Call for Artist Submissions at Tay River Gallery

Calls for spring programming have begun at Tay River Gallery, the first for a Canadian Wilderness Art show in April/May 2008 and the second for a Figurative Art Show in June/July 2008. Specifics are detailed below.

There will be no feature shows held at Tay River Gallery in Perth until April 2008. For the winter months paintings by gallery artists will be on display and refreshed with new works on a bi- monthly basis.

Call For Submissions from Artists for upcoming Major Exhibition
"An Artistic Exploration of the Human Form"

A Figurative Art Exhibition of Drawings, Paintings and Sculptures at Tay River Gallery.
Exhibit Dates - June & July 2008.

The central motif of the artwork must be the human figure. Nudes, semi-clothed and fully clothed figures with artistic focus on the aesthetics, or alternatively, as social or political commentary, expression of human experience, allegory, fantasy or narrative. Drawings, Paintings,Textile and Sculptural works accepted.

Artists are requested to make their submissions by March 1st 2008 to Lisa Brown, curator of Tay River Gallery at lbrown@tayrivergallery.com. or if image file is large please send to lisabpavie@gmail.com

Submissions should include 4 - 8 images (jpgs low resolution) of the work you are submitting to display and a short biography, resume and artist statement. Please detail the medium used as well as the physical dimensions of the work.Please provide a link to personal website if available. Digital submissions are preferred.

Hard copies CD, or print portfolio are also welcome by mail:
L. Brown Tay River Gallery 28 Wilson St. W. Perth On. Canada. K7H 2M9.
Please include full contact information.

Call for Submissions from Nature Artists for Spring Exhibition
"Call of the Wild " Canadian Wilderness Art Exhibition.

An exhibition of paintings, drawings and photography on the subject of wildlife/nature art.
Exhibition Dates April May 2008

Wildlife art/nature art is the theme of our spring show. We are interested in works on paper and canvas with the emphasis on works on paper. Drawings and Paintings in various media-graphite pencil, ink, watercolour, pastel, coloured pencil, oil, acrylic.

Artists are requested to make their submissions by February 10th 2008 to Lisa Brown, curator of Tay River Gallery at lbrown@tayrivergallery.com. or if image file is large please send to lisabpavie@gmail.com

Submissions should include 4 - 6 images (jpgs low resolution) of the work you are submitting to display and a short biography, resume and artist statement. Please provide detailed description of works submitted, size, medium, etc. Digital submissions are preferred.

Hard copies CD, or small printed portfolio ( 81/2 x 11) size are also welcome by mail:
L. Brown Tay River Gallery 28 Wilson St. W. Perth On. Canada. K7H 2M9.
Please include full contact information.

Please note that the gallery will be closed on December 31, January 1st and 2nd and reopen on Thursday January 3rd . Winter hours at the gallery will be Monday, Thursday and Friday from 11 - 5 and Saturday from 10 - 5 p.m. The gallery will also be open by appointment on Tuesday and Wednesday.

We wish everyone the best in the New Year! 2007 has been good to us at Tay River Gallery and we hope to do exciting new things in 2008 ,which we simply can't divulge at this time. Stay Tuned!
Cheers, Lisa and Dave

Great Christmas Ideas from Tay River Gallery

Canadian art is our specialty and if "Canadiana" is what you are looking for for someone on your Christmas list or are thinking of treating yourself, here is a short list of gift ideas available at the gallery:
Close to 200 paintings by Canadian artists are on exhibit year round from miniature size to grand. Small matted paintings and prints, photography ready for framing. Art cards .
Gorgeous artist jewelry by a number of area jewelry designers in a wide range of prices and styles. Tai Knots Jewelry by Rachel Norman, and Glass Jewelry by Kirei Samuel to mention a few.
Funky "Art to Go " Handbags by Catherina Breedyk Law, Hand Dyed Shibori Scarves in Silk and Silk Velvet by Kit Vincent.
Textile wall art by Karen Goetzinger and Catharina Breedyk Law in contemporary style.
Woodturned bowls and Vases in cherry, hackberry, maple and birch by Lorne Babb.
Carved ducks , and loons by Chris Taber. Carved Birds by William Shelaga.
Pottery and Raku by Helen Stone, Pottery by Anne Chambers and Handbuilt pottery by Marie Paquette.
Fused Glass by Suzan Kowalski, and Stained Glass by Davie Pavie
Art Instruction, Craft andArt Reference books and a small selection of art materials.
Books, fiction , non fiction and poetry by area writers.
Ready made Frames with linen liners in a variety of sizes. We offer custom framing with a discount to seniors.

