The 2008 Junction Arts Festival was a great success! Visit here for news and updates about site changes, thejunctioncity.com for continued programming throughout the year, and otherwise enjoy reading about the artists and performers that made this year's festival such a blast.

Juried Art Exhibition

This year's Juried Art Exhibition committee included Rhonda Nolan, Carmen Victor and Colleen Johnston. The Juried Art Exhitibiton Jurors were Mary Kainer, Toronto School of Art; Juan Carlos Martinez, Academy of Realist Art; and Persilia Caton, Contact Toronto Photography Festival.

Congratulations to this year's winners! The jurors had a difficult job to select from all the fabulous artists listed on this page, but were pleased to announce the following artists and award the prizes.

  • Gordon Leverton - 1st Place, 1 year scholarship, The Academy of Realist Art ($7500 value)
  • Lisa Sanders - 2nd Place, $1000 gift gertificate, Picture It Framed
  • David Gluck - 3rd Place, $1000 gift certificate, West End Offset Plates Service
  • Linda Kieley - 4th Place, $500 gift certificate, Picture It Framed
  • Martha Griffith - 5th Place, $500 gift certificate, Picture It Framed

2008 Juried Artists, by Venue, by Last Name

The Academy of Realist Art 2968 Dundas Street West / academyofrealistart.com
Urbanscape Gallery 2959 Dundas Street West / urbanscapegallery.com/blog
The Academy of Realist Art - 2968 Dundas Street West / academyofrealistart.com
Urbanscape Gallery - 2959 Dundas Street West / urbanscapegallery.com/blog
Azhari, Imam

Biography

Born in East Java, Indonesia, Imam Azhari has lived in Toronto since 2004. He grew up in an artistic family who encouraged his visual art talent from an early age. He began studying western art technique at the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto in January 2006 and is now at the third level at the Academy. Imam is a graduate of the Academy of Satyawidya Hotel and Tourism in Indonesia and recently graduated from the Hotel Management Program at George Brown Collage.

Artist Statement

As I complete my final year at the Academy of Realist Art, I have been developing my interest in Trompe l’oeil art. It is part of my interest to use the detailed information of the object and realist art techniques to create an illusion that reveal a deeper truth or meaning on the subject. I am excited about the opportunity to show my trompe l’oiel artwork at this Festival. It is a privilege to participate in the Festival to support the lively art community in the Junction which has been very influential on my development as an artist since my arrival in Canada.

Brett, Renata

Biography

I have loved painting and drawing from a young age. I learned skills and techniques from numerous visual artists over the years. I did my undergraduate degree in arts and science; however, it wasn't until my third year of university that I came across the idea of combining my passion for science with my gift for painting. More specifically I find the study of cells, Cytology, fascinating. Over the years I have collaborated with two professors at the University of Toronto. My goal is to represent elements of their research through the lense of artistic expression.

Artist Statement

Word Cytology. The ideas for my paintings come from my interest in looking at words and cells as tools, structural units, and as expressive dynamo. I use the classical Greek language and combine it with a study on human cells. The classical Greek language can be seen as a building block from which many other languages are built from; including the language of the west English. In the same way, cells are also structural units; they are building blocks; the central units of all life.

renataannebrett.blogspot.com
Burbridge, Carol

Biography

With a successful career in nursing and pharmaceutical sales behind her, Carol has developed her artistic abilities to include drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and print making. Her favourite medium is acrylics as the colours are so vibrant and she has taken colour to a new level. She is presently learning how to master the art of drawing at the Academy of Realist art in Toronto, one of the foremost art schools in the world.

Caron, Michael

Biography

Mike Caron is rather new to the art world. Having worked in the field of industrial design for ten years, for recognizable companies such as Brooks Running Shoes, and Irwin Toy, Mike has since changed careers into fine arts. Hoping to use all the varied knowledge gained from his design background, and utilize them in a field closer to his heart. Mike creates art of mainly Natural subjects, which harkens back to his childhood, growing up in the Ottawa Valley, where a large wooded area was his playground. Mike pools deeply from his other main influence, First Nations spirituality, from which he has participated in many forms of practices and ceremonies, with the aim of broadening his awareness. Mike now works full time on his art, where his process of creating is his spiritual practice.

Artist Statement

My art is meant to be something not necessarily viewed, but rather experienced. The technique of watercolour with Asian ink brushes is utilized to create a feeling of immediacy, of being in the moment. Colour is what's mostly emphasized, where colour schemes arrest both the intellect and the senses, and the sometimes psychedelic feel is meant to communicate more of the inner psyche of the animal that its' exterior. Using animals as my subjects is an attempt to portray Nature in a very raw and real sense. In today's urban environments, few get to experience the true majesty of creatures in the wild, so I try to bring that awareness in my paintings, hoping the viewer will experience a visceral sense of wonder and mystery with our conscience in their natural habitat.

Carter, Alice

Biography

Alice rides her bike up and down the hills of wonderland in search of magical adventure. She enjoys tea and conversation with wise old cats and dances in the kitchen with eccentric, imaginary friends. Her sink is covered in paint and her mind overflowing with storytelling. She is inspired by people-watching and music and all the earth's magnificent creatures. As she sits in an invisible row boat and floats down a stream of expressive watercolour, she sings and laughs, dreaming up all the fantastical ways she will turn her curious imagination inside out.

Artist Statement

The curious people and creatures that inhabit my imagination rarely sit still. They stir and whisper and struggle to come to life. They urge me to let them out, to let them see what lies outside my whimsical daydreams. They bounce around inside my thoughts until they find their way into inspiration and finally come sliding out a paintbrush. Soaked in bold, expressive watercolours, they find themselves suddenly awake right in the middle of a painting, caught in this moment of their meeting with the world. Some of these fanciful figures become overwhelmed with joy and can't help but close their eyes, throw their arms in the air and dance. Others are bewildered or dismayed, while some carry on their magical lives barely noticing the change of scenery. More often than not these wayward spirits stare intently out at the viewer to see who might be looking back. All they ask is that you take a moment to glance into their emotive eyes... just long enough to find that familiar calm which underlies us all, real or imaginary. And maybe they so colourful in their painted incarnation will inspire us to smile or giggle... or stir and whisper or struggle to come to life.

alicecarter.com
Catalano, Matt

Biography

I grew up in an artistic household. My father was a commercial artist who was also a painter. Our walls were covered with art and this had a lasting affect on me. I found I liked being surrounded by art and artists. This was a perfect fit when I went to art school. I attended the University of Waterloo and received my B.F.A. in 1994. It was in Waterloo I began two of my artistic careers. With a fellow student I began painting murals. I have created mural projects for bars, restaurants, schools and private residences from Ontario to B.C. The second career that began in Waterloo is teaching. After graduation I began teaching art classes in the Waterloo community art center for both children and adults. This lead to becoming the children’s art consultant for The Mississauga Living Art Center and then eventually to Teachers College, now I am a High school art teacher for The York Region School Board. Along the way I have participated in many group and solo shows exhibiting my paintings in Waterloo, London, Nelson, Hamilton and York Region. I am currently involved with The Colours of Freedom project that helps to raise funds for impoverished children in third world countries.

