fiona kinsella

Fiona Kinsella
(cake) twins (cosmas and damian)
Royal icing, ash, thread, flowers, vanilla, chocolate, sweets, guitar string, hair of a stranger, skin, wood, glass, redpath, fondant icing.
Hamilton, Burlington, England, Constantinople, ?, ?, ?, ?
mixed media 2007

Please join us for the Opening Reception of the Art Gallery of Hamilton’s Summer 2010 Exhibitions

Thursday, June 10 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm [opening remarks at 7:30 pm]

featuring
Cake: Fiona Kinsella
Curated by Melissa Bennett

The familiar is made strange in this exhibition of ornately decorated cakes and thick abstract oil paintings. Kinsella’s cakes, iced with baker’s fondant, are situated precariously between beauty and the grotesque. Appearing at first as standard cakes that are often used to mark rites of passage like birthdays, weddings, or funerals, the cakes are here adorned with small objects such as bones, religious relics, teeth, and are sometimes encircled with human hair.

The cakes impart a Victorian sensibility while referencing the subconscious. They recall the Surrealist’s juxtapositions and experimentation with materials, and similarly Meret Oppenheim's Object (Le Déjeuner en fourrure) (1936), a fur-lined tea cup.

Layers of white paint occupy the surfaces of Kinsella's Chapel (rose) paintings, yet beneath the facade lie dramatic layers of dark paint. The artist digs out the deeper layers to create a textured, swirling and mottled surface, evoking an array of imagery. Both the cakes and paintings speak to consumption and over-saturation, narrative and relic.

Fiona Kinsella is a mixed media artist and painter based in Hamilton. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Guelph. Her work has been exhibited across Canada, in the United States and Europe and is represented by the transit gallery in Hamilton.

On view June 5 to October 3, 2010.
RECEPTION: June 10, 7 - 9pm





AGH | 123 King Street West | Hamilton | 905.527.6610

amy friend

AMY FRIEND ANSWERS OUR TOP 6 QUESTIONS:

what medium do you work in?
I currently work (mostly) photographically, although I paint, sew, and work with a variety of materials. I do not like to limit myself.

what question do you wish would be asked in an interview and how would you answer it?
I think I would like to be asked about when I "became" an artist, because I realize (now) that I have been creating work for a while that relates to the way I played and discovered as a child. Maybe this should be obvious or classified in the "influences" portion of where we find inspiration but I think we underestimate the significance of these memories, discoveries and "play" for lack of a better way to articulate all that happens when we allow ourselves to be immersed in something whole heartedly. In my process I still explore in a similar way, so I must have been "making" art since I was a little girl.


Why Art?
Honestly, I had no choice. It stuck to me and never left. It is a heartbeat.


Who or what inspires you?
Water, dirt, clouds, nostalgia, memories, death, time, stars, dust, beauty, travel, history, blood, wabi-sabi, stories, bones, bodies, tadpoles, the invisible...
So many artists influence my work it is crazy.

Any wisdom you'd like to share about living as an artist?
It may be simple but trust yourself and go for it. Don't be afraid to fail the most wonderful things happen sometimes, yes, sometimes.
I love the unexpected that often seeps into my work.

Is there anything in your art that you are afraid people might discover?
I think there was a time where I shied away from revealing too much about my work. Now I am less hesitant. It is what it is and I like to share the stories of what I make.

UPCOMING SHOW

A bit of information on the upcoming show at Loose Canon.

I was approached by Brad Isaac to do a show on the premise of representation and abstraction. We looked though some work and it started from there.
I will be showing with painter Katie Pretti.
I am showing several photographs I took when I washed my Nonna's bedding in the river near my childhood home and potentially new photographic work from the same river.


LOOSE CANON
July 7th-31st

psychic space

Brad Isaacs, curating

Amy Friend

Katie Pretti

An examination of the tension between representation and abstraction
through the work of photographer Amy Friend and painter Katie Pretti

Amy Friend is an artist and educator from Windsor, Ontario. She began her undergraduate education at the Ontario College of Art and Design before leaving her formal educational to embark on intermittent travels through areas of Europe, Morocco, Cuba, and the US. After a seven-year hiatus she continued her education at York University receiving a BFA Honors Degree and a BEd degree. In 2008 she completed her MFA Degree from the University of Windsor and was awarded a Social Science and Humanities Grant as well as an Ontario Graduate Scholarship. She currently teaches at Brock University.

