A Room Of My Own

His work has been described as a ‘balance between two worlds’.   AJ Vandrie grew up in Northumberland Hills with his adoptive family. His background is composed of Ojiway/Chippewa and Irish heritage. He pursued his art studies at the White Mountain Academy of the Arts in Elliot Lake, a school, located in an isolated area in Northern Ontario, sought to combine First Nations and European approaches to art, which was a great fit for AJ. After his first year of studies, he suffered a personal loss, with the death of his birth father and mother who died within a sort period of time from one another. It was at this time that AJ began exploring the art style that he is known for today.   Widely considered Woodland School of Art, this style is synonymous with the artist Norval Morriseau , whose influence is evident in the works seen here. One can find definite similarities between these two artists; style aside, they are both deeply spiritual, sharing, through their ...

Dorothy Winter  “These quilts, these time honoured traditions, certainly hold their place in history.” The Seasons (Hildegard von Bingen) The art of quilting holds more history, in particular that of women, than one might initially imagine. We traditionally view quilts as functional bedding, which are decorative and commemorative, even historical, however, the value in the artistic expression of the quilter is often overlooked. We know quilts to be a source of warm comfort, an heirloom perhaps, but most do not think of them as holding historic messages. In times and cultures where women held a quieter place within the family unit, quilts provided a clever medium for females to articulate ideas and to tell a story. To Dorothy Winter, who, for over 20 years, has dedicated herself to producing meaningful works of art, quilts matter. She began making her quilts for practical purposes for her family when they lived in a farmhouse. These family treasures made ...

Madawaska Church Claire Connolly, Assistant Manager Arts on King and Queen, describes Keith's work as 'Ontario, rugged landscape at it’s best'. Keith Cornell was raised in the small town of Uxbridge, Ontario. His father died during the war when Keith was very young, leaving his mother to raise him alongside his two brothers. Growing up in this quaint little town tucked beside farmland and beautiful forests, Keith would begin his life work painting everything around him. He recounts time and again a solid memory he has a very young boy. The Canadian artist David Milne had set up his easel to paint a scene in Keith’s neighbourhood, and the boy watched with fascination as the artist worked plein air. The affect of this experience is timeless. Keith did not pick up the brush and start painting right away, but that time was coming. Late Afternoon Go Home Bay During his high school years, Keith met his future wife, Karen.   For his sixteenth birthda...

The local art scene is all abuzz about Jordan Hicks with works that celebrate the aesthetic beauty of the natural world. His paintings are vibrant, extraordinary and energetic. His florals can be described as nothing less then a detailed explosion of organized chaos – making sense out of the chaos is what distinguishes the painting as great. Jordan is a self-taught artist who found his passion early in life and has been dedicated to it ever since. He draws his inspiration from a true love of nature and the outdoors, which comes from many years of camping, exploring hiking trails and trips to the cottage. Growing up, he was surrounded by artists in the family. His father is a carver, his mother paints and his uncle, Don Wise, is a well-established artist himself. The family inspired and supported Jordan through his process of becoming the artist he is today. Indeed, the first piece Jordan sold went to his Uncle Don, someone who would later influence Jordan to pursue art as a fu...

"Group of One" It is 1971, and at the age of 16, this free spirited and independent adventurer headed West hitchhiking across Canada with little more then a backpack full of art supplies and an open mind. After spending a summer exploring the West Coast, she hitchhiked back home to Toronto, only to return to BC a year later. Dania made Richmond Island her home, studied at the Vancouver School of Art and spent the next few years absorbed in the beautiful landscapes, rich native cultures and the slower paced lifestyle that BC had to offer. Ready for the next chapter in her life, the Toronto art scene was ‘where it was all happening’ and Dania was on her way. She was accepted at the prestigious Ontario College of Art on a grant. Not one to conform, Dania used the grant money to purchase more art supplies and spent the next 2 years auditing classes of her choice at OCA. It was there that she met Graham Coughtry and Gordon Rayner; these successful artists became mentors ...

Lucy Manly 'On Location' “When you take up painting, you really learn to see. You see patterns, light, dark, colour, and harmony; you see the painting.” To see what the artist sees, we must try and see the world through their eyes; what do they see, how did they get there? A natural place to start to see as the artist sees is to learn about them, who they are and where they came from. Lucy’s Ukrainian mother and Polish father met at a work camp during the war and were married shortly after the war ended. Lucy and her brother were born in Germany, and the family emigrated to Canada in 1950. Her father started work as a labourer with Brampton Brick, where the family initially settled. Following that, they made a move to Toronto living near High Park. Lucy recalls her early interest of art and trips she made to the park sketching the landscapes there. Her skill came naturally, and her talent was recognized by her teachers, who frequently put her artwork on display. Yell...