Artist Statement

I enjoy the puzzle aspect of creation. Everything needs to fit together and then fall apart again. It is this constant cycle that I strive for with my compositions. With this series of work I am taking a collage approach. Instead of paper and scissors I have used the internet and Photoshop.

Chen, Thomas G.

Biography

Recognized at a very young age by his father for his artistic talent, Thomas was sent to a renowned art teacher to apprentice drawing and painting. Collage and university studies took over much of his time and the demanding business after graduation put the passion on hold. At 45, he rediscovered the inner calling; he picked up the paint brushes again. This is the second time that Thomas shows his work in public. For him painting is a dialogue with himself and those who happen to enjoy and relate to his works. He is simply happy to find some new friends.

Artist Statement

My non-objective painting is a spontaneous expression of my mindscape at a particular moment.

Chwialkowska, Margaret

Biography

Margaret Chwialkowska was born and educated in Poland and settled in Canada in 1979.Her painting is inspired by nature, particularly the power and richness of the North American landscape. Many of her works grew out of travels to the Northwest Territories, the US, and throughout Ontario's vast lakes and forests. Today she works primarily in the Ottawa area, focusing on the banks of the Ottawa River and the forests of the Gatineau Hills, working to capture both its timeless grandeur and the ever-changing moods of its snow-banks, trees, sunsets. She is represented by Art Mode Gallery in Ottawa and Calgary, Foyer Gallery in Ottawa, Tay River Gallery in Perth, Garden Gallery in Kindersley, SK and Kohl Gallery of Arts in Toronto, ON.

Artist Statement

I paint "alla prima," blending the pigments together on the canvas using a palette knife. This technique allows textures to evolve naturally, and permits a loose, spontaneous style and in turn evokes the tactile quality of my subjects. The goal of my painting is to evoke the mood of a natural setting and to capture the feeling of being overwhelmed by the natural, almost magical beauty of a landscape. I want to take the viewer on a walk with me. I am captivated by the creative process of painting and am compelled by the spirituality that overtakes me when contemplating a landscape. I want my art to be positive, free, beautiful, and romantic--something you cannot live without.

artistsincanada.com/margaret
Deane, Joanne

Biography

I grew up in Scarborough ON. I entered an art program in high school and later attended the Ontario Collage of Art and design. After college I studied modern dance and for many years explored movement as expression. While dancing I kept up my visual art and have worked in many mediums such as textiles, found object construction, paper Mache, painting and drawing. The life journey led me to study Yoga and I’ve become a teacher and practice daily yoga/meditation. Art and yoga are a perfect balance since both paths lead to a deeper awareness of who I am in the world.

Artist Statement

My images embrace the natural elements of fire, air, water, earth, space. Through abstraction and symbolism, I express my inner spirituality meeting with the outer physical reality. The process of creating an art piece is similar to being in a state of meditation. Focus becomes one pointed and the deeper unconscious is revealed. My responsibility as an artist is to allow the Great Spirit to guide m towards truth in my art and in my life leading me towards greater joy and humility and sharing it with others. Art as in Yoga is “enjoying the journey” without grasping onto the final product. It is my wish that the viewer of my art may be touched at the heart level and encouraged to wonder.

DeLang, Shirley

Biography

Shirley deLang is a resident of Toronto where she combines home and studio. Shirley’s career began as a self-taught artist in the 60’s and later studied with the late Geoffrey Skyes of Toronto and Deece Doran of Scarborough. She is proficient in several media including castpaper, sculpture, oil, pastel and watercolour, and has shared her talent and knowledge with students. Shirley has exhibited in many solo and group shows in Ontario extending back to the mid 70’s. Her paintings hang in corporate and private collections throughout North and South America.

shirleydelang.com
Dixon, Kali'l

Biography

Kali'i Dixon was born August 17, 1986 and is a self-taught Toronto based photographer. She developed her love of photography after purchasing her first disposable camera as a child. Kali'i became further inspired in high school when her father gave her his 35mm Pentax as a gift. She is a landscape and travel photographer who recently returned from an extended photographic journey in India and South East Asia.

Artist Statement

My recent portfolio of landscape images in India and South East Asia was a very humbling experience. While trying to take photos of people and architecture I realized that India is one place where people do not halt their duties of everyday life for tourists, particulary Westeners photographing their ancient cultures with digital photography. My photographic influences have been Mary Ellen Mark's Indian circus images and Mary Theresa Lawlor, my mentor who taught me to see the beauty of art in everyday life as opposed to always looking for the "perfect photograph."

kalii.carbonmade.com
Figliomeni, Adele

Biography

I am a self-taught artist. My passion is to express what I feel inside, what I see in people, and how they make me feel. Faces carry many expressions such as happiness, depression and hardship. Innocence is expressed in a newborn baby’s soft smooth skin, where life experiences are expressed in the wrinkles of the elderly. Our personalities glitter in our eyes and all our facial expressions are permanently on display. After 15 years of designing roads as a Civil Engineering Technologist and years of traveling to the right, I’m going to take some chances and make a couple of left turns. In May 2005, I opened Adelina’s Studio & Gallery in Shakespeare, Ontario where I display and promote commission portraits. I exhibit in various juried shows and I have works in private collections in Canada, USA and Europe.

Artist Statement

I have a passion to express what I feel inside; what I see in people, and how they make me feel at that moment and time. These are the images that I try to capture and create endless moments on canvas or paper. The exhibit I would like to present will represent my individual style of portraiture; Portraiture in watercolor and charcoal. More of my works and style can be seen on my website

adelinasgallery.com
Forsey, Richelle

Biography

Richelle Forsey is a Toronto-based photographer and photo-illustrator. Raised on a steady diet of National Geographic from birth, Richelle always wanted to be a photographer. She studied art at the Etobicoke School of the Arts, BEALart and the Ontario College of Art. When she's not earning a living as a commercial photographer/website designer, you might find her documenting rubble around the city with the Twin Lens Reflex Camera club or playing in her darkroom.

Artist Statement

Images of a city ‘…terrains are more than just indifferent snap-shots of buildings, façades or destruction. They are panoramas of places that are, or once contained an energy of industry and life that created communities around them. Each photo is more than a room, basement, toxic factory, or mountain of rubble; they are fragments of Toronto’s landscape and identity.

richelleforsey.com
Foster, Lindsay

Biography

Born and raised in Guelph Ontario, Lindsay Foster is a small town girl with big dreams. She began oil painting when she was twelve years old and drawing as soon as she was old enough to hold a crayon. She refined her nature talent with private lessons and throughout school. When it was time to choose a career path, she attended the University of Guelph and obtained a Bachelor of Art majoring in Visual Arts and minoring in Art History. Lindsay now keeps very busy steadily growing in the art industry with her own business Lindsay Foster Visual Artist where she creates custom art, portraits, murals and children’s art.

