Facing Forward

My art is purposeful, addressing educational advocacy on issues of gender and human rights abuse, specifically fertile young female reproductive autonomy.

• B.F.A. and B.Ed. in Art (U.B.C.)
• Nominated for LED Award 2015 for co-designer on short film drama “MADNESS"

Ava Margueritte is a multidisciplinary artist based in Ottawa, Canada. Her work is informed by a life living with neurodiverse conditions that allow her to find beauty and meaning in the ordinary of everyday life. She uses photography, drawing and painting to express her emotional response to light and her surroundings, resulting in deeply personal and introspective imagery, with underlying themes of identity, time and impermanence.

Margueritte graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design University with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts majoring in conceptual photography, and a diploma from School of Photographic Arts: Ottawa. She has received a grant from the City of Ottawa and a grant from the Ontario Arts Council in 2022. Margueritte has also received several recognitions including The Marc Guertin Craftsmanship Award, for outstanding photographic craft from the School of Photographic Arts: Ottawa, was shortlisted for the Athens Photo Festival, and a finalist for the Project X Photography Award from the Ottawa Art Gallery, the Ottawa Arts Council and the School of Photographic Arts: Ottawa. Her work is in the City of Ottawa’s permanent art collection, in private collections and has been exhibited nationally and internationally.

• Website: https://avamargueritte.format.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avamargueritte/ 

Blaine Labelle, a native of Sudbury, Ontario, embarked on a transformative journey that led him to discover his passion for the Fine Arts upon his arrival in Brockville in 2003. Although initially pursuing a degree in history at Laurentian University, it was during his time at St. Lawrence College that Blaine's passion for the Fine Arts ignited.

Captivated by the power of simplification and the expressive nature of mark making as a visual language, he discovered a profound fascination for the intersection of form and emotion. Influenced by the artistic legacies of Jean Paul Lemieux and Amedeo Modigliani, Blaine will frequently merge their timeless influences using modern drawing tools to create a unique body of works where the lines between traditional and contemporary art making are blurred.

I am basically a self-taught, amateur artist:

• I drew heads, faces and figures on my own as a teenager.
• I studied architectural design and drafting for 3 years, graduating as an Architectural Technologist, then studied with an architect for 3 more years.
• I taught high school for 33 years, subjects included Architectural Design & Drafting, Math, Science, Physical Education & Health, and finally Visual Arts.
• During my career, I took several teaching qualification courses including Visual Arts/Parts 1, 2, & 3 Specialist, as well as the occasional art course.
• I also earned a 4 year honours degree in Physical Education & Health through evening and summer courses at University of Ottawa, graduating in 1985.
• Since retirement in 2000, I have explored a variety of media (pencil, charcoal, soft pastel, water colour, acrylic and oil) and subject matter (portraits, landscapes, seascapes, architecture, automobiles, rowing, fantasy and semi-abstract).

Shackles work is an exploration of the markers left behind by change and choice, such as tattoos, oxidation, rust trails, peeling paint or wrinkles. He looks for those markers in the things we build from self and family to ships and buildings. Markers are given prominence in his work through design, form and shape making, brush strokes and colour.

He is an elected member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour (CSPWC) and the Society of Canadian Artists (SCA). Bob has exhibited in more than 50 juried shows in USA, Mexico, France and Canada; recognized with show awards in eleven.

Bob taught oil painting at St Lawrence College; Brockville Campus in 2015/16; and participated in a review of the Fines Art curriculum. In 2016 he drafted a New Member Standard for the CSPWC. He volunteers on local and national art society boards. He is a past Director of Youth Opportunities in the Arts, past Regional Director, and Treasurer of the CSPWC and past New Member Liaison/Director of the SCA. He chaired three Elected Membership calls for the SCA.

He continues to speak on art topics across the region and instruct on painting and drawing fundamentals at ArtsHub Brockville. In 2021 he launched “The Rowing Series” inspired by 40 years of rowing.

He is represented by Summer and Grace Gallery in Oakville Ontario. 

• Website: https://www.robertshackles.com/

Artist is an intuitive abstract artist. Art takes me out of the world and into a place of peace and stillness. It allows me to express emotions and feelings that words do not always communicate. I am inspired by colour, texture and shapes.

Artist has been painting since 2018. I am an active member of the Gananoque Arts Network.

My work as a visual artist is like a personal diary, an intimate expression of my healing journey as a woman and mother. I am inspired by symbols and messages hidden in the world around me – in my dreams, fairytales, and nature. I draw upon these ideas and visions in my art, telling stories that reflect my inherent strength and divinity as a woman.

About Christina Margaretha:

Christina Margaretha is an artist of Mennonite settler descent, based in East Gwillimbury, Ontario. She graduated from York University, Toronto with her Bachelor of Fine Arts, Honours degree and received the Tim Whiten Award from the Department of Visual Arts in 2001. Margaretha has a broad range of artistic experience including painting, stained-glass, textile and lens-based art.

At present, she primarily works in photography and her art has been exhibited in solo and group shows across Ontario. Her ongoing self-portrait series was included in a four-woman show at the Latcham Art Centre in Stouffville, ON in 2018, and most recently in a solo exhibition at Thus Gallery, Toronto, ON in 2024.

