JORDAN ART GALLERY October / November 2020 JORD
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GEOFF FARNSWORTH
OPEN EVERY DAY, 10-5 3836 Main St, Jordan Village. jordanartgallery.com
“My paintings explore a relationship between figurative and abstraction in order to meld unconscious probing and stylistic innovation with a meditative figural base….people and objects from my personal world, focus on maintaining a balance between plan and accident, known and unknown, restraint and exuberance.”
Geoff Farnsworth was born in Kimberley, B.C. and grew up mostly in North Vancouver. His art studies began on the west coast before he moved to New York City to train at the Art Students League from 1997 to 2002. Here he painted full-time from the human model before moving into the abstract painting studios to experiment. Geoff was fortunate to work under William Scharf, a prominent New York painter who had been the studio assistant and protégé of Mark Rothko. With a direct line to New York Abstract Expressionism, Geoff’s work began to meld his classical training with structure and form into process, colour, and invention.
After New York City, Geoff moved to Toronto to spend the next 5 years building upon his studio practice. Then after a year in Thunder Bay, he relocated to Niagara. For the past 7 years Geoff has been living and painting in downtown St. Catharines, and is involved in the local art community as well as teaching in the Graphic Design program at Niagara College.
His paintings explore a relationship between figurative and abstraction in order to meld unconscious probing and stylistic innovation with a meditative figural base. His paintings work well as collections of shape, colour, texture, and energy; while also building a compelling image. Working with people and objects from his personal world, he focuses on maintaining a balance between plan and accident, known and unknown, restraint and exuberance. His figures look out as much into mindscape as landscape.
Geoff’s paintings have been shown in New York City, Washington DC, Minneapolis, across Canada, and in Norway, Sweden, and Trinidad.
After New York City, Geoff moved to Toronto to spend the next 5 years building upon his studio practice. Then after a year in Thunder Bay, he relocated to Niagara. For the past 7 years Geoff has been living and painting in downtown St. Catharines, and is involved in the local art community as well as teaching in the Graphic Design program at Niagara College.
His paintings explore a relationship between figurative and abstraction in order to meld unconscious probing and stylistic innovation with a meditative figural base. His paintings work well as collections of shape, colour, texture, and energy; while also building a compelling image. Working with people and objects from his personal world, he focuses on maintaining a balance between plan and accident, known and unknown, restraint and exuberance. His figures look out as much into mindscape as landscape.
Geoff’s paintings have been shown in New York City, Washington DC, Minneapolis, across Canada, and in Norway, Sweden, and Trinidad.
September 2020 In the Spotlight
JudyBlue Anderson Nature SQUARED
Judy Blue Anderson is compelled to paint on location, translating her responses to what she sees and feels about being in the natural world-in all seasons. These current works evoke memories of place.
'I work outdoors as much as possible, observing and noting the impressions of light and weather via the smaller works, and I'm particularly taken with spaces where water meets land.'
Back in the studio, the energy and quick observation from these works inspire Anderson to explore further, with the intent to keep that same reactive momentum. The artist re-imagines the plein air studies with various media, making intriguing paintings that speak to the viewer about places that personally connect,
'My latest acrylic / mixed media paintings are richly built up with paper, layers of colour, textures and collage, to evoke a memory and feeling of place.'
Bio
JudyBlue Anderson was born and raised in suburban Toronto. She now makes her home and studio in Hamilton, Ontario. She has been painting and showing for over 25 years. JudyBlue graduated from Technical and Scientific Illustration at Sheridan College. She exhibited in over 125 juried, group, studio tours and outdoor shows. Her work is held in corporate and private collections in Canada, the USA, Europe and Australia.
Judyblue Anderson's works can be purchased in-gallery or online. We are happy to facilitate the transaction as well as delivery or pickup-we also ship worldwide.
Just email us at jordanartgallery@gmail.com or call the gallery Wed--Sun, between 10-5. 905 562 6680
In The Spotlight August 2020 JORDAN ART GALLERY
CAMPBELL SCOTT
Retrospective woodblock prints
Retrospective woodblock prints
Originally from Milngave Scotland, Campbell Scott arrived in Niagara in 1951 as a fully trained and accomplished cabinet maker, graphic artist, jewelry designer, potter and printmaker. The Glasgow and Copenhagen Schools of Art and engraver Stanley Hater are listed among the many influencing factors in his achievements. He taught at the St. Catharines Collegiate for 35 years and was well-known in Niagara-on-the-Lake where he designed and built his Japanese influenced home.
His other interests included sailing, canoeing, gardening, poetry and Scottish dancing – all of which may well have influenced his eclectic creativity and accomplished body of work. Scott was described as “truly, a renaissance man…. He was, in the true sense of the word, original.”
Sadly, we lost Campbell Scott in 2013.
His other interests included sailing, canoeing, gardening, poetry and Scottish dancing – all of which may well have influenced his eclectic creativity and accomplished body of work. Scott was described as “truly, a renaissance man…. He was, in the true sense of the word, original.”
Sadly, we lost Campbell Scott in 2013.
Campbell Scott's works can be purchased in-gallery or online. We are happy to facilitate the transaction as well as delivery or pickup-we also ship worldwide.
Just email us at jordanartgallery@gmail.com or call the gallery Wed--Sun, between 10-5. 905 562 6680
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In The Spotlight July 2020 JORDAN ART GALLERY
Hans Veenvliet: Visual Sound
PLEASE CLICK ON ABOVE IMAGES FOR FULL DIMENSIONS AND PRICING
"Hans Veenvliet” Visual Sound
Stepping into brand new territory, Hans went from stone mason, contractor to artist. Now he
creates intriguing instrumental sculptures, juxtaposing unique combinations of wood and found materials.
Never working with wood before, Hans began to create tables from reclaimed wood and experimenting with live edge and resin. This passion turned to instruments when a musician suggested combining live edge wood and resin sculpture with a guitar. Around this time a friend, whose father had passed away, asked Hans if he could make a memorial wall sculpture incorporating his late father’s violin.
This lit the flame of creativity that has erupted into a large body of imaginative instruments.From small beginnings, this passion has grown into an ever increasing body of work.
Transforming instruments of melody into visual sound
Stepping into brand new territory, Hans went from stone mason, contractor to artist. Now he
creates intriguing instrumental sculptures, juxtaposing unique combinations of wood and found materials.
Never working with wood before, Hans began to create tables from reclaimed wood and experimenting with live edge and resin. This passion turned to instruments when a musician suggested combining live edge wood and resin sculpture with a guitar. Around this time a friend, whose father had passed away, asked Hans if he could make a memorial wall sculpture incorporating his late father’s violin.
This lit the flame of creativity that has erupted into a large body of imaginative instruments.From small beginnings, this passion has grown into an ever increasing body of work.
Transforming instruments of melody into visual sound
.
Hans' works can be purchased in-gallery or online. We are happy to facilitate the transaction as well as delivery or pickup-we also ship worldwide.
Just email us at jordanartgallery@gmail.com or call the gallery Mon--Sun, between 10-5.562 6680
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Hans' works can be purchased in-gallery or online. We are happy to facilitate the transaction as well as delivery or pickup-we also ship worldwide.