Her photographic work was selected for the Magenta Flash Forward Photography Competition in 2008 and was recently featured in Air Canada’s enRoute Magazine. Her latest exhibitions were held at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, and Ross Creek Centre for Arts in Nova Scotia.Amy’s current work is primarily photographic in practice but she experiments with her imagery using a variety of materials and methods.

published with permission
amy friend

chris o'hoski

CHRIS O'HOSKI ANSWERS OUR TOP 5:


What question do you wish would be asked in an interview and how would you answer it?
I think I'd liked to be asked why I choose to stick to traditional mediums of art, rather than moving into the digital realm. I choose to paint and draw to preserve a tradition, a culture and for the love of seeing how two dimensionality translates into three dimensional picture.


Why Art, and why art in Hamilton?
For me art is the easiest, or second natured way of communication. I love the challenge of overcoming illusional difficulties, and enjoy embracing the expression of others and self-expression.

Hamilton to me, represents the collision of nature and technology. Two of the most conflicting issues on a global scale. It gives us a great insight into cultural difference, significance and acceptance. It forces us to evaluate our immediate environment constantly.

Who or what inspires you?
Humanity inspires me on every level. Historically we're our own toughest "thing" to figure out, and by nature, the most fascinating to ourselves.

Any wisdom you'd like to share about living as an artist?
Keep creating. Don't let anyone inhibit your voice, and make as many mistakes as you can.


Is there anything in your art that you are afraid people might discover?
I always worry that people will classify it as ordinary;)

Chris O'Hoski works in Acrylic, Oil & Watercolour. Born in Southwestern Ontario in 1983, Chris O'Hoski studied Fine Art, Art History, Design and Arts Education at Sheridan College, the Dundas Valley School of Art and the Royal Conservatory. As an exhibiting artist, O'Hoski's work has been seen in various shows across Ontario and New York. Chris is also an arts educator, and currently serves as
the Director and Co-Chair of Exhibitions for the Society of Canadian Artists (SCA).

published with the permission of
chris o'hoski

reg beaudry

REG BEAUDRY ANSWERS OUR EVER EVOLVING TOP 5:

why art?
Artist are born, not made. We have no choice in the matter :o Getting up in the morning and pouring myself a cup of coffee is a choice, but when it comes to art/talent/whatever, it's just in you and there's nothing you can do to stop it, aside from just accepting it and maybe trying to make some damn money from it lol.....

what question do you wish would be asked in an interview and how would you answer it?
To be honest, I'm pretty low key and shy away from fame so I'd rather not be asked anything at all lol.

who or what inspires you?
The city of Hamilton inspires me tremendously. I don't think I would have such a hard-on for photography if I had been raised in other city/town. My original passion was film, so it's not too far off :o Life in general inspires me, really. Nothing overly complicated to be honest lol.

any wisdom you'd like to share about living as an artist?
Yes...I'd have to say that if someone is interested in photography, they should study life rather than photography.

Is there anything in your art that you are afraid people might discover?
Not really...it's all there for the world to see. :) Take what you will from it for sure....

Born in Espanola Ontario in 1966, I was the youngest in a family of 6. My family moved to Hamilton, Ontario when I was in grade 2 and at that time in 1972 the city of Hamilton was booming. It was a great place to be. Despite Hamilton's downturn since the late 80's, it still remains quite the city. With a brilliant past and burgeoning presence, it's impossible to ignore Hamilton's hard beauty, especially in the lower city where it all began. Whether working in the Yukon, working across Canada, waiting for tables, waiting for my royalty check from National Lampoon, owning an urban lounge, an urban magazine, and everything else in between, I've always been lead back by fate's hand to Hamilton and, in particular, photography. Because I capture most of my subjects in total agreement with the moment, I use natural light, set the camera on 'automatic', periodically use a flash and then go to town. This sets the stage for my preference - the raw energy that exists at any given moment of my photograph. Except for contrasting, none of my shots are cropped or altered. I shoot in black and white for the simple fact that I find colour distracting. Black and white (much like me)' cuts to the chase - Reg Beaudry

Source: republished with permission
reg beaudry

david marshak

alright so admittedly putting david marshak on "hamilton makes art" is a bit of a stretch since as far as i'm aware he hasn't shown in hamilton yet....but has had many shows in toronto....we'll just say i included him on this blog because he would be on my wishlist to show up in a hamilton gallery sometime soon. as his artist statement clearly states he doesn't seem to enjoy being asked about art which is actually something i really understand... sometimes you have to relate to the idea of "it just is"....so needless to say i've opted not to ask him the top 5 questions......although i still secretly want to.

BIOGRAPHY
David Marshak was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1970. While attending The Ontario College of Art he met several of the other members of the artist's collective DRAWNONWARD. They spent 1992 together in Florence, Italy for the year and have been traveling, working and showing together ever since. David has had several successful solo shows in St. John's and Toronto. He currently lives and paints in Cannington, Ontario.

