GARDINER MUSEUM

I like to take Wednesdays off for my own indulgence.  When I'm busy, I tend to work 6 days a week, so a day off is for running around, grocery shopping, laundry...you get the drift.  Today, I decided to toddle down to the Gardiner Museum on Queen's Park.  I have been wanting to see a show called LIFE, which has been running from May 30 through to September 15, 2013.
Kathy Venter is the artist and is internationally recognized for her large scale terra-cotta sculptures that speak to the universality of the human body.  The sculptures are life size and modelled after everyday members of the artist's own community.  They are people like you and I, mostly women, and some Kathy has known since childhood. 
I have to say, it was breathtaking!  The pictures above do little to capture the magnificence and magnitude of the pieces, all made from clay, piece by piece.  You can see by the shadows on the ground that the pictures shown are suspended from wire.  Unbelievable!
The rest of the show is also captivating; I am particularly drawn to contemporary sculpture and ceramic, but you cannot experience one without knowing the other.
Check it Out!
Adults:  12$
Gardiner Museum
111 Queen's Park,
Toronto, ON
416.586.8080
www.GardinerMuseum.com

PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT

Hello, all.  I am pleased to announce that Path to Enlightenment, was chosen to be shown in the show "TRANSITIONS" at the Ciel Gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina.  This piece is mixed media and contains:
slate (background), reclaimed brick, stone, copper and gold.
I am delighted to be part of such an acclaimed group of mosaic artists!

Lost In Italy

Lost In Italy:  Completed September, 2012.  (Glass,Smalti,Wood and Cement)  12" X 18"
Cheryl Bower

I belong to a fantastic organization called Contemporary Mosaic Artists.  The premise is an invitation only website, designed for mosaic artists around the world.  We are a passionate international bunch and there are currently over 1800 members.  Every six months, the adminstrators have a contest and we send in submissions to respond to the design the judges are looking for.  The last contest was to develop a piece with an "architectual element" to it.  The submissions were wonderful and I was honoured with 2nd prize.  There were about 20 submission and I feel blessed to have been acknowledged with the noble award.

Thank you to the judges and the other artists who slaved for the last 4 months!

 

Lost in Tuscany

In 2007, when I turned 50, a group of friends and myself travelled to Italy for the trip of a lifetime.  My husband and I took many day trips and on one of them, we got lost, which was not hard to do in Italy!  We stumbled upon a crumbling structure that we believe could have been a fortress because of where it was situation, and/or a castle of some sort.  The views were breathtaking; you could see for miles-cyprus trees, olive groves, gentle hills and valleys.  The ancient building was also beautiful in its' own way.  The above piece commemorates this beauty. 
The piece is 12" X 18" and consists of Mexican Smalti, Stained Glass, cement rubble, twigs and it is set in thinset.

10TH ANNUAL ORIGINAL SQUARE FOOT SHOW

You're INVITED! 
Running from August 4 through to August 19, the AWOL Gallery is hosting their SQUARE FOOT SHOW.  The criteria?  The artwork must be 12" X 12". 
It is being held at TWIST Gallery, 1100 Queen Street West, just west of Dovercourt.
Hours:  Wednesday-Saturday 12-7 (except August 4, 12-5)
Sunday: 12-5
Artist Reception:  August 4, 7 p.m. -?
Come one, come all!                                            "Seaside"

The One of a Kind Show-Spring 2013

I know, it's a long way away, but the mosaics I work on consume approximately 40-60 hours worth of time invested. The above piece is approximately 8" X 8", so you can imagine how much time a bigger mosaic would take!  Anyway, my mentors, Akram and Fadia Gabra (www.GlassMosaicsCanada.com) have secured a booth at the 2013 One of A Kind Spring Art Show.  It has been a personal dream of these two to be accepted and they are over the top with excitement and organization for the show.  I am honoured to have been asked to contribute a few pieces.  Of course, I will help "man" the booth as well.  I will check the dates and re-post it here.  Enjoy!
P.S.  someone said they see a face in my LAVA FLOW (above) Do you?

