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EMPTY SEATS: The Pop-Up Exhibit


  • Kindred Coffee Bar 148 Kent Street West Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, K9V 2Y4 Canada (map)

Ahead of the Advocate’s upcoming panel discussion about the treatment of women in politics taking place at Kindred on July 7, the Kawartha Art Gallery will be putting on an exhibit at the coffee shop beginning June 30.

EMPTY SEATS: Panel Discussion

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Kindred Coffee Bar

The pieces of art will be created in the theme of protest posters and will explore themes of civic engagement, democratic participation, institutional change and collective action.

The art will be made by seven local female artists including Rylie Van Halteren, who also serves as the program coordinator for the exhibit. Other artists include: Gillian Steven; Samantha Jones; Christina Patton; Ruth Kelly-Koebel; Sydney Martin; and Jess Spagnolo.

Van Halteren hopes that the takeaway people will have from the exhibit is, “the realization that this kind of thing is still going on in 2026. That women are still being harassed, even if they’re serving their community.”

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EMPTY SEATS: Meet the Artist - Samantha Jones
EMPTY SEATS: Meet the Artist - Samantha Jones

Samantha Jones is a visual artist and curator based in Kawartha Lakes, where she lives with her partner Bruce, daughter Mattea, and their two dogs, Sunny and Benny.

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EMPTY SEATS: Meet the Artist - Jess Spagnolo
EMPTY SEATS: Meet the Artist - Jess Spagnolo

Based in Southern Ontario, Jess Spagnolo is a Canadian artist and graphic designer whose multidisciplinary practice includes murals, illustration, and digital design.

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EMPTY SEATS: Meet the Artist - Gillian Steven
EMPTY SEATS: Meet the Artist - Gillian Steven

This exhibition prompted me to reflect deeply on how I wanted to communicate my message through art. Through these posters, I sought to explore the power of voice, and the role communication plays in creating more equitable and inclusive communities.

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EMPTY SEATS: Meet the Artist - Ruth Kelly-Koebel
EMPTY SEATS: Meet the Artist - Ruth Kelly-Koebel

This series of posters responds to the withdrawal of a female candidate from a municipal political race after experiencing harassment. Drawing on the visual language of protest graphics, it uses bold typography and symbolic imagery to explore gender, power, public service, and civic participation.

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EMPTY SEATS: Meet the Artist - Christina Patton
EMPTY SEATS: Meet the Artist - Christina Patton

For this series, I drew inspiration from traditional quilt patterns – an enduring symbol of creativity, connection, and community. Quilting has long brought women together to share stories, skills, and support, creating spaces where voices could be heard and relationships could flourish.

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EMPTY SEATS: Meet the Artist: Rylie Van Halteren
EMPTY SEATS: Meet the Artist: Rylie Van Halteren

For this series, I struggled to find a style that felt right. While my work in oils could have easily suited the theme, the timeline pushed me to explore other approaches that could be completed and printed on schedule. After several unsuccessful attempts, I created the first piece, Silence Is Not Neutral.

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EMPTY SEATS: Meet the Artist - Sydney Martin
EMPTY SEATS: Meet the Artist - Sydney Martin

For my posters I wanted the statements to stand out using bold cut out letters combined with line drawings of flowers and greenery. I often use floral and nature elements to my artwork and in these pieces, I feel the illustrations represent femininity, strength and resilience.

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Call for Entry: Kawartha Art Gallery’s Annual Juried Exhibit