ARTIST STATEMENT
There's nothing more repellent to an average painter than expounding on your work and why you do it. Although I speak for myself, I know this to be true with other friends and painters. To intellectualize what is, for the most part at least, landscape painting, seems to be the role of an art critic or at very least a painter who defines his work in more esoteric terms.

I don't remember too many campfire discussions about why exactly we were painters, or artists. I imagine more was said about how great it was to indeed, BE a painter. How great to be out in the wild land somewhere far away from any trace of man made edifice. How great to be among like minded and willfully inclined people. How great to be able to approach your office in the morning at the edge of a lake or a cliff with your paintbox briefcase in hand. And how to great to come home after a long trip and settle in to the studio work that follows travel, working in a rhythm that any office worker would envy.

I paint because it's what I've always wanted to do. I don't think that much about why I do it. As for what I paint, it follows that I don't analyze that too much either. Whatever catches my eye, intrigues me and sparks a feeling of immediacy. Whatever excites me.

Source: republished with permission
david marshak

greg benz

GREG BENZ ANSWERS OUR QUESTIONS:

what is your name and what medium(s) do you work in?
My name is Greg Benz and I mainly work with Acrylic but with lots of mixed media elements as well. I also do some work on Glass as well as computer generated prints.

why art?
I run my own company called www.freshinkapparel.com which is a great outlet for my artwork but its mostly computer based so I don't get all my fine art emotion out on the computer. There's really nothing better than staring at a blank canvas and layering your thoughts out with your hands and paint.

who or what inspires you?
MUSIC! Music is also one of my other creative outlets. its very rare that I paint without music, actually a lot of my paintings are named after songs or words from songs that I'm listeing to as I paint.

any wisdom you'd like to share about living as an artist?
Push your boundries.. I'm always trying to hone my style and push it further with every piece I do.

Greg Benz, born 1977, lives in London, Ontario and is a Beal Art Graduate. Greg has been painting for over a decade. He is an artist whose work engages the viewer through the use of non traditional painting techniques and the viewers imaganation. His abstract landscapes and digital prints have quickly gathered a dedicated base of collectors.

Greg also runs a successfull T shirt screenprinting company(www.freshinkapparel.com) where he controls all graphic design. This is a great outlet for ideas and inspiration for his paintings and digital work.

His work which is mostly acrylic on canvas has been shown at the AGH(Art Gallery of Hamilton), solo shows at The Arts Project in London, as well as galleries in Kingston

.

Source: republished with permission
greg benz
www.freshinkapparel.com

dave hind

DAVE HIND ANSWERS OUR TOP 5:

what is your name and what medium(s) do you work in?
my name is officially david august hind and i work primarily with scrap metal


what question do you wish would be asked in an interview and how would you answer it?i guess it is the one that gets asked alot whats the deal with the materials ? and i would go on about where they come from and how if i wasnt a thingmaker then i would be a sanford and have my own junk yard


why art?
its a perfect blend of working physically with your body and hands and dreaming at the same time


who or what inspires you?
i have always admired the organic gardening movement in hamilton i first became aware of it with the home project which was based out of the old west ave. school on barton and i know everyone is jumping on the wagon but i got to say the james crawl is such a good reason to get out and do what you do


any wisdom you'd like to share about living as an artist?
thats a tricky one be thanful and work hard

dave hind is an artist, musician and metalworker of functional objects. he was born in hamilton and now lives in brantford ontario. his artistic practice is grounded in the reclamation of materials. the interaction of the industrial and natural recur in the materials, processes, and images he uses and explores.

the above are examples of his aluminum works click on the link to see his work in sculpture, instruments and functional works.

Source: republished with permission
dave hind

elizabeth lennie

ELIZABETH LENNIE ANSWERS OUR TOP FIVE:

what is your name and what medium(s) do you work in?
Elizabeth Lennie. I work with oil on canvas

what question do you wish would be asked in an interview and how would you answer it?
Would you like a latte? Yes please no sugar.

why art?
Why not. It’s the only meaningful expression of who we are as a species. And I always wanted to be a painter when I grew up.

who or what inspires you?
Keith Jarrett, Nick Drake, Ernest Hemingway’s character Thomas Hudson from his book ‘Islands in the Stream’, spicy olives, Shiraz, the smell of Spring, water, all artists (I am indiscriminate, I have great respect for the act of creation from the great painters all the way through to contemporary installation/sound/video/photographic,3 dimensional work. The imagination reveals itself in mysterious ways)

any wisdom you'd like to share about living as an artist?
Live your passion every day. Don’t do it unless you are driven. Work at your practice even if you are not inspired. Inspiration comes from many sources but is not realised without discipline. Success is preparedness meeting opportunity and fearless abandon to the moment. Never settle.

