Saturday, January 16, 2010

A look at visual artists in Jordan Village this weekend

I don't often write about the visual arts in this space, as I am more into music and the performing arts, frankly, and those areas are my areas of expertise (or so I like to think!). However, I do have an appreciation if not always a full understanding of what visual artists are trying to communicate through their work, and find their work endlessly creative and fascinating to look at. Last summer when Art City was launched in downtown St. Catharines, I took the tour on a lovely summer evening along with many others, and discovered a wealth of talent out there just waiting for us to 'discover' them. It was quite enlightening, and I hope we have the opportunity again this summer if Art City returns to the downtown core.

This afternoon, while many were visiting Jordan Village for the launch of the Niagara Icewine Festival, I was visiting the Jordan Art Gallery right beside one of the Festival tents, for the launch of an art exhibition by our neighbour here in St. Catharines, Sandy Middleton. Sandy works full-time as a photographer and designer, and her company, Tansy & Co. produces a line of art that reflects her love of home design as well as expertise in the field of photography. Working in these two media, Sandy has created over the past while everything from handmade printed lampshades and linen pillows to tote bags and image art in old window frames. There seems to be no end to her artistic reach, and the subject of today's art launch at the Jordan Art Gallery is another example of her fresh thinking: now we have photographic images superimposed, if you will, on aluminum. You really have to see it to fully appreciate the effect, and you can do that through to January 30th at the JAG or anytime on her website, www.tansy.ca.

While Sandy's present exhibit is only for a short time, her association with the Jordan Art Gallery will continue, as she has become a partner along with other artists who have permanent displays of their work at the gallery, which has become sort of a collective for contemporary artists working in all media here in Niagara. Among the artists sharing space at the gallery are Lillian Aylesworth, Janny Fraser, Joyce Honsberger, George Langbroek, Mori McCrae, Michelle Teitsma and Jan Yates. I had a chance to view many of their works on display at the gallery, and it is a testament to the variety of media used by these artists; there is just so much to see and experience in a relatively compact space. And of course, all the art is available for purchase.

I don't get out to art galleries as much as I should, really, but the variety I saw today suggests to me I had better get out more often, as there is so much to experience right here in Niagara by artists of every description. And they are all approachable, creative souls more than willing to discuss their creations with you!

Incidentally, coming up next month is the Heart to Heart Silent Art Auction to benefit the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario. The Heart to Heart theme pays homage to the love and generosity of spirit symbolized by Valentines Day. A portion of sales from this artful auction will be going to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario, with the opening reception and preview set for Sunday, February 7th from 2 to 4 pm; the auction closes Sunday, February 28th at 4 pm. More information on the Heart to Heart auction and the artists involved can be found on the gallery website at www.jordanartgallery.com.

January 16th, 2010.

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