Exhibitions 2010

Extravagance and Prudence/ Media with Message
Fiona Kinsella, Susan Detwiler
January 30 - March 21, 2010
Reception: February 7, 2 – 4 p.m. Artists will be present, Artist talk with Susan Detwiler

Two artists’ series of works reveal issues and ideas expressed through the treatment of their unusual media. Susan Detwiler’s series ‘Park and Fly’ is a sculptural installation made primarily from suitcases to offer the viewer an intriguing setting that encourages thoughts about our relationship to the environment and our ideas of home. Detwiler’s prudent, transient living spaces are humourous through the ingenuity of her handling of found materials while being poignant in revealing our dependency on the natural world for our desires and survival. Adaptation is a central theme in Detwiler’s installation and in her video work. Susan Detwiler has her MFA from the University of Guelph, has exhibited since 1995 in Canada from coast to coast with sculpture commissions in Banff, Alberta and in the Donald Forester Sculpture Park in Guelph ON.

Fiona Kinsella brings three series of work to Glenhyrst in the form of cakes, eggs and paintings. Cracked open duck eggs enclose mixed imagery in a framed box presentation. Unusual visual combinations unveil ideas and stories about broken norms or traditions. In her Cake series, icing sugar acts as the initial design on cakes that are adorned with collected items such as porcupine quills and cicada wings. Kinsella’s cakes summon up ideas about celebration, preservation, and displaced relics. In her painting series, thick oil paint built up in extravagant, high swirls are dense, creamy and hard with shadows casting a spiritual glow. Fiona Kinsella has a BFA Honours from Guelph University and has an extensive exhibition history throughout Ontario, plus Georgia and Nashville, U.S.A., and Hungary.

This exhibition is made possible through the support of the City of Brantford, The members of Glenhyrst Art Gallery and through the Ontario Arts Council.

Time, Shadow and Light
Rey Baecher, Teri Donovan, John Ide, Barbara Rehus
March 27 – May 16, 2010
Reception: April 11, 2 – 4 p.m. Artists will be in attendance

‘Time, Shadow and Light’ hosts four artists who are concerned with memory, reflection, and invisibility.

Barbara Rehus is interested in the way our institutions can make people disappear from society. Large hanging transparent panels are marked with the faces of people no longer part of society. She also offers the viewer a glimpse of their lives through brief writings of their personal stories. Rehus’ series ‘Re-visible’ is accompanied by a typewriter to encourage viewers to add their own stories of invisibility.

John Ide’s drawings reflect on how collective memory affects us as individuals. His drawings are made up of thousands of lines; juxtaposed elements borrowed from famous works of art in ways that both honour their original intent and stimulate new meaning.

Rey Baecher’s pastel paintings are a blending of colours in this sensual media to illustrate reflected light. Where Ide’s work emphasizes the individuality of line, Baecher looks to create a harmony of undertones and colour. ‘The Subject is Clear’ series expresses his delight with the interaction of shapes, colour, and shadow.

Teri Donovan is a mixed media artist concerned with identity in relation to time and circumstance. Using family photographs, wallpaper and paint, her work is layered, faded and under renovation to reveal past lives within a new framework.

This exhibition is made possible through the support of the City of Brantford, the members of Glenhyrst Art Gallery and through the Ontario Arts Council.

The School Art Exhibition – Expressions 2010
May 22 - June 20
Reception: May 30, 2 – 4 p.m. in conjunction with FAMILY DAY

Selected Works from the Permanent Collection
June 25 - August 22

A permanent collection exhibition of historical and contemporary works includes oil paintings by Robert Reginald Whale (1805-1887) and his descendents, sons Robert Heard Whale, John Claude Whale and nephew John Hicks Whale. R.R. Whale is known as one of the first professional artists to work in the Grand River area. Other works include David Milne, David Blackwood, Frederick Hagan, A.J. Casson, Claude Breeze and new acquisitions.

Fire, Water and Air
Phil Irish, Jane Adeney, Robin Hesse
August 28 – October 31, 2010
Reception: September 12, 2 – 4 p.m.
Artist talk with Phil Irish at 1:00 p.m.

The exhibition Fire Water and Air includes three artists who independently work in fired clay, painting and drawing. The theme of the show asks the question; if the elements of fire, water and air that sustain humans can be articulated through symbolism and artistic endeavour - could the spiritual realm be exposed? Jane Adeney uses smoke fired clay, lights, water and sound to create sculptural installations that transform hard material into a state of mind. The metamorphosis in Adeney’s work inspires contemplation and sets the stage for a meditative experience. Her ceramic containers reflect the process of ritual and probe the mysteries inherent in the elements of nature and spirit.

Jane Adeney is a Hamilton artist who has been exhibiting her work in solo and group shows for the past 30 years. She studied art at McMaster University, Mohawk College, The Burlington Art Center and the Dundas Valley School of Art. This year she had a solo exhibition at The Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, and was awarded a grant from the
Canada Council.