Note to International Artists from Tay River Gallery

We have been receiving many unsolicited submissions from international artists with large graphic files which our website mail account cannot accomodate. As a consequence, the mailbox is frequently full, and mail is bounced.
Please direct your artist submissions to lisabpavie@gmail.com and please reduce the size of your photos of your works to around 100 kb. each. We prefer to receive a link to a website, or to a blog rather than images attached to the email.
We are interested in seeing international submissions but please send to the alternate email address : lisabpavie@gmail.com
Thanks for your cooperation,
Lisa Brown, Gallery Director

Harmony by the Tay River

Tay River Gallery's holiday art show takes Harmony as its theme and features a variety of interpretations by talented area artists. The gallery is brimming with art of every size and description imagineable to delight the art lover and collector, so take advantage of our extended holiday hours during the month of December to see the exhibit. We wish everyone in the community peace and harmony this holiday season.

Highlights of the show include:

Boldly coloured and textured interpretative oil landscapes by John Stevenson;
Serene abstract paintings by Anne Barkley, engaging the imagination in an exploration of line, form and colour;
Spontaneous alla prima oil paintings by Margaret Chwialkowska, capturing nature's moods in high colour;
Irridescent acrylic paintings by Vivien Tytor focused on properties of light and reflection ;
Colourful expressionistic narrative paintings with texture by Fortunee Shugar exploring joy, innocence and memory;
Ethereal and dramatic impressionism in winter and fall oil landscapes by Tricia Savoie ;
Tranquil harmonious oil landscapes of pastoral scenes by J. Allison Robichaud ;
Interpretative realistic paintings by Deborah Saulnier portraying scenes from everyday life;
Small interpretative vignettes of childhood in oil by John G. Morin;
Spontaneous explorations in colour and texture with acrylic paintings by Rivka Waas;
Quebec nostalgic rural scenes and children in chorus featured in oil paintings by Jean Gauvreau.

Harmony Art Show opens next week

Harmony the last show of the year at Tay River Gallery promises the art lover, connoisseur, and collector a " feast for the eyes" with paintings of every size and description displayed from Nov. 20th to Dec. 31 on the theme of harmony.

Yes, our gallery will be brimming with art in every nook and cranny. Featured artists for the Harmony Show will include Anne Barkley, Margaret Chwialkowska, Jean Gauvreau, J.G. Morin, Deborah Saulnier, Fortunee Shugar, John Stevenson, J. Allison Robichaud, Vivien Tytor, Rivka Waas, and Tricia Wilmot Savoie.

As well we have an ongoing exhibition of works by John Alexander Day, Mary Nunn, Bill Veale, France Tremblay, Heather Assaf, Karen Phillips Curran, Shirley Mancino, Martha Markowsky, Normand Baril, Deborah Czernecky, James E. Pay, Antal Serences, Gudrun Schutz, Mary Schofield, Sylvia Summers-Martyn, and Andrew Olscher. Don't ask how I make it all fit as I never know until the last painting is hung whether I actually will manage it and we do have four lovely sized exhibit rooms for paintings. What would I ever do with a"grand gallery space" like those I hold a twinge of envy for - ( Rouge Gallery for one) and other marvelous grand sized galleries ? I have my hands full with TRG thank you very much.

As usual the excitement builds, as well as a teeny bit of apprehension in the days prior to the mounting of the show, and prior to the hours of backbreaking labour to make it all come together. I really have got to get more help, I squeek frantically as the deadline approaches!

The art will make the walls sing regardless of my attempts at orchestration, because there is so much beauty to behold in the upcoming show. The art will speak for itself most eloquently.
Parting words of your humble gallery curator, Lisa Brown, just a few days before the show opening.

Tay River Tattler Newsletter now online!

The Fall issue of the Tay River Tattler is now posted on our site. Read the article about our current featured artist John Alexander Day in the latest Tattler with photos from the reception held earlier this month. The Tattler is the Gallery newsletter with information about the featured shows and upcoming events. More pictures of John Day's new paintings are posted on our Featured Artists Page for John Alexander Day as well as on the online store.

The fall is a wonderful time to take a day trip to Perth and stop in to see the art show at the gallery and also see the sights in the area.

One new addition to Perth's growing list of attractions in the past year is the new Myriad Cinema in the Old Perth Shoe Factory Building at 1 Sherbrooke St. Every last Sunday of the month from 2 to 4 p.m, a selection of short independent films from the Spiritual Cinema Series are featured, sponsored and run by Lanark Hills Foundation. The only charge is a $2 donation, plus the cost of hot buttered popcorn or drinks you may want to indulge in.
They have been described as "Two hours of inspiring entertainment, that will warm your heart and stir your soul - in hard-to-find movies you are unlikely to see anywhere else".