Just email us at jordanartgallery@gmail.com or call the gallery Mon--Sun, between 10-5.562 6680
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jordanartgallery.com/artist-spotlight-current June 2020 virtual exhibition:
EMILY ANDREWS
EMILY ANDREWS
Strange Happenings & Rare Findings
please click on images for full dimensions, media and pricing
Strange Happenings & Rare Findings is a collection of surrealistic oil paintings that explore an alternate dimension through unlikely and curious scenarios. Reminiscent of a mid-century setting, these works feature scenes that blur the line between reality and fantasy, while leaving many things to question. This series is influenced by the process of collage and often inspired by imagery found in advertisements from the 1950s-1970s; resulting in unexplained scenes that may be occurring in an idyllic parallel universe.
Off-Hook Party Line, oil on canvas, 10x8, $700
Emily Andrews is a multi-media artist, actress, and musician from Niagara Falls, Ontario. She works in a variety of media, including oil painting, collage, installation art, and sculpture. A true surrealist at heart, her work is often inspired by science, nature, history, and her own strange dreams. Through her art and music, Emily is very active in the Niagara region, participating in events such as Niagara Night of Art and In the Soil Arts Festival. In 2012, the Ontario Trillium Foundation chose her as an artist in residence and in 2014 she was the recipient of the Allister Young Arts & Culture Endowment Fund. Emily has a BA in Visual Arts from Brock University and has taught Observational Drawing and 3D Design Material Exploration in the Art & Design Foundation program at Niagara College.
The Last Arch, oil on canvas, 57.8x.47.6, $4000
How To Purchase Emily's Paintings
Upon selection, we can then arrange in-person viewings.
Emily's paintings can also be purchased online and we are happy to facilitate the transaction as well as delivery or pickup-we also ship worldwide.
Just email us at jordanartgallery@gmail.com or call the gallery Fri-Sun, between 10-5.
562 6680
Upon selection, we can then arrange in-person viewings.
Emily's paintings can also be purchased online and we are happy to facilitate the transaction as well as delivery or pickup-we also ship worldwide.
Just email us at jordanartgallery@gmail.com or call the gallery Fri-Sun, between 10-5.
562 6680
May In The Spotlight
ROBERT AMIRAULT O.S.A., C.S.P.W.C.,,,,
An award winning artist, Robert Amirault works in a representational style, often painting in locations throughout Ontario, the Mari-times and regions outside Canada. His beautifully atmouspheric large-scale studio paintings are frequently created from referencing the feel of these smaller plein air studies.
Amirault is an elected member of The Ontario Society of Artists and the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour.
Statement
'Drawing and painting from life give me the ‘truth’ that I require to depict the effects of light on all of the subjects that interest me. Many of my watercolour and oil paintings are created 'en plein air;' (on location). My larger paintings are rendered in my home studio, working from the on-location studies and reference materials gathered when on my journeys.
Amirault is an elected member of The Ontario Society of Artists and the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour.
Statement
'Drawing and painting from life give me the ‘truth’ that I require to depict the effects of light on all of the subjects that interest me. Many of my watercolour and oil paintings are created 'en plein air;' (on location). My larger paintings are rendered in my home studio, working from the on-location studies and reference materials gathered when on my journeys.
How To Purchase Robert's Paintings
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, The Jordan Art Gallery will be closed until further notice.You can, however, purchase works securely online. Simply email us with information about which painting you would like to buy. We will then contact you to arrange your secure purchase. We will also make arrangements with you in regards to shipping, pick up or safe local delivery.
Email: jordanartgallery@gmail.com
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Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, The Jordan Art Gallery will be closed until further notice.You can, however, purchase works securely online. Simply email us with information about which painting you would like to buy. We will then contact you to arrange your secure purchase. We will also make arrangements with you in regards to shipping, pick up or safe local delivery.
Email: jordanartgallery@gmail.com
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MARCH / APRIL IN The Spotlight:
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ERNA dE VRIES
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Concrete Perspectives
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STATEMENT
The urban industrialized landscape provides me with inspiration and becomes my reality. Essential to our existence, trees represent a metaphor for life and are often juxtaposed as transfers against concrete and reclaimed metals. I am drawn to wax for its luminous, transitional qualities which lends itself well to atmospheric conditions and this medium becomes the unifying factor in my art. The vertical and horizontal planes in my compositions represent stability in a changing, unpredictable world and I recognize the necessity to co-exist. Through the integration of these diverse elements I hope to restore an equilibrium between nature and industry while striving to maintain a reverence for the relationship between our created and man-made worlds.
BIO
ERNA dE VRIES was born in Hilversum, The Netherlands, immigrated to Hamilton, Ontario and now resides in Mount Hope. She received her art education at McMaster, York & Queens Universities and she is a Certified Enkaustikos Instructor. With a background in fibre/visual arts Erna’s focus turned to wax in the 1990s after viewing the work of Jasper Johns and Tony Scherman and her journey with wax began. A fascination with the steel industry, a love of concrete and respect for nature inspired her to integrate these elements in her art. Erna is an award-winning artist, was featured in the EncausticArts Magazine and has exhibited her paintings in the US, Canada and The Netherlands. Throughout her teaching career Erna was an advocate for art education and challenged students to explore and experiment with diverse media. She currently works out of her home studio, exhibits her paintings and teaches encaustic workshops.
The urban industrialized landscape provides me with inspiration and becomes my reality. Essential to our existence, trees represent a metaphor for life and are often juxtaposed as transfers against concrete and reclaimed metals. I am drawn to wax for its luminous, transitional qualities which lends itself well to atmospheric conditions and this medium becomes the unifying factor in my art. The vertical and horizontal planes in my compositions represent stability in a changing, unpredictable world and I recognize the necessity to co-exist. Through the integration of these diverse elements I hope to restore an equilibrium between nature and industry while striving to maintain a reverence for the relationship between our created and man-made worlds.
BIO
ERNA dE VRIES was born in Hilversum, The Netherlands, immigrated to Hamilton, Ontario and now resides in Mount Hope. She received her art education at McMaster, York & Queens Universities and she is a Certified Enkaustikos Instructor. With a background in fibre/visual arts Erna’s focus turned to wax in the 1990s after viewing the work of Jasper Johns and Tony Scherman and her journey with wax began. A fascination with the steel industry, a love of concrete and respect for nature inspired her to integrate these elements in her art. Erna is an award-winning artist, was featured in the EncausticArts Magazine and has exhibited her paintings in the US, Canada and The Netherlands. Throughout her teaching career Erna was an advocate for art education and challenged students to explore and experiment with diverse media. She currently works out of her home studio, exhibits her paintings and teaches encaustic workshops.
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6 January - 25 February 2020
FLOYD ELZINGA
Due to the popularity of the artist, this collection may not be currently available.We invite you to visit the gallery or, if interested in commissioning a fire cone or any other large scale work, please contact us and we'll gladly assist you. |
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' The sculptures of Floyd Elzinga, in material and form, are born from the earth. Drawing on nature´s imagery, Floyd is perhaps one of our contemporary sculptors whose focus is might be considered “most Canadian”, for it is particularly this earth, and these trees, and these stones, from which his inspiration is drawn.
