Winter Blues? Just add art!

"What do you imagine the world would look like without art?" 

This question was asked of a group of kids aged 5 to 13. Here are some of the responses. "There would be no colours”, "It would be soooo boring", "The world would be ugly", and “There would be nothing fun to look at".

Looking back, I realize that their answers sounded an awful lot like a typical Canadian urban winter!  It is hard to embrace our wintery climate without the elements of colour, diversity and some plain old fun. Let's face it, once those holiday decorations and lights come down, this time of year can be pretty depressing! 

Don't give in to those negative feelings! David Dossett and the artists of Martello Alley are launching "Froid'Art" again for the third winter. While it's not a trip to the southern climates, it sure is a colourful and cheerful escape from the monotone landscapes of the wintery city life. 

If you are unfamiliar with the concept of Froid'Art, allow us to give you an overview. Our local artists create beautiful works of art on large pieces of plastic that are then frozen into 300 pound blocks of crystal clear ice! Each block is illuminated for a stunning night effect. Some of the art is painted with special paint that glows in the dark. It will give chills, but only the good kind!

Martello Alley is dedicated to promoting our downtown community and Froid'Art is just one way we strive to keep the area and merchants vibrant. We work with other downtown businesses and homeowners to sponsor the art. Everyone who participates has an art ice block placed in front of their business or house. Then we create a walking/driving tour (maps will be available online and at Martello Alley) so that the public can get out and visit the art, discover a new neighbourhood, discover some of Kingston's amazing architecture, meet some new friends, find a business and forget about the answer to the double Jeopardy question! 

This is a free public art exhibit and we are very proud of the sense of community it brings. We launched Froid'Art 2019 on January 14th at Martello Alley (203 Wellington Street) and it will run until the ice melts. Here's to some polar vortex action! 

So make that thermos of hot chocolate, grab your woollies and some friends and see what fun the winter can be when you just add art!