Last Sunday was my first opportunity to go to the movies and my husband Dave and I enjoyed watching them together and were both thoroughly impressed. What a wonderful selection of short films! The films from the Spiritual Cinema Series are short films from around the world by independent film makers and deliver a wonderful story with tasteful production that is thoroughly entertaining , engaging and heartwarming... all in a matter of 10 to 20 or so minutes. The entire program lasts two hours with 4 to 5 short films included.
Check out the Movies Page on the Myriad Centre for the Arts Website for the next series of movies which will run on November 25th or call Jim Deacove at 613-267-4819 for more information.

Reception this Saturday for John Alexander Day Solo Show "Elements"

Join us for the artist reception this Saturday on Oct.6th between 2 and 4 p.m. and meet talented landscape artist John Alexander Day featured this month in a solo exhibition "Elements" at Tay River Gallery. Elements features 36 new landscape paintings with a mix of pastoral, seascape and wilderness settings.

John Alexander Day Solo Exhibition "Elements "Oct. 2007

Tay River Gallery will present a major solo exhibition of new paintings by John Alexander Day "Elements" during the entire month of October. The opening reception will be held on Saturday October 6th from 2 - 5 p.m at 28 Wilson St. W. in Perth. Meet the artist and view his latest exciting new works. The subject of his current paintings on exhibit are the natural elements of land and sea, painted on locations of recent travels including the Georgian Bay area.

John Day captures the character of his settings with expert handling of dynamic light,colour and form using his characteristic strong brushwork. A plein air painter with over twenty years painting experience, John Alexander Day is an elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists.

As plein air painter, John Day paints primarily outdoors on location to capture the qualities of light and atmosphere of the setting in his paintings.

"I have a deep reverence for the Canadian landscape, and for that reason I primarily work outdoors on location. From the rural countryside to the urban landscape, I try to capture the light and atmosphere and their effects at different times of the day. I use these outdoor studies as the foundation for my larger studio works. By working in this way I feel connected to the great tradition of plein-air painting, and to the artists past and present who continue to be inspired by nature."

Artist News Item

A Watercolour/Watermedia Workshop "New Beginnings" with Mary Nunn will be held on October 20th and 21st from 9:30 - 4:30 at the Experimental Farm indoors in Ottawa. Cost of the Course is $175 gst included. Sign up now as enrollment will be limited.

Join Mary Nunn for a weekend watercolour/watermedia workshop. This course will look at a number of new starts, ways of connecting to your art work on a personal level. This may include writing on the paper surface, the addition of a still life element for content and context, or just storytelling. The focus will be on putting a personal twist on a favourite painting, starting a painting from a collage element and more.. .
Registration by mail. For further information on how to register call Mary or Ian at 613-722-6687.On receipt of registration and payment, a confirmation letter and workshop preparation kit with detailed location map will be sent by email or return mail

Artist News Item

Art Workshop by Shirley Mancino in October
Shirley Mancino is still taking reservations for her upcoming workshop Experimental Extravaganza: Collage to take place Oct. 20 and 21 from 9 - 4 each day. The workshop will be held at her studio in Westport and costs $110 for two days. Contact Shirley by phone at 613.273.2984 for details and to register.This exciting workshop will help artists break free and explore new directions in mixed watermedia. You will loosen up and explore the interesting effects and textures created by combining watercolour or acrylic with various other media.Composition and design is a fundamental part of the session, and creativity, fun and individual uniqueness will be emphasized.

Gallery News Update

It is mid-month and for those who have not yet been in to see the wonderful solo exhibition this month by J. Allison Robichaud, there are only two weeks left to see this artist's latest masterful works. Robichaud's oil paintings featuring idyllic landscapes and florals are suitable for the home or professional office setting with lasting appeal and value. Check our website for the artist's page or online store to preview the individual works available. The gallery is open 6 days a week, and closed Tuesdays.

J. Allison Robichaud Exhibition September 2007

"In art, one does not aim for simplicity; one achieves it unintentionally as one gets closer to the real meaning of things." Constantin Brancusi, Romanian sculptor,1926.

J. Allison Robichaud takes simplicity to the sublime with his masterly brushwork in new paintings on exhibition this month at Tay River Gallery.