Latest Art Projects

These pieces were done in Mexican Smalti and precious stone with the background in stained glass and grout.  Hope you like!

How Real Life Gets in the way of my ART

Okay, so I dedicated my (almost) whole summer to learning mosaics, breathing mosaics and applying mosaics....so why haven't I posted in a while?  Well, my job as a realtor captured me for a few weeks, then I just got pooped.  So here are a few photos of my latest mosaic flower collection.  The pieces are being professional photoed shortly and I will post them once received.  These pieces are Opus Romano tiles cut into either triangles or shards, Mexican Smalti, Stained Glass (background) and Millefiore for some of the centres and finally, semi-precious stones for some of the other centres.  ENJOY!

The Year of the Mosaic

Although I have been doing mosaics for many years, I decided this year I would hone that craft and take courses, workshops etc. to better learn about this ancient art.  Consequently I have now completed 3 projects in a new medium that I had not used before.  Prior to this, I taught children in school and used stained glass pieces as the tesserae.  So, this new learning curve has brought me to tile work.  Last week I started the first in a series of Cheryl's Garden.  In the spring, I went into my neighbourhood and backyard and snapped spring shots of flowers and unfurling leaves.  Here is the first in a series of backyard shots, completed in mosaic tile, smalti, stained glass and milifiori.  Hope you like!

My ELMO

Well, my little son is finished!  The mosaic, I mean.  This is Elmo licking his chops waiting for his next meal.  He's full of mischief, this one.  I am teaching him commands in Italian so I can practice for going away.  He just looks at me sideways but he knows the commands for Come here (Vin Aqua) and Treaties (forget the spelling)  Clever little lad.  Hope you like.

A Piscean named Cheryl

Well, my beautiful fish is complete!  The background is mirrored glass which creates the illusion of water.  The fish itself is my first experience with mosaic tiles and of course we have added the medium of pebbles and found shellfish from Florida.  On the whole I am quite pleased with it.  I intend to have it framed and placed in my washroom at home.  The colours will blend nicely with the walls.  Hello, My little fish!  Welcome Home!

Elmo Bower Mosaic

Recently, I joined a website called Contemporary Mosaic Artists.  It's a wonderful venue, full of mosaicists from around the world.  Some of the work is breathtaking.  I consider my work "in progress"  I am learning every day.  The above piece is in tile cut into tiny splices.  The trick will be to get the tongue and nose just right.  I think I captured my little guys' eyes.  Hope so....tomorrow is our class and I will continue to work on this.  CMA is having a contest of mosaic dogs.  I shall enter this in the contest.  Prize?  $100.00  That would be awesome!

Mosaic Group Party April 28

 Here are my wonderful new friends at our mosaic class.  We have been taking classes from wonderful people (and friends) Akram and Fadia Gabra.  Of course, this week we needed a martini or two!  Sonia, on the left, has finished her classic and lovely piece titled "Sunflower"  From left, Sonia (sitting), Kerry, Fadia, Akram, Carol-Anne (sitting), my good pals, Dianne and Linda.  Fun had by all!  Excellent food, BTW.

And the Fish Swims on......

I have started to add the background.  We decided that after much discussion, the background should be mirror.  It gives a look of the fish being in water.  It's also like glass, a medium of which I am very familiar.  This piece should be finished by next week!  Then, onto a portraiture of my Elmo Bower, dog extraordinaire!

A Fish Tail

By George, I think I got it!  Last night at my class at Glass Mosaic Canada (http://www.glassmosaiccanada.com)/ Fadia, our ever patient teacher helped me pull together the fish tail.  The starfish, pebbles and shells aren't glued yet; nor are the blue bubbles, but I think my fish-friend is coming along.  Not sure why that tail caused me so much grief; I think it's because it had to taper to such a thin line to the body.  Anyway, I'm pleased so far.  It's a fun, little piece.  We are on holidays from our Glass Class until the 28th of April however that night we will have a party of Fadia's wonderful treats.  I think we should pool our sheckles and bring a few lichi martinis as well!  We'll have to designate a driver!