Artist Statement

Lindsay finds inspiration in the creations of nature. She looks for the natural colours, lines, shapes, textures in objects that occur in the everyday. Currently, Lindsay is exploring a botanical series, but her first love is portraiture. She is drawn to these subjects for the same reasons. Their natural beauty is often overlooked. By exaggerating the scale of her work, Lindsay’s subjects matter demands attention. Colours naturally found, but not always seen, are brought forth. Lindsay creates a tension between her realistic subjects and painterly renderings. It is a style she will continue to develop.

lindsayfosterva.com
Fournier, Richard Leigh

Biography

I was born and raised in North Bay, ON and have also lived and painted in Toronto, ON, London, ON and Jasper, AB. I have been a passionate and eager student of the fine arts from the age of 14, and have won multiple academic awards in the field. I still remember being impressed with a turkey that I copied from a book with crayon in Kindergarten; it is one of those few vivid memories from so long ago. I attended the Ontario College of Art and Design in 2004 and began pursuing a professional career as a painter in early 2007. My body of work has seen many transitions. From realism, surrealism, narrative and abstract works in acrylic. Some sculpture (I wish more) I have developed a passion for landscape, portrait and still life painting with oils. I love my career in landscape architecture; it integrates my love of art, design and our land and poses such wonderful challenges to design and sustain our beautiful landscape.

Artist Statement

I am a perpetual student of painting; it is my source of flow. I am inspired by impressionism, but don’t consider myself truly impressionist. I am also inspired by Tom Thompson’s style of paint application. I try to capture convincing elements from as few natural strokes as possible, and am learning to accept the marks that I make; I love Canada, the Montreal Canadiens, and being a Gemini. I hope to retire to a cottage on a lake where I can cook good food, kiss my girl and paint every day. I will show my summer 2008 work which will feature impressionist style landscapes of Toronto, ON, North Bay, ON, Algonquin Park and London, ON as well as some people and objects discovered on the way.

richardfournier.livejournal.com
richardfournierart.blogspot.com
Franke, Sandra

Biography

Originally from Montreal, Quebec, Sandra Franke is an architect, trained in the province of Ontario. Sandra is an artist mother, volunteer and an active member of the Bloor West Village community in Toronto, Ontario. Married with two children who attended local schools, Sandra graduated from the University of Waterloo school of Architecture in 1984. Sandra has worked both as an architect and taught at the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo’s Schools of Architecture.

Artist Statement

I am presently exploring a series of paintings called Urban Ephemera Sequence. These paintings contemplate the resonance of a city sitting by a Great Lake: immersed streets, vaporous air, hidden underworlds, revelations of inner urban spaces and anthropomorphic towers standing guard like sentries of the heart. The body of the City is meditated upon like the artist’s model, revealing the soul beneath.

sandrafranke.com

Gang Liu, Peter

Biography

Peter Gang Liu’s love of art and architecture was inspired by his native city, Harbin, one of China’s most beautiful cities often referred to as the St. Petersburg of the Orient for its unique Russian and European-influenced architecture. Since early childhood, Liu spent years developing his talent and drawing technique. Following a decade of work as a construction engineer on projects such as the restoration of a historical Harbin synagogue, Liu chose to pursue a lifelong dream of travel and documenting memorable places through sketches. As he moved from China to Australia, visited Europe and then immigrated to Canada in 2007, his art continues to evolve and be informed by various influences. Settling in the Junction, he spent a year discovering the unique history of this charming Toronto neighborhood and what has been drawing people over the years. Liu experiments with different styles and mediums using layers of pen and ink and water colour. Thousands of tiny pen strokes combined with vivid watercolour paint, produces a rich blend of textures.

Artist Statement

These drawings would not only inspire one image bygone days but, as a whole, they offer a context for the present and continually emerging Junction on its centennial anniversary.

Gluck, David

Biography

David Gluck was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, although he currently resides in Toronto, Ontario. He received his Bachelors of Science degree in Art Education from Penn State University in 2006. He is currently working his way through the final stages of the program at the Academy of Realist Art, where he also is an instructor. His artwork is in both private and public locations around the world.

Artist Statement

My work is very much derived from the study of nature and its relationship to design and aesthetics. I feel that realism can very easily become static and photographic. It is up to the artist to mimic and interpret nature, as the great artists of the past did. I attempt to analyze my works from a very intellectual point of view in terms of their design and how they can be improved and reworked. My subjects range quite a bit, but primary focus is on landscapes, the figure, portraits, and narrative works.

davidgluckart.com
Hastings, Peter

Biography

Peter Hastings is a Toronto based artist whose work reflects his interest in urban landscape. The remnants and flotsam of human activity not only inform his creative endeavors but also become the raw materials for his paintings. His most recent paintings include the application of found object such as discarded plastic, paint can lids, old painted wood and recycled paint.

Artist Statement

When I see garbage and pollution I see how they mimic or parallel nature. In their organic state they can be quite beautiful. Daily I see what I call urban mountains. I look at streets and down laneways and see little piles of garbage and refuse that are full of colour, energy and texture – self-contained compositions. Even the garbage bags placed out on the street look like personal installations; green and black bags of different sizes and textures – lined up or piled high – in front of every house. Each person seems to have their own style of arranging these urban mountain studies. Debris such as plastic, old wood and wire play an integral role in my ‘constructed’ paintings. By combining previously painted remnants with paint - which I then sand, glue, cut, wipe, smudge or scrape – my work achieves a rich sculptural quality.

Hirano, Rose

Biography

Rose Hirano came to Canada in 1972. She started to paint watercolour after moving to Cochrane in 1981. It had been a daunting experience in Northern Ontario, due to the lack of peer groups and resources. She soon came to realize that the real learning occurs outside classrooms: through constant introspection to explore the right vehicles to express her ideas. She eventually found her ‘voice’ in printmaking while experimenting in her Brantford studio. She has come to embrace the multi-inking process of reduction woodcut, a methodical and meditative process. In 2007 she moved her Gallery/Studio to the Village Core in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

Artist Statement

My works are pages from my visual journal – a log of my ideas and points of view using images instead of words. Searching for balance and personal peace draws me to the simplicity of abstracted imageries using a muted palette.

rosehirano.ca
Kader, Laurie

Biography

Laurie Kader was born in Montreal in 1981. Since the very young age of three years old, she has been expressing herself through art. In 1998, Laurie furthered her artistic pathway and was accepted into the Fine Arts Program at Dawson College. She has a B.F.A. and a Master’s in Art Education from Concordia University. Her superior talents and artistic inspiration has been widely recognized. Recent solo painting exhibition includes ‘Pieces of Me’ at AWOL Gallery in Toronto and an upcoming one in Montreal at Galerie 1040 in Montreal. Laurie has been in many publications such as the Concordia University art Magazine, the Canadian Jewish News and interviewed on Take One, CTV in Montreal as well as In Montreal, Global TV. She was also honored and prominently featured with the American Pain Foundation with her art submission of ‘Hitting a Nerve’ in 2007. Laurie’s artwork includes oil on canvas and wood and drawings.

Artist Statement

My work is a collection of abstract paintings and figurative drawings of the body at a cellular level. The process of my work involves layering and texturing using techniques such as: oil glazing, egg tempera and mixed media, to get a variation in surface. Medical x-rays and images of the interior of my own body are the starting point of each artwork. Layering allows me to symbolize my emotional changes as my body reforms. In using the medical process imposed on me, as the inspirational foundation for my work, I conduct a visual exploration of the push and pull between conflicting elements.

lauriekader.com
Kelly, Kaye

Biography

Kaye Kelly was born in Jamaica on July 6, 1945. Kaye has been living in Canada for the past 20 years and presently resides in Ajax, Ontario. She completed an Associate Bachelor of Arts Degree at the Ontario College of Arts and Design in Toronto in 2001. Since then Kaye has participated in several solo and group exhibitions across Ontario and in Jamaica. Recent activities include group exhibitions at the Distillery District in Toronto, The Beaches Art Show in Toronto and Cobourg Waterfront Festival. Kaye's work focuses on stylized mixed media floral paintings.

