A Submission from Lynda Goodridge, Fort Erie Arts Council Arts Council
The Fort Erie Arts Council is mounting a posthumous art exhibit featuring works by a local legend and man of mystery, Tom Foster.
A Tom Foster painting. Image courtesy of Ken Trinka
We are launching the show with an open house on Friday, November 30th, from 5 to 10 pm, at the Sanctuary Centre for the Arts as part of the Spirit of Christmas celebrations. There will be articles about the artist on display, as well as taped interviews with those who knew him.
Here is some background information about this colourful character. If you need more information, you can contact Ken Trinka, who is coordinating the exhibition, at kjtrinka@gmail.com.
Do you have a Foster in your home or at your business? If you lived in greater Fort Erie between the early 1960’s and early 1990’s, you might just have one or seen Tommy over the years roaming the streets. Tom Foster was born in England in 1921 and came to Canada at the age of 16.
During his youth, he moved around with his parents and seven brothers/sisters as his father went from job to job. Tommy equated his life during these years to one of a gypsy. At age eight, he was adopted by a childless couple and his new family, recognizing his talents, paid for his art lessons. An article found in the Fort Erie Review, dated October 16, 1976 notes that Tommy used his fingers, palms, fists and scraps of paper from paper bags to create images on his canvasses whether it be made of cloth, plywood, masonry, wall board, cardboard or even a kitchen vinyl curtain! He had one brush which he used for detail work.
After coming to Canada, he moved around the province and settled in greater Fort Erie area in the early 1960’s, living in Crystal Beach, Bay Beach, on Murray Street and on Niagara Boulevard. He has done murals in Sudbury, Toronto, Fort Erie and Niagara and his paintings are displayed in Canada, the United States and Europe. Anyone who knew Tommy can attest that he was a real character!!!! He was well known to the nurses at Douglas Memorial Hospital and the local Constabulary often thanking them for their hospitality by doing a painting for them. Tommy Foster passed away in 1991 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.
Tom Foster painting. Image courtesy of Ken Trinka
On Friday, November 30th, from 5 pm to 10 pm, the Fort Erie Arts Council at The Sanctuary in Ridgeway will proudly exhibit the largest collection of Tommy Foster works ever assembled in one place for display and sale. There will be newspaper articles about Tommy available as well as taped interviews with those who knew him. This event coincides with the first night of Ridgeway’s Spirit of Christmas. This one man exhibit will be at The Sanctuary through the month of December. Please check out the FEAC website at www.forterieartscoucil.com for hours of operation or call 905 894-8373 for information.
Come visit, enjoy, purchase a Foster and own a piece of Fort Erie history!
(Niagara At Large invites you to share your view on this post in the space below.)
Niagara At Large 