Robichaud’s distinct painting style has a quiet elegance and ethereal quality to it that is an integration of poetic atmosphere and painting technique. Subtle progressions in texture and layered tone in the paintings are comparable to the movements in a classical concerto. Treatment of light,and atmosphere with cloud formation and wind effects hold the viewer captive spellbound in the skilfully rendered 'moment in time'. Landscapes, pastoral and wilderness, as well as still life florals capture fleeting beauty, and engage the viewer’s attention with harmonious colour, delicacy and poignancy in presentation.


These are not paintings meant for quick study. These contemplative, harmonious compositions beckon a quiet mind to perceive the subtle nuances as the viewer experiences a scene in Robichaud’s world on canvas. The evocative aspects of nature portrayed reveal this plein air painter’s strong connection with the spirit of nature. Robichaud depicts the natural world as a harmonious, peaceful and beautiful place, a 'place of truth' and his paintings are truly the works of a virtuoso in tune with his environment.

Internationally known and highly respected landscape painter J Allison Robichaud of Prescott is an elected member of the Institute of Figurative Arts. He is a "plein air" painter, who works outdoors on location to paint his landscapes. He has demonstrated a life-long passion for his art with a span of over 30 years painting. He has taken part in twenty four solo and numerous group exhibitions in Ontario and Quebec, working exhibitions and Canada's most prestigious art symposiums. He was included in International Artist's magazine feature "Master Painters of the World - Canada" in June 2004. Mr. Robichaud is also author of the book, The Reflective Stepping Stones of a Painter, published in 2002.
Allison Robichaud is exhibiting in a solo show at Tay River Gallery, Perth until September 30, 2007. The vernissage will be held on Saturday September 8th from 2 to 4 p.m. at 28 Wilson St. West in Perth.

Artist News Item

Deborah Czernecky will be exhibiting five of her paintings in a juried show at the Public Art Gallery in Victoria B.C. , The Gallery Cafe in September. Pictured in the photo is Deborah painting on location in Georgian Bay this summer. Deborah is off to Southern France on the 7th of Sept to paint near Toulouse and she will be back in Ontario early October to paint the fall colours. Deborah Czernecky has paintings on display in Tay River Gallery throughout the year.

Artist News Items

Gallery artist, Karen Goetzinger will be featured in a City of Ottawa solo exhibition of mixed media textile work in " The Nocturne Series" at Centrepointe Theatre Gallery, Ben Franklin Place Ottawa from August 31 - Oct. 3rd. Reception on Sunday Sept. 9th from 2 - 4 p.m.
A number of textile artworks from Karen Goetzinger's "City of Dreams" series works are currently on display at Tay River Gallery.

Gallery artist,Tricia Wilmot Savoie received an honorable mention for her painting entered in the East Central Ontario Artist's Association (ECOAA) Annual Juried show currently showing at Centrepointe Theatre Gallery until August 31. Works by Tricia Wilmot Savoie can be viewed at Tay River Gallery year round.

The Awakening Oct 4 - 7th in Perth

The Tay River at Stewart Park in Perth will be the gathering place Oct 4 - 7th for everyone to take part in The Awakening hosted by the Circle of All Nations. Elders of different countries will gather to share wisdom and knowledge and discuss how people of many nations can help heal the Earth as it continues to undergo environmental changes. As well as teachings, there will be live entertainment with music performances by First Nation artists and a powwow. For more information visit www.merriwolf.blogspot.com or www.circleofallnations.ca.
Bring your family and friends. This is an important event and I am taking this opportunity to personally spread the word. See you there!
Lisa Brown

Coming September: J. Allison Robichaud Solo Exhibition

Tay River Gallery is proud to present the new works of accomplished Canadian landscape painter, J. Allison Robichaud of Prescott in September from Sept 1 - 30th. The Artist Reception will be held on Saturday September 8th from 2 - 4 p.m. at the gallery located at 28 Wilson St. W. in Perth. Meet the artist and enjoy the show. Refreshments will be served.
Allison Robichaud is a highly respected artist who paints the Canadian landscape on location outdoors. Mr. Robichaud has participated in numerous solo and group shows in galleries in Ontario and Quebec and has been featured at workshops and prestigious art symposiums. His landscape and still life paintings are in private and corporate collections in Canada and abroad

Catch the wave of Summer Splash at Tay River Gallery

Catch the wave of Summer Splash before summer is gone. An exhilarating show with plenty of punch, Splash features over 180 works by 28 regional artists in watercolours, oils, acrylic textile and photography. This summer show continues until August 30th with featured artists Heather Assaf, Anne Barkley, Normand Baril, Catharina Breedyk Law, Deborah Czernecky, John Alexander Day, Karen Phillips Curran, Jean Gauvreau, Karen Goetzinger, Ann Gruchy, Catherine Kelly, Shirley Mancino, Martha Markowsky, Marianna Mikhaylyan, Andrew N. Olscher, James E. Pay, J. Allison Robichaud, Leslie Rohonczy, T. Wilmot Savoie, Mary Schofield, Antal Serences, , Gudrun Schutz, Connie Spencer, John Stevenson, France Tremblay, John Topelko, Vivien Tytor, Bill Veale, Gary Webster, David Zimmerly.

