Canada Art Exchange

Canada Art Exchange- From the Templeton to Markham

Art can connect people from different places, especially now, with all the forms of transportation and technology we have access to. Now more than ever, art is able to be quickly shared across the world. A simple internet query can lead to the discovery of paintings that are found in countries all around the world. For millennia, art has also been used to convey messages to other people. Whether it be abstract or realistic, art evokes emotions and carries different significance for each onlooker.

The sharing of art is similar to Cary Sister Cities’ purpose: encouraging citizen diplomacy. By sharing values that are important to the artist, art allows different cultures to interact and collaborate to form something beautiful. The sharing of art has historically been a way of learning about different cultures and countries.

A resident holding her art

Recognizing this, Cary Sister Cities organized an exchange to enable the sharing of art. One of our community partners, Katy Rosenbaum, proposed an art exchange with members of one of our sister cities: Markham, Canada. Residents of senior communities from the Templeton of Cary and Unionville Commons of Markham created postcards and sent them to the other city. The theme was “The View From My Window,” which some artists took literally, but others interpreted creatively.

Many residents painted still lifes of flowers or landscapes, while others painted birds, playgrounds, gardens, and houses.

A literal interpretation of the theme

Christina Ciaravella, the Life Enrichment Director at Templeton of Cary, noted that, “The Sister City Art Project between Cary, North Carolina, and Markham, Ontario was much more than an art activity. Through these works of art, Residents shared a piece of themselves with people they may never meet in person.”

“The late Jerry Miller, a beloved Cary artist and former Resident of Templeton of Cary, we felt would undoubtedly have loved this project and would have been a proud participant and enthusiastic supporter. His artistic legacy serves as a reminder of the power of art to bring people together, inspire conversation, and create lasting connections between individuals and communities near and far. We feel that is exactly what this project intended to do.”

The Cary residents’ postcards are now on display at Unionville Commons, as are the Canadians’ postcards at the Templeton.

Are you involved in a community that would be interested in organizing a similar exchange with one of our sister cities? Contact kennakingnc@carysistercities.org to discuss opportunities.

Some other pictures!

A drawing from Unionville