• Website: https://christinamargaretha.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christina.margaretha.art/

Cindy graduated from the Fine Arts program in 2009, and started her own Pet Portraits and Murals business. This year for the show, she has painted her portraits in black and white with a pop of colour.

Cindy stated that "I find the pop of colour brings energy to the portrait and guides the viewer to the main area of interest."

Throughout the years, Cindy has shown her paintings locally at different art shows and was a member of the South Grenville Guild of Fine Arts. In 2020, Cindy was presented with a certificate for third place on her artwork "Evening Tea" in the 13th Annual Alumni Exhibition. Cindy also works full-time as a nurse at the Brockville General Hospital in the Operating Room.

Throughout my career, I have devoted myself to the exploration of figurative sculpture and portraiture, with a particular emphasis on bronze. My academic journey began at Queens University, where I earned my undergraduate degree, and continued at York University, where I completed my MFA. My efforts have been recognized with the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Award for figurative work, a prestigious accolade that affirmed my commitment to an artistic path. Currently, I serve as a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa, where I instruct students in sculpture. My early work was deeply influenced by the unusual aspects of everyday moments, capturing individuals in candid, three-dimensional snapshots. These works, which I refer to as a "rupture in the mundane," seek to highlight the extraordinary within the ordinary. In the past decade, my practice has expanded to incorporate new ideas and mediums, with a focus on the intersections of technology, artificial intelligence, and environmental degradation. Despite these explorations, I consistently return to the human figure. It is through the figure that I find the most profound means of commenting on visual truths and the complexities of the human experience.

• Website: https://www.davidmcdougall.ca/ 

As an artist exploring queer modes of identity, family and kinship, I use photographic traditions to honour and preserve the relationships of my created family, documenting their fragility and transience.

I am a Chippawa born, Toronto-based visual artist. I have had solo exhibitions at RiverBrink Art Museum (2024), Cedar Ridge Gallery (2020), and Harbourfront Centre (2017).

My work has been featured in numerous group shows in the U.S. and Canada, including Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography and Tom Thomson Art Gallery.

I am the recipient of numerous awards and grants, including Canada Council for the Arts (2024, 2018), and Ontario and Toronto Arts Council visual arts grants (2018).

I have a BSc and MEng from the University of Toronto, a BFA from OCAD University, and an MA from Concordia University.

• Website: https://www.welivetheopposite.ca/ 

Dorothy Adlington is an award-winning Ottawa area artist specializing in Figurative Painting, Mark Making & Sculpture. She has been creating art for over 50 years and always follows her intuition in whatever direction it takes her. Dorothy continues to explore the figure and Mark Making in paint, drawing, and mixed media.

ARTIST STATEMENT

"It's about putting down a Mark then being open to the possibilities."

CV: ART EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• Dorothy received her Diploma in Fine Arts in 2009 and a Fine Arts Certificate in 1997 both with Distinction from St. Lawrence College.
• She graduated from High School of Commerce -Four year Vocational Art program in 1974
• Winning the most promising art student award in 1972.
• Dorothy has taken many classes and workshops throughout her career. Her Greatest Influence has been from Andrea Mossop and Hugh MacKenzie.

ART-RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Juried Graduating S.L.C. Art Students Virtual Show 2021

Dorothy has taught several figure sculpting workshops with the focus on sculpting the head, hands and feet.

SELECTED SHOWS

Marianne van Silfhout Gallery, S.L.C. Brockville: Juried 2023 Alumni Show: It Comes in waves. "It comes in waves of abstraction #1". Won 3rd place.

Isolation Creation "Brush Dance" series. (Virtual Show) 2021. Marianne Van Silfhout, S.L.C. Brockville.

Medium Effort, "Black & White - 2 Artists 2 Directions. July- August 2020.

OBO Studio Show/Cornwall "Littles Show" November 2019 - January 2020.

Go figure art group/ MAG Artists Tour 2019

Marianne van Silfhout Gallery, S.L.C. Brockville: Juried Shows: 2006 to 2019

St. Lawrence College Fine Arts Alumni Juried Shows: 2006 to 2019

Contact Information

Dorothy Adlington 

Cell: 613-360-0642
Email: dorothyadlington@gmail.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/dorothy_ann_adlington

Born and raised in Northern Ontario, self-taught artist Elaine McCurdie had an interest in art at an early age, but when life got busy art was put on the backburner. After raising a family, her time and passion for art grew once again and she realized it was time to get back into it. In 2015, Elaine took a very early retirement from a career in Timmins and relocated to Prescott in order to study the Visual & Creative Arts - Fine Art program at St. Lawrence College in Brockville. She then moved to Sligo, Ireland in 2017, where she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art. Since returning back to Canada, Elaine has continued participating in exhibitions and shows, and winning awards & recognition with some of her submissions.

Inspired by her own surroundings, nature, or ideas, Elaine tries to capture a hint of something from her everyday life, and is continuously exploring and trying new things. She enjoys a wide range of artwork, from realism to abstract, with a range of different subject matter and plays with acrylic, oil, watercolour, ink, pencil, printmaking, and/or mixed media. Her main focus is realism, but she also enjoys thinking outside of the box to see what happens when you let things happen and not having to focus on crucial detail. She looks at things like, "... ‘Life is a highway’ ... just as the scenery is constantly changing as we travel down the road of life, so does our artistic creativity and outcomes."

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elainemccurdie

Françoise’s approach to painting is to trust the process. She follows her instincts, take risks and allows her spirit to guide the way.