Artist Statement

I remember, since I was a child, Art has always been a part of my life. Upon graduating from Ontario College of Art and Design, I realized that to take my dream to the next level, I needed to focus on using my skills to express my deep love of nature. Being an avid gardener I was inspired to paint flowers. Most of my work is derived from photographs of flowers that I have taken. I work exclusively with acrylic paint on canvas. The texture in my paintings is achieved by adding heavy gels, sand and other mediums.

Kieley, Linda

Biography

Linda Kieley graduated from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax, where she majored in Fine Arts. Her paintings are in private collections in the USA and across Canada. Linda Kieley has been a resident of the Junction neighbourhood in Toronto since 1999.

Artist Statement

I have always been attracted to the human body as subject matter for its expression and grace. This series of paintings is rendered with a looseness of line and paint, echoing the calmness exuded by these figures in repose. The background patterns and colours both compliment and contrast the figures as they envelop them entirely.

Kinos-Goodin, Jesse

Biography

Jesse Kinos-Goodin is a journalist and photographer. His work has appeared in the National Post, This Magazine, Spacing, the Toronto Bulletin and the Torontoist. He has an English literature and political science background from the University of Guelph, and is a graduate of Humber College’s Advanced Journalism program. He currently resides in the Junction. As a photographer Jesse’s favourite subject is the old, derelict remnants of the past within the city, whether or not it is still functional.

Artist Statement

This series of photographs glimpse at the railroad- a critical aspect of Junction city’s history- and while even though some of the infrastructure is gone (like the Junction Station) the railroad still thrives alongside a growing population of newcomers and modern infrastructure, such as bicycle posts. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in the housing boom, and with it, the rise in renovations, where the old is discarded on the curb to make way for the new. Yet there is still traditional commerce, such as the old-time barbershops or the knife sharpening trucks, as they thrive alongside trendy cafes and galleries. The junction embodies the relationship between all these things, and it does so by embracing the past while moving forward.

flickr.com/photos/jessekg
Krzyzanowski, Stan

Biography

Stan Krzyzanowski continues to develop a Toronto-based art practice that includes sculpture, photography, web archives, video and electronics. Stan has been an instructor at the Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD) since 1982 and is cross-appointed to the Faculty of Art and the Faculty of Design. Christina Hsu, a Toronto-based multi-media artist collaborates with Krzyzanowski in the video component of this work with her composition for the audio track.

Artist Statement

A print made up of hundreds of individual photographs creates a timeline of walking, capturing the experience with images taken while looking down and traveling through the terrain of varied light conditions. At times the cadence of both camera and step match each other and the resulting video playback, complemented by Christina Hsu’s experimental audio composition, displays an eerie hovering of a foot, or alternately, going slightly out of sync - the stepping appears to move in slow motion over a background that races by below, all blurred by the long shutter speeds needed by nighttime shooting conditions.

stankrzyzanowski.com
LaRue, Heather

Biography

Heather Larue was born in Owen Sound, Ontario and began drawing and painting at an early age. She graduated from Seneca College and worked in her chosen career as a law clerk for several years. After her children were born, she attended the Ontario College of Art and Design part-time until a chance conversation at an art store led her to the classical art program offered at the Academy of Realist Art. This is where Heather is continuing her study of drawing and painting in the Old Master tradition. She participates in juried shows and she specializes in children’s portraits.

Artist Statement

My inspiration comes from the fleeting moments of life such as those of childhood. These moments deserve to be cherished so I attempt to capture them on paper through drawing and painting. Before beginning a portrait, I learn as much as I can about the character of the child so that as I draw, I can try to bring forth an element of their personality through the expression of their eyes or their smile. It is my aim to try to preserve a small part of childhood memories through my art so that it may be enjoyed for many years to come.

Lennox, Patti

Biography

I have found art to be fascinating from my earliest years. I have worked in several media, settling into a style that incorporates painting, drawing and printmaking.

Artist Statement

When I work, I start with a moment experienced through music, sound, colour, even taste or touch. The images build intuitively in layers, until it feels that the moment has become visible. My paintings are large and vibrant, combining images of my outer and inner worlds. Women, plants, flower, cityscapes and lovers intertwine in stories without words. I have begun printing directly onto my paintings and drawings as the graphic nature of printmaking helps me express the impact of the city.

Leverton, Gordon

Biography

When not outside looking for inspiration in back alleys, old factory grounds and industrial spaces, Gord Leverton finds time to pursue his art career and enjoy family life. A self-taught artist, Gordon's previous incarnations - as picture framer, writer, retailer and entrepreneur - have helped form his direction in art and his fascination for urban decay and architectural design. Born in Chatham, Ontario, his formative years spent in the rural southwest farm belt gives him a different perspective than many on the state of cities and their legacy. If Gord had time for hobbies, they would include reading literature, music, photography and staying active. He makes his home in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada where he does find time to spend with his wife, Nancy and two children.

Artist Statement

I use dry media (pastels, pencils, charcoal, conte), then create a 'wash' by brushing over the paper surface with solvent or distilled water. My colour palette is vivid and earthy like the subjects I paint - using very few colours to achieve the results I am after. My latest series is entitled "Favelas" and in particular focuses on the working class strata in Hamilton. A "favela" in Brasilian Portuguese, means literally shantytown, and the images I've grouped together are mostly found in the lower-income section of Hamilton's immigrant community. Colour, shape and line are the unifying elements in this group - look for the flattening of shapes and organic colours throughout this series.

gordonleverton.com
Li-Hill, Aaron

Biography

Aaron Li-Hill was born in the west end of Toronto and completed high school at Humberside C.I. Once out of high school he enrolled in the Ontario Collage of Art and Design. After completing his first year, he took two years off to travel. The first year was spent in Europe and the second was spent in Melbourne, Australia. During his travels in Europe, inspiration and technique found him. Once Melbourne, he was able to exhibit bases on the experiences of his travels. In Amsterdam was where he fell in love with nighttime city scenes where lights reflect in water. Aaron has been classically trained in drawing and painting as well as being self taught muralist and spray pain artist. He currently is working out of a studio in Kensington Market involving a collective artist. Aaron Li-Hill is in his 3rd year of OCAD and is busy with studies as well as professional exhibiting and selling.

aaronli-hill.deviantart.com
Livesey, Michael J.

Biography

I am a resident of West Toronto and grew up in the Junction/Annex area and live in Bloor West Village area. I have been painting and drawing all my life and am self-taught with no formal art education. I’ve worked in many mediums – acrylic, oils, woodcarving, pen and ink but mostly work in watercolours now using only six primary colours – two red, two blue and two yellow.

Lynch, John Y.

