Route 501: A Nostalgic View
featuring the ink and wash paintings of:
Sheila D'Atri Karpis
August 30 - November 4, 2017
About the Exhibit
Route 501: A Nostalgic View was an exhibit that featured the watercolour paintings of local artist, Sheila D'Atri-Karpis. Visitors were invited to journey back in time to enjoy this beautiful collection, taking a trip along a route of historic sites from across Mimico, New Toronto, and Long Branch.
Interpretive Centre team:
Jennifer Bazar, Curator
Ben Mitchell, Curatorial Assistant
Nadine Finlay, Curatorial Intern
About the Artist
Sheila D'Atri-Karpis is an Etobicoke native who was raised in Mimico. One of her first positions was at Humber's Student Union Centre (1981 - 1984). When she returned to the area as an adult, she was distraught by the number of cherished landmarks that had disappeared.
Sheila first picked up a paintbrush in 2016 shortly after a medical error left her unable to return to work. She taught herself to paint by following videos on YouTube and turned those lessons towards the memories of the former landmarks of the Lakeshore communities. Sheila takes her work beyond the brush, researching the history of each location and collecting stories from local residents.
You can visit Sheila's work online:
Weebly: Sheila D Karpis
Twitter: @SheilaDKarpis
The Exhibition Launch
On the Subject of Nostalgia
Alongside Sheila's paintings were faded "ghost" images that inspired her works, pictured below to inspire future artists and interested individuals seeking perspectives on the past, worth a thousand words.