Gallery goes big this February
The month may be short but the art is large at the Gwen Fox Gallery as this February they are hosting a Large Scale art show.
“This show we’re requiring that each piece has one dimension of at least 40 inches, so it can be something like 10 inches by 40 inches, or six inches by 40 inches, anything like that. Some of them are 48 by 48 inches. They’re mammoth. The entire gallery is being filled with huge pieces,” said Brenda Hedberg the volunteer coordinator for the Gwen Fox Gallery.
Hedberg explained that Gwen Fox gallery artist Sharon Routley had the idea for a show like this several months ago and that when they decided to float the idea past their membership, there was a great positive response.
“We’ve got about 30 huge pieces and then we have filled the plinths and the tables with wood-turned bowls, which are so beautiful,” said Hedberg.
Hedberg hopes that people come to see this cool new show idea.
“It’s just such a different kind of a show for this gallery. We have never done this before, so it really gives us ideas (and) our members are excited about doing something different because it’s a challenge,” she said.
The Selkirk Record also caught up with some of the artists in the Gwen Fox Gallery to ask them about their submissions.
Ted Bowditch
Bowditch is a well-known artist in the Selkirk art scene. A former president of the Gwen Fox Gallery and Selkirk art teacher, he’s brought art to Selkirk for many years. When describing his artistic style he explained that each piece that he creates tells a story.
Being an art teacher at the Comp for several years, Bowditch doesn’t limit his art to one medium.
“I kind of like everything. I’ve done a lot of oil paintings. I’ve done a lot of black and white, a lot of coloured pencils and watercolours and pastels. You name it, I’ve at least tried it,” he said.
Inspiration for Bowditch comes from many different sources.
“I get it from anywhere. If it tells a good story, I’m there for it. And, sometimes I like to tell a story in the picture. Sometimes it’s just a little piece of the story,” he said.
As for his piece this month, it’s called, ‘What’s up’.
“It’s a conglomeration of several photographs that I took in British Columbia, and they’re from the Queen Charlotte Islands. Hence, there’s a totem pole in it, and a raven and the bear. But they’re all separate photographs. I came across the bear where I didn’t see him until he came right up,” explained Bowditch.
Being an art teacher Bowditch has some sound advice for people wanting to start their artistic journey.
“Probably the best way to learn art is to try and teach it. It’s like a lot of other things. If you try and teach something, you’re going to learn more probably than your student,” he said.
He hopes that residents come to the gallery this month.
“If you’re looking for something large, you’re going to find it here. It’s another member show, so it’s all members, and there’s only one picture per member, and so you get a really eclectic collection of wonderful art,” he said.
Inna Dubovska
Dubovska is a Ukrainian artist who has recently made Selkirk home. With the help of her husband, Yurii Dubovskyi, to facilitate some translating she spoke about her art.
“She prefers to paint nature,” said Dubovskyi adding that she makes very beautiful paintings because nature is very beautiful.
Dubovska uses her art to show people the beauty of nature and does this through oil paint on canvas.
This month she has a large forest piece in the gallery called, ‘Autumn Colours’, however, residents should also check out the gift shop because she has a smaller piece which includes tropical birds and one of a magnolia flower.
There is potential for some Canadian landscapes coming from Dubovska in the future as she’s been enjoying seeing the landscape.
“She admires the Canadian views and Canadian nature, Canadian mountains, all these things, the lakes, animals, everything. It’s so nice, so perfect,” said Dubovskyi.
She explained that she doesn’t paint about the war in Ukraine as her painting is an escape from that stress for her.
Though she’s only been here for a year, she quickly discovered the Gwen Fox Gallery and has participated in other all-members shows since she’s been a member.
Dubovska explained that she started making art thanks to her daughter. Her daughter gave her paint and brushes three years ago and she’s been creating ever since.
Her advice to artists who are just starting out on their artistic journey is you have to be brave to start and you have to paint your paintings from deep inside.
Dubovska encourages residents who are interested in finding a community of fellow artists to check out the Gwen Fox Gallery. She explained that she is proud to be part of this gallery as it has some really professional members as well as a welcoming group of people willing to help.
Manette Flore-Alice
Flore-Alice is a painter who uses acrylic paint to showcase her art which she describes as realistic but better.
“I take photographs, and that’s my reference. I use my own photographs. I try to pick places from Manitoba or Canada and I often go back to the spot and look at more references. But, if my painting looks like a photograph, then I feel I have not succeeded. I want it to be a little bit more creative,” said Flore-Alice.
She explained that it doesn’t matter what time of the year it is she’s inspired by nature.
“I love nature, especially in the summertime, there’s flowers, or pretty. And in the winter time, I like winter, the snow and hoar frost, and I see the beauty and just the colours of the sky, or the change of the sky, the change of the colours of the snow,” said Flore-Alice.
She explained that for herself, art is a family passion having had professional artists in her family. Though she didn’t have time for art when raising her family, when she retired she took it up.
“I’ve actually been painting maybe now, it’s seven years or so, and showing my artwork that was a little bit of a coming out of my shell,” she said.
The piece that she’s brought to the exhibit this month is called, ‘The Wonders of Hoar Frost’.
“I decided to do a winter scene. And it’s hoar frost in St. Vital Park. My husband and I used to run and walk through St. Vital Park when we lived there. So, I had some photographs for reference and then I kept going back outside when there was hoar frost,” she explained.
Living in Sandy Hook, Flore-Alice is a recent member of the Gwen Fox Gallery having signed up to be part of the community last fall thanks to an invitation to check it out from other Gwen Fox Gallery members who were at an art event that she attended.
Her advice to artists starting out is to “not to be discouraged because your first few paintings are going to be not so cool. But to take lessons and go to galleries and look at how other people do some artwork but use your own ideas. Don’t copy someone else’s online or anything. You know, it’s good to take the lessons, maybe online, but find some place where you can have good lessons and someone is teaching you the right way. Go from there and develop. You’re not going to get really good until you start doing more and more,” she said.
She also encourages everyone who can to check out this really unique and striking Large Scale Art Show.
“There are amazing artists here. Some have been painting for a long time. I don’t think they’ll be disappointed. They’ll see a variety of different styles,” explained Flore-Alice.
Residents can check out the Large Scale Art Show on now until Feb. 28. The gallery is free to visit and is open Tuesday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with extended hours on Thursday until 8 p.m.
