Elisabeth Heidinga, Ana Coutinho and Homa Esmaili

Curated by Beth Alber

These three recent grads of the Material Art & Design program at OCAD University have investigated issues that matter deeply to each of them. They have arrived at their conclusions through a rigourous process of stripping back layers to reveal observations prevailing in our urban society and nature. Examples of some concepts explored are:  beauty, identity, gender, environment, social constructions and demands.  This journey took them to the academic side of their art/design practice coupled with exploration and experimentation in the studio which has resulted in the clarity of the work shown in the exhibition.

Opening reception: Saturday December 4, 2-5pm

October 20 – November 7
Out of My Mind
Susan Wakefield        

No, Wakefield is not announcing that she has gone crazy. Her thoughts about creating art are that inspiration comes first, and the emotions that it engenders. Then the brain takes over, and begins the process of how and with what this work shall be made. The mind goes through the complex planning, and lets the hands take over to implement the creative process. Without the brain, she doubts that the art would come to fruition.Wakefield puts a narrative into most of what she does, telling a story about what she sees, but often with a twist in interpretation. Her paintings express the joy of children in simple delights, the beauty of horses, sometimes teaming them with people, who after all, have a long history together. Some of this is irreverent.
With metal, she often finds inspiration in plant life, particularly seed pods. She has also begun to work more with stone, cutting it to fit her needs and pairing it with metal.
Opening reception: Saturday October 23, 1-5pm

September 15 – 26, 2010
The Nature of Words
Reg Beatty, Sigrid Blohm, Wendy Cain, Mira Coviensky, Margaret Lock, Will Rueter, Don Taylor

This exhibition brings together unique works by seven book artists including accomplished private press printers, designer-bookbinders, papermakers, printmakers, and multi-media artists who use paper in assemblages and sculpture. Drawn in pen and ink or printed from wood and metal type; 'written' in legible letters or imagined alphabets, careful calligraphy or gestural grafitti; cut from leather and paper or constructed with wire and thread; from single pages to books and scrolls, these works encourage viewers to think about the many possible ways that texts can be presented, and therefore about the nature of words.

Reception: Sunday September 19, 2-5pm

July 7 – August 1
The Spirit Of The Thing
Ana Flander, David French, Henna Kim, Iwona Kmiec, Eva Lewarme, Erin Loree, Kurt Rostek, Janet Stanley, Justin Steinberg
Curated by Kurt Rostek, this exhibition is an exploration of art that deals with spirituality. Does being spiritual have some loosely defined form of dogma? How is it practiced? Or is this just a way to avoid the matter of religion altogether?
Opening reception – Saturday July 10, 2-5pm

June 2 – July 4
Washi – Take a line for a walk
Gallery Members’ Show

Doug Adams, Beth Alber, Anne Barros, Susan Carr, Mary Corcoran, Martina Edmondson, Vanessa Li, Melinda Mayhall, Chris Mack, Kurt Rostek, Toba Shapiro, Wendy Shingler, Susan Wakefield, Lily Yung
Using Paul Klee as inspiration, the vision is simple. The idea is simple. We are “taking a line for a walk.” The line may run off our hands either giving or escaping form, broken or continuous, precise or free to go where it will. Above all, we will allow the line a will, be it ours, or its own.

May 12 – 30
Eve – Woman on Water
Bill Filiou
Only woman gives birth to this world and through the fruits of her labour, gives joy to life. Because? Without women on this earth there would not be mankind at all. Throughout history women have been symbols of beauty and sexuality. But at the same time I captured women through my lens. Because I love them.
Eve is a concept that I created on storyboard first because I’ve always had the natural ability to draw.  I am more than just a photographer.
Reception: Saturday May 15, 2-5pm

April 28 – May 9
Wild
Wilma Needham

Savannah Baboons are studied by primatologists to research the social behaviours that inform human relations and history.  These digital images, conjuring up impressionist paintings, pose the fine art and craft tradition with the documentary. The images are an alternative to popular media, foregrounding a human stand-in, and investing meaning in the everyday life of a distant relative.
Participant in CONTACT 2010 Photography Festival
Reception: Saturday May 1, 2-5pm