The ever changing vistas of the St Lawrence and the dynamics of her community serve as a continual source of inspiration.

“I use colour, texture and movement to express a moment in time all in a single heartbeat.”

Frank DeSa is an artist who lives and works in Kingston Ontario.

He uses a variety of materials and processes to make work.

He is a NSCAD graduate (97'), a St Lawrence Fine Art graduate (93') and has studied at Queens University.

• Website: https://www.frankdesa.com/

On a visit to the Royal Academy, I met an artist called Ken Howard. He told me instead of just looking at art, I should pick up a brush and do it. Some years later I took his advice and did a drawing class with Andrea Mossop then many happy sessions with Diane Godwin-Sheridan, I was accepted by the The South Grenville Guild of Fine Art (SGGOFA) and have exhibited with them plus various others (incuding Silfhout juried Ex. and Fulford House)

Why do I paint, well as Ken Honard said to me:

"Once you start, you will find it a wonderful and uplifting experience.” And you won’t be able to stop.

Graduated from Algonquin College Fine Arts with a focus on Art History, I have painted and

exhibited throughout Europe, the USA, and Canada. My works are featured in the homes and businesses of domestic and international clients.

As a narrative painter, I combine realism with whimsical elements using oils, acrylics, watercolours, and mixed media. My themes span portraits, still life, and landscapes.

• Website: https://janatraversy.com/

As an artist, I view my surroundings through emotion, colour and light contracts what catches my eye. Moments in time between people, a lost expression in one’s gaze, or a windblown tree at sunset. Making art is the ultimate selfcare.

Moving colour around canvas. Feeling vines in my hands as I harvest and make wreaths in nature. Becoming one with someone who has passed on. While staring at their image to capture their essense. The feeling of peace is all consuming when creating artwork.

Highlights of my artistic career have been the emotional reactions when reveals pencil portraits of passed souls.

I've had the pleasure of showcasing my works at:

• Ottawa Christmas Market
• Cornwall ArtWalk
• Spencer St. Muse Gallery, Spencerville
• Cline House Gallery, Cornwall.
• Artfest, Kingston.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarryTattersArtCompany
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/harrytattersartco

Having arrived in Canada decade ago to pursue academic life, I initially delved into the field of history, earning a Master's degree. Meanwhile, my evolving passion for the arts eventually led me to embark on a new educational path. Recently, I graduated from Seneca College with a diploma in Independent Illustration, specializing in traditional art materials. This educational journey fueled my desire to explore diverse artistic languages as a means of responding to contemporary societal dynamics and personal experiences. Additionally, my exploration of various traditional materials has enriched my creative repertoire. I am driven by a curiosity to delve deeper into artistic expressions that serve as reflections of the present society and my own lived experiences.

Awards:

• Faculty awards in the arts show, York University Gales Gallery
• Emotion in Motion Awards, Hamilton Plein Air Festival"

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jingjingzhang_art/

Jules Crowley is a self-taught artist who uses a unique blend of contemporary, realistic, and loose styles. Her works focus on portraits and landscapes.

In her portrait work, Jules strives to capture the personality and emotion of her subjects, inviting the viewer to connect with her art on a deeper level.

Jules lives and paints in Gananoque On.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julescrowleyart
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julescrowleyart/ 

I'm a self-taught artist hailing from Ontario, Canada. I was born in Ottawa and now call the charming village of Spencerville my home. After retiring from a career in graphic, web, and interface design, I discovered my passion for acrylic painting. I love painting animals and people, and try to capture their essence by portraying them up close and personal. My artistic journey is all about finding my style by experimenting with complementary colours, bold hues, and looser, less detailed strokes. My ultimate goal is to create a heartfelt connection between the viewer and my artwork.

My artwork has been showcased at some of the finest local venues like Cline House Gallery, Gallery 55, Shenkman Art Centre, Heritage House Museum, the Ottawa School of Art Boutique, the Art Factory, the Carleton Place Collective and the Fulford Place Museum.

I'm thrilled to have collectors of my art in Canada, the United States and Europe.I am eager to continue my journey as an artist and to learn and grow constantly. I plan on attending numerous workshops and creating countless more paintings in the years to come.

• Website: https://www.studiojuliemercier.ca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiojuliemercier/ 

I am a photographer hobbyist shooting with Sony DSLR and Mirrorless cameras since 2007. I am inspired by finding a unique view of a person, place, or thing, or by shaping a scene with various forms of light.

Local Publications:

• Site and construction photos for Brockville Railway Tunnel web site.
• Cover photo, 2017 Brockville Tourism Guide & city map.
• Feature photos and galleries on the Halls Apple Market web site (redesigned in 2017); www.hallsapplemarket.com.
• Feature photo for the 2016 Poker Runs America event poster for the Can-Am Poker Run in Alexandria Bay.

Numerous 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place awards in the Brockville Area Photo club's annual juried exhibit.

• Website: https://momentsbykeith.ca 

I live in Yellowknife, NT. My work combines self-generated assignments and personal projects that consider human connections with an ethnographer’s eye. I experiment with a variety of mediums including photography, book binding, soundscapes and zines. The art I make is informed by the extreme seasons of the Canadian north. In the summer I burst into production, energized by the midnight sun and the explosion of plant life. I rest, recharge and research new projects during the cold, dark days of winter. I have a BA in Sociology from UBC. I graduated from the International Centre of Photography in New York where I won a G&M Moss Scholarship for emerging artists.

