Thursday, May 17, 2012

Bread Gallery May & June Exhibit: Opening Friday May 18th


The most recent show at the Bread Gallery celebrates it's opening this Friday from 6-8 pm.


Running until June 24th, this show features work by a few members of Lushes with Brushes; including paintings by Pauline Sullivan, June Brown and Audrey Goucher Millet.


Also on display, the whimsical folk art carvings of Jim Tracey.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

A Look Back at the 14th Annual Great Little Art Show

On Friday April 27th the Avon River Heritage Museum played host to the 14th Annual Great Little Art Show.  24 local artist's work was on display for this annual fundraiser. Here is a selection of images from opening night.

Patrons admiring a painting by Kelly Mitchelmore

Sculptures by Alison MacNeil

Sculpture by Carmen Dalrymple

Chief by Jim Tracey

Various works by Mira MacNeil, June Brown, Tacha Reed and Linda Barkhouse

Metal work by Al Simm

Pottery by Elspeth MacKenzie

Rug hooking by Rose Marie MacDonald

Various works by Greg Dickie

Boat Builders by Jim Tracey

Friday, April 20, 2012

14th Annual Great Little Art Show


Avon River Heritage Museum, 17 Belmont Road
Newport Landing, near Avondale, Hants County

Friday April 27- Sunday, April 29

For longer than a decade, this show has been an important means for promoting visual arts in Hants County.

Casually the organizers say it's "a great little show with a lot of great, local art!"



More officially, it is a venue for both professional and novice local artists to display and sell their work in a semi-formal environment. Each spring we look forward to seeing the work of participants and the blossoming of new talent.

"The Great Little Art Show is our most important fund raising event. Sales of the exhibits provide the Avon River Heritage Society with the needed capital it requires to keep our community museum operating from year to year."


The show will get under way with a wine and cheese reception on Friday, April 27 from 7pm to 9pm with a special guest speaker sculptor Alison MacNeil.

The show continues over the weekend with viewings at the following times:
• Saturday, April 28 10am – 5 pm
• Sunday, April 29 11am – 3pm


Admission: $7.00 for Friday night opening; $2.00 Saturday and Sunday; Children under 12, free.




For more information contact:
Andrew Fisher, 757-2787glas@avonriver.ca
General Museum enquiries, please call 757-1718 and leave a message
Or you can email: info@avonriver.ca

Monday, April 16, 2012

Bread Gallery Group Show: Our Artists!

For those of you who still haven't made it to the Bread Gallery to check out the Hants County Arts Council's most recent group show, you still have until April 25 to catch a glimspe of some of the lovely pieces our members have to offer!




June Brown was born and raised in the north of England. She and her husband immigrated to Nova Scotia, Canada in 1975. Since that time they have lived from the west to the east coast of Canada, and in 2002 they returned to live in the beautiful Annapolis Valley.
June has been painting watercolours for approximately twelve years. June loves the breadth of creativity watercolour painting offers: from the most subtle and delicate work to the  most dramatic and vibrant of expression.


Dora Warren Davis was born and raised in St. John’s, NL and currently resides near Windsor, NS. Painting in acrylics, oils and watercolour, she is particularly fond of the vibrant colours seen in the row houses, dories and landscapes of NL and NS.Over a number of years Dora has studied with several well-established artists, both in Nova Scotia and in the USA.

Carlos Da Rosa notes the scenic beauty of Nova Scotia, particularly
the red cliffs of Blomidon and the tides of the Minas Basin, as sources of inspiration for his paintings.
  Excursions to Europe and Italy have also served as inspiration, evident in his various bold and colourful tributes to Tuscany. Recently he has begun to explore the nude figure through his paintings.








Terrie Greencorn works in oil, acrylic and watercolour, specializing in mixed media designs that incorporate sculptural texture. She works in both the Fine and Decorative Art fields with subjects researched then reinvented with brush and paint.











Andrea Hardy is a mixed media artist combining drawing and painting with a strong use of ink and colour, intending to engage the eye and ask a question.