Biography

Since childhood, I have had a deep affinity to the natural environment. I grew up in a city, but with a magnificent park barely a stone's throw away. I have always felt the need to express the beauty around me through drawing and painting. My studies under M. John Angel and the Academy of Realist Art awakened in me a great love for the Old Masters, and particularly the work of 19th and early 20th Century painters including Corot, Bouguereau, Church, Inness, Eakins, Shishkin, Sargent, and Annigoni, to name a few. I love to paint portraits, still-life and figures, but my great passion is landscape. In my landscape work I seek to transport the viewer to another place and time.

Artist Statement

To excite the imagination; to evoke memories and associations, and a love of fantasy and beauty.

Lyons, Claire

Biography

Claire Lyons started training as a ceramic artist in 1970, attending Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine and Johnson State College in Vermont, where she did workshops with Jack Troy and Marguerite Wildenhain. She apprenticed for potter Jack Masson in Massachusetts and then worked and taught from her own studio while teaching ceramics at Vermont Community College. Following a move to Toronto in 1980, Claire studied Raku with ceramic artist Michael Sheba. Claire expanded her interest in Fine Arts to drawing, painting and sculpture, attending classes at Toronto School of Art, Haliburton School of the Arts and Neilson Park Creative Center. Claire sells her work in Canada and the United States through commissions and exhibitions.

Artist Statement

The inspiration for these paintings involves large perspective, clear reflections and extraordinary light. Growing up on the ocean shaped my childhood and gave me an appreciation for the meditative quality that comes with great expanses of water. The atmospheric skies, consistently changing waves, ephemeral mists and deep reflections are often an element in my work. The late day and early morning sun gives a special quality of light that seems to hold a comforting warmth and a promise that lifts the spirit and touches the soul. We live in troubled times and I feel that it is important to acknowledge and hold on to what is beautiful and real in our world as a way of grounding ourselves and helping us to find lasting solutions in life.

MacCallum, Andrea

Biography

I was born in a small town in Ontario, where from a very early age drawing became my favorite pass time. I was enrolled in art classes at a young age, but it was in high school that my interest in art truly blossomed. Through the encouragement of art teachers I was able to explore new media such as inks, different types of paint including; egg tempera, acrylic, oil, and water colour and various techniques and approaches to artistic renderings. Since high school I have developed my personal style considerably. I have explored ways to treat landscapes and architecture through colour and an impressionistic style. I have recently begun to develop my abstract artwork, using a mixed media approach to express thoughts, emotions, and architectural representations.

Artist Statement

The majority of my pieces focus on the Mediterranean region, as much of this area lends itself well to my style. Greece and Italy are countries I have traveled through extensively and thus I have photographs and memories of each play to infuse into my work. I love to create paintings based on these countries for another reason. I have a real interest in history and these countries have extensive historical records. By focusing on these civilizations I can look, with a modern eye, at ancient cities and locations.

Mancini, Matthew

Biography

Matthew Mancini, a dedicated student at the Academy of Realist Art, has divided his attention between his won work and teaching. He studies at the Ontario collage of Art and Design, but wanting to learn the atelier tradition brought him to the Academy where he has been for the past 3 years. Amidst his studio practice and teaching, Matthew has worked on various landscape and portrait commissions and has traveled around Europe painting and drawing. Matthew recently placed third in the Art Renewal Centre’s 2006 scholarship competition.

May, Virginia

Biography

Virginia May is a self-taught artist. Currently she is working on a large series of watercolours celebrating the City of Toronto and some of its unique areas and histories. She is focusing on an area from the Humber to the Don, and from St. Clair Avenue to the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour (CSPWC). She has received many awards for her work and last year the City of Toronto purchased one of her paintings for its collection through the Market Gallery.

Artist Statement

Working with a publisher on a promotional book about Toronto, I became interest, not in the commercial location he was suggesting, but instead, the heritage buildings of the city. This leads to much research into the history of the buildings and areas I am now focusing on. Although I work in many mediums, I find watercolour lends itself to capturing the feeling and detail of the architecture. I am also discovering sadly, how much of this history has been down in the last 50 years.

Moon, Sharon M.

Biography

I am largely a self-taught artist who exhibits regularly here in Toronto, in juried shows. Presently my work has been included in a group exhibition at the Etobicoke Assembly Hall where one of my pieces has been awarded and honorary mention. All my work is done from life, but I will take the artwork back with me to the comfort of my studio where I will refine the work.

Artist Statement

‘Get happiness out of your work or you may never know what happiness is,’ Elbert Hubbard. I am at my happiest when I am working, creating. And I look forward to a future of continued growth as an artist, hoping to make art that will touch people.

Moore, Michael

Biography

My name is Michael Moore and I am 22 years old. I recently and graduated at Centennial College for the Fine Arts Studio. While part of the course I’ve had two group exhibitions with my class, one at the Eastern Front gallery in 2006 and the second at the Hang Man gallery in 2007. Upon graduating I received the “Book Award”. I enjoy drawing and painting as well as photography and film, my art mainly tends to be more edgy and dark. In some cases they are considered “beautifully ugly” with images of creatures of surreal fantasy worlds as they explore the darker sides of life.

Artist Statement

My current full series mostly tends to revolve around the human psyche and is in some way the view of the person’s inner monster through form and action and how their personalities can be in some way disillusioning hens the title of my series “Creatures of Dismay” it ranges from being controlled to worldly destruction through the eyes of the observer. It consists of 8 pieces (7 paintings and 1 sculpture) the sculpture is the “observer” who sees all and is affected by all that surrounds him.

Ng, Lisa

Biography

Lisa Ng was born in Hamilton, Ontario. She left home to study at the Ontario College of Art and Design. Since graduating, she spends her time trying to get a daily dose of human interaction, figuring out how to make a living, and making art between the two cities of Hamilton and Toronto. Her work has been shown in various venues in and around the Toronto area. She has also just been appointed co-director and curator of ArtMichael Gallery, a non-profit organization devoted to the arts.

Artist Statement

These paintings are done with acrylic and ink on canvas. They act as musings of my day-to-day life. Making art, for me, is a reflective experience. These images depict pain, conflict, sadness, longing, and sometimes an ambiguous dreamy feeling I can't quite name. Each one of them represents a part of my life, a little mini story, a chunk of my time on this planet that as a whole, make up a person's existence. Combining the beautiful, the grotesque, the unexpected, and the humorous, they accurately depict my experience of the world. I hope to share this with others.

lisangart.com
Nguyen, Francis

Biography

I am currently an undergraduate student at Concordia University majoring in the Painting and Drawing program. My interests mainly lie in drawing, which I believe is the foundation to almost any other form of visual art. I have been drawing realism and fantasy since my early teenage years, and began to draw and paint observationally in Cegep. My main influences are the old master from Renaissance, the Baroque, and the Romantic Periods. As Ingres once said to Degas, “draw line, lots of lines.” Likewise, my belief is that drawing lines is all I remember doing.

Artist Statement

As in the tradition of old masters, I use my drawings and studies to create compositions in my painting. The themes I present are understood in a post modern context. My work mainly consists of contemporary figurative representations using classical techniques, and my weapon of choice is observation. Hence, I draw and paint as subjectively as possible, while respecting matters value, colour and perspective. My interest lies in the conception of form, movement, and the perception of light.

frankybunny.blogspot.com
Nutting, Elizabeth

Biography

Elizabeth Nutting graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Drama from Queen's University. After working for two years at The Banff Centre, she furthered her education at the Toronto School of Art; pursuing her dream to work as a set designer. Elizabeth is now combining her art and theatre background by using theatre scripts as a springboard for her art.

