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MARQUEE Bulletin of Arts & Culture – Dufferin-Peel-Alton

Connie Munsonby
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Blustery and cold outside though it may be, there is a vibrant arts and culture scene to access virtually throughout Halton, Peel, and Dufferin. Peruse the news of various arts groups and organizations, hunt for classes and workshops, relax with online exhibitions, and check out arts news from insider tips with calls to submit to the bigger arts world beyond these local corridors.

Most arts organizations have moved to virtual platforms and have something for everybody in the family with these exciting activities and classes.

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS …

Art Gallery of Burlington Starting January 30, join us for their FREE weekly Family Open Studio, every Saturday at 1 pm on IGTV. Visit us virtually on Instagram, where you can engage in a new family-friendly art project each week from the comfort of your home. Psst! Can’t wait for January 30? Check out one of the many IGTV videos posted on our page for some creative inspiration.

Visual Arts Brampton has a Paint Night for Saturday, February 13 – perfect for a date night or friends, or somebody who wants to try a new medium. Other adult classes starting next week in February include Winter Pastels with Filomena Kandola, Water Colours with Zan Barrage, and so many more…

Burlington Public Library has a plethora of FREE virtual activities and cultural delights to sample. While some require pre-registration, others do not. Family Storytime, Puppet Shows, Opera, Writing Classes, Book clubs, Art Activities, and more!

Visual Arts Mississauga Annis Karpenko, Executive Director at VAM says … “Winter is coming and we are here for YOU. Art making and being with a community of friends is known to reduce stress and anxiety and to combat isolation.” Plan ahead with March Break for children and teens. There is also much to choose from for the kid in all of us with adult courses that can be found here.

Museum of Dufferin continues to connect broadly with their resources found at their Learning Hub. Explore those categories under Social Studies, Language Arts, and Games & Activities. It’s time to DISCOVER, EDUCATE, and SHARE with the MOD! Psst! Anybody for a Maple Syrup Crossword with those morning pancakes?

EXHIBITIONS HERE & AFAR …

Soon to be gone, this is the last week for these shows – see them now at the following links:

Arts On The Credit salutes S’jon de Groot’s for his fabulous solo show that has been on their virtual gallery since January 8 at noon through the Zoom platform. His body of work is energizing with his characteristic use of strong colours and decisive brushwork. The work is bold and multi-dimensional, an expression in colour of a South African coming to terms with his adopted land; and combining his African and North American experience with the influence of his Dutch artist ancestors.” AOTC’s virtual gallery is easy to access and maneuver within for an enjoyable viewing experience! 

Beaux Arts Gallery announces it’s the last week to view and purchase works from their virtual Winter Art Show. A gem of a gallery for Brampton, it is a happening arts collective with a heady and glorious mix of emerging, to mid-career, and established artists who range as widely in their arts practices as their ages. From their millennials to those boomers and with much else in-between, Beaux Arts Gallery is the arts scene!

These next shows will be with us for more than the next week, so you can go back to view them virtually a number of times.

Arts On The Credit proudly presents the opening event to Craig Ewing’s Jewellery Exhibit, to be featured on their virtual gallery site all of February. For FREE tickets to the Zoom opening on Wednesday, February 3, at 7 pm, contact @artsonthecredit.ca to be sent the zoom link. It is a wonderful time to view the beautiful pieces, hear directly from the artist, and to see other people who virtually attend, support, and enjoy such unique, artisan work. In Ewing’s words, “There is so much style in the world. Embrace yours!”

Headwaters Arts Gallery, located in the Alton Mill Arts Centre, presents seven area artists with this eclectic collection of landscapes, florals, still life, and abstract pieces. Pensive and considered or pent up with energy bursting forth, contemplative, looking forward with hope, or nostalgic tinged views of simpler moments, strong and bold colours, rich vignettes and spare, minimalist panels – all are invitations to share these artists’ moods as we move into our new decade. Hanging virtually, for now, you may view and purchase from this exhibition on the Headwaters Arts website through February 28.

Art Gallery of Burlington has three new exhibits to enjoy when galleries reopen. An immersive video installation, Diver, from Monira Al Qadiri runs February 1 through May 3; Marina Dempster & Meera Sethi: In Visible, February 2 – May 31, 2021; and Larry Weyland: Peeling the Sticker Off an Overripe Pear, May 2 – 31, 2021.

Visual Arts Mississauga launched its much anticipated 43rd Annual Juried Show of Fine Arts on Thursday, January 14, 2021, at 3:00 pm with a live Facebook Event. VAM43 showcases an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary visual artworks. While over 150 artists applied to the exhibition province-wide, only 43 artworks were chosen by VAM’s expert jurors. This virtual exhibition will be up on the VAM43 website from January 14 – December 31, 2021.

‘Big picture’ news on the arts front…

Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Canada’s leading contemporary outdoor art fair is celebrating 60 years of launching artists’ careers. Their #CallForArtists opened November 2020 and closes March 8, 2021. Apply by February 28 at 11:59 PM to avoid the late fee. Visual artists and makers of all backgrounds are invited to apply for the hybrid online/outdoor 60th event @torontooutdoorart in July 2021. Each year a loyal following of Fair-goers spend $2 million on art purchases, providing an income to independent artists that contributes to their economic prosperity. The 60th Anniversary Fair will be one to remember with new special programs and awards! Get more info and apply now here.