If you are looking for a painting for your home or office, this show offers the widest selection of paintings in a variety of styles, media and subject matter, in large and small sizes, to suit any setting with an offering of consistently high calibre original works by respected and popular artists from the region. Take a trip out to Perth before the summer is over as this show will be displayed only until August 30th.

The gallery welcomes Normand Baril, Ottawa area pastel artist, Bill Veale, Perth watercolour artist, Anne Barkley of Williamsburg, Vivien Tytor of Ottawa, Marianna Mikhaylayan of rural Quebec, and John Stevenson, landscape artist from Aylmer Quebec as participants in our summer show.

Artist News Items

Congratulations to gallery artist, France Tremblay from Ottawa who has recently been juried into the "Paint the Parks" show for 2007. France's painting entitled "Jumbo Rocks " which depicts a scene observed at the Joshua Tree National Park in California was selected for this impressive show. Paint the Parks (formerly called "Arts in the Parks") is a leading competition in the United States. Each year, it commissions a professional panel of jurors to select from thousands of entries the hundred winning images, well known as the "Top 100". The competition celebrates the United States national parks, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the National Parks Foundation and the Paint America scholarship Fund. To view the exhibition online and the details of the tour, visit www.PaintAmerica.org and go to the Paint the Parks section. Paintings by France Tremblay are currently displayed in Tay River Gallery in Perth.

The gallery welcomes guest artists Anne Barkley and Marianna Mikhaylyan. Anne and Marianna are exhibitors in the current summer show, Summer Splash exhibition at Tay River Gallery.
Anne Barkley, Williamsburg area artist, is a member of several arts organizations, and in 2005 was elected as a member of the Society of Canadian Artists. In 2006 she was elected as a Fellow of the Ottawa Watercolour Society. She has paintings in public and private collections across Canada. Anne has taught many workshops and classes in painting and drawing. A number of Anne's distinctive abstract works are exhibited in the current show. Anne's current body of work maintains a focus on the complexity of simple abstract shapes where skilful application of compositional elements engages the viewer's imagination and emotional response.
Marianna Mikhaylyan is an artist of Russian-Armenian origin currently living in rural Quebec near Montreal. Marianna studied as an artist in applied arts at the Moscow Academy and has participated in various art shows in Russia, USA and Canada. Her expressive and energetic figurative paintings are stylized works with texture, bold colour and strokes, and loose flowing movement incorporating the central figure and surrounding space.

Karen Phillips Curran has recently opened her new studio , Riverstones Gallery in Burnstown Ontario near Calabogie. Best of luck to you Karen!

James E. Pay and his wife Eileen have recently relocated to Nova Scotia to live by the sea. We expect to see many new coastal scenes from James in the near future.

Vivien Tytor is featured in a solo exhibition in Ottawa called IRIDESCENCE A series of paintings with colours that shift in hue as the viewer moves or the light on them changes
from July 26 - August 18, 2007 at theVisual Arts Centre, Orleans. Works by Vivien Tytor are also featured in Summer Splash show at Tay River Gallery this summer.


John Alexander Day and Deborah Czernecky have been away in Georgian Bay this week with their painting group for a week long ' paintathon'. We hope this trip is as productive as the previous year. New gems for the gallery coming up! Do send the photos of the trip along.

Tricia Wilmot Savoie is off to Bon Echo for the annual weekend long art show in the Provincial Park.

That's it for the latest artist news from the gallery.

Summer Splash

Summer Splash, our summer - long fine art extravaganza at Tay River Gallery opened on July 4th with "summer fresh" works from 28 regional artists. A wide selection of original art in terms of style, subject matter and media is displayed all summer guaranteed to provide some splash to your summer whether you come to simply browse and visit or decide you must own one of one of these high quality original Canadian artworks.

Plan to set aside some time this summer to see this show with its abundance of summer seascapes/landscapes, florals, figurative and abstract works painted by our regional artists. If not at Tay River Gallery, then perhaps visit a gallery located near you. These talented Canadian artists are most certainly deserving of our recognition, respect and support. Art enriches the soul as we are witness in a brief glance and connection with the essence of another human soul through the medium of the artist's creation.

