Aurafidelite Arindam in " Question Period "

What is your artist background?

I studied art in Victoria and apprenticed with my late husband, an accomplished professional artist. He studied under the famous artist Salvador Dali and at prestigious international art schools around the world including the Arts Student League and the Pratt Institute in New York City, the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, the Villa Medici Art Academy in Rome and the Art Institute in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. His artwork was exhibited in various locations throughout Europe and North America, including the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

I am a registered member of the Botanical Artists of Canada, the only one from Victoria, British Columbia! I was featured as an artist in the July/August 2009 issue of Victoria’s James Bay Beacon newspaper and my botanical artwork appeared in the August 2009 Focus magazine for the James Bay Art Walk. My artwork has been successfully exhibited and sold privately and publicly. It is for sale at the internationally-known Sooke Harbour House Art Gallery, recipient of various excellence awards, and at the Legacy Art Gallery and Café gift shop, a University of Victoria establishment. During the 2009 summer and fall, I have exhibited and sold my artwork at Emily Carr House, the James Bay Community Centre, for a group exhibit at James Bay Serious Coffee, and for the James Bay Art Walk. In 2010, my botanical artwork will be for sale at the Butchart Gardens Gift Shop. In March 2010, I will exhibit my orchid drawings for the Victoria Annual Orchid Show at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. My botanical artwork will also be shown for the Sooke Harbour House Annual Floral Art Show in 2010.

How do you describe your work?

I have tried acrylics and watercolour, but I always come back to coloured pencils, which are now a respected professional medium in art. I once had a lady who argued with me for half an hour saying that my drawings were done in watercolour and not coloured pencils. I build up colour in a very subtle fashion and the result looks like watercolour but it doesn’t have the disadvantage of fading in sunlight. I use sometimes twenty-five coloured pencils for a small drawing. It’s rather amazing that I can accomplish this since I’m not naturally very patient! My artwork includes flowers such as British Columbia native plants and exotic orchids, amongst many other types of plants from around the world. What I enjoy the most about being an artist is creating a sense of beauty and peace, and bringing spirit and life to the flower in my artwork. My creative discipline comes easily to me. It brings me peace and enjoyment, so I cherish the time that I can do artwork. That’s the true richness of my life. Here are what people are saying about my botanical artwork:

“Your work looks fabulous.”―S., Gallery and Gift Shop Coordinator, Sooke Harbour House

“I am very impressed by the quality of your art portfolio!”―A., Oak Bay Avenue gallery owner

“We have received many positive comments from the public about your beautiful botanical artwork exhibited at Emily Carr House.”―J., Emily Carr House manager

“Thank you Aura. We have had a lot of positive responses to your beautiful botanical drawings!”―S., James Bay Community School Centre

“Congratulations on selling your drawings! You have a lot of talent.” ―S.

“I sure would love to come and see your exhibitions! Your paintings are so beautiful! All the details!”―M.

“Thank you very much for this superb drawing; I must admit that I am impressed by your great artistic talents.”―B.

“Your drawings are magnificent.”―E.

“Thank you for sharing such wonderful art. You are truly a gifted artist.”―S.

“Your botanicals are truly stunning. Thanks for sharing them.”―J.

“Thanks for sharing such beautiful drawings with us! I like them all, they are all so equally fascinating.”―L.

“Your drawings are all very, very beautiful.”―J.

“We both find your drawings superbly beautiful! Bravo! You are so good, what talent and sensitivity in your drawings! Keep going!”―D. & J.

“It’s hard to choose because all your drawings are so beautiful!!! You are doing very good work!!!”―J.

“What beautiful artwork!”―A.

“Congratulations on your beautiful botanical drawings. They are all so very beautiful that it’s difficult to decide. My best wishes in your pursuit of this adventure.”―G.

“Your drawings are very beautiful.”―M.

“You have talent! The flowers are so beautiful and dramatic. I am really impressed.”―J.

Who are the living artists you find more interesting?

The Seattle-based glass artist Dale Chihuly.

Who are the no longer living artists you find more interesting?

