Maria Fiallos of Las Chicas chose her Don Rey’s Viennese roast to serve guests – a popular roast that she describes as a “crowd pleaser” because it has good body and works well either with sugar and cream or black. Accompanying the COFFEEwere muffins, scones, and yogurt parfait made with as many local ingredients as possible by students in Fanshawe’s culinary program. LIVING ALIVE GRANOLA and apples from BERRY HILL FRUIT FARM completed the event’s first meal. Guests spent some time in the elegant train station before boarding the PORT STANLEY TERMINAL RAIL for the journey to WILDFLOWERS FARM.  The ride through beautiful Elgin County featured a few more local gems en route – RAILWAY CITY BREWING and SALT & PEPPER MEALS. A beer tasting of The Witty Traveller was paired with a sample of Salt & Pepper’s coffee-rubbed pork crostini drizzled with a chimichurri mayo.  The train stopped at Whyte Station at 12 PM and guests walked the short distance to Wildflowers Farm, a nine-acre organic family farm owned by Chuck and Jane Magri. There was no shortage of things to do for the hour and a half scheduled at Wildflowers – from bee tours and tea talks to listening to St. Thomas musician King Jeorge’s smooth, soulful melodies. Several exquisite food pairings were also offered at this stop. THE WINDJAMMER INN teamed up with WILDFLOWERS TEA to create Kapha tea brined and smoked duck topped with pickled peaches from GREAT LAKES FARMS, all on LA HOULETTE DE VIE BAKERY’s Wise Walnut Bread. HELM BAKED also partnered with Wildflowers to create mini tea-infused cupcakes featuring the Pitta and Simplicity blends, which produced a hibiscus-forward cupcake with raspberry buttercream icing and one with flavours of chamomile and a vanilla bean buttercream icing – all gluten free.  After a fulfilling farm experience, guests boarded the train for the final time to wind through Elgin County’s lush forests on the way to Port Stanley. During the journey, SEED CONFECTIONS served their melt-in-your-mouth macarons and Railway City Brewing paired it with a taste of their Barrel Reserve Tart Cherry Wild Ale. A snack of BARB’S BRICKLE from the Storehouse and some time to wander around Port Stanley was followed by a bus ride to one of Elgin County’s scenic wineries, QUAI DU VIN. Jamie Quai, owner and winemaker, greeted guests and began a tour of the vineyards, processing area, fermentation and barrel rooms. His fascinating talk was complemented by several wine tastings, including Quai du Vin’s 2016 Signature White and Aurore Muscat. In the barrel room, a delightful creation made with organic vegetables from ORCHARD HILL FARM was waiting – sweet corn pudding including three cheeses, topped with a roasted tomatillo salsa.  The last destination on the Conductor’s Choice tour was the Elgin County Railway Museum, an important piece of St. Thomas history and a stunning setting for the final event. Built in 1913-14 to house the Michigan Central Railroad repair shops, the 52,000-square-foot building was a perfectly on-theme venue, complete with locomotives throughout and a 5700 steam engine backdrop. Set up in front of the steam engine was THE PAIRS, a folk pop group from London that consists of three classically trained vocalists and a former punk rock drummer. Their moody blend of harmonies and rhythm added to the dramatic atmosphere, especially alongside the immersive performance by ZERO GRAVITY CIRCUS. An aerialist swung from the ceiling, suspended by silks, while characters on stilts and a classic policemen and bandit trio wandered among the tables.  Dinner was served by students of Fanshawe’s Artisanal Culinary Arts and Culinary Skills programs with the help of program coordinators Patrick Hersey, Josie Pontarelli, and Troy Spicer. Pontarelli called it “a celebration of local food,” with most ingredients coming from local sources such as FRESH FROM OUR FIELDS, DEBACKERE FARM MARKET, COMMON GROUND FARM, CELTIC RIDGE FARMS, SPRINGWATER PACKERS, MCKECHNIE FOODS, CLOVERMEAD, STEED AND COMPANY LAVENDER, and COLE-MUNRO FOODS. Gourmet choices like smoked trout tacos, French style fingerling potato salad, smoked pork shoulder, wild rice and grain salad, beef sirloin steak, and BBQ chicken were featured. Pontarelli was pleased that the students had the opportunity to see the hard work that goes into an event and receive instant feedback on their creations. ELGIN HARVEST brought their own touch to dinner, complementing the variety of food with their authentic wood-fired pizza made with sourdough crust and local vegetables, some grown at their own farm.  Sarah Noble, Manager of RAILWAY CITY TOURISM and coordinator of the event, said she was excited to see the culinary tour come together and witness the many guests from out of town experience our community for the first time and really embrace it. She credits the success of the event to the many local food creatives who partnered with Railway City Tourism to make this culinary experience happen. She explained in her speech, “I wanted to see people discover these gems and take stock of how fortunate we are to have such a diverse food culture here. It’s growing and driving forward to serve the community in new and exciting ways. This day-long culinary adventure was only possible because these people believe in what they’re doing and wanted to share it with all of you.”  Guests certainly noticed and appreciated the work that went into the day. Andrea Sauer experienced the full event, from the CASO Station to the Railway Museum, and described the day as “perfect” and “seamless.” “All of the pieces of the puzzle fit together so beautifully. I really feel that everybody has put their heart into it and it’s been a great experience.” Like many guests on the tour, she had not visited many of the destinations before and felt that “it really opened your eyes to St. Thomas and what St. Thomas has to offer.”
Many expressed their hope that the event would happen again next year. Fortunately, Noble says there is room to grow. “This year we used one train car, maybe next year we can use two.” Keep up with St. Thomas’s food scene on social media with the hashtag #tasteofstthomas and by following @railwaycitytourism on Instagram!  Saturday October 27th is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY for Halloween and St. Thomas is ready to Haunt!
Free Comic Books will be available* at Fan of the Sport, Railway City Tourism, St. Thomas Public Library, Dark Matter and Submariner Tales in St. Thomas. Trick-or-Treat with your halloween_haunt_-_passport__3_.pdfPASSPORT from 10 am - 2 pm and visit participating businesses for treats or a contest draw. Visit at least 10 of the participating businesses to be entered to win $50 in Downtown Dollars! Passports can be left at your last stop or delivered to Railway City Tourism before 4 pm. Print your PASSPORT at home before heading out. Dress up in your Halloween finest for added fun! You never know who you might run into downtown for photos opportunities! Participating Businesses: Oh My Fur & Whiskers - 257 Talbot St. Why Not Cookies - 373 Talbot St. Chick Boss Cake - 381 Talbot St. Crocker's - 445 Talbot St. Submariner Tales - 488 Talbot St. The Nook - 567 Talbot St. Limitless Tattoo - 529 Talbot St. St. Thomas Public Library - 153 Curtis St. STEAM Centre - 168 Curtis St. Fan of the Sport - 571 Talbot St. Rail City Bistro - 599 Talbot St. Railway City Tourism - 605 Talbot St. Bulk Barn - 730 Talbot St. Vesta Shop - 797 Talbot St. Ohtera - 797 Talbot St. Unit 3 Dotsy's - 111 Ross St. Dark Matter Toys & Collectibles - 127 Ross St. Romantic Designs - 120 Wellington St. Railway City Brewing - 130 Edward St (opening at 11) Follow along with the event page for more details and updates! *free comic books will be available until close of regular business day or until we run out. Dark Matter Toys and Submariner Tales will have back issue comics while Fan of the Sport, Railway City Tourism, St Thomas Public Library will have official Free Comic Book Day issues |
