Art for Sale, March 30

And now for an item of strictly local interest.

In my little town of Hudson, Quebec (pop. 5000, little changed for the last 40 years) we have many valuable assets. We are situated on a lake, and our connections to nature include an extensive network of walking trails and parks, a bird sanctuary, a yacht club and three golf courses. There's a lively cultural scene, including multiple artist and craft groups, music and gardening clubs, choirs, two history museums, a literary festival, a summertime flea market, an art gallery or two, and even a theatre.

Much of this activity is sustained by our biggest asset, a vibrant volunteer base. The library, Meals on Wheels, a palliative care centre and so many more initiatives are dependent on volunteers.

But one of the real gems of our little town is the Bunker. Located in the basement of the library, its staff accepts donations of clothing, furniture, kitchenware and bric-à-brac, selling it all at bargain prices and then using the revenue to fund not only the library but many other worthy causes. As the Bunker is only open on Saturday mornings, it has become a community "thing" to pop down and see what treasures await the discerning eye.

On March 30, the Bunker is staging a rare and special event.

Saying yes to something new

Green Bowl, Deborah Boschert

Deborah Boschert is a quilt artist whose work I admire. She is also the producer of a series of web conversations on the topic of Visual Design, as part of SAQA Seminar 2018.

She has asked me to engage in a 20-minute video chat about the Principles of Design, and of course I said yes to her proposal, though not without some trepidation.

An Unlikely Confluence of Events,
one of a series of 13, hand-dyed linen, 24 x 24, 2017

But saying yes to new experiences is part of what keeps us growing as artists, isn't it?

one of a small series In Blue and Orange,
cloth and paint, 24 x 24, 2017

Ironically, much of the conversation will probably refer to my Cityscapes. Even though I haven't made one for a couple of years now, and have been dabbling with other series and other media, it seems they are still well-received, and still opening doors to new opportunities.

Dix / Ten,
one in a series of 30, acrylic collage,  20 x 20, 2016

I will be sure to post here about the experience later this summer.

Habitat 67

This past week our text'art group had a very special opportunity to take a guided tour of Habitat 67. Montreal's landmark housing complex is normally closed to the public, but on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, tours will be made available throughout the summer. You can learn more about the tours and register for them by going to the website.

We were lucky to have a mild, sunny day for our visit, and a stiff breeze blew in from the river as we explored the impressive structure, led by our knowledgeable guide. Although it is considered to be in the Brutalist style, many of its features defy that categorization. The architect, Moshe Safdie, grew up in Haifa, Israel, and he drew on this experience when designing Habitat 67. For one thing, all but two of the 148 households have a private terrace garden. As well, communal garden spaces serve to bring together the residents and to create a sense of neighbourliness. The design is driven by a humanist concern for social connection and the individual's connection with nature, and influenced by the architectural model of the Pueblo village and the Mediterranean hillside town.

All of the units offer views in two or more directions, flooding them with light. And the views are astonishing. The complex is set on a quay, bordered on both sides by the St. Lawrence river, so residents and visitors enjoy panoramic vistas of Montreal's harbour, bridges and skyline.

The complex was four years in the making, from initial design to near-completion for the opening of Expo 67. The architect was 25 years old, and the project represented his master's thesis. Safdie actually used Lego bricks to plot out his ideas. There are 15 different floor plans. Households are made up of anywhere from one to four modules. We were able to tour one of the smallest units, offering a very thoughtfully-designed 600 square feet of living space in its one module. Safdie himself owns a four-module unit. Some of the homes made of multiple modules are on two levels, with interior staircases.

The building is 12 storeys high and is serviced by 6 elevators. As one walks through the "streets" and "alleys" formed by the interior, one is constantly surprised by open spaces and intriguing angles.

The concrete modules were cast on site. The theory was that this would be an efficient, economical approach to construction, and it might have worked out that way had Safdie been able to realize his much larger concept and better economies of scale. Originally the homes were all rentals, but since the mid-80's all have been privately owned. The exterior is protected by its status as a heritage site, while the interiors may be reconfigured to the taste of the owner.

Touring Habitat 67 is a Montreal experience I would highly recommend. Tickets for the tours are selling quickly.

And...

the UQAM Centre de design, 1440 Sanguinet, Montreal (Metro Berri) presents the free exhibition Habitat ’67 vers l’avenir / The Shape of Things to Come until August 13, Tuesday to Sunday, from noon to 6 pm.

