Spring Exhibitions Opening at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery

Two new exhibitions open this season at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery (TOM), inviting audiences to experience both the intricate intelligence of the natural world and the bold creative voices of the next generation. Opening Saturday, April 25, with a free public reception from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. are Liz Zetlin: More Than Human – a year in my garden, and Emergence 2026. Together, the exhibitions explore the power of connection across ecosystems, generations, and ways of seeing, highlighting how art helps us make sense of our place in the world.

Liz Zetlin: More Than Human – a year in my garden is an immersive four-channel video installation that traces the seasonal rhythms of the artist’s garden in Owen Sound. Through shifting light, layered soundscapes, and changes in scale, local artist Zetlin reveals a dense, interconnected ecosystem in which plants, pollinators, and environmental forces coexist and co-create. Grounded in philosopher David Abram’s concept of the “more-than-human,” the work challenges human-centered perspectives, instead positioning the natural world as a network of vital, interdependent presences. Visitors are invited to slow down, observe closely, and reconsider their relationship with the living systems that surround them.

Complementing this exploration of interconnection, Emergence 2026 highlights the creativity and perspectives of high school students from across the region. This biennial exhibition brings together a dynamic range of works that reflect the ideas, concerns, and aspirations shaping a new generation of artists. From experimentation with materials to bold conceptual approaches, the exhibition celebrates the courage of young artists as they take risks and step into their developing artistic identities.

Presented concurrently, these exhibitions create a meaningful dialogue between ecological awareness and creative emergence, highlighting the richness of the community—both in the natural environment that surrounds it and in the creativity of its young people. Together, they demonstrate how art can bring people together, inspire new perspectives, and celebrate the voices that are shaping the future.

For more information, please contact Shannon Bingeman, Curator of Exhibitions & Collections, at 519-376-1932 ext. 5003 or email sbingeman@tomthomson.org.

Quick Facts:

• More Than Human – a year in my garden runs April 25 - June 27, 2026.
• Emergence 2026 runs April 18 - June 20, 2026.
• Opening Reception: Saturday, April 25, 2026, 1- 3 p.m.
• Admission to the TOM is by donation; the building is fully accessible.

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