In grand scale, the works of Floyd Elzinga might seem at times iconic or even symbolic, were it not for his unique ability to create and respond in such a way that the objects of contemplation seem natural to their very surroundings. Water forms flow from stone. Wind bends the aging trunks of trees. Awe and wonder are born.
While it has been said, “Floyd does in three dimensions what the Group of Seven did in two,” his style is particularly his own. Each intervention, each installation, public or private, is addressed anew and begins with an intent to understand the history of place or people. Metal and stone fall way to forms and reconstitute themselves.
Nature leads the hand. Existence needs no justification, simply a gentle understanding. At times, his works seem spiritual. The creation of quiet spaces becomes focus, and in so much, it is not unusual that galleries and even churches, continue to seek out his work, and yet his work is most natural outdoors where it responds to the very energies from which it was created'
– J. Long
In grand scale, the works of Floyd Elzinga might seem at times iconic or even symbolic, were it not for his unique ability to create and respond in such a way that the objects of contemplation seem natural to their very surroundings. Water forms flow from stone. Wind bends the aging trunks of trees. Awe and wonder are born.
While it has been said, “Floyd does in three dimensions what the Group of Seven did in two,” his style is particularly his own. Each intervention, each installation, public or private, is addressed anew and begins with an intent to understand the history of place or people. Metal and stone fall way to forms and reconstitute themselves.
Nature leads the hand. Existence needs no justification, simply a gentle understanding. At times, his works seem spiritual. The creation of quiet spaces becomes focus, and in so much, it is not unusual that galleries and even churches, continue to seek out his work, and yet his work is most natural outdoors where it responds to the very energies from which it was created'
– J. Long
1-30 December, 2019
JENNIFER FINN
PHOTOGRAPHY
'My fine art photography combines a variety of passions. I'm drawn to and intrigued by history, design, architecture and the ominous mood of film noir. I find that you do not have to go far to find a wondrous photograph, as interesting imagery hides almost everywhere.
Throughout my work, the goal remains the same: an invitation to open your eyes to unexpected instances of beauty.'
-Jennifer Finn
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Artist Bio
Jennifer Finn is a fine art photographer from Dundas, Ontario. She picked up a camera at a young age, capturing and savouring moments with her Kodak 110. After high school she pursued her History Degree at McMaster University. It was there, while studying film courses and shooting for the campus paper, that her passion for photography was ignited. After the completion of her Bachelor of Arts in 1993, she went on to study Photography at Sheridan College. It became apparent throughout her Photographic career that Jennifer's true passion lies with her Art Photography. For the past few years she has been working hard at honing her craft and is constantly growing and evolving as an artist. She particular enjoys contemplating and capturing abstract imagery as it inspires her imagination and challenges her mind. Jennifer joined the Faculty of the Dundas Valley School of Art in 2018 where she is honoured to share her passion for photography with aspiring artists.
Jennifer Finn is a fine art photographer from Dundas, Ontario. She picked up a camera at a young age, capturing and savouring moments with her Kodak 110. After high school she pursued her History Degree at McMaster University. It was there, while studying film courses and shooting for the campus paper, that her passion for photography was ignited. After the completion of her Bachelor of Arts in 1993, she went on to study Photography at Sheridan College. It became apparent throughout her Photographic career that Jennifer's true passion lies with her Art Photography. For the past few years she has been working hard at honing her craft and is constantly growing and evolving as an artist. She particular enjoys contemplating and capturing abstract imagery as it inspires her imagination and challenges her mind. Jennifer joined the Faculty of the Dundas Valley School of Art in 2018 where she is honoured to share her passion for photography with aspiring artists.
Previous Exhibitions
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1 October
-30 November 2019 In the Spotlight Artistic Group of Glass
(AGOG) Teresa Seaton
Siobhán Lynch John Martin John Highley Joe Speck |
Teresa Seaton
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Artistic Group of Glass(AGOG)
Formed in 2012, AGOG is an artist-run collective aimed at raising awareness of
glass-based fine art through creating exhibition opportunities, exploring unique
collaborations and empowering its member artists to grow and take risks with
their glass-based practices.
The members work in Traditional Painted, Copper Foiling, Leaded, Mosaic and
Fused Fine Glass Art, and merge traditional techniques with contemporary
themes, processes and interpretation.
John Highley – Mosaic Glass Artist
There is such beauty in geometry. I can find it anywhere I am willing to focus my
attention; architecture, flowers, forests or feathers. I have been expressing this
discovery by creating glass mosaics that I intuitively conjure from minute shards
of coloured glass. These glass manifestations are born from a Zen-like process;
each piece meticulously placed, contributing to the balance and structure of the
sacred design. The finished product represents a meditation of colour and light.
My finished glass mosaics may be mandalas, trees, flowers or scenery. They
are both fluid and structured, illustrating the delicate and subtle interaction of
colour, form, and light. Each piece resonates a spiritual energy which changes
throughout the day and evening.
Siobhán Lynch – Copper Foil Stained Glass
Siobhan Lynch creates Stained Glass that reflects her innate understanding of the
interplay between glass and light. A drive to capture this interactive and ever
changing “dance” provides the driving force behind her designs. Prompted by her
passion for these materials, she applies the discipline of the art form to deftly
arrange elements of texture, colour, and pattern, to evoke individual moods and
movement.
John Martin – Traditional Stained Glass Painter
John Edward Martin is a Hamilton, Ontario-based visual artist specializing in
stained and painted glass artwork, as well as life drawing and graphics. His stained
glass work has been featured in The Globe and Mail as well as several
exhibitions including the Burlington Arts Centre. In 2010, he founded James North
Life Drawing, now Hamilton's longest running weekly life drawing session and a
respected part of the city's artistic resurgence. His graphic work includes signage
and t-shirt designs. As an arts educator, he has taught life drawing and glass
painting at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, as well as glass painting courses at
Etobicoke’s Fantasy-in-Glass and privately. He has been a member of Artistic
Group of Glass since 2016.
Teresa Seaton – Copper Foil Stained Glass
Teresa’s uniquely sculptural fine art stained glass is an artistic trademark featuring
multi layers of glass panels with spun wire. Her use of a refined colour pallet
creates a mood and atmosphere that is distinctive to Teresa, making her one of
Canada’s most notable Fine Art Stained Glass Artists.
Teresa opened the doors of Teresa Seaton Studio & Gallery in 2013.
Joe Speck – Fused Glass
After retiring from farming in 2002, Joe took up stained glass as a hobby.
His glass supplier offered an intensive beginners glass fusing course and he was
hooked on the new medium.
Since then he has taken various specialty courses from instructors in Canada, the
US ,Ireland and of course Sheridan College.
He finds working with glass to be both meditative and therapeutic.
Selecting the colours, positioning the pieces and revealing the final product from
the kiln is still a magical experience.