Artist Statement

As I begin a painting the vision is a foggy and faded one, becoming clear and focused over time. Capturing the raw essence of the idea within, my paintings are abstract, organic, and minimal - Bringing you to a visceral place within yourself that you never even knew existed.

elizabethnutting.com
Pascoal, Antonia

Biography

Antonia was born in Angola and came to Canada alone in 2000. In Africa, the chances to paint were not readily available; she developed her painting skills a lot more in Canada. She had her first major exhibit in London, Ontario, where part of the exhibition featured high realism of female human body and sexuality pertaining to how women should not be afraid of their own body. Others were based on African Art, African culture, and African children in need. In this event, this young artist decided to donate the sales to sponsor a young child in one the African countries. Currently, Antonia exhibits her work in Canada, USA and Europe.

Artist Statement

Antonia paints paintings that illustrate the sense of pride about heritage and gender. In her artwork, the artist builds a dialogue with her audience in which she manifests her high regard for the beauty of women with African heritage and their resilience in face of adversity, as well as acknowledging the interconnectedness between beauty and self-confidence. The art exhibition is also a tribute to the African Canadian heritage recognizing its contribution to the Canadian culture.

pascoalartrenaissance.com
Popova, Diliana

Biography

Diliana was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria. She moved to Toronto in 1996 with her family and is still living and working there today. Her passion for art, which manifested itself at an early age, led her to attend the Academy of Realist Art for classical drawing and painting, and The University of Toronto with a double major in English literature and Art history.While working on maintaining her portfolio in her Toronto studio, Diliana has also completed various mural projects over the last couple of years and is currently teaching the young adults arts program at the Academy of Relalist Art.

Artist Statement

Painting for me is a ritual. It provides for me a window of perception which is unequalled by any other act. I find my inspiration and drive in the often imperceptible nuances of personality and the endless capacity for expression and meaning found in the human form.My work consists mainly of studies of the human figure and portraiture. It is through these subjects that I have found the greatest freedom within my craft. My aim, every time charcoal touches paper or paint canvas, is to capture the unseen through the obvious; the tiny mechanism of the internal clock that all put together, show the uniqueness of a subject.

dilianapopova.com
Rakowski, Elaine

Biography

Elaine Rakowski (b. Toronto, 1949) has always had a love of music and the visual arts. As a young adult she completed her ARCT diploma in music at the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (Piano performance). After an undergraduate degree in Psychology and graduate work in Counselling Psychology, she pursued a 25 year-long career as a Dentist. Her true passion, however, has always been her artistic career. Her training began at The Three Schools and OCA in Toronto and more recently she has been a full-time student at the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto. She is married and has three grown children.

Artist Statement

In her work, Elaine assumes that every work of art should speak for itself to the viewer, without the need for subtext, and that the viewer in turn brings to each work of art an overlay of his/her experiences. She believes in the concept of radical awe -- seeing the extraordinary in the mundane, the vast complexity and immense perfection in even the smallest detail. One needs only to look and then to see the harmony in the natural world which longs to be expressed, both in landscape and in that exploration of the psyche which is portraiture.

Reyes, Fernando

Biography

Fernando Reyes has been working with glass for over 20 years. A graduate of Graphic Design, Fernando soon found his calling working with glass. He started working with the sandblasting technique and has been since. Fernando creates fine detailed etchings and multidimensional glass carvings for private and corporate environments. He can create original artwork or adapt an existing design or idea to suit the client’s needs and wishes.

Artist Statement

I enjoy working with glass. The technique I use is called sandblasting. I use sandblasting, with and without colour. With this technique the emphasis on each piece is focused on drawing, composition, depth and the quality of the line. The sand-blasting of a single piece of glass allows me to create complex patterns of many depths. I consider the use natural light and reflection as I am working to be sure that the piece is true work of art when I am finished. The versatility, intricacy and detailing of glass and the application of glass as a medium is endless. I can create opaque glass with a carved 3d effect, or semi-transparent decorative glass. Under certain light conditions, the image on the glass is projected, putting the pattern onto surrounding surfaces creating art on surfaces where there was none. The effect is beautiful. I also work with mirror, granite and metal, although glass is my medium of choice.

Ridaz-Lepsi, Rita

Biography

My fascination with human expression (and the never-ending diversity of characters they portray) has marked my life’s work. Upon retiring from my career in the Performing Arts, and closing the dance studio I operated for 25 years, drawing and painting became an alternative means to express myself. Other than some basic guidelines learned in Thomas Hendry’s and Tom Campbell’s courses at the TSA, I am self- taught. Over the last 2 years, I have exhibited works at the John B. Aird Gallery, Axis Gallery and Grill, Art Walk 2007, TSA Contact Festival, and the Creative Spirit Centre in Toronto.

Rudnicki, Nick

Biography

Nick was born in Warsaw Poland, and started school in Edmonton, but opted to finish in Halifax, at NSCAD. Once finished his degree he decided that it was time to pursue a career in the province he had come to love. Thus started his adoption of Halifax as home. From here he has cultivated a successful freelance design and photographic business, which has sustained him enough to allow him the chance to invest in working with artists such as David Clark and Liz MacDougal, while all the while developing his own growing art practice. Which has already started cultivating a number of shows nationally.

Artist Statement

Dead of Night. It can only happen at night. During the day, the pressures of deadlines, errands, and obligations keep us focused in on details. Consequently our relationship with our environment - our surroundings – becomes mitigated and restrained. Our spaces are not experienced as a whole beautiful entity, but rather they are seen merely in terms of their function. At night, when these distractions dissipate, we can finally allow ourselves to fully see the spaces and places around us. We can finally get to know them, instead of merely use them. Our now unfettered engagement with these places is made all the keener by the sublime hush of their emptiness. We can now get lost in the geometry, the vastness, the emptiness and the sheer presence of the places.

blee-ree-eyed.com/artwork/index.html
Sanders, Lisa

Biography

Lisa Sanders studied Fine Art at The University of Guelph. Her painting experiences include a summer residency at The School of Visual Arts in New York City and participation with the Phoebe Street Collective and gallery in Toronto. While embarking on an extensive career as an educator, she has made it a priority to continue to make art and her paintings are in many private collections in Canada and the U.S. Lisa currently lives with her husband and two children in the Junction and works as an Instructional Leader in Visual & Media Arts for the Toronto District School Board.

Artist Statement

This series of oil paintings seek to enagage viewers in a visual journey where colour fields and subtle imagery inspire one to create their own story, recall a memory or simply pause and time to be reflective. Ideally this work will evoke something in the viewer that toys with the curious, unpredictable line between representational imagery and the abstract.

Savosta, Yevgeniya

Biography

Yevgeniya Savosta always knew that fine art would be her destiny. However, due to advice given to her in her early years, she took a more practical approach and graduated business University. While working in chosen field for 5 years she was taking art classes with an Architectural Drawing instructor who taught her the basics of drawing and watercolor painting. In 2003 Yevgeniya enrolled in a 5 year academic program at a well known Academy of Realist Art where she had an amazing learning experience that helped a great deal in building her art career. Since her decision to paint full-time, Yevgeniya has enjoyed exhibiting her work and working on her future professional growth. Her works are in private collections in USA and Canada as well as in Corporate Rogers Center Gallery.