• My work can be found at www.kirstenmurphy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murphykirstenm/ 

I always had a passion for art, ever since I was a young girl. I would spend hours sketching and painting. I was 5-years old when I began reproducing cartoon characters that were in the Sunday comics and I would make my own greeting cards.

My mind was always consumed by the vibrant colours in nature and the endless possibilities one could create in all forms of medium. As I grew older, my love for art only intensified and I decided to pursue it further. I took community college level art courses to refine my skills in sketching and watercolors. It was there that I discovered my true talent in pencil sketching. I was encouraged by my family to enter a juried art exhibition at the Spencerville Fair. To my excitement, famed local artist, Henry Vyfinkel was judging, and I was thrilled when I took first place! This win gave me the confidence to continue exploring different mediums. For the past 27 years,

I dabbled in various forms of art - watercolor, charcoal, acrylics, pencil sketching, pastels and coloured pencil sketching. Each one presenting its own challenges and joys.

But it was photography that truly captured my attention in recent times. I found a new love and appreciation for capturing the world through a photograph lens. My photographs were a reflection of my soul, with each one

telling a unique story. My journey as an artist has been a colorful one, but I wouldn't have it any other way. My passion for art continues to grow with each passing day, and I am truly grateful for the opportunities that have come my way. Who knows what the future holds for me as an artist, but one thing is for sure - my love for art will never fade.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lee.grattan.3 

Loren Frame, a Canadian emerging artist residing near Ottawa, graduated from St. Lawrence College's visual arts program. Her work has been showcased in various galleries and acquired by private collectors. She has received a variety of scholarships and awards because of her art, she will be completing her bachelor degree at the Atlantic Technology university in Ireland this coming September. Loren's artistic journey began with a family camera on hikes, evolving into a passion for graphic design and acrylic paint. Inspired by her surroundings and artists like Jane Austin and Fleetwood Mac, she seeks to capture the whimsical essence of nature and humanity. Working predominantly at night, Loren crafts tranquil images that offer viewers an escape into her world, providing solace from external worries.

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenframes_art/ 

For the past few years I have been creating pieces that often explore themes of life, the reflection of time and the peeling away of exterior layers to reveal internal intricacies. In many ways it is an introspection into my personal journey and that of others that I was privy to observe.

The purpose behind my work is to expose, express and provide insight into the raw emotions involved in the journey of life through clay, wood and glass.

BIOGRAPHY:

Marlene was born in Southern Ontario, where she lived, studied and experimented with clay as a young child. Her passion for sculpting and the endless possibilities of what could be created from a block of clay kept her mesmerized.

She studied Graphic Design in Toronto and furthered her education by attending various workshops with gifted artists from across Canada and the US.

Through the years her work has been published in various books, magazines and newspapers. She has exhibited at many group or solo shows and has private collectors from Canada, US and Europe.

Memberships:

• Sculpture Society of Canada
• Fusion
• Ontario Society of Artists
• National Capital Network of Sculptors
• Artparks, UK
• Arts Society King

Publications:

• Arabella Magazine
• 500 Raku
• A Celebration in Art
• Zoneone Art
• Sculpture Society of Canada (book)

Exhibitions:

• Artists Project
• Cedar Ridge Creative Centre
• Homer Watson Gallery
• Wellington County Museum
• Galerie W
• Station Gallery
• Leslie Grove Gallery
• Elora Outdoor Sculpture Show
• Sculptors Society of Canada
• Color and form Society
• Ethel Curry Gallery
• Donna Child Fine Art Gallery
• Eclipse Gallery
• No Words Gallery
• Gallery 121
• Cambridge Centre for the Arts

• Website: https://marlenekawalez.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mkawalez 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marlenekawalez/ 

Artist statement:

I am captivated by the intricate relationship between the hidden sanctum of the soul and the psychological constraints imposed by the female body. My works emerge from the shadows and primality of my existence, diving into the roots and marrows of my female identity, the birth of the struggle to understand my own nature.

Beginning from the spontaneity of my subconscious and the appearance of personal symbols, I extract fleeting images and blend them with the erotic. Through the delicate layers of oil paint, I uncover the liminality between the conscious and unconscious mind, weaving my own narrative of introspection. Each stroke reveals a hidden truth, confronting and liberating, lamenting the inherent absurdity in life, the sense of alienation, and the tendency to become slavish not only to societal expectations but also to my emotions. My art is an open gate into my most intimate space - where my lies are unwrapped and my vulnerability is divulged.

Artist Bio:

Meera Dinh (b. 2000, Vung Tau, Vietnam) is a Toronto-based artist specializing in oil painting. She earned her B.F.A. Honours in Drawing and Painting from OCAD University in 2024. Her work delves into the complexity of female identity, transforming personal and external experiences into dynamic compositions rich with intimacy, eroticism, and transformation.

Her exhibitions include GradEx 109 at OCAD University, "Marooned," and "Silent Shout" at the Ada Slaight Gallery. She completed a public mural, "All the Faces Here and There," at OCAD University in 2022 and was featured in Ambré Magazine, Issue 4. In 2024, she received the Akin Career Launcher and Career Launcher Fund RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers award. Meera has also served as an Art Facilitator at Valley Park Middle School in Toronto and as a Gallery Assistant/Translator Intern at Craig Thomas Gallery in Ho Chi Minh City.