Canberra, in New South Wales, and the capital of Australia – For something “down under”, check out the Canberra Calendar – just released so we can all live in hope, dream, and plan. Posted on 13 January, 2021, we are assured that Canberra’s autumn events calendar is full of more than festivals. Having said that it looks like it is going to be a “lift-off” from March 6 -14 with the Canberra Balloon Spectacular. Another place to enjoy world-class art, outdoor challenges and, of course, plenty of festivals. 

Happening NOW from local artists & arts organizations …

Cathy Disbrow of Woolly Doodles textile artist and felter with Zoom workshops at $35.00, kits are extra. Hurry, only two spots left for the two-part Pet Portrait Needle Felt Painting Class. Two Sundays, 1 – 4 pm EST, learn how to take a photo of your pet’s face and then felt it into an 8″ x 10″ wool painting. Starts Sunday, January 31and a week later, February 7, 2021.

ArtTrendZ has two FREE Arts Card Making Demos on their Facebook page. Follow them here and watch for Khaula Mazhur and Thaniath Siddiqui to announce their respective FB Live Events respectively for Friday and Sunday, this January 29 and 31. This is in preparation for celebrating National Send A Card To A Friend Day on February 7! Note: the videos on card making are on the ArtTrendZ FB page and may be viewed later if the Live Events are missed.

Miles Regis, Better Days Ahead (2020), Mixed media on canvas, 104 x 94 cm (41 x 37 in), Courtesy of the Artist

PAMA presents a virtual talk Thursday from 6 – 8 pm, January 28 with co-curator Karen Carter will focus on the paintings & textiles in the exhibition ‘When Night Stirred at Sea: Contemporary Caribbean Art’ currently on view at PAMA. This program is brought to you in partnership with The Black Artists’ Network in Dialogue (BAND) who will be hosting the event on Zoom. You may reserve your spot now through Eventbrite here and the link to attend will be forwarded to participants directly prior to the event.

Art Gallery of Burlington You can continue to engage with online courses from the AGB and discover your creative-expressive side. Join the FREE Family Resolution Wheel class this Saturday, January 30 at 1 pm. Then plan ahead for February 6 for the Family Open Studio FREE class, Oil and Water Droplet Paintings. 

Calls to Submit are opportunities for artists and members in communities to put forward their creative work for different exhibitions.  The deadlines for celebrating Black History Month are looming with just a few days left to submit your work for these interesting shows.

Museum of Dufferin has no fees to enter and national call to residents of Canada, open for both professional and amateur creatives. Respond by Monday, February 1st, 2021, at 5 pm to be part of this juried photography and art show with monetary prizes. The MOD is mounting A Black History Month Digital Exhibition in partnership with the Dufferin County Canadian Black Association. Canadian photographers and artists are encouraged to submit their work to reflect the theme of “Solidarity in my Community”. Find submission guidelines here.

Beaux Arts Gallery of Brampton is also honouring Black History Month with a special exhibition. The submission deadline was extended to January 30; for more information please go to I Know Why at here. This February Feature Show seeks artworks from Black artists for an exhibition that not only demonstrates (their) committed effort to supporting Black culture and its many contributions to the arts, (but) also serve as a platform meant for the celebration of Black Artists, who undoubtedly deserve a place to be seen, heard, and above all, valued.

The McMichael Art Gallery is sponsoring an Makers Market Online Auction. Canadian artisans, designers, and makers will receive 50% of the proceeds with the remainder going to support the renown institution’s core mission for educational outreach, exhibitions, and public programming. Deadline to apply is February 1, 2021. For more information about this opportunity, please go here.

Visual Arts Mississauga has a Call to Submit with a deadline of February 15, 2021 for their annual Third Chapter: An Exhibition Celebrating Lifelong Learning. Featured and hung in the VAM Gallery will be artwork by VAM students and members aged 60+. Third Chapter will be online from March 1- March 14, 2021. Artists aged 60 and up are welcome to submit their works for consideration. Applications available here: Call for Entry – Third Chapter 2021. You can send applications and questions to exhibits@visualartsmississauga.com.

Credit Valley Artisans of Georgetown is continuing to build the presence of their artist members on the group’s website. Representing four different guilds, there are artists and artisans with fascinating backgrounds working in stained glass, pottery, weaving and spinning, and many types of graphic arts. Their website is here. While their courses are currently on hold, there is much to explore under SHOW and SELL, with various members sharing their experiences and work created during provincial restrictions and a growing number of boutique collections from artists available to purchase.

Visual Arts Mississauga knows that Henri Matisse was correct when he said, “Creativity takes courage.” VAM has two classes starting in February for those life-long learners, emerging, mid-career, or established artists, whose professional development can include workshops, special courses for new techniques, and important exhibitions to view. Anatomy of an Exhibition and Professional Development for Artists, both with Fausta Facciponte, may be accessed here.

E. Connie Munson – Local writer, photographer, and artist covers the arts and cultural scene to share the joy and passion of the creatives and makers in the broader community. ellie73m@gmail.com.

References – Artful Corridor of Commerce: Marquee Bulletin for Halton-Peel-Dufferin

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