We encourage and welcome parents to bring your children out to the exhibit as well. We firmly believe that the early appreciation of art and creativity in all the arts are important to quality of life. Fine art exhibitions are generally free events and provide enjoyment to young and old without barriers. We take our children to movies, arcades, museums, zoos and amusement parks. Why not art galleries? Let's make a point of passing on this reverance and appreciation to our young people so that our cultural life remains rich for many generations to come.

Mystic Village CD "Emerge"

A further musical note of interest.
The Mystic Village CD "Emerge" is available for sale at our "brick and mortar store" at 28 Wilson St. West in Perth Ontario and can also be ordered online from the online store at www.tayrivergallery.com.
Copies of Paul Brown's CD " Cosmic Love" and Full Moon Rainbow" can also be purchased at the gallery.

Check out Paul Brown's Music at www.paulbrownsound.com

If you haven't heard Paul Brown's music, do take the time check it out on his website at www.paulbrownsound.com. Paul Brown is an extremely talented Ottawa area Canadian musician who has been creating music for the past 15 years. Everything from groove based funk songs, funk/soul, jazz, folk and experimental soundscapes have been part of his repertoire. A unique and technically brilliant sound experience, Paul's music will take you into the labyrinth of where all really good music travels. This is contemporary music well worth the journey.
You can hear clips from the new Mystic Village CD " Emerge" recently produced in collaboration with Mike Conto, as well as other earlier work, Cosmic Love and Full Moon Rainbow and more recent compilations by Paul Brown. The music speaks for itself - impeccable compositions of musical genius. Have a listen.

Shirley Mancino:"Converging Worlds" at Tay River Gallery

A major solo exhibition opened June 1st featuring the paintings of Shirley Mancino, Westport Ontario artist. Over 100 paintings, both framed and unframed by this talent prolific artist are on view for the month of June.

Shirley Mancino travels to Asia every winter and her dramatic figurative, landscape and abstract paintings are largely inspired by her travels. No dabbler with a paint brush, Shirley is a committed serious , hard working professional artist who also provides excellent art workshops in her studio in Westport. Her joie de vivre and passion for art are evident in her striking works.

The June issue of the Humm, Arts and Entertainment monthly features Shirley in an article "Shirley Mancino - Have Brush, Will Travel ".
You can pick up a copy locally at business locations or see the online version at
www.thehumm.com/2007/06/shirley_mancino_have_brush_wil.html

Do take the time to view this exhibit during June. Some of her works are also posted on our website on her artist page and in the online store where you can safely order online. A Mancino work is definitely worth collecting!

Artist Reception this Saturday April 28th for Blooms Art Show

Join us this Saturday at Tay River Gallery for the vernissage for Blooms which takes place between 2 and 4 p.m. Refreshments will be served in the afternoon. Everyone is welcome. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the artists and see the abundance of gorgeous blooms that grace our walls!
Our spring art show Blooms features the floral paintings by four dynamic artists: Leah Dockrill, Bill Keast, Andrew Neil Olscher and Gilda Pontbriand. The show runs until May 3oth.
Also , a reminder that festivites are scheduled throughout the day for the Maplefest this Saturday in downtown Perth.

Leah Dockrill's acrylic florals are realistic renderings with a close up view of the bloom in all its glory. Bill Keast brings his unique style using the "cloisonné technique" of outlining forms. Andrew Neil Olscher, Lakefield area professional artist brings his version of blooms in thickly textured paintings, with a dynamic presentation of colour and texture. Gilda Pontbriand's floral images dominate the canvas with intense colour and dramatic impact.

Hope to see you Saturday!
Lisa Brown

"Awakening" to be held April 16 in Ottawa on Parliament Hill : Re the contributions of the arts to our nation.

I received an email from artengine today today about an event that will be held on April 16th on Parliament Hill organized by the Writers'Union. I think the agenda deserves as much attention and participation by artists as possible so I am reprinting their release in my blog for your information and to encourage participation in the event.

"The Writers’ Union of Canada is holding an Awakening in Ottawa, on April 16, and
your voice is important. Come and help us “awaken” the Harper government to the
cultural and economic contribution the arts make to Canada.

We believe that our nation's cultural health depends upon the constant flow and
consumption of art and artistic ideas. The Arts, like our lakes and rivers, are a
vital natural resource that can be too easily neglected.

The Arts tell us who we are. The Arts tell the world that Canada is more than
Mounties and maple syrup … The Arts boost our economy.