Artist Statement

In my work I look for the things that move my heart and captivate my mind: the beauty of light and certain mood it brings, how shapes and colors reveal themselves. Having gone through an amazing academic education at the Academy of Realist Art allows me to put my thoughts on a canvas without hesitation and by asking myself - “why do I do it?” and “what do I want to achieve?” I am able to progress forward, searching for new ways of sharing my ideas. Yevgeniya Savosta studied at the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto for over 4 years and has been exhibiting her work in Canada. Her works are in private collections in USA and Canada as well as in corporate Rogers Center Gallery.

Sevean, Kelly

Biography

I am a recent graduate from the Ontario College of Art & Design. I also attended the Duncan Jordonstone College of Art in Dundee Scotland for a mobility exchange. I am originally from Thunder Bay Ontario and have spent the past year completing my Bachelor of education and teaching children art in the classroom. I work with mostly acrylics and photography as well. Growing up in Northern Ontario I have a strong connection with nature. I have explored new forms and objects that I have integrated into my recent works. My exhibition will be based on the submitted works but expanded to include more collage work and mixed media in keeping with the themes of nature in juxtaposition with the urban environment and the street wear of the seventies.

Artist Statement

Where am I … I am sitting on a subway train going to pick up my sister my only non vocal communication to the world exists through my pen and the eye contact that I make . The past interests me the same as the present, the past has a kind of safety, cemented feeling…we wore a certain style of clothing for certain events that happened. We are making history even though we do not always remember it. Images from the past interest me because of their photo quality. People take comfort in thinking about the past since it is unchangeable and familiar, unlike the present that is ever changing, and the future which is totally unpredictable. Albert Einstein once said; “the separation between past, present, and future is only an illusion, although a convincing one”. Painting is the way in which I surface my thoughts, feelings, and energy into a visual timeless language.

Smith, Martin

Biography

Although I was born in Ottawa much of my youth was spent living in a variety of countries constantly being exposed to a wide selection of art and culture during what I consider some of my most formative years. I believe much of my interest in painting stems from these days but perhaps really took root when I returned to live in Canada and began to discover my connection as a painter to the landscape. Currently I work as an art director in animation but spend as much time as I can exploring my personal interests as an independent artist.

Artist Statement

I find much inspiration conducive to painting in both the wild northern Ontario landscape and my immediate urban setting. I enjoy studying subject matter with strongly defined planes of space that I may delineate and exploit for what I see as their most impressive visual qualities. My hope with this body of work is to try and recapture those impressions left on me by these places I have enjoyed.

martindjsmith.com
Soudek, Lado

Biography

My first job was paid in gold. I was 15 years old and Iranian Shah Reza Pahlavi visited my high school in Prague. I took several pictures that were presented to Shah, who was so impressed that he sent me a gold coin; my love affair with photography had started. Growing up in an artistic family, I was introduced to many musicians, photographers, painters and other artists, which led to me following my artistic muse at the advertising school and later at the Artist’s college. Coming to Canada in the 80’s, I opened a typesetting and graphic studio in Concord; it wasn’t until I moved to the Junction that I realized that personal satisfaction is sometimes more important than financial rewards. I am currently working on several projects about Toronto.

Artist Statement

I am often amazed by the story and gentle humor that appear in the picture. I like to raise a smile, an understanding and the good. My intension is always to explore and capture the moment in the angle from which the grace becomes the absolute.

Stebelsky, Raina E.

Biography

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Raina’s family moved to the Junction when she was a year old. She studied anthropology at the University of Toronto and painting and printmaking at OCAD, combing her interests by working as an archaeological artifact illustrator. She saw in these ancient relics, and in the icons and symbolic motifs of her Ukrainian heritage, a means of expression that continues to have an impact on her art today. As well, her growing interest in Scandinavian and native North culture has brought about some exciting new elements in her art as seen in her prints.

Artist Statement

In my art work, I instinctively seek the primordial, the deepest part of our being, which is found in all mankind. I only know how to do this by exploring, and laying to scrutiny, my own personal experiences. For me, art is a vehicle for healing wounds and rediscovering feelings. It allows me to communicate to others who have lived similar experiences but without the opportunity to tell their stories. That is why the historic imprints such as those left on rocks and pottery are so important to me. By using them as inspiration in my art, I like to think that the stories of ancient peoples are being kept alive. I find that the use of pure colour, simple forms and a subtle symbolism allow me to best express myself. There is a rhythm to the brushstrokes or incisions in my lithographs, collographs and relief prints which is both soothing and conveys inner turmoil. The raw elements of nature and ancient man-made forms, which I have discovered through my forages in anthropology, have helped to guide me on my path to self-discovery. This is my way of depicting both the beauty and the suffering that I see in the world around me. My goal is to communicate and share my experiences and those of other people through my art.

norseart.com

Vailankani, Victoria

Biography

Victoria is a graduate from the College of Fine Arts, India. She studied applied arts at CFA as well as a certified course in print media and digital post production. She has done various design and layout projects as a freelancer and has also worked on portrait commissions, and is currently exploring 3D relied work. Wanting to explore the digital side of Painting led her to 2D photo shop. Since the she has been glued to CG painting. Victoria is very passionate about traditional painting, wanting to improve her skill level decided to study in the Atelier tradition. This goal has brought her to the Academy of Realist Art. She greatly enjoys every moment of her studies under the renowned artists of Canada.

Wardle, Jennifer

Biography

Jennifer Wardle is a Toronto based artist. She began her studies at an early age at the Art Gallery of Ontario Gallery School and continued her studies at the Ontario College of Art and Design. She completed her final thesis year in the studio program in Florence Italy. Jennifer’s work has been exhibited in galleries and festivals in Canada, the United Sates, Hungary and Italy and is included in several corporate collections in Toronto.

Artist Statement

I am interested in creating a visual language in which all things that I feel to be beautiful and meaningful come together in a random and intuitive way. In my recent work, I’m revisiting places and moments in memories. There is an ephemeral, timeless mood evoking feelings of hope, loss and despair. I’m experimenting with materials and palette, allowing myself to explore unexpected combinations of colour and surface textures. With imagery taken from dreams and travels, recurring symbols define the space and allow a resting place before the exploration of the abstract landscape. The objects within the work become an allusion to our own impermanence and the passage of time. The viewer is the protagonist in my fantasy landscapes.

jenniferwardle.com
William, Jim

Biography

Jim William was born in Montreal. His work has been shown in several galleries throughout Toronto.

Artist Statement

“All in all, the creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world by deciphering and interpreting its inner qualifications and thus adds his contribution to the creative act.” -Duchamp

jimwilliam.com
Williams, Kara

Biography

I am a painter; I work in oils on canvas, with an expressive style, and primarily figurative subjects, with often dark, erotic, symbolic, or mystical subject matter. I received my BFA from the University at Albany, with a specialization in Painting. I also obtained a BA in English, specializing in Creative Writing from the same institution. Since graduating in 2001, I have focused on traveling and experiencing life, and painting. I have shown since 2005 throughout Toronto and Ontario, in many various galleries, such as the Propeller, Open Studio in Kingston, and I am represented by La Petite Mort Gallery in Ottawa.

