The Lockdown Exhibit at Gallery 1313, March 3 – 31, 2021

Gallery 1313, The Lockdown, March 3-31, 2021

Two of my landscape paintings, titled Empty spaces – Marie Curtis Park, looking southwest and Marie Curtis Park, looking north are included in The Lockdown Exhibit at Gallery 1313, which takes place from March  3-31.

Curated by gallery director Phil Anderson, the online exhibition features the works of over 60 gallery members with a variety of art practices. Through painting, photography, collage and digital painting, the artists reflects on the emotional and societal effects of the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic. The online art will hopefully give the public something to view and talk about; perhaps fill some time of otherwise idle moments with humor and hope.

You can view and read more about the exhibition on the Gallery 1313 website.

Gallery 1313
1313 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 1-6pm
Phone: 416-536-6778

Gallery 1313, The Lockdown, March 3-31, 2021

Plastic Dreams, Broken Promises: The making of “In Conversation”

Plastic Dreams, Broken Promises exhibition, Feb 2020

Plastic Dreams, Broken Promises exhibition, Feb 2020

We live in a culture where consumption and waste are common habits. Plastic seems to be everywhere, and while it is useful we need to recognize the effects it has on our environment and daily life.  In Conversation (Red) and In Conversation (Green) are two soft sculptures, crocheted using recycled and repurposed shopping bags. Featured earlier in February in the exhibition entitled Plastic Dreams, Broken Promises at The Cedar Ridge Creative Centre, the pieces stand 102” high and approximately 51.5” to 74.8” diameter, each sculpture is self-illuminated and fitted with an electronic brain which scans the surrounding environment. When a viewer is in close proximity, the electronic brain, through its motion sensor, causes the sculpture to come to life.  The lights “dance”, alternating colours (depicting an emotion) for as long as the viewer is nearby. Effectively, the viewer becomes part of the “dialogue” between the sculptures.

Below is a series of photographs documenting the process of their creation – from prototype to final form.

It took around 4 months to construct In Conversation (Red) and In Conversation (Green). During this time I’ve experienced a range of emotions – from excitement to anxiety and then finally a sense of calm. And so these emotions have also been embodied within these sculptures.

Once the sculptures were completed, the transformation of the throw-away bags gave them a new life, taking them out of the context of mundane everyday objects we all take for granted. The process forever changed my approach and relationship to this material.

Nesting, November 2019

Cocoon, January 2019

With a heavy heart, October 2019

Illumination, February 2020

Babel, February 2020

In Conversation- at rest (Green), February 2020

In Conversation (Green), February 2020

Plastic Dreams, Broken Promises at The Cedar Ridge Creative Centre, February 15-27, 2020

Plastic Dreams, Broken Promises exhibition, Feb 2020

Plastic Dreams, Broken Promises exhibition, Feb 2020

From February 15-27, 2020 fellow artists Zoraida Anaya, Lisa Fox and I will feature our latest work in an art exhibition entitled Plastic Dreams, Broken Promises at the Cedar Ridge Creative Centre.

As part of the Cedar Ridge Gallery Contemporary Exhibition series, the collaborative installation centers around the themes of a throwaway and wasteful culture in an effort to raise awareness of its impact on the environment.  Ordinary plastic bags, crocheted into sculptures, photography on acrylic sheets and transparency lanterns transform the space to create a visually interesting exhibit.

The exhibition is part of the Women’s Art Project (WAP) Collective initiative, where the artistic intention is to make experimental work in a supportive, inspiring and collaborative environment.

Cedar Ridge Creative Centre is nestled within lush gardens enjoyed by the public and often rented for weddings and special events. Discover Cedar Ridge Gallery, home to contemporary and classic visual, and folk art exhibits. The upper floor of the main house and the adjacent carriage house contain working studio spaces that offer hands-on creative arts programs for visitors of all-ages. The refurbished pottery studio is located in what was the original carriage house.

Exhibition Dates: February 15-27, 2020
Reception: February 23, 1-3pm.

Cedar Ridge Creative Centre
225 Confederation Dr, Scarborough, ON M1G 1B2
Phone: 416-396-7378.

Hours:
Monday to Wednesday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Thursday to Sunday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Closed on Statutory Holidays
Entry is free.

For more info visit The Cedar Ridge Creative Centre.

 

Wild Imperfections at S. Walter Stewart Library, July 4-30 , 2019

Thanks to everyone who showed their support for Women’s Art Project (WAP), art exhibition Wild Imperfections at S. Walter Stewart Public Library. Works from the exhibition are now posted to the Paintings gallery. Here are some photos of the show just after set-up.

 

Coming soon: Wild Imperfections at S. Walter Stewart Library, July 4-30 , 2019

Wild Imperfection, S. Walter Stewart Library, July 3-30, 2019

Wild Imperfection, S. Walter Stewart Library, July 3-30, 2019

From July 3-30, 2019 fellow artists Zoraida Anaya, Lisa Fox and I will feature our latest work in an art exhibition entitled Wild Imperfections at the S. Walter Stewart Public Library.