• Website: https://meeradinh.wixsite.com/website
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m.sarts/ 

Monica Lowe is a quilter and textile artist based on treaty one territory on the Canadian prairies. A fine arts honors graduate, Monica focused on her career as a film distributor and senior arts administrator for nearly 20 years before discovering quilting and textiles as an artistic practice. Exploring how she can manipulate fabric and what stories it can tell is a passion for Monica. She is currently working on several bodies of work, including a collection of larger than life food, a portrait series, and an intuitive exploration of colour and shape.

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handmadebymonica78/ 

ARTIST STATEMENT

A big focus of my work centres on portraits, or people in urban settings. I like to capture that quiet energy within my subject, or subtle connections that exist between people.

I paint contemporary, figurative works mainly in acrylic or oil on canvas, and enjoy using strong colours and sharp contrasts in my paintings. I like to use a combination of hard edge colour or line to emphasize contrasts, but also use a softer or blended approach in other areas of my paintings.

BIO

Nadra Chapman is a self-taught artist living in Toronto, who focuses on the everyday experiences of urban life. While the themes presented in her work tend to be common place or ordinary, she likes to draw attention to what might be hidden underneath the surface.

Nadra has shown her work in several art galleries in and around Toronto and the GTA, as well as in New York, mainly in juried group shows. She has received 2 first prizes and 1 juror's award in some of the group shows she participated in.

Nahil is an expressionist figurative artist, a Jordanian woman and mother with palestanian roots, based in Toronto. currently enrolled student in the Fine Arts program at Centennial College. She participates in different group shows and exhibitions at 2024 such as Lisle Grove gallery, 1313 Gallery, propeller Gallery, Northern contemporary Gallery.

Nahil believes that Art serves as a medium for conveying messages and ideas that have the potential to alter beliefs and encapsulate complex narratives, she aims to express emotional experiences using different mediums in painting such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, her goal is to reflect the hard challenges and deep emotions, and effectively communicate and explores the essence of peoples stories. Her artwork is an invitation to break the boundaries between cultures , The diversity in meduims and textures allow her to portray scenes and emotions, her artwork inspired by her heritage, traditions and family.

Nahil aspires to raise awareness, foster empathy, and contribute to a deeper understanding of what all cultures have in common and how much all humans around the world have similarities more than differences.

• Website: https://www.nartspace.com/ 

Patrice is an emerging artist who draws inspiration from her dynamic life journey, spanning diverse landscapes and experiences. Settling in the Kingston area, she explores themes of resilience and connection in her artwork. From her early experiments with Chinese watercolour to her poignant "Pandemic" series, Patrice infuses her pieces with profound simplicity and depth.

Her versatility shines through as she navigates various mediums and subjects. Most recently, Patrice draws inspiration from ancient cave paintings, weaving past and present in her captivating artwork.

Each brushstroke invites viewers to embark on a visual journey, rich with emotion and imagination.

The inspiration for much of Patti’s artwork comes from her feminism, Canadian-SicilianOrcadian heritage, and her love of horses. She incorporates these influences into her pieces, which often explore themes of land, water, and flora. Patti’s extensive travels play a significant role in her artistic process, as she uses photo documentation to capture and examine her surroundings. She has a particular affinity for taking close-up, intimate shots of small areas, such as a six-inch square of plants, land, or structures.

Her paintings convey a simple narrative filtered through her personal experiences and documentation. Her work delves into the interplay between line and empty space, as well as colour and form, creating a sense of disquiet and tension. She begins her creative process with gestural drawings and then employs intuitive embellishment, resulting in representational and abstract pieces. Process and materiality are central themes in much of her work. Through her unique approach to painting and her use of photography, she brings a distinctive perspective to her artwork.

In her new Trinacria series, the work uses the Trinacria symbol associated with the Island of Sicily and features the head of Medusa. Utilizing Helene Cixous' essay "Laugh of the Medusa" where she uses the figure of the Medusa as a metaphor for women's power Patti has re-imagined and reclaimed Medusa's power through a series of portraits of family members and friends. This series represents the power within all women. "You only have to look at Medusa straight on to see her. And she's not deadly. She's beautiful and she's laughing" (Helene Cixous, Laugh of the Medusa).

Patti is a graduate of McMaster University with an Honours BA in Art and Women’s Studies. Patti’s artwork has been showcased in solo and group exhibitions throughout southern Ontario, and she has also participated in artist residencies.

• Website: https://www.pattirandazzobeckett.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patti.randazzo.beckett/ 

As a photographic artist, I explore the intersection of art and story telling to create works that are both compelling and artistic. My art of recent is a reflection of my fascination with models, and I use various props to capture the beauty and complexity of the world around me.

Through my art, I aim to inspire viewers, inviting them to see the world from a fresh perspective.

My creative process is driven by curiosity and experimentation, and I am constantly seeking new ways to push the boundaries of my medium.

Ultimately, my goal is to create art that is both personal and universal, speaking to the human experience and the world we share.

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/clikncapturephotography

Rachel Legault is a self-taught artist. She enjoys working with oils and mixing her own colours. She especially likes to paint landscapes that make people feel like they could step into the scene and linger for a few moments. She has been participating in group and solo art exhibits since 2015. She is a member of Brockville Artists Studio (BAS) as well as Eastern and Central Ontario Art Association (ECOAA).