My late husband Auro Arindam, who blended Impressionist and Asian artistic influences in his artwork. I fell in love with the artworks of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists when I was staying in Paris. Also Pierre-Joseph Redouté, the famous French artist who drew beautifully detailed botanical artworks which are well known to botanical artists. Georgia O’keeffe’s artwork which inspired me to make a start in botanical artwork. Also the British artist JMW Turner, Rembrandt, Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Jacques-Louis David and the Japanese artists Hokusai and Hiroshige.

Should art have a social/political message?

Art can have a social/political message but botanical artwork does not lend itself well for this purpose as other forms of art do.

Why do you do art?

My interest in botanical drawing and painting emerged from my passion for gardening which I developed in Victoria. My art studio looks onto her rooftop patio garden in central James Bay which provides a great source of inspiration and interest. With our often hectic, fast-paced lives, I feel it is important to stop and admire the beauty and peace that nature provides and enrich our soul. It is my hope to communicate nature’s lasting beauty and peace through my botanical artwork.

Private commissions for Aurafidélité Arindam’s original botanical artwork are available with a 50% non-refundable deposit. Good quality affordable prints of her original botanical artwork are also available on demand.

Contact Information

Aurafidélité Arindam, Botanical Artist, BAC member

Address: P.O. Box 8010, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, V8W 3R7

Email address: auraart@telus.net

Botanical Artists of Canada web page: hhttp://www.botanicalartistsofcanada.org/arindam.php

Sooke Harbour House web page: http://www.sookeharbourhouse.com/2009/07/29/aurafidelite-arindam/

James Bay Art Walk web page: http://jamesbayartwalk.ca/?page_id=58

Sascha Porteous at Dales Gallery

All proceeds from the show are being donated to charity:water in the hopes of raising enough to build a clean water well for a village of 250+ people.
Sept. 24 to Oct. 6, 2009

Watch the video with Sascha commenting on this great cause and if you can help !

Suzanne Bean in "Question Period"

-What is your artist background?
My name is Suzanne Bean and my artist background is receiving a BFA in Visual Arts with Honors and Distinction. I started showing in my third year at Fifty Fifty Arts Collective and I will be showing at Xchanges Artists' Gallery in January 2010.
-How do you describe your work?
My work started off in painting and drawing, but then I found I wanted to break through the two dimensional space into sculpture. In my upcoming exhibition at Xchanges' I look at how new sculptural material such as balloons, pipe cleaners, and Styrofoam cups can change our perceptions of the world around us. My process based work is about following a dialogue with the material and then allowing the viewer to create unique questions about each piece.
-Who are the living artists you find more interesting?
When I started creating sculpture, the living artist that inspired me was Tara Donovan and
Tony Cragg.
-Who are the no longer living artists you find most interesting?
The no longer living artist would be Eva Hesse.
-Should art have a social/political message?
I believe that its an artists choice to have a social/political message. I don't have a strong yes or no to that question.
-Why do you do art?
I have to create, this is who I am. My art may change direction over the years, but I know that I'll always be creating.

Contact: http://suzannebean.blogspot.com/

Mercurio Gallery-True North-Inuit Art

We have extended our show until Thursday, Sept 26 if you have not had a chance to come and view the beautiful collection of Inuit Art showing this month at Mercurio Gallery.

Mercurio Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11-5pm, with extended hours on Thursday the 26th until 8pm. We have also set up an online catalogue of the items included in the TRUE NORTH show. If you are curious about the pieces in this show, we would be happy to send you the link for this catalogue.

Come to Mercurio this week to see the wealth of creativity and craftsmanship found in the TRUE NORTH.