He now lives in Jordan Station surrounded by orchards, vineyards and grow ops.
Formed in 2012, AGOG is an artist-run collective aimed at raising awareness of
glass-based fine art through creating exhibition opportunities, exploring unique
collaborations and empowering its member artists to grow and take risks with
their glass-based practices.
The members work in Traditional Painted, Copper Foiling, Leaded, Mosaic and
Fused Fine Glass Art, and merge traditional techniques with contemporary
themes, processes and interpretation.
John Highley – Mosaic Glass Artist
There is such beauty in geometry. I can find it anywhere I am willing to focus my
attention; architecture, flowers, forests or feathers. I have been expressing this
discovery by creating glass mosaics that I intuitively conjure from minute shards
of coloured glass. These glass manifestations are born from a Zen-like process;
each piece meticulously placed, contributing to the balance and structure of the
sacred design. The finished product represents a meditation of colour and light.
My finished glass mosaics may be mandalas, trees, flowers or scenery. They
are both fluid and structured, illustrating the delicate and subtle interaction of
colour, form, and light. Each piece resonates a spiritual energy which changes
throughout the day and evening.
Siobhán Lynch – Copper Foil Stained Glass
Siobhan Lynch creates Stained Glass that reflects her innate understanding of the
interplay between glass and light. A drive to capture this interactive and ever
changing “dance” provides the driving force behind her designs. Prompted by her
passion for these materials, she applies the discipline of the art form to deftly
arrange elements of texture, colour, and pattern, to evoke individual moods and
movement.
John Martin – Traditional Stained Glass Painter
John Edward Martin is a Hamilton, Ontario-based visual artist specializing in
stained and painted glass artwork, as well as life drawing and graphics. His stained
glass work has been featured in The Globe and Mail as well as several
exhibitions including the Burlington Arts Centre. In 2010, he founded James North
Life Drawing, now Hamilton's longest running weekly life drawing session and a
respected part of the city's artistic resurgence. His graphic work includes signage
and t-shirt designs. As an arts educator, he has taught life drawing and glass
painting at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, as well as glass painting courses at
Etobicoke’s Fantasy-in-Glass and privately. He has been a member of Artistic
Group of Glass since 2016.
Teresa Seaton – Copper Foil Stained Glass
Teresa’s uniquely sculptural fine art stained glass is an artistic trademark featuring
multi layers of glass panels with spun wire. Her use of a refined colour pallet
creates a mood and atmosphere that is distinctive to Teresa, making her one of
Canada’s most notable Fine Art Stained Glass Artists.
Teresa opened the doors of Teresa Seaton Studio & Gallery in 2013.
Joe Speck – Fused Glass
After retiring from farming in 2002, Joe took up stained glass as a hobby.
His glass supplier offered an intensive beginners glass fusing course and he was
hooked on the new medium.
Since then he has taken various specialty courses from instructors in Canada, the
US ,Ireland and of course Sheridan College.
He finds working with glass to be both meditative and therapeutic.
Selecting the colours, positioning the pieces and revealing the final product from
the kiln is still a magical experience.
He now lives in Jordan Station surrounded by orchards, vineyards and grow ops.
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In the Spotlight
1-30 September 2019 13 Studio Art Quilters Irma Bull Albert Coté Dorothy Holdenmeyer Effie Faubert Anita Howe Pamela McAndrews Donna Pree Janet Rhind June Robertson Harriett Rynberk Greta Hildebrand Chris Liszak Roberta Masecar |
Janet Rhind, Spring Meadow, 10.50 x 12.50, hand embroidery, rushing, thread paintingnn
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ABOUT:
Thirteen Studio Art Quilters are Niagara-based studio art quilters belonging to SAQA (STUDIO ART QUILT ASSOCIATES) who have come together to showcase our innovative work.We meet bimonthly in person to share our experimental and developing work, and to learn new techniques in transforming textiles and fibres into creative works of art.
Studio art quilters may sometimes borrow from traditional quilt patterns or piecing techniques but, our work involves new dimensions:
Dying with vegetation or rust, discharging dye with bleach, employing high tech sewing machines to create coloured thread and textured imagery, embroidering on bark, silk, cotton or linen, employing photographic imagery printed on fabric or paper to create 3 dimensional forms, turning fibres into felted imagery, or embellishing abstract or figurative compositions with beads, glass, stones or wood are just an entry into a world of creative possibilities. Our messages can be social, political, environmental or personal, or simply creative and playful. But one element that we all share is our desire to create and to enjoy our process, whether by hand or by machine.
The door is open as we define quilting as “stitched through layers.”
Thirteen Studio Art Quilters are Niagara-based studio art quilters belonging to SAQA (STUDIO ART QUILT ASSOCIATES) who have come together to showcase our innovative work.We meet bimonthly in person to share our experimental and developing work, and to learn new techniques in transforming textiles and fibres into creative works of art.
Studio art quilters may sometimes borrow from traditional quilt patterns or piecing techniques but, our work involves new dimensions:
Dying with vegetation or rust, discharging dye with bleach, employing high tech sewing machines to create coloured thread and textured imagery, embroidering on bark, silk, cotton or linen, employing photographic imagery printed on fabric or paper to create 3 dimensional forms, turning fibres into felted imagery, or embellishing abstract or figurative compositions with beads, glass, stones or wood are just an entry into a world of creative possibilities. Our messages can be social, political, environmental or personal, or simply creative and playful. But one element that we all share is our desire to create and to enjoy our process, whether by hand or by machine.
The door is open as we define quilting as “stitched through layers.”
Thirteen Studio Art Quilters Bios / statements
Irma Bull biography:
Irma saw her first quilt in Yorkville in 1972 and was hooked. Designing one of a kind art quilts was as much fun as writing. Moving to St. Catharines in 1982, she joined the Niagara Heritage Quilter’s Guild. She won an award for an art project explaining the emotional effects of MS. Commissioned by local nursing homes, she painted murals and made quilts. She organized groups to make quilts for Hospice Niagara and St. Giles Church. In 2012, she participated in the Niagara Cultural Capitals textile project now installed at the Regional Niagara offices. That gave her courage to enter Fibre Content and her pieces were juried into two shows at the Art Gallery of Burlington. She has displayed at juried shows at St. Catharines City Hall. Addicted to tiles, Irma is now making mosaics and experimenting with tiles on quilts. In 2017, she received the Nel Van Veen Award for Innovative Quilting. Irma is also a member of SAQA.
Artist Statement:
We are connected to the seasons of change. Sooner or later life feeds you lemons that sour everything. If you can remember the sun is shining above the clouds, you find your strength and courage. When change comes, face it with a sense of peace, knowing there is a fluid beauty that is beyond change and will uphold you. Look for inner joy. Reach for the sunshine.