She was awarded an Honorable Mention for her painting ”The Meandering Path” at the Kingston School of Art (KSOA) 4th Juried Art Exhibition and Sale in 2021.

• Facebook: Rachel Legault Art
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/rachellegault6 

Artist Statement

Printmaking is an art form capable of limitless expressive capabilities, with printing processes lending themselves to experimentation in execution. It allows me freedom to respond to ideas that stimulate, or engage my curiosity. Responding to my environment, concentrating on using one, or a combination processes throughout a series, and with one line of inquiry leading to another. My hand pulled-prints are created through printing of multiple layers, resulting in images with simple to complex relationships between lines, shapes, patterns and colours. My work has been described as being rooted in abstract expressionism and colour-field painting, and leaves the viewer in an imaginary space, and evokes responses rooted in memory and experience.

My artistic practice reflects influences of painters and printmakers including Anthony Whishaw, Harold Town, and Otis Tamasauskas.

Biography

Roger Sutcliffe is Nepean-based, award winning painter and printmaker with a Diploma in Fine Arts from the Ottawa School of Art (2018), where he concentrated in his final year on printmaking. He is a member of the Ottawa Gatineau Print Connective, and served on the Ontario Society of Artists (OSA) Executive Council. His creations have been exhibited in over 200 exhibitions. Roger’s recent printmaking has received recognition being invited to participate in Unique Impressions, International Monoprint & Monotype Invitational 2022, Davidson Galleries, Seattle, USA, and solo exhibitions at the Stone School Gallery, Portage-du-Fort, Quebec, Neilson Park Creative Centre, Toronto, and Parrott Gallery, Belleville. 

He was awarded Ontario Arts Council exhibition grants from 2020 to 2022. He received the OSA Eleanor Besen Award in 2022.

He is represented by the Galerie W, Gatineau https://www.galeriew.ca and has work included in the Ottawa Art Gallery Galerie Annex.

For more information see:

• www.rogersutcliffe.ca
• www.instagram.com/art_by_roger
• @art_by_roger

I have many joys in life but not many can compare with an afternoon with the brush in hand, surrounded by beautiful music inspiring me to create a piece of art. I have always liked to create in one way or another- even as a child with the knitting needles and the old treadle sewing machine.

I cemented my desire to concentrate on brush and paint work by completing a Diploma of Western Art in Singapore where I lived for 11 years. I had marvellous teachers there- Mr. Tong and Mr. Loy. They were wonderful mentors and generous with their knowledge.

I lived in Asia for 16 years and many summers I took courses from the wonderful teachers in the Brockville Summer School of the Arts. Many inspired me but none as much as an American guest teacher who opened my eyes to see beyond the simple:

I could experiment and from then my passion has been acrylic and mixed media. I rely on the piece of work leading me in its own direction.

Some wonderful and some bizarre results. I love being with artists and creative people- and children they often show me the way!

The simple, complex and beautiful. As with beautiful music, beautiful art and anything created by hand and love can move me to tears.

I hope I will always find the time and the passion to continue my journey of learning to create the more interesting; and in the process, grow, learn and enjoy.

Rosemary Waggott
613.803.3654 
waggott.rosemary@gmail.com

Bio:

Sabrina Leeder is a lens based artist from the Toronto region. Leeder holds a BFA majoring in photography from OCAD University (2016). Leeder's work showcases a unique blend of technical expertise and creative vision. Leeder's background in sports photography, gives her a unique perspective.

Having worked as a photographer and restoration specialist with the Hockey Hall of Fame, Leeder has honed her craft in capturing the intensity and athleticism of the human form in motion. However, her true passion lies in the realm of fine art photography, where she finds solace in exploring the intricacies of the human experience through her lens.

Leeder's works have been shown at various galleries across North America and Europe. Her works can be found in private collections throughout Canada and the United States.

As the owner of Preston Gallery, Leeder not only works to promote other Canadian artists but continues to push the boundaries and challenge the conventions of traditional photography within her own practice.

Leeder is a member of the Women’s Art Association of Canada.

Statement:

The Voices series is about conveying dignity and honouring of the stories of indigenous women’s fight for recognition for the Missing and Murdered indigenous women who are unable to speak for themselves. While this message is at the heart of the images it is the vivid portraits communicate the strength and resilience of the community. This work is about connecting the whole community - both indigenous and not, to these stories. Paying tribute to these women in a dignified and non-exploitive way. These beautifully meaningful works of art are created to celebrate the stories and culture of indigenous peoples across the nation.

It is their turn to speak and our turn to listen to their stories both visually and through spoken and written word.

• Website: https://www.biaphotography.com  

As an artist, I have always been drawn to the expressive power of photography. With a camera in hand, I am able to capture the world around me in new and unexpected ways, creating images that tell a story, evoke an emotion, or simply capture the beauty of the moment.

My approach to art photography is deeply rooted in my own vision and personal style. I am drawn to picture things with capability to show more than just a beautiful picture, with strong compositions, and the interplay of light and shadow. Whether I am shooting landscapes, still lives, or portraits, I always strive to create images that are both visually striking and emotionally resonant.