Hudson Medi-Centre Gallery

It's been six years since the new medical centre opened in our little town. Since then, I've been managing a small showcase of local art in their waiting room, rotating the display every two months. That's almost forty different presentations! We've had fibre, photography, molded paper, sculpture, and of course many different painting media.

This time it's my turn, and I've hung eight of my abstract acrylic collages, each measuring 10" x 10". Not the most inspiring photo, but you get the idea....  To get a better look at the individual pieces, check out my previous post.

Please get in touch with me by e-mail if you'd like to have your work considered for this space: hdubreuil[AT]sympatico.ca

The medical centre is located at 465 Main Road in Hudson, Quebec.

Another course from Coursera

Six weeks ago I posted here about an on-line course designed by the Museum of Modern Art and offered through Coursera. The 8-week course, titled In the Studio: Post-War Abstract Painting, focused on the technical approaches of eight individual artists, what made their work distinctive, the trajectory of their careers and their place in that period of art history.

Initially I had no intention of pursuing the course. "Far too busy," I told myself.  But since it was available at no cost, I decided to give it a try and was soon completely engaged. Each of the eight units required certain readings and viewing of videos, followed by a quiz, and I'm a sucker for that kind of structured learning. I found the material interesting, and it was presented in an effective variety of formats.

With the course nearing its end, I have now signed on to another of Coursera's free on-line offerings, though I haven't yet begun it. This one is called Modern Art & Ideas. It's a five week course, again designed by MOMA. The course proposes to explore modern art, not chronologically, but through four different themes:

• Places & Spaces
• Art & Identity
• Transforming Everyday Objects
• Art & Society

No prior knowledge of art history is required. Enrolment ends May 20. More information is available here.

Free on-line painting class begins today!

Mark Rothko, Untitled (Green on Blue), 1968

Thank you, Dianne, for putting me onto this exciting opportunity.

MOMA has designed an on-line class offered through coursera.org, titled In the Studio: Post-War Abstract Painting. It includes art history and theory as well as hands-on painting assignments. It is available at reasonable cost, and for free if you don't care abut getting the certificate. Financial aid is also available.

Here is a description:

About this course: Want to know how some of the 20th century’s most celebrated artists made abstract paintings? This course offers an in-depth, hands-on look at the materials, techniques, and thinking of seven New York School artists, including Willem de Kooning, Yayoi Kusama, Agnes Martin, Barnett Newman, Jackson Pollock, Ad Reinhardt, and Mark Rothko. Through studio demonstrations and gallery walkthroughs, you’ll form a deeper understanding of what a studio practice means and how ideas develop from close looking, and you’ll gain a sensitivity to the physical qualities of paint. Readings and other resources will round out your understanding, providing broader cultural, intellectual, and historical context about the decades after World War II, when these artists were active. The works of art you will explore in this course may also serve as points of departure to make your own abstract paintings. You may choose to participate in the studio exercises, for which you are invited to post images of your own paintings to the discussion boards, or you may choose to complete the course through its quizzes and written assessments only. Learners who wish to participate in the optional studio exercises may need to purchase art supplies. A list of suggested materials is included in the first module.

For more information, please visit the website. The class begins today!

Celebration: Ten Years

Each year, Galerie Beaux-Arts des Amériques puts out a limited call for entry on a specific theme, and this year the subject is "Celebration", as the gallery marks its tenth year. Entries focusing on the number 10 are also encouraged.

Ten, acrylic collage on watercolour paper,
mounted on wooden panel, 20 x 20

For the last two years I've happily had my submissions (in fibre) accepted and sold. This year I'm taking a chance by entering an acrylic collage, an extension of my "Touchstone" series.

Ten (detail). Notice the pattern created by repeating the numeral 10.

Entrants are required to mount their work on a 20" x 20" wooden panel. This gives the exhibition a nice consistency when the works are displayed. The gallery not only offers a well-lit, white-walled exhibition space in a trendy downtown neighbourhood, but produces a high-quality printed catalog of the show and features images of all the accepted works on their website.

My artist statement for the work reads:

"Stable/unbalanced,

solid/ephemeral, 

heavy/light,   

dull/bright,

distinct/indefinite: 

ten." 

More information about the show to follow.  Whether or not my piece is juried in. (sigh)

Café Mikko

A little over two years ago, Café Mikko opened its doors to the passing trade of Hudson, QC. It has become a favourite spot for coffee, lunch and snacks, and is also a great source for carefully curated housewares and accessories, all in keeping with its clean, minimalist aesthetic.

