Later this month, the interactive art installation "The Clearing" by Kingston artists Marney McDiarmid and Clelia Scala will be displayed outside the Rideau Heights Community Centre. The installation, housed in a transformed shipping container, offers a calm, nature-inspired space for reflection and includes a poem by Sadiqa de Meijer, sound design by Matt Rogalsky, and an exterior mural by Lee Stewart. Visitors are invited to contribute personal papers to a shredder, allowing the exhibition to evolve over time. The installation runs from May 20 to May 31, 2026, with scheduled hours including an open house with the artists on May 29.
This exhibition matters because it aligns with the City of Kingston’s Public Art Strategy, bringing public art and arts-based activations to the Rideau Heights neighbourhood. By repurposing a shipping container into an interactive, participatory space, the project demonstrates how art can foster community connection, mental well-being, and local engagement. It also builds on previous community art initiatives in the area, reinforcing the role of public art in enhancing neighborhood identity and accessibility.