Honoured in the Visual Arts: A Meaningful Milestone at the WEA 30th Anniversary Gala
Reflecting on Community, Creativity, and the Future of Authentic Art
A Rare Moment of Celebration in an Artist’s Life
Anyone who works professionally in the arts knows the truth behind the scenes:
a creative career is 98% discipline and 2% glamour. Recently, I was grateful to enjoy a little of that rare 2%.
I was deeply honoured to be recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Visual Arts at the 30th Anniversary Gala for the Windsor Endowment for the Arts (WEA). The evening celebrated five honorees across Theatre, Music, Film, Literature, and Visual Arts—an inspiring gathering of individuals who have helped shape and elevate our creative community.
To stand among such accomplished talent was humbling, energizing, and profoundly meaningful.
Windsor Endowment for the Arts honorees in:
Visual Arts, Music, Literature, Film and Theater
An Evening Filled with Art, Performance, and Community
The gala was a beautiful reminder of the power of the arts to connect us. Guests were treated to:
Live music by Crissi Cochran
Experimental films by Michael J. Krym
A poetry reading by Kate Hargreaves
A moving theatre presentation by Michael K. Potter
Seven of my larger abstract paintings—along with several small works—were displayed throughout the ballroom. I had the opportunity to publicly express my gratitude to collectors, supporters, and friends who have walked this creative path with me for so many years.
Moments like this remind me why I paint: to create something true, something felt, something that carries the life-force energy that connects us all.
GROWTH CYCLE: acrylic on canvas 72 × 36 inches
A Look Back at Windsor’s Growing Arts Landscape
When I moved from Toronto to Windsor in 1991 to pursue painting full-time, Windsor was a very different place. I had left behind a thriving documentary and video production career to follow my lifelong dream of being an artist.
Back then, Windsor and Detroit were rooted almost entirely in the auto industry. With a population of about 200,000, Windsor had little in the way of arts infrastructure or community.
Today, the region has grown to nearly 600,000 residents and boasts a vibrant and diverse creative ecosystem. The Windsor Endowment for the Arts has played an enormous role in this transformation, helping both emerging and established artists access visibility, opportunities, and essential support.
Their efforts have fueled decades of artistic growth—work that continues to uplift the cultural heartbeat of our region.
Why This Honor Matters Deeply
Receiving this recognition meant more to me than words can convey. In 2012, WEA awarded me the Elizabeth Havelock Mid-Career Visual Artist Grant, a milestone that supported my practice during a pivotal stage in my career. Unfortunately, the awards ceremony fell on the same day as my parents’ 60th anniversary celebration on the East Coast, and I couldn’t attend.
Thirteen years later, standing on stage to finally express my gratitude felt like a beautiful full-circle moment.
Navigating a Time of Dramatic Change in the Art World
Each of the five honorees spoke candidly about the sweeping changes facing the creative industries today—particularly those influenced by AI. Music, writing, design, even acting are being reshaped in ways that raise deep questions for emerging and established artists alike.
What happens to our world when so much is generated by algorithms?
These questions weighed on me heavily in the studio in the weeks leading up to the gala. In a world moving faster than ever, where fewer people slow down to truly experience original art, I found myself reflecting on my purpose and the place of authentic, human-made creativity.
And then the phone rang.
A board member from WEA informed me that I had been selected as their Visual Arts Honoree. It felt like a message from the universe—a reminder to keep going, to stay grounded in the work that calls me forward.
Painting is my purpose. It is how I communicate, how I honour the natural world, and how I contribute to our shared cultural landscape. And I’m not slowing down.
Looking Ahead with Gratitude
This honour has renewed my commitment to creating meaningful, soulful abstract paintings that celebrate nature’s energy and the authenticity of the human hand.
To everyone who has supported my work—collectors, friends, galleries, and fellow creatives—thank you. Your encouragement allows me to do what I love every day.
If you’d like to stay connected, receive first access to new paintings, and follow my studio journey, I invite you to join my VIP newsletter or reach out for a personal studio visit.
The best part of this path is sharing the work with people who feel as deeply connected to art as I do.