Writers and filmmakers and playwrights and visual artists and musicians and dancers
and performing artists are holding a press conference in the Charles Lynch pressroom
on Parliament Hill at 1:30 pm on Monday, April 16, 2007. After the press conference,
Canadian Artist from all disciplines will gather in front of Center Block for the
Awakening event.

Ask everyone you know to come to Ottawa with us. And let us know if you will attend
the Awakening by e-mail to info@writersunion.ca


For more information on “The Awakening” please contact
Deborah Windsor
Executive Director of the Writers’ Union of Canada
dwindsor@writersunion.ca
416-703-8982 ext 221"

Artist News Item

John Topelko was in the news in the past week as well. John has donated bronze relief artworks originally commissioned by A.Y. Jackson years ago, to an Ottawa park in Manotick and a school named after the famous painter. The CBC interviewed Ottawa artist, John Topelko last week.
From CBC News online. Friday March 23,2007.
"Ottawa artist donates portraits commissioned by A. Y. Jackson" .
"Two portraits of A.Y. Jackson commissioned by the famous painter decades ago will soon be on public display in Ottawa after a 50-year journey into existence and a subsequent struggle to find a home."
See full story covered by the CBC online at the following link:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/03/23/ayjackson-070323.html


Another news tidbit while still on the topic of John Topelko. Topelko has taken on the task of teaching art to residents at the Royal Ottawa Hospital in Ottawa once weekly on Saturdays. This recreational art program is a new initiative created by John as he was surprised to find there was no program of its kind in place for the residents.
Bravo John! Let's hope other artists will follow his lead and pitch in to contribute some time to this worthwhile program.

John Topelko's oil paintings can be seen year round displayed in Tay River Gallery in Perth, Ontario.

Artist News Item

Gallery artist, Karen Phillips Curran was in the news this week in an article posted in the Bermuda Sun on March 23, 2007. The article recounts an interesting story of the artist's first trip to Bermuda in 1987 and how Bermuda became a reference point for Curran's work and forever changed the direction of her art.
Works by Karen Phillips Curran can be seen on display at Tay River Gallery in Perth, Canada.
The article is reprinted below with permission from Bermuda Sun.

3/23/2007 12:10:00 PM

'Bermuda's the reference point for all my work' Twenty years ago Karen Phillips-Curran was a struggling artist in Ottawa. Today, one of her full-sheet watercolours can cost you up to $1,500. Ms Phillips-Curran looks back over two decades of painting and at one moment in 1987 that she says forever changed the direction of her art - coming to Bermuda. Inspired by a book she was reading which encouraged young artists to travel, Ms Phillips-Curran decided to visit Bermuda in the hope of finding her muse. There was only one problem - she was broke. After several weeks of careful negotiating, she persuaded some close friends to fund her trip to Bermuda. Ten friends paid $100 each and, in return, they asked that she paint them each a different portrait of the island. "What happened then, in hindsight, was a pivotal moment. It manipulated the whole direction of my art" Ms Phillips-Curran explained. Inspired by the landscape, colours and traditional architecture of the island's buildings, she says that her trip to Bermuda was when she really 'came into her own' artistically. Her long-time friend and fellow-artist, Emma Ingham Dounouk, a Bermuda resident, first met Ms Phillips-Curran on that pioneering trip in 1987 and says that she has been amazed at the transformation of her friend's work ever since that first visit. Ms Dounock said: "There is something magnetic about the colours for her here in Bermuda. The shapes, the textures, how one line breaks over the other, her eye has become so well-trained to the nuances that are so distinctly Bermuda." The trip put her artwork on the walls of the Windjammer Gallery - where she's been showing for 17 years. Her paintings could also be seen in the 'Pretty in Pink' exhibition which recently showed in Dockyard. She now paints all over the world. Last spring she set down her easel to paint the churches of Venice, the mountains of Sicily and the olive-orchards of Greece, but says her mind was always somewhere else: "Bermuda's my reference point for all my artwork. I see Bermuda everywhere." Her greatest career hurdle came two years ago when she was diagnosed with cancer of the iris. She was devastated at first and noticed it was beginning to affect her work. Despite radiation surgery the tumour still remains in her eye. But she remains optimistic and still runs her own business in Ottawa called Ferrytale Studio. And, on the side, she helps paint the sets at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, which she has been doing for ten years. She has more plans to travel overseas but says she always knows there is a place for her in Bermuda. Link to original article in online edition of the Bermuda Sun is http://www.bermudasun.org/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=230&ArticleID=33092

News Update at Tay River Gallery

Only two weeks left to catch the art show, Passions of the Heart. It's definitely worth a visit! The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 - 5 during March.