Albert Coté biography
Al was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario. He graduated from Brock University with a B.A in Visual Arts and a B.A.in Education. Al’s work has been exhibited in many shows in Canada, the United States and Europe. He teaches privately in his studio, as well as at Haliburton School of Art and Design in the summers and runs workshops for Quilt and Fibre guilds in Ontario and Western New York. Al began his art career as a painter and mixed media artist, but the switch to fibre art has proved to be his favourite medium. He has work on exhibit at the Niagara Region’s offices, commissioned as part of the Cultural Capitals programme in 2012. He is a member of the Schwenfurth gallery in Auburn NY, a member of the Haliburton Arts Council and The Art Gallery of Ontario. He is also a member of SAQA.
Artist Statement
Bird’s and Icicles: The first days of winter and the last days of fall make a great contrast for these fine feathered friends!
Asian Thoughts: This art quilt is made from silk and cotton fabric from Asia, wooden ribs from a Chinese folding fan and handmade paper. The fabric was purchased on a trip to China and my broken folding, hand held fan was the inspiration for this piece. It is a reminder of a different cultural experience. cont…
African Landscape: In this discharged (bleached) black linen fabric with dried bark from my backyard tree, a landscape theme appeared as the fabric was transforming before my eyes. I could almost hear the sounds of Africa!
Effie Faubert biography:
After 20 plus years of doing traditional quilting and 5 years exploring modern quilting, Effie is now intrigued by the art quilting world. The idea of using non-traditional and unusual fibers and embellishments, is fascinating to her and she is looking forward to trying new ideas as she is inspired by fellow artists and nature. Effie is from St. Catharines and a member of SAQA.
Artist Statement:
Loving Wine was inspired by the wine industry of the Niagara Region. Having “found” a fabric that spoke to this theme, I cut and appliqued motifs into a vertical composition. From my collection of wine corks, I embellished each of the 3 sections with slices of cork.
Greta Hildebrand biography:
Greta retired 5 years ago to devote as much time as possible to her studio work. Textiles and fibres had always been an important component of her art practice, but finding a place in SAQA has brought meaning and fulfillment to her art practice. Greta has work on exhibit at the Niagara Region, commissioned as part of the Cultural Capitals programme in 2012. She is an award winning artist with artworks currently travelling through Canada and the USA. She is a member of SAQA and a partner in the Jordan Art Gallery.
Artist Statement:
I am drawn to elements of nature and in particular the dilemmas that we face with ecological challenges. I am an avid gardener and explorer, and enjoy the diversity of plant life that the Niagara Escarpment’s climate and soils allow. They form the basis of many of my artworks.
Dorothy Holdenmeyer biography:
Dorothy has been a quilter for almost 20 years and enjoys bringing dimension to fabrics. She is an award winning artist. Her medium has grown to include more unusual textures and techniques in her art quilts. She believes there is potential in so many ordinary objects if one has the imagination. Dorothy is from Beamsville and a member of the award winning Art KWilt Connection of collaborative quilters and SAQA.
Artist Statement:
First Flight: People have always been interested in flight and studied the masters - the birds and their feathers. Feathers are a mastery of structure and aerodynamics.
Broken Treasures: On a trip to Kenya I invested in a bracelet which gave out in short order but the components were too special to discard. I have used these "beads" made of bone to add interest in this work.
Sisters: A sister's bond is always unique and multidimensional. I have used the fibres to illustrate these characteristics.
Anita Howe biography:
Anita was born, raised and lived most of her life in the Niagara Region. She learned to sew as a child and developed a love for fabrics, notions and creative efforts. Sewing was an interest shared by the important women in her life and an entry into the world of women.
She continued to develop her interests in the arts through studies at Brock University and Haliburton School of Art and Design: Fleming College with a special interest in watercolour painting. When friends introduced her to Fibre Arts, she found a natural pairing of her interests in visual arts and sewing. Anita is a member of SAQA.
Artist Statement:
I am inspired by beauty in all forms, both natural and manmade. If a work evokes feeling and significance in a viewer, I believe it is successful.
Wartime House #1 is one of a series that explores the floor plans of wartime homes. As I grew up in one of these houses, they speak personally to me. In this quilt I have incorporated Liberty and Heritage cottons that feature actual designs from the 1940’s.
I Miss You Most of all My Darling is a very personal quilt evoked by the melancholy mood of Autumn. Frank Sinatra’s song Autumn Leaves played many times over in my mind while working on this quilt.
Please Share My Umbrella… was inspired by spring rains and the Hollies’ 1966 song Bus Stop. I have incorporated various textures and colours from my own and gifted fabrics. A special antique button and glass beads play on the “rain” theme while enhancing the motifs.
Chris Liszak biography:
Chris is primarily a wet felt fibre artist, using other fibre arts techniques to enhance her work. Her scarves, coats, hats and bags are sold at local shops and curated artisan venues, including Pamela’s (Pam’s) just doors from the Jordan Art Gallery. Her gallery pieces have been shown at the Art Gallery of Burlington, and several local exhibits of curated art. Many are now in private collections including the permanent exhibit at the Niagara Region, initiative of the Cultural Capitals programme, 2012. Chris also teaches felting at the Fibre Garden in Jordan. She is a member of felt::feutre Canada, Fibre Arts Now and SAQA.
Artist Statement:
I create small felted art inspired by Ontario vistas. My own photos are used as reference, as I fuse loose merino and silk fibres together, using wet felting techniques, to form the images. I then stitch by hand and machine to bring out the details.
Roberta Masecar biography:
Roberta worked as a potter for many years and believes this experience plays out in the 3-dimensional quality of her art quilts. She has had a close relationship with fabric since childhood and enjoys the relationship between colour, light and texture. Fibre art has become her passion in later years. She often uses embroidery to accentuate and bring a further dimension to her work. Roberta has a textile work on exhibit at the Niagara Regional offices, commissioned as part of the Cultural Capitals programme in 2012. She has received numerous awards from the Niagara Heritage Quilters’ Guild and is a member of SAQA.
Artist Statement:
“Spring Snowfall” was created using fabric which was “sunprinted.” This process employs wet painted fabric covered and masked with paper cut-outs, leaves etc., then placed in direct sunlight. As the fabric outside the masks dries, the colour is pulled out from under the masks, leaving behind a printed form. This work is quilted and beaded to bring a reflective dimension to the theme of spring snowfall.
Pamela McAndrews biography:
When not in her studio, Pam loves exploring the natural environment of the Niagara region. I find inspiration from my discoveries while on these excursions. Pam is a member of SAQA.
Artist's Statement:
River Walk: In Niagara we are very fortunate to have easy access to lakes, rivers and streams. The blue background in this piece represents this water. The coloured strips represent the vivid reds, oranges and golds that can be seen throughout the region in the autumn.
Forest Waves: While hiking through the woods on a windy day the leaves swaying through the forest canopy can look like rolling waves. I've symbolized this with the use of various fabric and threads.
Donna Pree biography:
Donna lives in Jordan Station and enjoys the peaceful, rural setting when returning from travel and workshops which are an integral part of her life. She has an MA in textiles from Washington State University and has worked a lifetime with textiles and fibre. Prior to her retirement, she worked as a Home Economics, specialist teacher. She is a member of Threadhedz, a group of Niagara-based artists and SAQA.
