A Tribute to an Artist and Friend

The work of a renowned Thunder Bay artist, the late Greg Zelinski, along with paintings by many of his students will be the focus of the Thunder Bay 55 Plus Centre’s upcoming art exhibit and sale taking plan at the centre of River Street. The event gets underway with an opening reception on May 26 from 7 to 9pm and the exhibit will continue to be open during the centre's operating hours until May 31. Zelinski, who died in 2020, was widely recognized for his talent as a watercolour artist, including receiving awards from the Canada Council of the Arts and Ontario Arts Council among others. He taught hundreds of students at the 55 Plus Centre since its opening in 1991, and this upcoming art exhibit and sale is an opportunity for people to show their love for this beloved and passionate artist. The centre’s last exhibit was in 2019. Staff, volunteers, and program participants have been anxiously waiting for another exhibit since Zelinski’s passing. Visitors can expect to see a wide variety of styles and media in the centre’s auditorium, including watercolours, acrylics, and even photography, with often more than 100 works of art on display. Admission is by silver collection, with funds going to a variety of good causes, including covering the tuition for those who can't afford to pay for a class, buying art supplies, and supporting the centre’s art programming. Look for more updates on this event on our social media and on the centre's Facebook page, tbay55pluscentre.