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Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Orono Weekly Times - 5 Grant money dispensed Councillors dispensed $42,750 in the municipal grants Monday morning. The Grant Program -- which had allocated $1 per capita to provide financial assistance to not-for-profit, volunteer community organizations -- was cut from $80,000 to $60,000 this year. A total of $87,066 was applied for this year by 33 groups. Grants to individual groups are capped at $5,000. Of the 33 groups who applied for Municipal Grant funding this year, two received more money than they requested, five received the amount applied for and the rest received less. Three of Clarington's Horticultural Societies each received a grant of $500. The Bowmanville Horticultural Society opted not to apply for a grant this year, in light of the tight economic situation the Municipality is currently facing. The Bowmanville Ecology Garden did apply for a $500 grant which they received. Councillors opted to give the Clarington East Food Bank a $2,000 grant, even though their 2010 grant request was for $1,000. The Community Centre Boards were all granted $2,500, while sports clubs were granted $1,500 regardless of the amount they requested. The Courtice Kids Multisports group was allocated $1,500 as well, even though their request was for $1,000. Music groups were granted $750 each. An amount of $17,250 remains in the Municipal Grant fund for late applications should they arise. The application deadline for the 2010 Municipal Grants was January 15. Visual Arts Centre Liz Parkinson field work: Pattern and Preoccupation The curatorial year begins with the work of artist and master printmaker Liz Parkinson. This artist has a richly l a y e r e d approach to pattern and form in nature. Her i n t e r e s t extends to the history of nature in the decorative arts and its museological representation. One must consider this work in relationship to the arts and crafts guild and the work of artist William Morris. Parkinson will be showing several installations using the main gallery as well as the third floor loft where a large printed work will hang from the rafters. As well as having her own print studio in Port Hope, she is a long-time member of Open Studio in Toronto. Parkinson's work conjures the beauty of layered wallpaper, Japanese screens, printed fabrics and botanical illustration. Many components reveal an intense exploration of morphology and rhythms found in nature. The cultural role of the collector also plays a role here. Her collections of photographs glean much from the patterns found in the wilderness of Canada, exploring the flora and fauna of Mexico and the simple detritus of materials that surround us. Liz Parkinson is a Canadian artist interested in the collection, categorization and display of representations of the natural world. Her installation and works on paper have been exhibited most recently at Harbourfront Centre and Loop Gallery in Toronto. Her prints are in the collections of The Canada Council Art Bank, The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Federal Business Develop-ment Bank, The Tom Thomson Gallery and The Whitby Station Gallery etc. Curator: Maralynn Cherry Admission is free and everyone is welcome. The exhibit runs from March 7 to April 11, 2010. Opening Sunday, March 7th, 2-4pm. The Visual Arts Centre is located at 143 Simpson Ave. Bowmanville, Ont. From Hwy 401 to Liberty St. in Bowmanville; Liberty St. to Baseline, east on Baseline to Simpson Ave; north to Soper Creek Park. For further information, call 905-623-5831. Loyal Printing Ltd. "Everything with the printed word" 5310 Main St., Orono 905-983-5301