‘Art squeezes in and rebuilds’

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Museum08.jpg” caption=”Judy Major-Girardin, associate professor of art at McMaster, spoke to a group of 60 alumni Friday night about McMaster’s role in the growing arts scene in Hamilton. Her talk outlined the many galleries and studios with McMaster connections, including the University own renowned Museum of Art. File photo.”]It only takes one person with a little bit of vision – and a healthy sense of risk – to get
the ball rolling on the transformation of a community.

So says associate professor Judy Major-Girardin, who spoke to a gathering of more than 60
McMaster alumni and friends Friday night about the burgeoning creative arts scene
around Hamilton's James Street North.

Her talk, entitled “Hamilton: A City for Art”, explored the city's creative landscape and
the University's role in its development. It also outlined the galleries and exhibition
spaces with ties to McMaster – a list that includes dozens of locations.

“Art students are always hungry to get out and discover their community, to find
opportunities,” she said of the University's student-artists, many of whom hosted
exhibitions that night. “They're naturals, they're adventurous.”

Major-Girardin's talk, part of the alumni association's href=”http://www.mcmaster.ca/ua/alumni/students.html”>Mac10 series of
events, was held immediately before the popular monthly James Street North art
crawl. It took place in the gothic-style parlour room of King William Street's Baltimore
House cafe.

Opened in December by McMaster graduates Grant Winestock and Jimmy Skembaris,
Baltimore House has quickly become part of the city's downtown arts and culture scene.

Major-Girardin said the popularity of the creative arts has grown in Hamilton as the
city's economy has changed over the last number of decades.

“The minute something crumbles, art squeezes in and rebuilds,” she said. “We're in this
shifting position in terms of Hamilton's industry, so there are spaces that are affordable
all of a sudden. Artists can move in, fix them up and reinvent them – that's what they
do.”

She also said that while the University has always been actively engaged in the
community, the recent increase in attention to the arts has meant good things for art
students and alumni.

“People sometimes ask, 'What does it matter if students are having an art show on a
street downtown?' she said. “It does matter, because that's the link between the
community we serve and the campus.”

Major-Girardin said the city's art scene is unique in that is appeals to a wide range of
audiences, evidenced by the diverse group attending her talk.

“I expected to walk in and see all art students here, but there are only a handful,” she
said. “The rest are alumni who have not been in an art program but are interested
enough to come to a talk, which is really great.”

The alumni association will continue its exploration of Hamilton's art community May 19
with a href=”http://www.mcmaster.ca/ua/alumni/programs_events_registration.html”>class in
styro relief – imprinting patterns into Styrofoam – at The Print Studio.