Artist Statement:
The Water is Cold is an art quilt reminiscent of times at the Port Dalhousie beach. As I get older, it gets harder to wade into the water. Having friends with me makes bathing a lot more fun. The children in this work are appliqued onto a dyed background using machine stitching.
Janet Rhind biography:
Janet was born in Montreal and has resided in Ontario since 1985. She is currently a member of the Oakville Fibre Artists, the Niagara Heritage Quilters Guild, SAQA and CQA. Also a founding member of The Oakville Quilters Guild. Janet has exhibited her work publicly through Ontario.
Artist Statement:
My “Needle Arts journey started young when given a “pre-stamped cloth” requiring embroidery stitches. Today, my future objectives are to move forward in the Fibre Art world by experimenting with different genres, trying more “what if’s” and just having fun with the possibilities that fibre art, threads, fabrics, yarns and beading can bring.
June Robertson biography:
June has been creating textile art for the last five years and has been using fabrics that she has dyed and to which she has applied surface design to create abstract art quilts. She has taken workshops with many well-known fibre artists and is currently the SAQA Regional Representative for Central Canada. Her recent work is more representational in nature but still retains an element of abstraction and creative licence.
Artist Statement:
I love to work with fabrics that I have dyed or painted and to experiment with different techniques and mixed-media. I am naturally drawn to vibrant colours and find much of my inspiration in the natural world that surrounds me. More recently I have begun a series based on the colourful houses that can be found in my neighbourhood in Grimsby, Ontario.
Painted Lady #1 is based on a photograph that I took and manipulated in Photoshop. The fabrics include mostly hand dyes, as well as a commercial print, which have been fused and free motion quilted. Surface design has been added by using stitch and paint.
Harriett Rynberk biography:
Since her retirement from a 30 year career, Harriett has discovered her inner passion and creativity in fibre arts and mixed media. Acting on the “what if…”, new discoveries are made in the world around her. Nature, repurposed cloth and found objects are Harriett’s constant sources of inspiration. Hand stitching and writing are a part of her daily art practice and meditation. She is a member of SAQA.
Artist Statement:
Journal July: Each day during the month of July, I created a block from repurposed and felted wool. To each I added found objects and embellished each with hand stitching and embroidery using a variety of threads. Blocks were stitched onto tea dyed muslin inscribed with hand written text. Each block represents the stitch meditation of the day.
Unlocking the Vista: Hand stitching and embroidery emphasize the features of red paint on cotton batting previously used to clean a brayer. As I stitched and the scene unfolded, I was reminded of my visit to the church ruins of Santa Rosa de Lima de Abiqui in New Mexico in 2014. Looking through the door of the ruins, I discovered a beautiful view of the Rio Chama Valley. Though the scene and the colours are different, the spirit of the vistas is the same.
Irma Bull biography:
Irma saw her first quilt in Yorkville in 1972 and was hooked. Designing one of a kind art quilts was as much fun as writing. Moving to St. Catharines in 1982, she joined the Niagara Heritage Quilter’s Guild. She won an award for an art project explaining the emotional effects of MS. Commissioned by local nursing homes, she painted murals and made quilts. She organized groups to make quilts for Hospice Niagara and St. Giles Church. In 2012, she participated in the Niagara Cultural Capitals textile project now installed at the Regional Niagara offices. That gave her courage to enter Fibre Content and her pieces were juried into two shows at the Art Gallery of Burlington. She has displayed at juried shows at St. Catharines City Hall. Addicted to tiles, Irma is now making mosaics and experimenting with tiles on quilts. In 2017, she received the Nel Van Veen Award for Innovative Quilting. Irma is also a member of SAQA.
Artist Statement:
We are connected to the seasons of change. Sooner or later life feeds you lemons that sour everything. If you can remember the sun is shining above the clouds, you find your strength and courage. When change comes, face it with a sense of peace, knowing there is a fluid beauty that is beyond change and will uphold you. Look for inner joy. Reach for the sunshine.
Albert Coté biography
Al was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario. He graduated from Brock University with a B.A in Visual Arts and a B.A.in Education. Al’s work has been exhibited in many shows in Canada, the United States and Europe. He teaches privately in his studio, as well as at Haliburton School of Art and Design in the summers and runs workshops for Quilt and Fibre guilds in Ontario and Western New York. Al began his art career as a painter and mixed media artist, but the switch to fibre art has proved to be his favourite medium. He has work on exhibit at the Niagara Region’s offices, commissioned as part of the Cultural Capitals programme in 2012. He is a member of the Schwenfurth gallery in Auburn NY, a member of the Haliburton Arts Council and The Art Gallery of Ontario. He is also a member of SAQA.
Artist Statement
Bird’s and Icicles: The first days of winter and the last days of fall make a great contrast for these fine feathered friends!
Asian Thoughts: This art quilt is made from silk and cotton fabric from Asia, wooden ribs from a Chinese folding fan and handmade paper. The fabric was purchased on a trip to China and my broken folding, hand held fan was the inspiration for this piece. It is a reminder of a different cultural experience. cont…
African Landscape: In this discharged (bleached) black linen fabric with dried bark from my backyard tree, a landscape theme appeared as the fabric was transforming before my eyes. I could almost hear the sounds of Africa!
Effie Faubert biography:
After 20 plus years of doing traditional quilting and 5 years exploring modern quilting, Effie is now intrigued by the art quilting world. The idea of using non-traditional and unusual fibers and embellishments, is fascinating to her and she is looking forward to trying new ideas as she is inspired by fellow artists and nature. Effie is from St. Catharines and a member of SAQA.
Artist Statement:
Loving Wine was inspired by the wine industry of the Niagara Region. Having “found” a fabric that spoke to this theme, I cut and appliqued motifs into a vertical composition. From my collection of wine corks, I embellished each of the 3 sections with slices of cork.
Greta Hildebrand biography:
Greta retired 5 years ago to devote as much time as possible to her studio work. Textiles and fibres had always been an important component of her art practice, but finding a place in SAQA has brought meaning and fulfillment to her art practice. Greta has work on exhibit at the Niagara Region, commissioned as part of the Cultural Capitals programme in 2012. She is an award winning artist with artworks currently travelling through Canada and the USA. She is a member of SAQA and a partner in the Jordan Art Gallery.
Artist Statement:
I am drawn to elements of nature and in particular the dilemmas that we face with ecological challenges. I am an avid gardener and explorer, and enjoy the diversity of plant life that the Niagara Escarpment’s climate and soils allow. They form the basis of many of my artworks.
Dorothy Holdenmeyer biography:
Dorothy has been a quilter for almost 20 years and enjoys bringing dimension to fabrics. She is an award winning artist. Her medium has grown to include more unusual textures and techniques in her art quilts. She believes there is potential in so many ordinary objects if one has the imagination. Dorothy is from Beamsville and a member of the award winning Art KWilt Connection of collaborative quilters and SAQA.
Artist Statement:
First Flight: People have always been interested in flight and studied the masters - the birds and their feathers. Feathers are a mastery of structure and aerodynamics.
Broken Treasures: On a trip to Kenya I invested in a bracelet which gave out in short order but the components were too special to discard. I have used these "beads" made of bone to add interest in this work.