The multidisciplinary exhibition features work in mixed media, painting and photography and is part of the Women’s Art Project (WAP) Collective initiative. The artistic intention of the collective is to make experimental work in a supportive, inspiring and collaborative environment.

Exhibition Dates: July 4 to 30, 2019

S. Walter Stewart Public Library
170 Memorial Park Avenue, Toronto, ON  M4J 2K5
Phone: 416-396-3975

Hours:
Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday, 1:30 – 5:00 PM

 

 

 

Mere Bodies or Something More? at The Red Head Gallery, August 20-25, 2018

Thanks to everyone who showed their support for Women’s Art Project (WAP), art exhibition Mere Bodies or Something More? at The Red Head Gallery. It’s been a tremendous experience. Works from the exhibition are now posted to the Paintings gallery. Here are some photos of the show just after set-up.

Coming soon: Mere Bodies or Something More? Exhibition at The Red Head Gallery, August 20-25, 2018

Broken Hearted - June 2018

From August 20 to 25, 2018 fellow artists Zoraida Anaya, Lisa Fox and I will feature our latest work in an art exhibition entitled Mere Bodies Or Something More? at The Red Head Gallery

Mere bodies or something more? is an introspective look at the human body as a physical and spiritual vessel. The multidisciplinary exhibition features work in mixed media, assemblage and photography. Through the art we aim to share our understanding in dealing with health changes while contemplating mortality and spirituality. The exhibition is part of the Women’s Art Project (WAP) Collective initiative, where the artistic intention is to make experimental work in a supportive, inspiring and collaborative environment.

The Red Head Gallery, is a professional artists’ collective committed to exhibiting the work of established and emerging artists and to encouraging work that is critically engaged within a wide range of contemporary discourse. Visit Red Head Gallery for more information.

Exhibition Dates: August 20 to 25, 2018
Reception: Friday, August 24, 5:00 – 8:00pm

Red Head Gallery
401 Richmond Street West
Ground Floor, Suite 115, Toronto, ON
Contact: 416.504.5654  |  [email protected]

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Extended Hours: Monday to Tuesday, (August 20-21), 12:00 – 5:00 PM

4 Cardinal Points Exhibition at Gallery 1313, May 25 – June 4, 2017

On Saturday, May 27, 2017, the Women’s Art Project (WAP), 4 Cardinal Points art exhibition opened with a reception and artist talk at Gallery 1313. Coinciding with the Toronto Doors Open event, the gallery was bustling with around 500 visitors on the first day! Gallery 1313 played host to both art enthusiasts and tourists, looking to take in the art and learn more about the gallery’s historical building. Thanks to everyone who showed their support for WAP and Gallery 1313.

For myself, it’s always a pleasure to show with great contemporary artists like Lisa Fox, Zoraida Anaya and Aviva. And I look forward to next showing with this talented group! You can read about my painting from this exhibit here.

Below are some photos of the show just after set-up. Take care!

 

Upcoming 4 Cardinals Points art exhibition at Gallery 1313, May 25 – June 4, 2017


The Women’s Art Project  is a multidisciplinary and diverse group of women artists. The artistic intentions of the collective make experimental work in a supportive, inspiring and collaborative environment.

Gallery 1313 is a not-for-profit, charitable artist-run centre located in the Parkdale neighbourhood of downtown Toronto. Gallery 1313 is equally an artist run centre exhibiting local, national and international contemporary art.

Gallery 1313
1313 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 1-6pm
Phone: 416-536-6778

 

 

Member’s Exhibition at Lakeshore Arts, Oct 5-Nov 5, 2016

My drawings will be part of the annual Lakeshore Arts Member’s Exhibition.

From paper collage to fabric design the Member’s Exhibition plays host to a diversity of forms and content, including elements of abstract and representational art and vivid explorations of memory, heritage, subjectivity and the natural world. Visit Lakeshore Arts for more information.

Exhibition Dates: October 5 – November 5
Closing Reception: Saturday November 5 12:00 – 2:00pm

Lakeshore Arts
2422 Lake Shore Blvd. West, Toronto, ON
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 11 am-5 pm, Saturday: 11 am-2 pm
Phone: 416-201-7093

membersex-2016

 

 

Collective 19 Exhibition at Gallery 1313, June 23-July 3, 2016

One of my paintings is currently in the Collective 19 members’ exhibition at Gallery 1313.  Curated by the gallery’s art director Phil Anderson, the show celebrates the gallery’s 19-year history, which started as an art collective of 19 artists. The exhibit will be on display until July 3.

Gallery 1313
1313 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 1-6pm
Phone: 416-536-6778

Collective-19-e-vite-01

How I Became An Artist

2003: Picking up where I left off in portraiture. My first oil painting.

2003: Picking up where I left off in portraiture. My first oil painting.

