Winter Programming
Download the seasonal flyer to learn about current and upcoming exhibitions and programs.
The Helson Gallery features rotating exhibitions of local art, private collections and travelling exhibitions. Join us for a variety of programming, such as exhibition receptions, artist workshops, drop-in activities, tours, and more.
9 Church St., Georgetown, ON L7G 2A3
Gallery Hours
- Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Volunteer docents are present in the Gallery subject to availability.
What's New at the Helson Gallery
Get caught up on our seasonal programming, past exhibitions, and calls for artists.
Community & School Programs
The Helson Gallery programs provide students and the community with a unique opportunity to view and create artwork.
Youth Week Art Exhibit
On display in the Upper and Lower Sisnett Lobby at the Halton Hills Cultural Centre from May 1 to May 30
Past Exhibitions
Discover past exhibitions, featuring works from local artists, private holdings, and the Town's collection.
Detail of Stephanie Schirm, COVID window
Current Exhibitions
The Colour of Water
On View in the Helson Gallery
March 4 to May 10
Experience this year’s annual local artist exhibition celebrating water in all its forms: its life-giving power, its ability to shape landscapes, and its role in connecting communities. The exhibition explores the importance of waterways such as the Credit River, whose enduring influence has flowed through generations–shaping Indigenous ways of life, early settlement, industry, recreation, and ongoing conservation efforts.
Reception:
Helson Gallery, March 22, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
A reception in the Helson Gallery will take place on World Water Day, Sunday, March 22, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. in partnership with the Credit River Waterwalkers. Mary Anne Caibaiosai, Ojibway-Anishinaabe knowledge-keeper and lead for the Credit River Waterwalk, will be in attendance. The reception will also include a special presentation by Mayor Lawlor of the Mayor's Choice Award.
The public is invited to participate in a water ceremony beginning at 8 a.m. in Norval. More information can be found through the Credit River Waterwalk.
Elle Stanley, The Water is My Sky and I Swim to Fly!
Between Generations: Abstract Expressions
On View in the Upper and Lower Sisnett Lobby
March 4 to April 6
Explore the work of mother-and-son abstract artists Barbara Ariss-Stroh-Wasser and Derek Ariss. This exhibition offers a compelling visual dialogue, expressed through vibrant and conceptual abstract art. Together, their work creates a dynamic conversation—between artists, concepts, time, and the audience.
Reception:
Lower Lobby Studio, March 4, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Join Barbara and Derek for a reception and interactive workshop.
Creativity in Art and Business: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Mingle and Art Walk: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Barbara Ariss-Stroh-Wasser, C64 to AI
Upcoming Exhibitions
Norval Studios and Gallery
On View in the Upper and Lower Sisnett Lobby
April 7 - May 3
Local Halton Hills artists from Norval Studios and Gallery are celebrating their third anniversary operating as a cooperative at the historic St. Paul's Anglican Parish Hall in Norval. Artists create and display original works of art in the charming heritage building, once frequented by the famous Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Image: Beatrice Roche, Untitled Lavender FieldThe Mayor's Showcase
Local Artist Chris Cachia
On View in the Mayor's Showcase
Chris Cachia is a creative and educator living in Halton Hills. He works and teaches at Toronto Metropolitan University, where his focus is on the study of communication, culture, and society.
His visual artistic practice is informed, in a classical sense, by magical realism, incorporating elements of the everyday and realistic with the fantastic and dream-like; in a more contemporary sense, inspiration derives from animators and illustrators who blur the distinction between high and low arts, including through the super-flat concept and style.
The Mayor's Showcase is located at Town Hall, 1 Halton Hills Drive, Georgetown
Chis Cachia, The Traveller, Abstract View
Programs & Workshops
Drawing in the Gallery
January 7 to June 24, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Improve your figure drawing skills and connect with local artists every Wednesday afternoon in the Helson Gallery, with these free, self-directed sessions. Note: Bring your own art supplies (dry media only).
The Helson Gallery & Collection
The Helson Gallery features rotating exhibitions of local art, private collections and travelling exhibitions. Curated shows are also exhibited in the Sisnett Lobby of the Cultural Centre, the Georgetown and Acton Library branches and Town Hall.
Gallery staff care for and maintain the Helson, Town and Library Art Collections, offer a variety of community programs and events throughout the year, and provide opportunities for artists to sell their work. The Town’s art collections continue to grow with the support of generous donors.
At the heart of the Helson Gallery is Frederick A. Helson's outstanding gift of art to the Town of Halton Hills which tells the story of how Canada's artistic identity was forged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As revealed through paintings by members of the Group of Seven, their predecessors and contemporaries, the Helson Collection also allows us to trace the evolution of the various organizations which supported artists during this critical time period. Additionally, an important group of European paintings afford valuable insights into artistic trends which paralleled those in Canada.
In 2021, the Helson Collection was certified as Cultural Property by the Canadian Department of Heritage, recognizing its outstanding significance.