Don’t miss Melinda’s Room

June 14, 2013 · 0 Comments

Sometimes the extraordinary is right in front of us, perhaps a rare butterfly drying itself on a twig. We miss it, and it is gone. Such a gem is the wonderful art exhibition, Melinda’s Room, currently on view free at the Aurora Cultural Centre.
Melinda’s art speaks to us of the pain of her bi-polar illness and eventual suicide at a young age that would separate her from her dear son, and wonderful parents and sister, as well as the hell of unremitting depression.
The exhibition has several components. The paintings, and multi-media show us Melinda’s self-portrait in various aspects, as well as the underclass of people she worked with on the streets of Toronto for many years. This exhibition is the voice of these people as well.
In addition, there are several binders of poignant and often difficult correspondence between Melinda and her mother, and her letters to her pre-school age son cared for by Melinda’s parents. These letters are not to be overlooked if you view the exhibit.
Some of the Cultural Centre staff are saying that Melinda’s Room may be the most important exhibition the Cultural Centre has mounted thus far but hurry, this particular ‘butterfly’ is scheduled to fly away on June 15.

Malcolm Watts
Newmarket