Explore the artists and creatives that will be delighting the senses on site.

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Cody Calligraphy

Give a Toonie, Get a Print at the Art Vending Machine!

With Support from Ottawa 200, Ottawa Imprints is an interactive public art activation by local letterpress artist Cody McCallum. Visitors are invited to donate a toonie, turn the crank of a retro-style art vending machine, and receive an original hand-printed letterpress mini print celebrating Ottawa landmarks and local favourites, such as Parliament Hill, Arlington Five Coffee Shop, and more.

Each print is produced by hand at Lucky Press -- Cody's local letterpress studio -- on a restored 1950s letterpress printing press, offering a tangible connection to Ottawa’s past and present. All donations collected during the event will be donated to Odawa Native Friendship Centre.

LUCKY PRESS STUDIO
image of a young autistic man holding up a tray of clay sculptures

Ben Animalia

Ben Animalia is celebrating the Ottawa 200 Block Party in a wild way!  

Come meet the Sandy Hill artist behind the Ottawa 200 Biodiversity Tree, a City of Ottawa Artist/Creator Grant project.   Benjamin Lachapelle (self-described “Animal Knower”) is a multidisciplinary autistic artist & children's book author-illustrator.  He is sculpting 200 species of animals connected to Ottawa’s past and present, and highlighting local species-at-risk.  

Ben will delight children (of all ages) at the Ottawa 200 Block Party with live sculpting demonstrations throughout the day and share his love for animals.

After saying hello to Ben at City Hall, please stroll over to the National Arts Centre to see the Ottawa 200 Biodiversity Tree exhibition.  Featuring hundreds of Ben's unique, hand-sculpted animal figurines displayed on a stunning 7 × 4 foot oak tree (crafted by KUĆA Woodworking, also of Sandy Hill), the exhibition is a one-of-a-kind celebration of Ottawa's remarkable biodiversity and community spirit.

SCULPTING ARTIST
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Arbre des Arrivées (The Tree of Arrivals) is a participatory painting and public installation project created for the 200th anniversary of Ottawa.

The project invites Ottawa residents from diverse cultural communities and generations to leave their palm print as a symbol of belonging. Inside each handprint, participants write their names and a personal milestone achieved in the city—such as studies, work, migration, family, or community engagement. The handprints are integrated into a monumental tree structure, where the artist paints the trunk and branches, and the community's hands form the living leaves. It is a metaphor for Ottawa’s identity: a strong tree fed by the diverse paths of everyone who has arrived here to plant their history.

VISUAL ARTIST

Ricardo Rodriguez

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Abby Cooper

Reminders of You is an animated short film accompanied by a poem voice over and music.

A collaboration of three Ottawa-based artists, Abby Cooper, Zineb Nour, and Esther Law, the film is a love letter to the little reminders that exist in the city showing us we are not alone. It explores the quiet moments in which we find subtle hints of others around us.

Enjoy a sneak peak of the work and process at the listening station from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm! Listen to excerpts from the audio track while looking at prints of the early storyboard and concept art. By showing the work in progress and its journey, we hope to share the joy of creating and developing stories with the community that inspired this film.  

Reminders of You will be debuting at The Niche Ottawa Gallery on October 16th, 2026. Grab a coffee at the Creative Stir Coffee Shop nestled right inside the gallery, and enjoy the screening and artist talk. Browse the variety of local art for purchase, all curated by The Niche Ottawa Gallery owner and gallerist Morgan Hamilton-Kirk, to complement the theme of Ottawa’s community!

AUDITORY EXPERIENCE