February boasts a host of new and returning art and artists for galleries across Greater Victoria.
West End Gallery continually receives new and exciting artwork from its stable of Canadian artists. Many of these sought-after and internationally collected artists are inspired by the beauty that surrounds them. Filled with light, colour and just the right amount of whimsy, these brilliant new artworks showcase the variety of talent from across the country. The gallery is excited to present new paintings from: Ken Faulks, David Graff, Mary Ann Laing, Glenn Payan, Guy Roy, Aleksandra Savina, Peter Shostak and many more.
Visit westendgalleryltd.com for hours.
The Avenue Gallery highlights the works of Kimberly Kiel, Denna Erickson and Jo Ludwig this month.
Kiel was born in Saskatchewan in 1972. She started her painting career at 31 while living in Calgary. Lured by the wide-open spaces of her home province, in 2008 she moved back to Saskatchewan and now resides, with her husband and two sons, on an acreage near her hometown. While predominately self-taught, early on in her career she benefited greatly from the mentoring offered by several other artists.
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“I paint as an expression of joy and energy. It is pure delight to squeeze out huge piles of oil paint, squish it around, have it blend, meld, combine. Wet paint, layer upon layer, morphing into a tangible and interesting surface – thick, creamy, an array of gorgeous impasto marks. I strive to leave much to the imagination, for the viewer to fill in the blanks. To go from a blank, white canvas to one filled with brilliant, glorious colour – there is a huge sense of satisfaction in that,” Kiel said.
Erickson’s paintings consist of personal symbols and organic shapes layered in glazes of luminescent colour. Shapes and forms are transcended through transparent layers of paint.
Born in Edmonton, she earned her bachelor of fine arts from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and attained a bachelor of education from the University of Victoria in 1997. Erickson has taught and worked as an artist in Vancouver for the past 20 years. She now exhibits her work across Canada.
Ludwig emigrated to Canada from Johannesburg, South Africa in 1977. He completed a degree (with honours) in philosophy at the University of Alberta and went on to graduate studies in the philosophy of art. In 1996, Ludwig moved with his wife to Vancouver Island and has established a reputation in the art world for his creations in glass that he calls T.O.B.s (Things Of Beauty).
The unique works are created in a multi-stage process, fusing multiple layers of glass then slumping them in a glass kiln. After choosing the layers he wants to work with, Ludwig cuts them precisely into the desired shape. The assembled layers are placed on a shelf in the glass kiln and heated until the glass melts, or fuses into a single piece of glass. After the kiln cools, the fused piece is removed. The work may then be sandblasted, ground or even recut.
The top layer is dichroic glass – tiny, iridescent, pieces of stained glass that radiate light. The fused piece is then placed onto a mold constructed from clay, fibre paper, steel or plaster. The mold and glass is then fired the kiln until the glass bends or slumps to the mold’s shape. In the final stage, the base or legs are added.
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The Avenue Gallery has also announced Larry Wheeler is assuming the leadership role of gallery owner.
Wheeler retired in October 2019 as associate director and senior wealth advisor at ScotiaMcLeod, a position he held for over 20 years. He takes on the role after the unexpected death of his wife and gallery owner Heather Wheeler earlier this year.
Madrona Gallery presents a solo exhibition of work by April Ponsford this month.
This collection of 20 new paintings explores nature, personal memories and the energy of infinite space. By combining brushwork, palette knives and other techniques, Ponsford adds a sense of depth and energy to her work. Her evocative paintings reveal tangible and fleeting moments of time and space, echoing a real experience of nature.
For further details contact the gallery or visit madronagallery.com.
At the Bateman Gallery, The World of Robert Bateman explores the stories that inspired the art, tracing a path from his early years experiences, through the anecdotes and influences that led to critical and commercial success.
The exhibit charts the stylistic development of a Canadian icon, from his early experiments in impressionism to the celebrated realist we know today. Featuring sculptures, sketches and studies alongside some of his most iconic paintings, The World of Robert Bateman unpacks the complex thought process behind each pretty picture.
Started in July 2020, the exhibit continues through June 2023. Starting in January, the Bateman Gallery moved back to a set admission price (youth $6.50 to adult $10) to provide better financial stability for the foundation. In a bid to keep art accessible the added two late nights openings by donation Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 4 to 7 p.m.
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