• Website: https://sinasr.com/ 

My practice uses portraiture to normalize discussions around race, sexuality and gender. The same mediums I enjoy using the most: text, drawing and video are my most consistent forms of inspiration. Poetry, written texts (actual physical books, not blogs), still (drawings remain my favourite) as well as moving images (typically film more than animation) resonate with what I want to express visually.

Recently, ‘memes’ as a layered, biting form of response have become a strong influence in my approach to making work. The weapons at my disposal are puns and sharpie markers.

I am a graduate from the joint Art and Art History program at Sheridan College and the University of Toronto, and have had solo and group exhibitions in Canada, the US and Europe.

My goal is to question what may have been taken for granted as ‘true’, and at the very least, spark a conversation about why it is so funny.

• Website: https://www.artstevekhan.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevekhansays/ 

Steven Lewis is a Toronto realist painter whose work has focused mainly on depicting the human form. For him rendering the specific individual is of the utmost importance. Through careful observation of the subject, and practice, he undertakes to capture their likeness in paint. He believes that through this concentration a oneness develops between the painter and sitter. The result is we get a glimpse of the personality of the subject and the painter.

Steven’s work was recently part of a two person show at Leslie Grove Gallery in March 2024, called “Concurrent”. He was a finalist in the prestigious Kingston Prize Portrait 2009, and Ottawa’s Figure Works 2022.

Steven is active the community by running a weekly life drawing session, and is active in the mental health world, being a member of Workman Arts, and running painting programs for in-patients at CAMH.

• Website: https://stevenlewisart.com/ 

Susan was born in Montreal, Quebec, and after graduating from Dawson College lived in Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa, before marrying her husband Tom, and moving to the beautiful 1000 Islands. Susan has dabbled in a variety of creative outlets; quilting, stained glass, graphic arts, fine arts, and Paverpol. She likes to be active and golfs, swims and curls. She also practices yoga and meditation, and has attained her 2nd degree in Reiki. Susan and Tom have two adult children, and two grandchildren, ages 5 and 2, who keep them very busy when visiting from Toronto.

While the style of the Group of Seven and the Impressionists were her initial inspiration, her love of vibrant colour and the beauty of nature drew her to start painting. She has taken workshops at SLC with Andrea Mossop, Anna Krak-Kepka, Bob Shackles, and the late Diane Sheridan, as well as with Barbara Sohn and Jules Crowley. Susan has created coasters, trivets and other artworks using alcohol ink on tile, and has been successful selling her work at art shows, craft exhibits and through private commissions.

Susan is a member of the Brockville Artist Studio and the Cornerstone Artistry Guild. Painting has allowed her to express herself in a way that is surprising at times, and while the process is always an interesting journey, it does bring a wonderful sense of accomplishment when complete. Susan would like to thank her friends and fellow artists for their support and encouragement to keep making art.

Born in Canada, educated in England, Canada, USA. Studied Drawing & Painting at the Ontario College of Art 1964 to 1967.

I became a painter of colours, ideas, people, visions, and energies and also a scientific illustrator, who had to look carefully at life. My art depends on how I am inspired. Drawing in air or drawing en plien air. Seeing is a multilevel discipline.

Painting is my way of understanding of life. I believe like Antoine de St Exupery, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly” & Picasso, “When Art is properly understood it can cure even a toothache.”

Art

Theme painting for the Animals in Nature Hall, “We Are All In This Together"

Canadian Museum of Nature in the Collections of:

• National Museums of Canada, Agriculture Canada, & Global Affairs Canada .. “Oscar”, & Oscar’s Wild Home”
• Solo show Cornwall Regional Art Gallery “Canadian in the Promised Land”.
• Part time Teaching Master, Art and Design, St Lawrence College (1984 1990’s) Algonquin College(1986-1988)
• 2017 - 2019 Phoenix Network ABI Ottawa Ontario.
• Taught art to acquired brain injury client

Awards

• Ontario Arts Council Grant for “Canadian In The Promised Land”
• solo show Cornwall Regional Art Gallery
• Marianne van Silfhoute Gallery St Lawrence College Brockville : 2017 award, 2018 award

Illustrations

• North American Identification Manual, Near Arctic Diptera, Biosystematics Research Agriculture Canada (Preliminary illustrations)
• The Tinuit, ISBN 0-660-50280-1 National Museums of Canada
• National Museums of Canada Gallery Guides
• The Herb Cook Book 1977 1978 1981
• The New Herb Cook Book ISBN0-963169-0-9
• Pond Sounds ISBN 978-0-9917508-0-1 Author/Illustrator

• Website: https://works-end.com 

In the era of film, I used to make slide sandwiches. This was the process of combining two or three slides to create a montage. The development of technology has made this process much easier. I work on the computer using Photoshop, however, the first step is still in camera. When I combine images, a story unfolds. It can be whimsical or realistic. With my photo art, I wish to give people something good on the eye, something that may be a mirror to their own experiences, something that cheers them.

• Website: https://waltersphotography.ca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiwaltersfineartphotography 

I pursued a degree in Sculpture at a university in Busan, South Korea, before relocating to Toronto in 2002. At Sheridan College, I shifted my focus to computer animation and spent 15 years honing my craft as an animator. Concurrently, I created over 100 clay portraits for company magazine covers and produced several short animations, earning accolades such as the Content Grand Prix Special Award in Japan. Throughout my career, I have been deeply fascinated by the expression of characters, driven by the unique and often subconscious traits that each character embodies.

