Image caption: Fourth-year Visual Arts students Karen Guichelaar (left) and Sabrina Luckasavitch have created new bodies of artwork as part of their Honours Thesis exhibition, entitled Off the Factor Floor, on show at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts.
Thursday, April 10, 2025 | by Gillian Minaker
Every time fourth-year Visual Arts (VISA) student Kearah Holmes touches one of the intricate, hand-sewn items made by her great-grandmother, her connection to her ancestry — and artistry — deepens.
Gwen Revill, Holmes’ great-grandmother, worked as a seamstress at the historical Spirella Corset Company in Niagara Falls.
“Textile work has been handed down in my family through generations through dressmaking and sewing. My artwork is inspired by my roots and the creative energy of connecting physically with materials,” she said.
Holmes’ textile artwork is part of Off the Factory Floor, a new exhibition showcasing the Honours Thesis work of VISA Studio Art majors on show at Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSPFA) and the Niagara Artists Centre.
The exhibition title was inspired by the late Marilyn I. Walker, a renowned fibre artist and philanthropist, and the MIWSPFA’s location in the former Canada Hair Cloth Building.
Walker’s gift to Brock of $15 million in 2008 transformed the historic downtown St. Catharines textile factory into a state-of-the-art learning facility, which will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its opening in September.
“There was something so beautiful about creating art in a building that used to be a textile factory transformed into a place creativity and learning through the arts; the VISA 4F06 group wanted to honour the vision of Marilyn I. Walker,” Holmes said.
The experience motivated fourth-year student Karen Guichelaar, a process-based artist who generally works with paint and sculpture, to step out of her comfort zone during the year-long capstone course.
“Our professors encouraged us to explore new mediums, and the creative freedom was exhilarating and inspiring; I never thought of myself as a textile artist, but I gave it a try,” she said.
Guichelaar’s body of work, comprised of five pieces that use fabric, embroidery thread and safety pins, each capture a different human facial expression reflecting the complexity of dealing with loss, and finding hope.
“What stands out most was speaking with people at the opening reception who were impacted by my work and took time to share their own stories. Exhibiting work in a gallery setting was a valuable experience,” she said.
Amanda Burk, Chair of the Department of Visual Arts, said the Honours Studio exhibition is always an exciting event and important milestone for students.
“Our fourth-year students, guided by two of our excellent faculty members, have invested a full year into developing a substantial body of creative work that will help them launch their careers and presence in the art world. This exhibition is an enormous accomplishment, and we are very proud of everything they have achieved,” she said.
The exhibition also includes diverse bodies of artwork created by fourth-year students Daniella Alexander, Anthony Clarkson, Cleah Fast, Sabrina Luckasavitch and Christie Hoang. Pieces range from painting and photography to sculpture and digital media installations.
In reflecting on the process of creating art over the past year alongside their peers, Holmes and Guichelaar were moved by working in the dedicated studio space on the bright fifth floor of MIWSFPA overlooking downtown.
“We would all take the time to help each other out and give critiques and share ideas. Having the dedicated, safe space to experiment and create while sharing our ideas was a truly impactful experience for all of us,” Holmes said.
Off the Factory Floor runs until Saturday, April 26 at MIWSFPA’s Visual Arts Gallery at 15 Artists’ Common and the Niagara Artists Common in St. Catharines. The gallery is open to the public and free of charge Tuesday to Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m.
More information about the artists and work can be found in the exhibition catalogue.
