MEET THE CURATORS ~ CURATED COLLECTIONS MAY 2021
Browse special collections of artworks curated by guest artists and art curators. Get inspired to take home some artwork!
SHOP ABSTRACT CURATED BY GEOFF FARNSWORTH
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“My first painting hero was Salvador Dali. I was always attracted to the surreal and dream-like, and really appreciated his immense talent and technique for melding all of his ideas and provocations with such a solid handling of form and representation. As I began painting more on the west coast and then at the Art Students League in New York City from 1997 to 2002, I fell more and more in love with painters who handled form and realism but with abstracted paint handling, varied mark-making, and descriptive brushwork. The Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, and contemporary figurative artists like Odd Nerdrum really made a mark on me. Training in NYC and being able to study a lot of top-notch paintings in person was thrilling! Also, after working in the realism classes at the Art Students League, I then migrated to working in the abstract painting classes to have more room to spread out and begin working on my own body of work. I spent a lot of time in the class of William Scharf who had been the protege, studio assistant, and friend of Mark Rothko. William Scharf allowed me to follow my own direction within a figurative discipline, but his promptings, questions, and suggestions began to bring the thread of New York Abstract Expressionism to meld into my work also. Process, colour concerns, and mark-making with abstract compositional considerations began to meld into my realist approach. Ever since this time and with moving and painting in Toronto, then Thunder Bay, and now in Niagara... my approach to painting is one that straddles the realms of realism, abstraction, and discovery.” |
SHOP PAINTINGS CURATED BY LINDA KEMP
| Niagara Artist, Linda Kemp is internationally recognized for her unique, contemporary watercolours and acrylics. Her innovative use of negative painting is the focus of her two best-selling books, Watercolor Painting Outside the Lines and Simplifying Design and Color For Artists. Linda is featured in art publications, video and internet forums, with over one million YouTube views. Linda is an elected member of the Ontario Society of Artists and has been granted Life Membership in both The Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour and The Society of Canadian Artists. She has received the highest awards for Outstanding Achievement in Watercolour in National and International competitions and was awarded Woman of the Year for Arts and Culture in the Niagara Region. Her award-winning paintings are in collections around the world, including The Royal Collection, Windsor Castle, U.K. Linda has served as a juror for many world-class exhibitions, including the 2020 Women in Watercolor International Juried Competition. www.lindakemp.com |
SHOP PAINTINGS CURATED BY DR. JAMIE KEMP
| Dr. Jamie Kemp is an award-winning arts coach, consultant, curator, and Professor of Art History and Visual Studies at Quest University Canada in Squamish, BC. She’s been coming to the Pelham Art Show with her mother, Linda Kemp, since she was a small child! Through her arts consulting business, myartspeak.com, she advises artists who work in every medium and at every skill level. She uses her expert knowledge of the arts, technical skills, experiences in arts administration, and the tools of coaching to empower artists. Among other things, she loves to help artists sell their work, apply for grants and residencies, build e-commerce websites, develop social media skills, set goals for their business and artistic practice, and share what they know through online and in-person workshops. |
SHOP PHOTOGRAPHY CURATED BY DIVINO MUCCIANTE
| Divino Mucciante began his training as a professional photographer in 1970, spending several years working for some of the finest photographers in Canada and gaining experience in portrait, wedding, advertising, commercial and corporate photography. As a result, he earned several prestigious first-place awards as a member of the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) and more than a dozen of his award-winning prints were part of a PPOC display that toured Canada. His prints are now in the National Archives of Canada permanent collection. He retired in 2008, after 32 years as Brock University's official photographer. During his university career he has photographed such personalities as James Cameron, Anne Murray, Barbara Frum and the Royal Canadian Air Farce, as well as politicians, philanthropists, Supreme Court judges and many community business leaders. He was also responsible for photographing major publication projects, such as the university annual reports, recruitment books, posters, pamphlets, brochures and official portraits of chancellors and presidents. Divino captured the laughter, joy and tears, the triumph and relief of every convocation ceremony. The science faculty especially provided a challenge wanting photographs of specimens and experiment setups. Divino now focuses on Fine Art Photography, ranging from Abstract and Surreal to Portraits and Landscapes. He produces his limited edition prints on Giclée canvas and fine art paper with archival matting and custom framing. Divino sums up his inspiration with photography in these words: "The camera has been my passport to many events and ceremonies, in meeting interesting people and it has taught me to see and appreciate all that is around me, it has given me such a rewarding life. |
SHOP OUR PLANET OUR FUTURE CURATED BY CHANDRA SHARMA
| Ms. Chandra Sharma is the Chief Administrative Officer of Niagara that Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) and a Professional Planner with over 20 years of progressive leadership experience in strategy, governance, operations, and program development. The NPCA is a watershed-based agency established under the Conservation Authorities Act of the Province of Ontario to undertake programs and services to further the conservation, restoration, development, and management of natural resources. Chandra is a recipient of the Canadian Institute of Planners Planning Excellence Award and has served on several expert committees and Boards. She holds a Masters in Environmental Studies and Planning from York University and a Certificate in Public Management from Schulich School of Business. Chandra has a passion for nature-based photography, pottery, and interior design. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring nature through biking and hiking across Niagara watersheds. In the past, Chandra has also been part of nature-based art activities. |
SHOP 3D/CRAFT & DESIGN CURATED BY SONJA ZANUTTINI
| Sonja Zanuttini currently has a pottery studio in her home in Fonthill. "I work constantly as a potter exhibiting at shows with The Hamilton Potters Guild and Ball's Fall's Thanksgiving Show. I have exhibited and been part of the Pelham Art Festival for a least 15 years. I have been part of running a successful pottery studio teaching classes and running a business in Windsor with three other potters. Art and pottery have been a big part of the creative part of my life". |
SHOP FATHER'S DAY GIFTS CURATED BY BILL GIBSON
| Bill Gibson graduated as an Industrial Designer from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD). He designs and constructs houses, furniture, boats, industrial tools/devices and three-wheel motorcycles, etc. He and his wife Dianne ( a multi-media artist whom he met at OCAD ) have lived in Fonthill since 1998. He is retired after a 35-year career in the Ontario Provincial Government and along with creating in his shop, he has been a member of the Pelham Seniors Committee, Pelham Active Transportation Committee, past Chair of the Pelham Summerfest Committee, co-chair of the Oversight Committee in the building of the Town’s new Community Centre and currently co-chair of the committee to replace the Summerfest Arches. His thoughts on being retired - “you have time to do things well”. |
SHOP FATHER'S DAY GIFTS CURATED BY JOHN CLARK
| I call Fonthill home and spent most of my working life in the electronics and computer field either as an engineer or teacher. Although always interested in art, retirement has given me the opportunity to pursue my passion for capturing compelling compositions through the lens of a camera - be it on the street, in nature, or in my own backyard. Father’s Day is the perfect time to give the gift of art and I hope you find my selections of interest. |