Artist Statement

The theme of this series is “Heads and Other Parts.” You can see a mixture of heads which are not simply portraits, but expressive of something inside showing up on the surface, whether the part is a twisted foot, or a torso with several breasts, or a distorted face. These images are about the inner revealed in the outer, through the medium of paint. They also indicate the fragmented quality of the ego and self in modern society. These parts are primarily done from self portraiture, which is a classic method for the artist to have time at her leisure to study the face or body in question.

karawilliamsweb.com
Woods, Nicola

Biography

Nicola Woods is a visual artist working primarily in photography. Born in Sheffield, UK, she has a BFA (Hons) from the University of Manitoba and a MFA from Johnson State College, Vermont (2002). She has received several awards and grants including the Graduate Studio Arts Award from Johnson State College and a Residency Support Grant from the Vermont Studio Centre. Woods has participated in various solo and group exhibitions in Canada and the USA. In 2005 she was an artist in residence at Can Serrat, Centro de Actividades Artisicas El Bruc, Spain and her work was included in “Illuminating Developments: " at the Tower Fine Arts Gallery, SUNY Brockport, NY curated by Tim Massey. Recently Woods exhibited a site specific installation with writer Melanie Tinken at ‘Roadside Attractions' 911 Davenport Road, Toronto. In October 2008, she will be exhibiting a series of eye portraits at The Toronto Public Library, Leaside branch.

Artist Statement

Nicola Woods’ artwork consists of three illuminated photographs that explore the body as metaphor by focusing on the neck and throat, In this triptych of disquieting dreamscapes body memories surface to reveal physical reactions and emotional states. Existing in a puzzling realm between reason and intuition, between what can be proven and the unknown, the piece resonates with possibilities. These possibilities encourage the viewer to reflect on the enigmatic body as a metaphor for the narrative of life and death.

re-title.com/artists/nicola-woods.asp
Ykema, Janice

Biography

Janice was born and raised in the Niagara Region, receiving her degree at the Ontario College of Art and Design later in life. Her need to express her artistic vision recently set a new path for her life, resulting in an explosion of creativity which was immediately recognized by acceptance in juried shows, followed by awards for three of her pieces at their first showings.

Artist Statement

I am driven to paint from an innate desire to capture the vibrancy of life through art. I then invite viewers to interact with the emotional content of my artwork, in which I work to convey both the light and dark sides of the psyche, often from a foundation steeped in innocence. Using a richly layered colour palette I express myself through an impressionistic style that varies with subject matter and in doing so choose to bring a modern vision to the historic challenge: The artist: (the expressing and sharing of myself): the point of my new life.

janiceykema.com
Cioppa, Bernardo

Biography

Bernard Cioppa was born and raised along the eclectic St. Clair Avenue West area. Although his attraction to photography started at a young age, it was not until he was in college studying Journalism that his interest was renewed again. His first camera was his father’s Kodak Brownie which I would bring along on school trips as the official photographer. Bernardo feels that “as a photo enthusiast, I find the best way to find my subjects is to take my time walking the streets".

Artist Statement

I’m intrigued by the gritty side of life. And what’s more grittier, darker than our urban cities, and the people who make the streets their homes. There are many interesting personalities to be found on the streets and their faces say a lot to me. I see sadness, despair, boredom, and even happiness. Their eyes reach out looking for someone to talk to. They appear to want to welcome you into their lives, even briefly. Their loneliness can be broken with a few minutes of conversation. In short, the faces and personalities of these street people are just like anybody else, except they make their living are on our roads.

Cooper, W. Stephen

Biography

Photographer W. Stephen Cooper has lived most of his life in the nearby village of Swansea. He received his initial training in photography, along with film and video production at Humber College. Steve’s images have appeared in many Canadian newspapers, magazines, scientific journals and books. He was the principle author of “Watermills of Ontario, Quebec and Maritime Canada”. His photographs have been displayed at The Toronto Art Expo; Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition; Roncesvalles Village Studio Tour: The Arts and Letter Club; The Distillery District; The Muskoka Arts and Crafts Show; Scaramouche and Bloom Restaurants; and at the Paula White-Diamond Gallery in St. Jacobs.

Artist Statement

Steve’s black and white photographs are studies in the subtle play of light as it moves across the surface of deserts, mountains, canyons and wilderness areas. Through the making of these images, he examines the textures and patterns which exist in nature, sometimes revealed in the low light of deep canyons, the coarse grain of ancient, long-dead trees, or the smooth rock on the shores of remote northern lakes. The art and architecture of prehistoric Native Americans are also the themes of many of his studies. Recently, he has also turned his lens toward the relics of more recent times: ghost towns and historic artifacts, preserved by the clean, dry environment of desert regions.

wstephencooper.com
Doda, Rob

Biography

Do-da (doe – da) n . an eclectic visionary, illusionist, photographer, and artist

Artist Statement

As humans we see things but it takes the passing of time to truly appreciate them.

robdoda.com
Griffith, Martha

Biography

Martha Griffith was born in Toronto, and attended Concordia University in Montreal. She has received several awards for her work in film animation, and received assistance from the National Film Board of Canada and the Quebec government. Her first film, still to go, has been screened across North America and Europe. Martha works in a variety of mediums including: animation, sculpture and painting. She teaches art and design in the York Region District School Board in Ontario, and is currently working on a project with funding from the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.

Artist Statement

Chocolate Bait Series - As a child, I remember staring at the candy isles in convenient stores and hoping someone would buy something for me. I didn’t understanding how an adult could resist the pleasure of their sweetness. When I did get candy, I would eat everything at once. It was instant gratification. Long-term consequences were not on my radar. The chocolate bait series explores these ideas on a number of levels, including: fragility, seduction, uncovering, vulnerability, appearances vs. reality and reconstruction. We can be lured by the appearance of a good thing, and this can be a powerful motivator towards vice and virtue. My work often explores layers of human behaviors and development. I work with a variety of materials and enjoy the process of labour intensive mediums such as animation, mold making, painting and silkscreen. The result is a visual representation of my tactile explorations and learning.

Michael, Joseph

Biography

Joseph Michael is a commercial photographer who lives and works in Toronto, Canada. His images appear on album covers, web pages, newspapers, magazines, and even sometimes, walls. He is nearly finished his Master's Degree in Photography (M.S.) from Syracuse University. Nearly. In 2001 he graduated from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana with a B.A. in the Program for Liberal Studies. He is a citizen of both Canada and the United States. Joseph has lived and worked in four continents.

Artist Statement

All the photos are printed from digitally scanned, single exposure, 35mm film negatives taken with a nearly-broken automatic point-and-shoot camera. Only the saturation and contrast of the images have been digitally altered. Images were created by setting the camera on self-timer and throwing it into the air moments before the shutter was released. Various techniques for spinning and twirling were developed to create a variety of effects. I believe art should speak for itself and be judged without artist statements, biographies or explanations. This project was designed in part to challenge the notion that art must have meaning or symbolism to matter, and to show that absolutely random camera tosses can be equally complex.

josephmichael.ca