Liquid landscapes full of sparkling light, whimsy, and joyful play are reminiscent of carefree days spent in the pristine waters of Temagami in northern Ontario. By isolating and extracting colors in a signature soft-focus style, a utopian childhood is remembered, creating the memory myth of summer here on earth.

Source: republished with permission
elizabeth lennie

paul elia

PAUL ELIA ANSWERS OUR TOP 5:

what medium(s) do you work in?
digital artist, illustrator, photographer


what question do you wish would be asked in an interview and how would you answer it?
My all time favourite question – “You inherit 5 million dollars the same day aliens land on the earth and say they’re going to blow it up in 2 days. What are you going to do with the money?” - I’d fly everyone I know out to some crazy location and have an end of the world party!


why art?
ever since I was a kid, art has been the way I express myself, the way I relate to others around me and the way I digest the experiences I have.


who or what inspires you?
Lately what inspires me is going for walks through urban decay. I like the tension between it looking really ugly, but also beautiful and surreal at the same time. There is something emotionally striking to me about buildings that look like they’ve been in a fight and have black eyes and split lips. This is very evident in my latest series. And I am always inspired by lots of music and other artists.


any wisdom you'd like to share about living as an artist?
Be confident and don’t be afraid of letting a little of your business side out too.


HAMILTON STRIP is a new illustrated series by Paul Elia depicting Hamilton cityscapes. Entire city blocks (or strips) are recreated in heavy tones of black, white and gray.

The largest print is 13ft. long, allowing the viewer to literally walk down the block. Focusing on downtown and central Hamilton neighbourhoods, these drawings are meant to highlight the surreal contrast between the industrial history of the city and the residential development around it.

Source: republished with permission
paul elia via www.wrecovery

gordon leverton

Gordon Leverton anwers our questons:


what question do you wish would be asked in an interview and how would you answer it?
Most artists find it difficult to explain their art (writing an artist statement is excruciating), and talking about one’s art usually comes off as sounding scripted. So, I would say, ask me about anything other than art or my work!

why art?
I can explain “why visual art?” – it’s the most effective way I’ve found to express myself completely. I’m not a great verbal communicator and I’d really rather listen than talk anyway. I love music as well but I don’t have enough natural ability to yield satisfactory results. And my writing is pretty mediocre!

who or what inspires you?
Architecture, the city, family, friends, fellow artists. I get inspiration from a pretty big pool. I’m also very influenced by California-based painters like Richard Diebenkorn, Elmer Bischoff and David Hockney; and early German impressionists like Der Blaue Reiter group.

any wisdom you'd like to share about living as an artist?
Do what you love. Resist the urge to produce work to please certain people. You will get lots of advice from all directions – have a good think about all this advice before you decide if it’s applicable to your work.

A self-taught artist, Gordon's previous incarnations - as picture framer, writer, retailer and entrepreneur - have helped form his art direction; that of urban decay and architectural design. Born in Chatham, Ontario, his formative years spent in the rural southwest farm belt gives him a unique perspective on the body of this work.



Gordon is a member of several guilds and artist groups including: Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton Artists Inc., Artists Network (Toronto), and is an elected member of The Society of Canadian Artists. His artwork has shown in the Art Gallery of Hamilton, Todmorden Mills Museum in Toronto, Montreal's Ogilvy Hall and the Tom Thomson Memorial Gallery. Many various private and corporate collections are home to his work, including the City of Toronto fine art collection in St. Lawrence Market.

Gordon holds several awards, having taken first place awards in the Junction Juried Art Exhibition and the Riverdale Art Walk in Toronto. He makes his home in Hamilton, Ontario with his wife Nancy and two children.

Awards
Best Visual Artist, 2008 Best of Hamilton awards, H Magazine, Hamilton.
First Prize, 2008 Junction Juried Art Exhibition, Toronto.
Best-in-show, 2008 Riverdale Art Walk, Toronto.
Scholarship, The Academy of Realist Art, Toronto.

Selected collections
Carstar Corporation (Hamilton, Canada)
City of Toronto Fine Art Collection (Toronto, Canada)
David Premi Architect Inc. (Hamilton, Canada)
Fengate Property Management LTD, (Burlington, Canada)
Hughes Abys LLC (Hamilton, Canada)
Katu Design (Toronto, Canada)
Louise Dompierre, President/CEO, Art Gallery of Hamilton (Hamilton, Canada)
Multipond GmbH, (Waldkraiburg, Germany)
Nycomed Canada Inc, (Oakville, Canada)


Source: republished with permission
www.gordonleverton.com