Fire
Jane Adeney, Font, smoke fired clay, findings, water, water pumps, Plexiglas,
75 x 175 x 175 cm

Phil Irish works with the idea of multiple experiences along the Grand River. Irish requests and receives maps from strangers that express an emotional, secret or noteworthy experience that they have had in a particular place. Irish follows the maps and visits these same places where he takes notes, illustrates and draws his own experiences. Later in the studio he imbeds the original maps into oil paintings that he builds up from these two points of view. These paintings on exhibit relate to the theme of water, usually the Grand River. Representation and abstraction often collide in Irish’s work with his rich brush work and documentary approach.

Phil Irish graduated in Fine Art from the University of Guelph and lives in Elora, Ontario. He has had ten years of solo exhibitions including the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Cambridge Galleries, Latcham Gallery, and Robert Langen Gallery Wilfrid Laurier University. Irish has been a recipient of grants from the Ontario Arts Council including a Mid Career project grant. His work is in collections at the City of Kitchener, Centre d’exposition de Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec and the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, Guelph among others.

Water
Phil Irish, Water Wheel, oil on panel, 100 x 100 cm

Robin Hesse describes her work as being about the poetry and drama of the sky at night. Using a telescope for a closer observation of the celestial bodies, Hesse adds some knowledge of physics with her sensitive use of charcoal and graphite to render an interpretation of the sky as a metaphor for human behaviour. Hesse’s handling of her materials is thoughtful and gentle as she expresses the third element in this themed exhibition - Air.
Robin Hesse graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design as well as the University of Guelph. She has had many group exhibitions and solo exhibitions at the Burlington Art Centre, Latcham Public Art Gallery among others. Her work is in public collections including the Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery, and the Art Gallery of Peel. Hesse lives in Richmond Hill.

Air
Robin Hesse, graphite on Mylar, 27 x 27 cm

This exhibition is made possible through the support of the City of Brantford, the members of Glenhyrst Art Gallery and through the Ontario Arts Council.

Biannual Juried Exhibition FORCES OF NATURE
November 6 – January 7, 2011
Award Ceremony and Reception, November 13, 7 – 9 p.m.

It’s always intriguing to develop a theme that is relevant to our times and to the artists who interpret them. The theme Forces of Nature is timely as the issues of science, natural resources and the human condition are relevant in our current collective consciousness.

The call for entry for this show went out to artists throughout Ontario in all media for work created within the past eighteen months. The works you’ll see in this exhibition are combinations of ideas, materials, and views of our environment and culture.

Mounting a show such as this brings together 46 artists’ works from diverse disciplines into a comprehensive, relationship of contemporary ideas. We encourage open discussion about the trends in contemporary art today and particularly Ontario artists’ participation in that discussion. Artists from all over Ontario are included in this exhibition.

THE ARTISTS: Rey Baecher, Aleks Bartosik, E.M. Carr, Robert Crosby, Kathryn Crowder, Bruce Cull, David Cumming, Sally Cumming, Martha de la Fuente, Maria Drazilov, Mary Elizabeth Duggan, Jeff Ferst, Fran Freeman, Warren Hoyano, Robin Hesse, Jane Hook, Robby J., Margie Kelk, Anna Kutishcheva, Ian McLean, Helga Morrison, John Novak, Wendy O'Brien, Kevin O'Connell, Irma Osadsa, Yang Yang Pan, Valerie Pearson, Malgorzata Pienkowski, Linda Rapai, Tom Ridout, David Samila, Robert Sandieson, Peter Schacht, Lynne Schumacher, Ryszard Sliwka, Marcia Tavernese, Kate Taylor, Vlodek Tydor, Bill Urban, Julia Vandepolder, Johannes Vloothuis, Donna Willard, Kathleen Warnick, Janusz Wrobel, Eve Yantha, Barbara Young, Cristina Zanella

Jurors Critiques
November 13, beginning at 5:30 p.m., before the Reception
To embrace the act of criticism to further artists’ practices, Jurors Critiques are available free for artists who submitted their work to the jurying process, for individual feedback. Please sign up before hand.

An Artist's Guide to Working with Feedback with Adam Lodzinski
Sunday, November 14th, 1 – 3 p.m.
This one day free workshop will provide artists with concrete strategies,

steps, insights and tips for getting the most out of valid and constructive feedback, as well as how to evaluate their own work. This is a good opportunity for artists from all art forms (visual, dance, music, writing) to share ideas and experiences to develop a key set of skills. Adam Lodzinski holds a Ph.D. in psychology and is an established artist who has exhibited in over 100 art exhibits. Please RSVP by November 10 to info@glenhyrstartgallery.ca if you plan on attending.

Thank you to our lead sponsor MMMC Architects who will present the Jurors Award, Brian Stephen of RBC Dominion Securities who has sponsored the two Awards of Merit and Charles Jones Industrial Ltd. who sponsors the Peoples’ Choice Award which will be announced at the conclusion of the exhibition.