Fergus’ Creative Vibes: Colorful Upcycled Birdhouses That Bring Joy

FERGUS – The vibrant upcycled creations of a Fergus resident are reaching new altitudes, but Graeme Chalmers is primarily just relishing the experience.

Chalmers, a skilled artist, has been crafting birdhouses, but they are not your typical wooden enclosures – they are adorned with lively colors and incorporate “upcycled” materials such as chess pieces, checkers, salt and pepper shakers, and spoon racks.

He has showcased his art at the Elora Centre for the Arts and in the display window of an Elora attorney’s office, but he recently launched his exhibition in Southampton at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre, which will continue until the conclusion of April.

Originally hailing from New Zealand, upon his arrival in Fergus, Chalmers stated he initially focused on painting the local scenery and its changes, such as the decline of farms or establishments closing down, but opted to shift towards lighter themes.

“I didn’t want to continue with that narrative and just wished to have joy with art, which is what led me to create birdhouses in vivid hues, going to my studio and investing the day enjoying the process rather than being concerned about whether I was coherent with the painting,” Chalmers expressed.

His motivation to utilize upcycled materials came from accompanying his wife Millie, a quilter and fiber artist, to thrift shops while she searched for old fabrics or garments to repurpose.

“I began to join her and thought, you know, I’m feeling restless – what could I do?” Chalmers remarked. “I started searching for items like old chess sets and candlestick holders along with the wooden pieces I often work with. … As soon as people became aware of what I was creating, they began offering me gifts after visiting thrift stores.”

Though the birdhouses are ornamental and some use them for that purpose, Chalmers stated they also serve a practical function.

“They have small stair-like structures inside so that the fledglings can exit; you can remove the bottom for cleaning after their season,” Chalmers noted.

Chalmers expressed his eagerness to peruse the guestbook at the Bruce County Museum after his birdhouses have been on display for a few months.

Currently, he has nearly exhausted his stock of birdhouses but intends to resume crafting them post-Christmas.