Looking back on my years as an artist, I sometimes find myself asking “How in the world did I end up here?” or “What decisions have led me to this point in life?”. Though I’m unable to recount every decision or detail up to today (besides I promised myself that this would not be a long post), I would like to share with you some of the more influential moments which have started me on this path. I believe that we are all born with artistic ability. People laugh when I say this, but I honestly believe this is the truth. Children are proof of that ability. The first thing children do is interpret the world they see, through song, dance, drawings, role-playing you name it. They create stories and are eager to share their discoveries with the people they love. It’s how they learn and express the things they see. So what happens when we get older? Who knows, life happens, but little by little we put away such things. Not all things are “childish” or should be put away. If a child has a strong desire to build or create, then it’s a matter of nurturing their interests. Maybe the child is a musician, a painter, a poet waiting to come of age. And when they do, a paradigm shift may occur, influencing future generations.

What’s the point of living if you can’t do the things you love?
The person who said this to me years ago did so only in passing, but it stuck with me. When I think of this statement I’m reminded of why I chose to be an artist. However the path isn’t easy. Becoming an artist seemed like a natural fit. But the biggest hurdle on this path was me. From a very young age my artistic interests were encouraged mostly by teachers and some family members. I excelled in visual arts in high school, but I never set out to be an artist. Being able to draw and paint was just a part of me. The thought of not creating didn’t cross my mind.  However upon graduating high school in 1996, my family couldn’t afford to send me to art school or university for that matter so I took out student loans and went to college to study business administration, graduating in 1999. Like so many people, life happened. I couldn’t create – With the pressure of paying off the student loans, bills etc. I was working to survive. During those years it felt like a part of me was lost. That was until the year 2000 when I picked up the paint brush and started painting.

Hello, is it me you’re looking for?
Painting again was like being reunited with an old friend – surreal at first, but eventually you pick-up where you left off. One day, with encouragement from my grandmother, I submitted my works to the Human Rights through Arts Exhibition to be juried and was accepted. My reason for participating at the time was that it seemed to be a worthy cause – to bring human rights awareness through art. On the opening night of the exhibition, people observed my paintings, asked questions and were positive. Viewers added their own stories and interpretations to the work. It was wonderful! I felt a sense of euphoria. And it was in that moment that I knew this is what I wanted to do. Realizing this, I felt reborn; I had finally found (or more like re-discovered) my fit. In the years that followed I painted vigorously, with a sense of urgency, experimenting with several art media, styles and subjects.

I eventually signed-up for night courses at Ontario College of Arts and Design (now OCADU) and when I reached my course limit I enrolled in the Fine Arts program as a mature student. Enrolling as a mature student actually worked to my benefit, because I had a better appreciation of the experience, also since I was working; I was able to pay for the entire program myself. 

L-R: 2003: This collage was a study in non-objective art. 2003: Meanwhile outside of school I was experimenting with. 2004: An early school assignment.

2003 – 2004: I experimented with several styles and mediums from collage (left), to digital painting (center). But I had an interest in capturing a person’s emotions in portraiture (right). All were studies completed while at OCAD.

The wonder years
Between work and school I submitted my paintings to several galleries and juried shows. I was one of the few students in my class exhibiting. I figured it’s better to start approaching galleries while in school that way the transition to the art world would be easier after graduating. I think a lot of students fail to realize the importance of setting up contacts while in school, making the transition to the art world more difficult upon graduating. An instructor even advised us that if you don’t start exhibiting while in school you’ll never do so after graduating especially if there’s the added pressure of finding work in order to pay off students loans. There is certainly truth in what he said. By graduation in 2007 I already had a steady network of galleries and public spaces to show my artwork.

2004-2005: (L) A school assignment. I was starting to experiment with abstracted landscapes. (R) One of the last portraits I did before moving into landscapes and abstractions.

2004-2007: I was starting to experiment with abstracted landscapes (left). One of the last portraits I did before moving into landscapes and abstractions (center). A two-panel piece or dyptych that was accepted in the COLOURblind? mask-themed exhibition (right).

Early in my artistic career my works were accepted into exhibitions, but a lot of times not. Going through this experience was invaluable because I had better appreciation of the opportunities that came my way. The rejections were very hard, but I’ve learned that with something as subjective as art not everyone will like your work. Rejections are not personal. With galleries, collectives, art guilds etc. it all comes down to value systems and fit. What matters is that you believe in yourself. When I started to take myself seriously as an artist and truly believe in my abilities, others started to do so as well. I researched galleries beforehand to make sure my work was a good fit. I sought guidance from experienced artists, curators and other members of the art community. Lastly I slowed down and started to paint with purpose – which is to bring people together through art. Afterwards things began to fall into place. This was when I really started to come into my own as an art professional. Experimenting with different media, challenging myself.

2007-2010:

2007-2010: The years when I began to come into my own as an art professional. Work from the The REALM of Belief (left), Terra Forma (center) and Impressions of Kinetic Creation (right) series. I always had an interest in alternative science, science-fiction as well as nature, therefore my works always revolved around these themes, which remains to this day.

Today, I recognize that being an artist is not fleeting, it’s a vocation. As you mature so does your work. Above all it’s a path where you end up learning more about yourself. I’m still learning.

2010 to present: My work today.

2010 – present: My work today.