Ellen Piazza, a newcomer to the city, is getting to know the community in a way she knows how. Through art.
The Minnesota native has launched 100 doodles of Guelph, an art project where she sketches, or ‘doodles,’ places that make Guelph special. So far, she’s completed 26.
“Because I am relatively new to the city and it’s a pandemic and I'm not really able to connect with friends and family or anyone, I just decided what I can contribute to the community to kind of highlight local business and public spaces that make Guelph special,” said Piazza, a business consultant and graphic designer.
“They're just all things that we should feel lucky to have around us.”
Her doodles cover a wide range of spots, including Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate, The Arboretum, Dynamite pizza, Red Brick Café, Mustang Drive-In, Blue Iris Studios Pottery, Wyndham Art Supplies, The Bookshelf, Pressed For Time Paninis and Exhibition Park.
“I sketch them out on paper and then I transfer that to an iPad and I draw the rest on the iPad and then I print them,” said Piazza adding that each doodle takes her roughly between 30 minutes to two hours to create.
“My plan is to give each of the featured businesses a hard copy.”
When Piazza first began the project, she was doodling areas that she visited. As time progressed and the project garnered more attention through her Instagram page, people started sending in their suggestions on what she should draw next.
“People are sending me really kind words about different business owners and different places in the city that I will be highlighting in the future,” said Piazza.
“From here on out, I think I will be choosing the places myself but I will also be listening to the community’s feedback because it's a representation of the community.”
Piazza came to Canada a few years ago to study at the University of Toronto. She chose Guelph to live in a year ago because it reminded her of the community-oriented and artsy town she grew up in.
She says Guelph is her home now and it will be forever.
Piazza said people have also been reaching out to her asking for doodles of areas that might close because of the pandemic so they can gift a copy to a loved one, a request she is happy to take on.
“I get a lot of messages from people with really, really heartfelt things they have to say about business owners saying they’re worried that certain business owners might lose everything they’ve added to the city saying can you please draw them and add them to that page,” said Piazza.
Piazza said she’s received so many recommendations that although she began with the intention to create 100 doodles, she might just have to commit to 200.
“This is just a way for myself to feel a sense of community and contribute to the community while we're all apart from each other,” said Piazza.