G.A. Jank's work incorporates iron, stone and sometimes crystal. Each piece carries a message about the mechanics and the power of nature,
where humanity must live in harmony with the things around them. Much of the metal in his work is reclaimed, found strewn about the shores of the Bay of Fundy.













Carol Morrison was born in Leeds, England and immigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to work at the Halifax Laboratory of the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans as a research scientist. In 1997 she attended NSCAD in order to take her passion for painting to a more professional
level. Her interest in investigating the natural world around her, which led her to a career as a biologist, has also led to paintings of
landscapes, still life and portraits.










Sharon Ogilvie paints in oils & acrylics with preference in land and seascapes. She is currently exploring still life and semi-abstract arts. Sharon is also a songwriter, vocalist, and bassist who is planning to study art therapy as a future passion.











Tacha Reed is devoted to up-cycling in all its infinite forms. This desire to make what was old new again led to her creation of a line of felted critters and 3-D wall hangings crafted from natural and re-purposed materials. Tacha is also the owner of Flying Cloud Boutique, a Nova Scotian Art and Artisan shop on wheels located in
Ellershouse, Nova Scotia.








Sue Robinson is an artist working in oils, watercolours, coloured pencils and acrylics. Born and educated in Montreal and Switzerland, Sue lives in Bedford, Nova Scotia and continues to improve her art through classes in the Annapolis Valley, Lunenburg, Rhode Island and New York States.  Sue has been painting for over 20 years and enjoys the painting challenges of nature, flowers and maritime scenes.



Pauline Sullivan paints in acrylics in a variety of Subjects. She is a member of the LB Painters group of Windsor. They are a group of six ladies who have painted together on a weekly basis for nearly 20 years, under the mentorship of local artist Ken Spearing. Pauline donates paintings to many local charities including the Hants Community Hospital Auxiliary
Gala and the Rotary Auction.




Jim Tracey has been carving his figures since boyhood.  Now near
retirement, he has decided to offer his work to a larger audience and has found himself being asked to exhibit in more and more venues. From his front yard to markets, from commissions to exhibits, Jim is finding greater demand for his works.The subtle humor and political correctness of his work gives Jim an unending supply of fodder for his creations. 

Thursday, March 15, 2012

GREEN THUMBS UP! For Windsor's First Organic Community Garden

New Boundaries in Windsor is a non-profit organization that usually provides learning opportunities for mentally-challenged adults. Now they are opening the garden gates for everyone to participate in their current project and hoping public interest in their new community garden will grow.

Called the "No Boundaries Community Garden", Windsor and county residents are invited to take ownership of one of the 27 raised-bed allotments that will be available this spring on New Boundaries' property. Each space will have wooden boundaries to improve overall garden management, but the project name means there are no restrictions on who can participate. 

Working in conjunction with the West Hants / Uniacke Community Health Board, the group recently invited residents to a planning meeting to explain the project and gauge interest. Half of the spaces are now assigned and three additional spaces are being created specifically for New Boundaries to help improve the centre’s nutrition and local food delivery. 

Milbury says the idea stemmed from some of the Community Health Board members wanting to support a project that would yield a wide range of health and social benefits for participants. "Gardening is obviously a great way to support physical activity and produce cost-effective healthy, local food.  It helps people pay more attention to what they are eating,” says Milbury.

“Participants can share each other’s bounties and knowledge, and also have a great social activity where they are learning as they go.”

It’s also a great opportunity for those who usually engage in solo gardening at home to branch out. “If I am in the garden working by myself sometimes I feel alone and abandon it for some other activity to be with others,” says Milbury.

 
“You can enjoy tending to your garden while being social and reap all the benefits that go with that.”


Project Co-ordinator Jessica Moore adds some residents may not be able to afford to manage a garden alone, or have a brown thumb and want some mentoring to improve without having to fork over a lot of start up cash. “This is a perfect way for them to dig in,” she says.

Moore also hopes to see some school-age children participating in the project to help raise awareness of nutrition and physical 
activity for those children who may not have an interest in sports. “It’s also about helping to grow their confidence.  “Growing your own vegetables gives one an enormous sense of accomplishment that  
usually comes with the temptation to eat them.”

