Art in the jailhouse

BY HEIDI ULRICHSEN

A husband and wife team from Dundas, Ontario have transformed the tiny former town jail in Killarney, a Georgian Bay hamlet located about an hour south of Greater Sudbury, into an oasis of art.

Three years ago, Paul and Diane Simon started selling framed photographs of Killarney landmarks and handmade pottery to tourists out of a tent on a local resident's lawn.

Last year they decided to rent the vacant municipally-owned town jail on Charles Street, which is about the size of a large shed, and turn it into the Killarney Studio.

While perusing the couple's work, visitors can also learn a bit about the history of the 1886 building. The jail cell holds a rusting antique bed frame original to the building.

"It used to have three cells," said Paul. "Sometimes I'll meet the older guys from town that will remember their friends' dads in here. I think it was mostly for partiers for a short-term stay."

Paul, a dentist who retired from the profession eight years ago because of health problems, said he has been coming to Killarney for most of his life.

He worked during the summer at the Sportsman's Lodge from 1975 to 1981. In later years, he and Diane often brought their motor home to Killarney and spent the summers. Three years ago, they purchased a cottage in the community, and began spending five months a year there.

As a dentist, Paul took x-rays of people's teeth. But he didn't get heavily involved in photography until about five years ago.

"I'm all self-taught. I've learned by doing it. I think it's improving. People seem to like it, and I have a little bit of a following."

Paul said his favourite piece of work is probably a complete panorama of the Killarney Channel he created by photoshopping together 20 different photographs.

"It's not hard to line up because I use very precise equipment. It's easy once you know how to do it. I use a special panoramic head that aligns the lens of the camera in the right position."

He's also fond of a photograph he took of the "Indian's Head" in Covered Portage near Killarney. If you look at the rock formation in a certain way, the rock appears to have eyes, a nose and a mouth.

Other photos show tourists flocking to the red and white Herbert Fisheries fish and chip bus, children enjoying a cool treat at the Killarney ice cream shop and pine trees overlooking blue water and sky at George Lake in Killarney Provincial Park.

"There's nothing like Killarney. The Group of Seven painted here. The nature is amazing. The quartzite stone is amazing. It's pretty beautiful."

The couple also spends two months a year in Italy, where Paul takes photos of Italian architecture and the countryside. Inspired by their three dogs, Bonnie, Peach and Magic, Paul also loves taking photos of dogs.

This summer, Paul moved beyond Killarney to exhibit his work. He showed three of his pieces at the 31st annual La Cloche Art Show in Whitefish Falls July 5 to 13.

Diane, who is affiliated with the Dundas Valley School of Art, said she's been creating pottery for 15 years.

During the winter, she creates bowls, mugs and floral vases at her home studio in Dundas, and transports some to Killarney to sell in the summer. Diane hopes to have a full pottery studio set up at her residence in Killarney next year so she can create new pieces during the summer.

"I like having the studio. It's really a lot of fun. Everybody stops in. It's a really good way to touch base with all of our friends."

The studio also sells homemade maple butter as well as used books and CDs. Killarney resident Faye Delamorandiere sells carved wooden walking sticks, braided sweetgrass and folk art at the studio, and Jenny Toma of Hamilton sells her knitwear.

Paul's photographs range widely in price from 85 cents for postcards to $600 for his most expensive prints. Diane's pottery ranges in price between $15 and $50.

Those who don't want to make the trip to Killarney can still purchase Paul's work by going to www.paulsimonphotography.com .