Catalyst137 has had quite the journey - it began as an old tire factory and was extensively renovated to serve local makers innovating in the Internet of Things. It will be the home to everything needed to accelerate time-to-market including a testing facility, commercialization services, and a hackable streetscape.

Continuing a revitalization effort that has transformed many legacy structures in the area, Catalyst137 calls the 475,000 sq ft warehouse at 137 Glasgow Street home. Situated 3 kms southeast of the University of Waterloo and about 1km west of Google’s new Kitchener headquarters, the location sits at the heart of Canada’s Technology Triangle.

Get a first hand look at the cutting edge space at the ArtsPay Annual Show and Sale. Live music, Graffiti Market’s delicious food, and art from 38 local artists will be filling the space. Get your tickets NOW!

Image: Nancy Peng

Meet-up for the Visual Arts

Our last meet-up was a two for one!

The Diviners
Talks by Alan Daniel, Nancy Peng, and Roslyn Ramsay - three talented AP artists who create water beautifully in their artwork using oils, acrylic, watercolor, inks and more! Their talks were a valuable learning opportunity for artists looking to learn some ‘how to’ skills!

Professional Developments Workshops
What professional developments workshops would YOU like to see happening, what are your needs, obstacles, availability?

Gabrielle Clermont, Idea Exchange and a KWAG Representative heard participants’ thoughts for planning future workshops.
Art$Pay subsidizes certain workshops for AP members!

Image: Christina Preece

We're celebrating two successful events!

Art$Pay would like to thank the Wellington Brewery for generously hosting AP NOW Guelph and sharing their award-winning craft beer with our guests! Thanks to CIGI for hosting AP NOW Waterloo, Grand Trunk Saloon and Drinks Sponsors Jeff MacIntyre & Lisa Wetzler, Pastry Chef Jessica Kerr, and Juneyt for serenading us with his beautiful music.

We couldn't have pulled it off without Joanne Poluch from Remarque Art Consulting and her help as art adviser, Orest Poluch, Roger Farwell and all of the wonderful volunteers who gave their time and help.

Last but not least, thank you to all of the talented participating artists who helped make AP NOW a visually stunning event!

MakeIt Kitchener interviews Cathy Farwell, visual artist and the driving force behind ArtsPay, about the mission and goals of this new non-profit service for artists in the Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge region.

It’s tax time! CRA returns are due April 30th. Heather Huston, Rockway Tax, is familiar with visual artists’ tax returns, comes recommended and has some capacity for new clients!

WalterFedy, an integrated architecture, engineering and construction firm, is into their sixth year of an innovative ‘art in the workplace’ program. Curator-in-residence Amy Roger has been hired to curate and install local artwork in a series of exhibitions in their Kitchener offices. The artwork is for sale, the artists are paid for art rental. The staff and visitors love the stimulation of changing artwork. Kudos to WalterFedy, a great role model! “The Art District” exhibition runs Feb. 14 to April 26  with opening Mar. 9 artshow@walterfedy.com

Public artworks are being commissioned by the Region to add interest, character and colour along the ION light rail transit route. The Region has awarded 10 artworks, some to local artists, to populate the LRT route. 

The first seven artworks will be created and installed to be ready for the opening of ION in 2018. The creation of the three additional artworks will be based on the timing of the specific projects.

“This is the Region’s largest single investment in public art, and will almost double the number of public artworks on Regional property,” said Regional Councillor Tom Galloway. “The selected artworks provide an opportunity to share our community stories and will support the evolving character and culture of the central transit corridor.”

A must-go show for art collectors is coming to the Region!  The Ferrari 500 is a unique art sale featuring art from 12 of our local artists. Why is it unique?  Every piece of art in the show is priced at $500.00 or UNDER, and 10% of the proceeds of all sales go to benefit Button Factory Arts.

It’s a one day only event, and will race by like...a Ferrari…so mark your calendars:  Friday, February 24 from 4:00pm to 9:00pm at Button Factory Arts at 25 Regina St. S., in Waterloo.

Artists from Waterloo Region are invited to participate in the Second Annual “Filling the Palette” Art Show and Sale on Friday, May 5, 2017 in the warehouse of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region! This juried art sale is being organized in support of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the sale price of sold artwork will go directly to the artist, and 25% will be contributed to The Food Bank. 

FLASH is a community-based initiative to celebrate and elevate the art and science of photography in Waterloo Region through events, public displays and visits from world-class practitioners. 

The FLASH event, on January 27th at the Tannery in Kitchener, will feature a digital exhibition of more than 50 images selected by a jury from more than 450 submitted by 165 amateur and professional photographers during an open call last month. In recognition of the value of their work, all FLASH contributors are paid an exhibition fee.

To learn more about the headlining artists, visit their website http://flashwr.ca 

The Record: "New website wants to support fair pay for local artworks" Dec. 21, 2016

The Cambridge Times: "Art$Pay website helps Waterloo Region artists get a fair price" Jan. 12, 2017

Leadership Waterloo Region was one of the first local organizations to offer a mutually beneficial fundraising approach with original art. Over the years they have featured the work of emerging artists from across the region. The juried art exhibitions are their annual Fire & Ice Gala provides artists with an opportunity to show and sell their work. Eighty percent of the sale price of artwork goes to the artist, and twenty percent to Leadership Waterloo Region.

Since 2005, Pamela Rojas has worked with local organizations and businesses around Waterloo Region to create colourful murals that have since become eye-catching landmarks for our community members and recent newcomers.  Her works celebrate diversity, the experience of newcomers to Canada, seasons and nature. Recently and in partnership with Swan Dust Control, Pamela finished a beautiful mural at the corner of Regina St. and University Ave. W.  To learn more, visit the Pomegranate Mural Collective.