With a variety of ages participating, the opportunities to share traditional gardening methods rooted in Hants County also increase. “Historically local families are growers. They have a lot of farming and harvesting expertise in their families that would benefit future generations and promote local food security,” said Moore.

The community gardens will be organic, which means no use of any synthetic additive in a raised-bed soil in favour of organic 
fertilizers, leaf mould, compost and compost teas to feed the soil.  Non-pressure treated lumber will also be used to create the beds and a shed will be constructed to securely store garden tools.

And, yes, the project’s tart-up funding did originate from a Community Development Grant (SEED  funds)  provided by the community ealth board.  A group in Hantsport also got some funding from the board to help establish a community garden near Churchill House.  Milbury anticipates the funding will cover a third of the Windsor garden's expected costs so the Centre will be hoping for an influx of financial “green” to cover the rest.  The project committee will soon begin consulting with local landscaping companies and suppliers to assess resources and donations in kind. Members of the community are also encouraged to donate materials and garden tools they  no longer have a need for.

Contact Sandra Milbury, West Hants/Uniacke Health Board or Jessica Moore  at 798-2210 for more information.


Submitted by Heather Desveaux



Do you have a creative story to share about our local community? Reviews of art shows, plays or cultural events? If so please send your article and any photos along to hcacfestivalofart@gmail.com and we will help to spread the word!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

The Smell of Art is in the Air!

Many of us artists and artisans are relieved by winters arrival because it means a break from the constant back and forth between production and sales. This time allows us a chance to relax and experiment again, taking us down new paths, creating brand new work. After several months of a slightly more relaxed schedule I know that I suddenly have the spring itch to get out there and show the world what I've been making during my hibernation.

This spring there are a lot of local great shows scheduled and many have application deadlines coming up quickly.
With only 1 day left to apply, interested young folks should get themselves in motion for a chance to take part in a Gifted Young Artist Retreat hosted by Ross Creek Centre for the Arts. The centre is inviting talented high school students to apply for a unique opportunity for young Nova Scotian artists to collaborate across the arts. Nova Scotia educators (including the Department of Education and the NS Teachers Union) will be holding a Summit on Gifted Education and Talent Development at Mount St. Vincent University on May 23–25. Ross Creek Centre for the Arts is inviting NS high school aged arts students to apply for a week-long experience to collaborate with their peers under professional guidance, culminating in a presentation at the Summit. This is an amazing opportunity for young creative individuals! If this sounds like a perfect fit for you, then quick, ask a teacher and and an artist for their endorsement so you can take advantage of this amazing experience! DEADLINE MARCH 9th

One event that has been creating a great deal of excitement locally is the Avondale Art Fair. This juried show will be accepting 100 artists for their one day outdoor event being held in pastoral Newport Landing, overlooking the Avon River and its spectacular tidal bore. On Saturday, June 16th this charming little village will burgeon into the best art fair venue around! The organizers are looking to showcase exceptional artwork that will include paintings, jewelry, pottery, glass, sculpture, fiber, leather, photography and more! DEADLINE MARCH 15th
Another event I'm personally really looking forward to is the 2nd Annual Art vs Craft, taking place in Halifax July 21st & 22nd at the Forum. This show is for the more quirky creative folks, like myself, who might be a little bit out there with our creations. Since this show is held in such a large space it has the ability to feature a wide variety of artists and there will definitely be an emphasis placed on including really unique creations. DEADLINE MARCH 23
Another wonderful local show, now in it's 14th year, is The Great Little Art Show. This 3 day show running April 27th-April 29th has proven itself an important means for promoting visual arts in West Hants, creating a venue for both professional and novice artists to display and sell their work in a semi-formal environment. Sales of the exhibits provide the Avon River Heritage Society with the needed capital it requires to keep the museum operating from year to year. DEADLINE APRIL 10th
So, those of you, like myself who have enjoyed a winter of creating - it is now time to photograph all that work and start applying so that you too can share your creations with everyone else this spring!
Good luck!
Submitted by Tacha Reed, originally posted on www.pistaciapages.blogspot.com

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Local Artistic Opportunities on the Rise

Just in case you missed this article in the last issue of What's Going On? here it is again!