Welcome back Shirley!
Shirley Mancino has just returned from her 3 1/2 month trip to Thailand and Myanmar. Shirley's work will be featured in a solo show in June. We can't wait to see her dramatic new inspirations.

We welcome Mary Schofield, Perth area artist formerly of Montreal to the gallery this month. A group of Mary's oil paintings of flower arrangements are currently on exhibit. These works are exemplary of her unique style of palette knife rendered, texturized works using a bold colour palette.

Our spring art show Blooms opens April 1st and features the floral paintings by four dynamic artists: Leah Dockrill, Bill Keast, Andrew Neil Olscher and Gilda Pontbriand. The Reception for Blooms will be held mid-show, on Saturday April 28th from 2 - 4 p.m during the Festival of the Maples in Perth. The show runs until May 3oth.

Leah Dockrill, Toronto area artist, is an elected member of both the Society of Canadian Artists (since 2000) and the Ontario based Colour and Form Society (2007). She has participated in many juried, group and invitational exhibitions since 1997 and a solo show in 1998. Leah 's acrylic florals presented in this show are realistic renderings demonstrating her technical brilliance and the poignant physical beauty of her subject matter.

Bill Keast, Belleville area artist and former art teacher exhibited rural landscapes in acrylics in the winter exhibit, Snow Defines at Tay River Gallery. In Blooms Bill brings an exciting mix of florals, up close and personal in his unique style using the "cloisonné technique" of outlining forms. The artist finds his inspiration for these works in his own backyard garden paradise.

Andrew Neil Olscher, Lakefield area professional artist brings his version of blooms in bold thickly textured acrylic paintings of vivid flowers in mass. His free flowing style of impressionistic floral images provide a dynamic presentation of colour and texture. Over the past fourteen years his work has been exhibited in a variety of group shows and purchased by private and corporate collectors and galleries locally and internationally.

Gilda Pontbriand, Ottawa area artist studied art in Mexico, Canada and France and has had over 75 solo and group shows in Canada, Japan, Korea, Mexico and the United States. She has won twelve national and international awards for her work in oil, acrylics and mixed media. Gilda's soulful images " travel between the mundane and a magical world without making the illusion of reality its main objective".

Spring is in the air and the blossoms at Tay River Gallery beckon.

Gallery News at Tay River Gallery

March 2007
Passions of the Heart continues this month with works by ten Ottawa area artists : Dave Acton, Karen Phillips Curran, Catherine Kelly, Sandra Hawkins, Catharina Breedyk Law, Martha Markowsky, Gilda Pontbriand, Vivien Tytor, Gary Webster, and David Zimmerly.
A wide range of subject matter is represented in emotive art that covers the spectrum from endearing sentiment to high drama. Evocative works are presented in watercolours, mixed media, acrylics, photography and textile art. The show continues until March 31st. For more information about the show and featured artists, see the online newsletter the Tay River Tattler at http://tayrivergallery.com,

Upcoming shows at the Gallery

April/May 2007 . Blooms will feature acrylic floral paintings from four Ontario artists: Leah Dockrill, Bill Keast, Andrew Neil Olscher, and Gilda Pontbriand. Florals take on a whole new meaning in this show. ‘Hypnotic’, ‘Exotic’, ‘Vivacious’, ‘Soulful’ are just a few adjectives that come to mind. May will feature a continuation of Blooms with Blooms II.

For June 2007 watch for the solo exhibition featuring new works by Shirley Mancino in Towards Abstraction.

Our Summer Show extravaganza will feature the works of many dynamic artists featured throughout the gallery.

Two more solo exhibitions are planned for Fall 2007, with J. Allison Robichaud featured in September and John Alexander Day in October.

Petition to Restore Funding to Dept. of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Dear Friends of the Arts,

I have just read and signed the online petition:
"Restore Funding to Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)"
hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition
service, at:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/DFAIT07/

I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might
agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and consider
signing yourself.

You may view a copy of Margaret Atwood's article from Straight Goods on the subject of cuts to Canadian arts promotion abroad
Conservatives cut every cent from culture-abroad program
Dateline: Friday, February 02, 2007 printed in the Globe and Mail
by Margaret Atwood , from Straight Goods.
And no Flowers Bloomed. Why did the Conservatives take the weed whacker to Canadian arts promotion abroad? asks MARGARET ATWOOD

posted also at Kingston Arts Council website, http://www.artskingston.com/index_arts.htm

Best wishes,
Lisa Brown