Sisters: A sister's bond is always unique and multidimensional. I have used the fibres to illustrate these characteristics.
Anita Howe biography:
Anita was born, raised and lived most of her life in the Niagara Region. She learned to sew as a child and developed a love for fabrics, notions and creative efforts. Sewing was an interest shared by the important women in her life and an entry into the world of women.
She continued to develop her interests in the arts through studies at Brock University and Haliburton School of Art and Design: Fleming College with a special interest in watercolour painting. When friends introduced her to Fibre Arts, she found a natural pairing of her interests in visual arts and sewing. Anita is a member of SAQA.
Artist Statement:
I am inspired by beauty in all forms, both natural and manmade. If a work evokes feeling and significance in a viewer, I believe it is successful.
Wartime House #1 is one of a series that explores the floor plans of wartime homes. As I grew up in one of these houses, they speak personally to me. In this quilt I have incorporated Liberty and Heritage cottons that feature actual designs from the 1940’s.
I Miss You Most of all My Darling is a very personal quilt evoked by the melancholy mood of Autumn. Frank Sinatra’s song Autumn Leaves played many times over in my mind while working on this quilt.
Please Share My Umbrella… was inspired by spring rains and the Hollies’ 1966 song Bus Stop. I have incorporated various textures and colours from my own and gifted fabrics. A special antique button and glass beads play on the “rain” theme while enhancing the motifs.
Chris Liszak biography:
Chris is primarily a wet felt fibre artist, using other fibre arts techniques to enhance her work. Her scarves, coats, hats and bags are sold at local shops and curated artisan venues, including Pamela’s (Pam’s) just doors from the Jordan Art Gallery. Her gallery pieces have been shown at the Art Gallery of Burlington, and several local exhibits of curated art. Many are now in private collections including the permanent exhibit at the Niagara Region, initiative of the Cultural Capitals programme, 2012. Chris also teaches felting at the Fibre Garden in Jordan. She is a member of felt::feutre Canada, Fibre Arts Now and SAQA.
Artist Statement:
I create small felted art inspired by Ontario vistas. My own photos are used as reference, as I fuse loose merino and silk fibres together, using wet felting techniques, to form the images. I then stitch by hand and machine to bring out the details.
Roberta Masecar biography:
Roberta worked as a potter for many years and believes this experience plays out in the 3-dimensional quality of her art quilts. She has had a close relationship with fabric since childhood and enjoys the relationship between colour, light and texture. Fibre art has become her passion in later years. She often uses embroidery to accentuate and bring a further dimension to her work. Roberta has a textile work on exhibit at the Niagara Regional offices, commissioned as part of the Cultural Capitals programme in 2012. She has received numerous awards from the Niagara Heritage Quilters’ Guild and is a member of SAQA.
Artist Statement:
“Spring Snowfall” was created using fabric which was “sunprinted.” This process employs wet painted fabric covered and masked with paper cut-outs, leaves etc., then placed in direct sunlight. As the fabric outside the masks dries, the colour is pulled out from under the masks, leaving behind a printed form. This work is quilted and beaded to bring a reflective dimension to the theme of spring snowfall.
Pamela McAndrews biography:
When not in her studio, Pam loves exploring the natural environment of the Niagara region. I find inspiration from my discoveries while on these excursions. Pam is a member of SAQA.
Artist's Statement:
River Walk: In Niagara we are very fortunate to have easy access to lakes, rivers and streams. The blue background in this piece represents this water. The coloured strips represent the vivid reds, oranges and golds that can be seen throughout the region in the autumn.
Forest Waves: While hiking through the woods on a windy day the leaves swaying through the forest canopy can look like rolling waves. I've symbolized this with the use of various fabric and threads.
Donna Pree biography:
Donna lives in Jordan Station and enjoys the peaceful, rural setting when returning from travel and workshops which are an integral part of her life. She has an MA in textiles from Washington State University and has worked a lifetime with textiles and fibre. Prior to her retirement, she worked as a Home Economics, specialist teacher. She is a member of Threadhedz, a group of Niagara-based artists and SAQA.
Artist Statement:
The Water is Cold is an art quilt reminiscent of times at the Port Dalhousie beach. As I get older, it gets harder to wade into the water. Having friends with me makes bathing a lot more fun. The children in this work are appliqued onto a dyed background using machine stitching.
Janet Rhind biography:
Janet was born in Montreal and has resided in Ontario since 1985. She is currently a member of the Oakville Fibre Artists, the Niagara Heritage Quilters Guild, SAQA and CQA. Also a founding member of The Oakville Quilters Guild. Janet has exhibited her work publicly through Ontario.
Artist Statement:
My “Needle Arts journey started young when given a “pre-stamped cloth” requiring embroidery stitches. Today, my future objectives are to move forward in the Fibre Art world by experimenting with different genres, trying more “what if’s” and just having fun with the possibilities that fibre art, threads, fabrics, yarns and beading can bring.
June Robertson biography:
June has been creating textile art for the last five years and has been using fabrics that she has dyed and to which she has applied surface design to create abstract art quilts. She has taken workshops with many well-known fibre artists and is currently the SAQA Regional Representative for Central Canada. Her recent work is more representational in nature but still retains an element of abstraction and creative licence.
Artist Statement:
I love to work with fabrics that I have dyed or painted and to experiment with different techniques and mixed-media. I am naturally drawn to vibrant colours and find much of my inspiration in the natural world that surrounds me. More recently I have begun a series based on the colourful houses that can be found in my neighbourhood in Grimsby, Ontario.
Painted Lady #1 is based on a photograph that I took and manipulated in Photoshop. The fabrics include mostly hand dyes, as well as a commercial print, which have been fused and free motion quilted. Surface design has been added by using stitch and paint.
Harriett Rynberk biography:
Since her retirement from a 30 year career, Harriett has discovered her inner passion and creativity in fibre arts and mixed media. Acting on the “what if…”, new discoveries are made in the world around her. Nature, repurposed cloth and found objects are Harriett’s constant sources of inspiration. Hand stitching and writing are a part of her daily art practice and meditation. She is a member of SAQA.
Artist Statement:
Journal July: Each day during the month of July, I created a block from repurposed and felted wool. To each I added found objects and embellished each with hand stitching and embroidery using a variety of threads. Blocks were stitched onto tea dyed muslin inscribed with hand written text. Each block represents the stitch meditation of the day.
Unlocking the Vista: Hand stitching and embroidery emphasize the features of red paint on cotton batting previously used to clean a brayer. As I stitched and the scene unfolded, I was reminded of my visit to the church ruins of Santa Rosa de Lima de Abiqui in New Mexico in 2014. Looking through the door of the ruins, I discovered a beautiful view of the Rio Chama Valley. Though the scene and the colours are different, the spirit of the vistas is the same.
In the Spotlight
August, 2019:
LINDA KEMP
August, 2019:
LINDA KEMP
Sightseeingn
- Artist’s Statement
- Sorting through and arranging the shapes, colours and interwoven layers of nature’s forms and patterns is irresistible to me. It is this desire to decipher and organize what I see that motivates me to paint.