Eva Campbell in "Question Period"

• What is your artist background?
MFA University of Victoria, Victoria, BC Canada
MA University of Science and Technology, Ghana
BFA (First Class Honours) Painting University of Science and Technology, Ghana
• How do you describe your work?
My work is about the human form. I work from models, imagination, memory, mirrors and sometimes photographs
• Who are the living artists you find more interesting?
Lucian Freud, Eric Fischl, Kara Walker, Yinka Shonibare, Jenny Saville, Paula Rego, Kehinde Wiley, Will Gorlitz, Wei Dong, John Currin
• Who are the no longer living artists you find most interesting?
Vermeer, Caravaggio, Frans Hals, Velasquez, ancient sculptors from Ife, F.H. Varley, Edna Manley, Augusta Savage, Wifredo Lam
• Why do you do art?
Because I love to paint

www.evacampbell.ca

" Question Period " is our new section !

Question Period is to showcase artists and their art and some information about them !

Nature of Island Artists Art Show !

The Goldstream Nature House Hosts the 11th Biennial Nature Of Island Artists Art Show!

Visit the Goldstream Nature House between September 19th and October 12th, 2009 to see the Nature House transformed into a beautiful nature art gallery. Featuring nature-inspired pieces by over 70 renowned local artists including Robert Bateman, Lissa Calvert, Mark Hobson, Morgan Warren and many more! All proceeds from the show go directly towards sustaining environmental education at Goldstream Provincial Park. Read more...

Quotable quote:

Youth must go ahead and prosper. These young painters are all very talented people, but they all paint frescoes.
Edvard Munch

David Pollock at Luz Gallery

She Said Gallery on Fernwood

Art Show
Featuring Kristi Bridgeman


I am delighted to feature the wonderful, playful original illistrations from The Knot Fairy, The Sock Fairy and Once There was a Camel by the renowned illistrator Kristi Bridgeman in the Gallery September 15th - October 31st. They will warm your heart, make you smile and are just feel good art.


The Sock Fairy...brings to life the magical world of fairies. The whimsically illustrated story...is warmly narrated on the CD. An exuberant, joyful children’s book especially recommended for young people who believe in fairies

The Knot Fairy is a free-spirited fantasy picturebook...The pink, purple, and sepia-hued color illustrations by artist Kristi Bridgeman add a delightful touch to this warm-hearted story...


The author and illustrator once again perfectly marry the charming rhyming text with the beautifully rendered water-color illustrations, creating a book that will capture a child’s imagination...

Marnie

Polka Dots and Stripes at Tulista Park Gallery

The Victoria College of Art and Design

The Victoria College of Art and Design Cordially invites you to the VCA Alumni 35th Anniversary Art Show.
Opening Friday September 11th 7-9 pm
Hosted by: University Canada West, 950 Kings Road

Vancouver Island School Of Art

The Vancouver Island School of Art is hosting their 4th Annual “Art Incognito” gala event on Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 5 pm at 2549 Quadra Street
This event provides an excellent opportunity for art lovers to buy original works of art at very reasonable prices. Artwork is sold by silent auction, with minimum bids between $100-$300.

Tickets are $25 and include a drink, delectable delights from Truffles Catering, Charelli’s Delicatessen and Pure Vanilla Bakery plus live entertainment from the Kelby McNayr Trio. This year’s event includes a Martini Bar.
Another addition to this year’s event is a preview sale on Thursday, September 10 from 4 to 6 pm gives serious buyers the opportunity to purchase artwork for double the minimum bid. Tickets are $35 and include entry to the main event on Friday September 11. Tickets are available at the door or prior to the event by phoning or visiting the school.

Each year, well known and lesser known artists from across the province donate their original artwork to this major fundraiser. Artwork is not identified by artist’s name and any signatures are covered so that the identity of the artist remains anonymous during the show. Past artists include Pat Martin Bates, Robert Bateman, Flemming Jorgensen, Leslie Poole and Mowry Baden.

This year artists include Glen Loates, Gwen Curry, Eva Campbell, Ken Faulks, Liam Hanna-Lloyd,Brad Pasutti, Heather Keenan and Phyllis Serota.

“We are very excited to have such an interesting array of work this year including paintings, drawings and photographs. It never ceases to amaze us how generous and receptive the art community is with regard to donating pieces to our event.” Executive Director Wendy Welch.

Proceeds from this event fund the Vancouver Island School of Art’s programming. The
Vancouver Island School of Art is a registered Canadian charity and non-profit society.

