Meet the Artist at MERA:

Feb 23, 2022

Michael Neelin – Sharing the Natural Beauty and Rich Architectural Heritage of the Ottawa Valley

The largest room at MERA (McDonald’s Corners and Elphin Recreation and Arts) is the original one room school, now named Dean Hall in honour of Ankaret Dean, one of MERA’s founding members and still an active volunteer. Today, with its high ceilings, wainscoted walls and good lighting, the hall lends itself well as an art exhibition space. MERA has happily promoted it as such for several years, featuring local artists in shows that change monthly. In March, MERA welcomes art lovers to an Art Show and Meet the Artist Event featuring the drawings of Michael Neelin.

Michael Neelin has been exploring and sharing the natural beauty and rich architectural heritage of the Ottawa Valley through his painstaking graphite pencil drawings for over three decades. Michael was a member of the Pontiac Artists’ Studio Tour and board member of the Pontiac Artists’ Association for many years, and has shared his artwork in exhibitions throughout the Ottawa Valley. He has executed illustration commissions for the National Capital Commission and Parks Canada, among others.

“The common thread in my work is the joy of interpreting our natural and built worlds, finding unique visual experiences where most would never think to look. At each step, the seeker discovers order out of chaos and moments out of time.”

Michael and his wife Lyndal live on the shores of Patterson Lake near McDonald’s Corners, Ontario. He and his daughter Genevieve also operate a custom residential architectural firm, and have helped create hundreds of sustainably designed and handcrafted home designs in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec since the 1990’s.

You are invited to join Michael at the MERA Schoolhouse in McDonald’s Corners (974 Dalhousie Concession 9A) on Sunday March 13th from 2 to 4PM to meet the artist, view their works and purchase that “must have” piece. To arrange to see the exhibition at times other than the Meet the Artist event, please contact Wayne Stryde This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..