- In this collection I explore the Ontario countryside and introduce work from my new series of stylized animals I call “Little Beasts”. You are invited to interpret their moods and personalities.
- Bio
- Linda Kemp is an internationally recognized artist and best selling author. Linda is invited to instruct her unique style across North America and Europe. She shares her innovative technique and continued exploration of visual ideas in capturing her love of nature and the landscape.
- Linda has developed a technique and style that is extraordinary. Her play with ‘negative space’ invites the eye into the dimensional depths of colour, pattern and light which defines her painting.
In The Spotlight:
July 2019
Melanie MacDonald
July 2019
Melanie MacDonald
Biography:
Melanie MacDonald was born and raised in St. Catharines and works as a full-time painter from her downtown home studio. She is an active member of the Niagara Artists Centre and has exhibited her paintings in commercial and public galleries across the province. Her work was selected to appear in Carte Blanche 2: Painting, Magenta Publishing’s national survey of Canadian painters. She has received a Trillium Excellence in the Arts Emerging Artist Award from the City of St. Catharines and has been the recipient of numerous Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance grants.
Artist Statement:
I’ve named this small group of paintings Avian Statuary. Ceramic sculptures of birds serve as the subject of each painting. A long-time collector of kitsch, I find these figurines at flea markets, thrift stores, and garage sales. By presenting them as paintings the viewer has an opportunity to reconsider these cast-off domestic objects. In devoting the time to paint these cheap, mass-produced trinkets of the not-so-distant past, I hope my work also brings to the fore the hands of the sculptors and painters who originally created them.
I listen to audio books while I’m painting. During the time I made this small suite of paintings, one of the books I listened to was Jennifer Ackerman’s The Genius of Birds. In her introduction she quotes the National Audubon Society’s dire prediction that in the next fifty years half of the bird species in North America are likely to become extinct, unable to adapt to the rapid pace of human induced change. Sadly, this provides another way to think about these paintings.
kknn
Melanie MacDonald was born and raised in St. Catharines and works as a full-time painter from her downtown home studio. She is an active member of the Niagara Artists Centre and has exhibited her paintings in commercial and public galleries across the province. Her work was selected to appear in Carte Blanche 2: Painting, Magenta Publishing’s national survey of Canadian painters. She has received a Trillium Excellence in the Arts Emerging Artist Award from the City of St. Catharines and has been the recipient of numerous Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance grants.
Artist Statement:
I’ve named this small group of paintings Avian Statuary. Ceramic sculptures of birds serve as the subject of each painting. A long-time collector of kitsch, I find these figurines at flea markets, thrift stores, and garage sales. By presenting them as paintings the viewer has an opportunity to reconsider these cast-off domestic objects. In devoting the time to paint these cheap, mass-produced trinkets of the not-so-distant past, I hope my work also brings to the fore the hands of the sculptors and painters who originally created them.
I listen to audio books while I’m painting. During the time I made this small suite of paintings, one of the books I listened to was Jennifer Ackerman’s The Genius of Birds. In her introduction she quotes the National Audubon Society’s dire prediction that in the next fifty years half of the bird species in North America are likely to become extinct, unable to adapt to the rapid pace of human induced change. Sadly, this provides another way to think about these paintings.
kknn
In The Spotlight:
May / June 2019
Patti Harris
May / June 2019
Patti Harris
above image: Home Sweet Home mixed media 7x24x3in $450
Patti Harris- Statement
A wood pattern or an industrial mold is what the basis on which my recent art is made. I find these old patterns or forms in a variety of places but usually they are leftovers from a forgery of some kind. I reinvigorate the wood with cleaning, buffing and polishing and usually use a soft wax finish. The actual sculpture is created based on what the pieces look like to me or what ‘calls’ to me. Long and thin became “Chimes;” cross-shaped became “Our History” as the dolls, feathers, Indian symbols seem to call it their home. I try to put the unusual with the more expected so that the viewer is often a bit challenged to see the whole in a different light.
click each image for full dimensions and pricing
Patti Harris- Statement
A wood pattern or an industrial mold is what the basis on which my recent art is made. I find these old patterns or forms in a variety of places but usually they are leftovers from a forgery of some kind. I reinvigorate the wood with cleaning, buffing and polishing and usually use a soft wax finish. The actual sculpture is created based on what the pieces look like to me or what ‘calls’ to me. Long and thin became “Chimes;” cross-shaped became “Our History” as the dolls, feathers, Indian symbols seem to call it their home. I try to put the unusual with the more expected so that the viewer is often a bit challenged to see the whole in a different light.
click each image for full dimensions and pricing
MIXED MEDIA COLLAGE ASSEMBLAGE
Patti Harris is inspired by industrial design, natural materials and vintage objects. Putting a variety of materials together, in old boxes, in frames, in and on foundry patterns and old wood typifies much of her work. Whether creating a collage or assemblage, she generally use these old parts that have stood the test of time.
She applies materials somewhat ambiguous in meaning, but arranged in a well-designed manner, as it is all about the visual impact. The objects chosen often don’t routinely ‘go together;’ the resulting work necessitates thought on the viewer’s part. Hidden meanings, humorous twists, irony and surreal elements embody many pieces.
Harris’ art clearly may mean one thing to one person and possibly something different to another. Each of us has a unique set of experiences that inhabit our perceptions and cause us to react one way or another to what we see. Harris’ goal is that her art will strike at that perception and create a new way of looking at the relationship between the parts and the new emerging dynamic, keeping in mind that others’ interpretations are often different than hers, as their reality is also different from hers.
Patti has been in several local and regional juried shows, has had several solo shows, has won awards and been in a few publications. She is in a few collections nationally and internationally. She is an Exhibiting Member of the Buffalo Society of Artists and a Signature Member of the National Collage Society.
below image: Primitive mixed media 20x30in $600
Patti Harris is inspired by industrial design, natural materials and vintage objects. Putting a variety of materials together, in old boxes, in frames, in and on foundry patterns and old wood typifies much of her work. Whether creating a collage or assemblage, she generally use these old parts that have stood the test of time.
She applies materials somewhat ambiguous in meaning, but arranged in a well-designed manner, as it is all about the visual impact. The objects chosen often don’t routinely ‘go together;’ the resulting work necessitates thought on the viewer’s part. Hidden meanings, humorous twists, irony and surreal elements embody many pieces.
Harris’ art clearly may mean one thing to one person and possibly something different to another. Each of us has a unique set of experiences that inhabit our perceptions and cause us to react one way or another to what we see. Harris’ goal is that her art will strike at that perception and create a new way of looking at the relationship between the parts and the new emerging dynamic, keeping in mind that others’ interpretations are often different than hers, as their reality is also different from hers.
Patti has been in several local and regional juried shows, has had several solo shows, has won awards and been in a few publications. She is in a few collections nationally and internationally. She is an Exhibiting Member of the Buffalo Society of Artists and a Signature Member of the National Collage Society.
below image: Primitive mixed media 20x30in $600
