Midland gallery offers unique event with artists on April 30

Guided tour and artist talk offer a rare opportunity to go beyond the gallery walls at Quest Art School + Gallery

The Quest Art School + Gallery will welcome the community at Closing Conversations: Unity + Photographic Midland: J.W. Bald on April 30. Above is René Hackstetter chatting with gallery visitors. apham.

Quest Art School + Gallery invites the community to experience its current exhibitions in a more intimate and meaningful way with Closing Conversations: Unity + Photographic Midland: J.W. Bald, taking place on April 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

This guided tour and artist talk offer a rare opportunity to go beyond the gallery walls, connecting directly with the artists and historians who have shaped these exhibitions. As both shows approach their close, the event creates space for reflection, dialogue, and a deeper understanding of the stories and perspectives within.

The morning will begin in the Upper Gallery with Unity, featuring artists Janet Ireland and Marlene Kawalez. Through a thoughtful pairing of figurative sculpture and wildlife painting, the exhibition explores the interconnectedness of human and natural worlds, expressing beauty, fragility, and resilience.

Guests will then move into the Project Gallery for a guided exploration of Photographic Midland: J.W. Bald, co-curated by John Hartman and René Hackstetter. This exhibition, presented in collaboration with the Huronia Museum, highlights the work of pioneering photographer J. W. Bald, whose images captured life in Midland from 1890 to 1953.

From harbour scenes and local industry to portraits and everyday moments, Bald’s work offers a rich visual record of the town’s history and identity.

The event will conclude with an informal reception, where attendees can meet the artists, connect with fellow guests, and continue the conversation over light refreshments.

“This event is about creating space for connection,” says Sarah Hancock, Curator and Programmer at Quest Art School + Gallery. “Both exhibitions invite us to consider our relationship to place, whether through the lens of history or the natural world. Closing Conversations allows us to slow down, ask questions, and engage more deeply with the work before it leaves the gallery.”

Photographic Midland: J.W. Bald and Unity are on view from March 6 to May 8, 2026. The Bald exhibition is presented in partnership with the Huronia Museum and made possible through the generous support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Event Details:

Closing Conversations: Unity + J.W. BaldApril 30, 202610:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.Quest Art School + Gallery, Midland

Schedule:

10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Artist talk and tour of Unity

11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Guided tour of Photographic Midland: J.W. Bald

11:30 a.m.– 12 p.m.: Informal reception and refreshments. Admission to Closing Conversations is open to the public.

For more information, please click here or contact Sarah Hancock by email.

Feature Courtesy of Dave Dawson

For Midland Today