In 2022, I received the Best in Show Emerging Artist Award at Breakthrough PLUS. That year, my work was featured in the group exhibition "Dream of June" at Laird Art Gallery and was subsequently acquired by Korean embassies. I actively participate in the 'Restoration' exhibition by the Korean Art Society of Canada and contributed to the 60th anniversary of Korea-Canada Diplomatic Relations Exhibition last year. This year, my work has explored new styles using leather, garnering positive responses. These leather pieces will be showcased at the Assembly Hall Gallery next year.

My current artwork, which involves picking and scratching leather, emerged from a deeply personal place. After a cancer diagnosis last year, I reflected on my physical fragility during chemotherapy. This led me to a profound realization of the primal essence that leather represents—an element of nature's vast providence.

The act of scraping and marking the rugged leather symbolizes both my resilience and my will to live. It also represents a journey that transcends mere destruction. The reverse side of the leather, with its soft, fur-like texture, signifies rebirth and renewal. Each piece of leather offers unique expressions, and I strive to convey themes of courage, steadfastness, and compassion through my work. I hope that this innovative method of working with leather will become a significant contribution to the evolution of artistic expression.

• Website: https://www.taeyouk.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeotaylor 

Tania Craan settled in Toronto after graduating from Sheridan College leading to a career as a graphic book designer. After moving to the Kingston region, she opened the Odessa Project ceramic studio in Odessa, Ontario. Her background in design and illustration brings a unique personal expression to her ceramics.

The portrait, nature, graphic book design, and a desire to tell a story inspire Tania’s ceramics. Her obsession with drawing finds its way onto her handbuilt or thrown pieces. Clay is her canvas.

• Website: https://odessaproject.square.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/odessa_project/ 

Art is my freedom of expression.

• Graduate of the school of Art & Design, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts 1976. Visual Arts Program.
• Awarded The Arthur Lismer Memorial Fund Scholarship 1975.
• Elmhirst Lalonde Publishing - x3 Children's Illustration Books
• Freelance work: Protestant school board, graphics for Rogers Cable Television, Promotion illustrations
• Phoenix Productions 1980
• Fashion illustration for Hudson’s Bay 1977

Exhibits:

• Alvarium 2024
• ТIFFA 2023/2024
• Solo Show – Medium Effort 2023
• Santa Fe Gallery 2014
• Tom Thomson Art Gallery 2010

I'm a multi-media artist focused on creating artwork that finds passion in the everyday, with a particular interest in capturing the beauty behind people and places; anything that can evoke a feeling of joy from a sense of shared interest and familiarity. Art is a multi-faceted subject for me; it's not only a way to express thoughts and emotions, no matter how simple or complex, but it is also a way to share some of my humanity and soul in an increasingly disconnected, technology-based world. Putting a bit of myself into everything I create is a major factor in what inspires and drives me forward to learn and expand my skills.

Art has always been a part of my life, and I was able to further hone my skills and start to find my artistic voice by attending the Visual and Creative Fine Arts Program at St. Lawrence College. There I received multiple honours such as holding a position on the Dean’s List and receiving the Faculty Award for the program. I was also privileged to create and submit a painting to the Royal Canadian Navy during the Program.

• Facebook: Victoria Edgar Fine Artist (https://www.facebook.com/VEdgarStudio)
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/v_edgarfinearts 

Wendy Mitchell is a graphite portrait artist. Wendy's love of drawing is never more evident than in her baby and toddler portraits. She captures fleeting moments and infectious smiles using the simplicity of pencil on traditional paper or drafting film. Using photos as a reference, Wendy creates graphite portraits that become treasured family artwork.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wmitchell.art
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wmitchell.art/ 

Artist Statement:

From an intersectional and transnational feminist perspective, my artistic practice involves a long-term, ongoing documentary photography project on social movements for women’s rights, social justice, and liberation. I also create powerful artworks employing photography, mixed media, and poetry. My works speak to both personal lived experiences and the collective social, political, and economic realities faced by marginalized and oppressed people. 

Biography:

Yafang Shi is an award-winning artist and poet, insightful journalist and passionate activist. 

Her artwork Fire is the winner of the York Region Arts Council's YR Arts Awards. Her poetry has been published by the literary journal Ricepaper and her short story has been anthologized by Inanna. Her poetry won the Aurora Public Library's writing contest twice.

She is a member of the Women's Art Association of Canada and York Region Arts Council.

Her artworks have been exhibited in solo exhibitions hosted by the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, Women's Art Association of Canada, University of Toronto, York University, Aurora Public Library, Markham Public Library in Canada and the independent Gallery of Owspace Bookstore in China. Her artworks have also been exhibited in group exhibitions hosted by the Art Gallery of Ontario, York Region Arts Council, Women's Art Association of Canada, King Heritage & Cultural Centre, and the Orillia Museum of Art and History.

She, along with her collaborator Susan Wu, displayed their socially engaged installation "Screaming Red Lanterns" in front of the Provincial Legislative Building on International Women’s Day and during Asian Heritage Month. They were later invited to display the installation at an Asian Heritage Month event organized by the Kensington-Chinatown Local Immigration Partnership Network. 

She has been fighting against censorship by public institutions and advocating for better public art policies and human rights policies.

She is the founder and editor of the feminist website Loving Sister (http://lovingsister.com/)