Local Artistic Opportunities on the Rise
BROOKLYN BAKERY TO Host 6-Week ART Show


by Heather Desveaux


It almost goes without saying that artists thrive on opportunities to create, so it is not surprising to learn they also encourage new ways to promote what they produce.  Art shows increase opportunities for artists to sell works but also motivate them to create more, according to the President of the Hants County Arts Council, Tacha Reed. "Regular shows give me access to other artists, who in turn provide me with inspiration and a sense of belonging. Both are essential ingredients to my creative process," she says.


Reed credits the annual Great Little Art Show, organized by artist Andrew Fisher, hosted by the Avon River Heritage Society and now in its 14th year, for providing a drawing board for the Arts Council to organize its own annual group show, Festival of Art, now held in October. Reed says the frequency of art shows is very important to artists in rural areas such as Hants County.  "In the city it is so easy to go out and make contact with other artists, and living here we are naturally limited to a handful of the art-related functions so the more of these functions we are able to participate in, the better." She adds, "I personally would love to have a hand in creating a constant space for artists to be able to come together to exchange ideas and create."


Reed isn't the only one. In recent memory,  the Utata Gallery and Inspire Art School, both artist-run facilities in Windsor, have unfortunately had to close their doors. It's left local artists feeling a little frustrated, but more determined to have a permanent home.  After Utata closed, HCAC members tried to find places that would "fit",  like the upper level of the Avon Spirit Museum during its summer season, the Fort Edward Gallery, and HCAC member Jaki Durocher's Inspire Art School, where the group held its meetings until it recently closed.


Enter Brooklyn business owner Joan McKenzie. McKenzie, a dairy farmer turned real estate contractor who sought to have a building for community-use when she was planning her bakery business.  Located in the former Brooklyn Home Hardware, the turn of the twentieth-century building she purchased features a unique space that needed to be used for something equally appropriate.



McKenzie aptly named her business the Bread Gallery.  "I've dabbled in artsy things, but I mostly come from a family of art collectors and admirers," says
McKenzie. "So I thought it would be neat to mix the two together and it seems to be working out so far," she said. 



McKenzie intended to start hosting art shows when she opened the bakery last May, but opted to not bite off more than she could chew. The Bread Gallery hosted its first small show in December with two local artists. A larger HCAC show featuring twelve members' works will open on March 9 and run until the last week of April. This way, participating artists can also be in the Great Little Art Show at the ARHS Museum in Newport Landing: a traditional, key fundraiser for the museum being held April 27-29.


Reed says the partnership with the Bread Gallery makes sense because
artists are also entrepreneurs. "Thanks to other local entrepreneurs, like Joan
opening the gallery, Kelly Mitchelmore hosting fundraising events like Paint Windsor, and Kathy Monroe planning the Avondale Art Fair, Hants County
artists now have several opportunities to show and sell their work locally," she says. "Over the last year the HCAC has received a great deal of support from the local community and many other arts and culture-based business have stepped forward to join as members."  Last year the group changed the venue for the Festival of Art to the historic Vaughan Shand Centre, another recently renovated historic building intending to promote its own unique blend of personal and community awareness.



With her 1950s Airstream housing her mobile art boutique currently
located in Ellershouse, Reed has her own plans to renovate her garage to an open studio where she will be joined by folk artist Jim Tracey when she re-opens in the spring.  "I can't take the Airstream everywhere so it would be nice if we didn't always have to travel such long distances to share our work with the public."  - §





Participating artists at The Bread Gallery are:

HCAC Group Show opening March 9th at The Bread Gallery
June Brown
Carlos DaRosa
Dora Davis

Terri Greencorn

Andrea Hardy
Gerald Jank
Carol Morrison

Sharon Olgilvie

Tacha Reed
Sue Robinson
Pauline Sullivan

Jim Tracey