Robert Amos at Eclectic Gallery

Sept. 9, 2009
Opening Reception
7pm to 9 pm

Robert Amos is one of Victoria’s best known artists, and for 35 years he has painted scenes of Victoria in watercolour and acrylics. Very few people know that during that time he has also evolved a unique synthesis using Chinese and Japanese forms to express his Canadian sensibility.
Eclectic is premiering the first Canadian exhibit of Robert Amos' new work featuring oriental style scrolls of imaginary landscapes, portraits and calligraphy. Sixteen of these pieces were presented last year at the Prince Takamado Gallery of the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo.
There is a worthwhile story of a Western artist who has adopted Eastern styles. Robert has devised a new form of western calligraphy in his illuminations of James Joyce's Finnegans Wake. For years, he has poured over this complex text to reconfigure every nuance and syllable into poetic stanzas which bring heightened awareness to the Irish bard's words. The words are applied by brush and ink onto oriental paper, which is then professionally mounted by master scroll makers in Taiwan. The result is a uniquely fascinating merging of East and West.

Phyllis Serota-September 2009-Artist of the Month !

I have been painting full time professionally since 1979. I received my BFA from the University of Victoria in that year and since then have been lucky enough to be able to earn my living as an artist.

In my painting, I discover and explore my reality and my memories. I realize that I am not only remembering specific moments but in some of my recent paintings, interpreting the act of memory itself. I am interested in what the distance of time and space can do to distort and obscure the images.

Dream images have also continued to be a source of inspiration for me. The other vein that is present in my work is concerned with beauty; my wonder at just how beautiful the world is...beautiful and, at times, terrible.

I work in oil, acrylic, watercolour, and monotype. I hope that you enjoy the work!



Website: http://www.phyllisserota.com/intro.html

Email:phyllis.s@telus.net

Daniel Laskarin exhibit at Deluge Contemporary Art

Daniel Laskarin
sticks and stones
September 4 to October 3, 2009
Opening: Friday, September 4, 7pm


The works that comprise sticks and stones are a result of the artist's ongoing exploration of the formal and psychological properties of objects. Laskarin's sculptural practice is notable for his instinctual need to construct things as perfectly as possible with a constant consideration for their mutable states. In this exhibition, sculptures exist alongside images -- all retaining a profound autonomy -- while Laskarin fuses the work's aesthetic range and diversity into a continuum of narratives, both fractured and related.

Born in Southern Ontario, but a long-time BC resident, Daniel Laskarin turned to visual art after a career in aviation and completed his MFA at UCLA in 1991. His artistic production is object-based, and uses a diverse range of media including photography and video, optics, robotics systems, installation and sound works, set design and public projections. Laskarin has been awarded large-scale public commissions in Vancouver and Seattle. He has exhibited extensively in Canada and the United States, as well as in the UK, France, Algeria and Brazil. He currently teaches sculpture at the University of Victoria, where he is Chair of the Department of Visual Arts.

Francis Bacon-Anatomy of an Enigma-September 2009- Book of the Month

We have chosen Michael Peppiatt's Francis Bacon-Anatomy of an Enigma for September 2009 Book of the Month ! Read a bit more about the book in our section: Book of the Month !

Artists of " Eidola" exhibit: at Open Space

William Brent’s creative work encompases experimental music performance projects and various non-musical undertakings, El such as the compilation of conflated idioms presented at www.conflations.com His electrocoustic performance projects combine human,robotic, and computer-realized sound, and are controlled by sotware written in the SuperCollider and Pd programming environments. For more info : www.williambrent.com

Ellen Moffat practice spans multi-media instalations of text,image and sound public art and cultural work. Her audio projects use polyphonic composition spatialized and spatialed sound in experimental environments to explore cognitive and perceptual questions,acoustics and technology. She uses structure,chance,fragmentation and high-loow technology and aesthetics as her process and vocabulary,focusing on relations of the collective and the individual, and notions of place,space and time. For more info: www.ellenmoffat.ca

To watch the opening night of the exhibition and the artists speeches go to our video channel on the right hand column!