I was delighted to be approached by owner Elizabeth Glazier to show my work at Café Mikko for the next few months. I plan to switch it up every few weeks to keep the display fresh.

For more information about hours, menu and boutique items, please visit the Café Mikko website.

Fibre Art for a Cause

Well-known art quilter Virginia Spiegel has once again organized “The 100 Fundraiser to Fight Cancer” to be held on February 4, 2015.  The idea is unique and pretty simple.

Virginia invited 100 artists to make a piece to donate to the fundraiser.  The first 100 people to donate $100 each will be sent one of these pieces, chosen at random.  The goal is to raise $10,000 in one day.  Pretty cool idea.  Here is how it works:

1 Day – 100 Artists – 100 Patrons – $10,000Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Opens 10 a.m. Central

1. On February 4, the first 100 people to contact Virginia@VirginiaSpiegel.com beginning at 10 a.m. Central will be given a link to donate $100 by credit card directly to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause. (Please note your donation to the ACS will be credited through the Forest Lake Area Relay For Life.)
2. Each donor will receive an artwork from one of the 100 generous and talented artists listed below. Assignments of artwork will be made using a random number generator. Artwork may appear on artists’ websites or other social media before the event. See also our Pinterest board.
3. The artwork may be any size as long as the minimum retail value is $100. Artwork smaller than 8″x10″ will be mounted to 8″x10″ or 9″x9″. The artwork will contain fiber and may or may not be stitched. The artwork may or may not be made specifically for this event.
3. Each artist will receive her/his patron’s e-mail address to arrange shipping. Artwork will be shipped directly from the artist. Please note this is an international roster of artists. Please thank the artist for not only donating the artwork, but also shipping it to you.
4. Each artist would love to receive a low res photo of the artwork in situ from the new owner. This is not required, but the best photos may be shared on-line after the event.

Questions? Contact Virginia@VirginiaSpiegel.com

Special Note: The goal of $10,000 will make Fiberart For A Cause’s donations to the American Cancer Society a nice even one-quarter of a million dollars over the years and FFAC will be happily retired.  Virginia deserves a huge thumbs up for all her efforts to raise so much for such a good cause!

The 100 artists are:

Natalya Aikens Pamela Allen Frieda Anderson Britta AnkenbauerBrooke Atherton Marion Barnett Alice BeasleyVon Biggs Pat Bishop Sue Bleiweiss Pokey Bolton Deborah Boschert Kathie Briggs Laura Cater-Woods Jette CloverJudy Coates-PerezMarion Coleman Linda Colsh Gerrie Congdon Nancy G. Cook Jane Davila Vivika DeNegre Sue Dennis Jay Dodds Diane Rusin Doran Jane Dunnewold Carol R. Eaton Suzan Cloud Engler Tomme Gill Fent Clairan Ferrono Jamie Fingal Ann Flaherty Cindy Friedman Terry GrantCara Gulati  Gloria Hansen Leonie Hartley-Hoover Patty Hawkins Annie Helmericks-Louder Leslie Tucker Jenison Terry Jarrard-Dimond Marie Z. Johansen Lyric Kinard Sherry Davis Kleinman Susan Brubaker Knapp Franki KohlerLynn Krawczyk Pat Kroth Jane LaFazio Kristin LaFlamme

Carol Larson Susan Lenz Eleanor Levie Susan Purney Mark Jeanelle McCall Judy MomenzadehSusie Monday Carol Moore Gail Myrhorodsky Fannie Narte Kathy Nida Karen Stiehl Osborn Frieda Oxenham The Pixeladies – Deb Cashatt and Kris Sazaki  Valarie Poitier Yvonne Porcella Cate Coulacos Prato Daren Pitts Redman Wen RedmondSue Reno Lesley Riley Karen Rips Lora Rocke Kristin Rodriquez-Girod and Janelle Girod Beth Schillig Norma Schlager Susan Friedman Schrott Sandra Sider Cheryl Sleboda Carol Sloan Lura Schwarz Smith Mary Ruth Smith Kay Sorensen Sherrie SpanglerVirginia A. Spiegel Cynthia St. Charles Terri Stegmiller Melanie Testa Jeanette Thompson K. Velis Turan Larkin Jean Van Horn Mary Ann Van SoestGordana Vukovic Terry Waldron Judy Warner Laura Wasilowski Vicki Welsh Leni Levenson Wiener Kathy York  Vivien Zepf Judy Gula and Eleanor of MeinkeToy: Our Safety Nets in case of unforseen circumstances.