Artists' Stories

Please be bear with us as we fill in the blanks.

Unnamed - Overarching lightscapes and basic interaction (John van Schouwen - STEAMakers Guild)

My intent was to facilitate a collective work that was reminiscent of a storefront display, but that would be reactive to passers-by, encouraging them to interact with otherwise inanimate art and technology, and with the hope of providing an environment that would allow onlookers to delve more deeply into the amazing works of some of our local artisans. The display would be something that would morph over time.

When all is quiet in front of the display (wait about 10 seconds), do you notice the sun rising, arching over the sky, then setting, making way for the moon's transit? When you move in front of the display, what happens to the lighting scheme? As you move yourself closer and further away, what happens? Does the display become neurotic and close into itself as you approach?

Cycles, resonances, 'vibes', abound all around us. One's own mind and body are bursting with them. And, yet, I can't see them. Can you? Time marches ever onward (it does, doesn't it?), lifespans (organic or otherwise) differ, often by huge orders of magnitude--animals, people, rivers, galaxies, neutrinos, suns & stars. In the grand scheme of things, ours is a lifespan that is infinitesimally small. Make the best of life and enjoy the quintessential connectedness of family, friends, and community.

Note: The analog wall clock, temporarily, has been made inoperable. Unfortunately, its current design creates a disturbing racket. We'll get there and update this page when we do.

I retired from a career in software engineering during the time of that isolating Covid-19 social distancing that we all experienced (globally). As those pandemic years progressed, I came to recognize that the very protocols that were being employed to spare our communities--from a fate comparable to that created by the Spanish Flu 100 years earlier--would have long-lasting fallout: We're hardwired to be social, to connect; and, we broke those connections and have had difficulty in rewiring our society. Some of us were doubly kissed by this disorder: retirement, for many, can become an isolating experience in its own right.

In looking for some non-mundane things to do I landed in several volunteer organizations and focussed on three words: Connection, Meaning, Community. With the assistance of the terrific folks at the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre, Luc Lalande (of incubator13) and I founded the STEAMakers Guild (tech infused interactive performing art) and the STEAM-fx Collective (electronic stage effects for community theatre and other non-profit stage performances). I'm shown here holding a remotely controlled fogging skull that STEAM-fx created for our inaugural effect. That debut was for Kanata Theatre's production of "I Hate Hamlet." This guy here ... I knew him well.

Thru STEAMakers and its connections with Hack613 and Ottawa Maker's Shed, I'm wishing to connect communities across the greater Ottawa-Gatineau region. My intent is to make computer based technologies more approachable, more fun, more rewarding, for the layperson. [ And you'll have fun whether you like it or not 😉 ]

Namaste.

(unnamed) Eagle on approach (by ??)

[TBD]

This piece, much to my delight, magically appeared in the summer of 2025. It was contributed by a young budding artist in Gatineau. (This occurred well before I settled on how to invite artists to provide their stories and how to make those accessible. We hope to have one for this piece in the future.)

Nefertiti (Petr Maur - Weird Toy Factory)

[From Petr's web site.]
From an Industrial Age of disposable junk. A wasteland to some, a source of inspiration to others; Petr Maur brings life to unwanted technology, upcycling a variety of materials into unique creatures that stir interesting conversations in any room. Petr Maur is a Set Photographer, Graphic designer, and maker of Weird Things. He constantly observes and looks outside the box for interesting and questionable things in life. Making art from discarded junk is a form of mediation.

Petr hopes to inspire others to think outside the box and find a solution to our disposable society.

(See more of Petr's works at https://www.wndrlnd.space/collections/weird-toy-factory)

Unnamed (by Binita Thapa)

Binita Thapa is a Nepali-born artist, singer-songwriter, and intuitive guide whose work blends emotional depth, spiritual insight, and raw human truth. After leaving a traditional career path, she stepped fully into her creative calling, using painting, music, and storytelling as channels for healing—both her own and that of others.

Her journey has been marked by profound inner transformation: releasing generational patterns, navigating the wounds of love and family, and learning to trust abundance after seasons of scarcity. These experiences shape her voice, her art, and the way she shows up in the world—with honesty, vulnerability, and unwavering faith.

Binita’s creations often reflect themes of synchronicity, rebirth, and soulful connection, inspired by the signs and intuitive messages that guide her path. Her work invites others to see beauty in their healing, courage in their tender moments, and possibility in the unknown.

Whether she is performing, painting, coaching, or sharing her spiritual reflections, Binita stands in her purpose: to express truth, ignite hearts, and honor the divine journey of becoming.

The Rotation of the Sun and the Moon - wind spinner
(by Stephen Nourse)

Dye sublimate print on aluminum substrate.

Rotations of the sun and moon are one of the oldest ways to tell time. This is one of a variety of wind spinners available from:

stephen@snourse.ca

All proceeds of the purchase of these wind spinners go to support ODA www.odaopportunitiescambodia.org in Cambodia, helping to break the cycle of poverty through education. (8” wind spinners $30.00; 4” wind spinners $15.00)

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