Adam Bramburger
Beaver Staff
Colourful creations brightened a wintery evening Thursday as the Greater Napanee and Area Arts Association (GNAAA) opened its second annual juried show at the Waterfront River Pub.
This year, Susan Holland, the curator of Belleville’s John M. Parrott Gallery reviewed the 44 pieces submitted by area artists and selected 33 to be hung upstairs at the restaurant. She was also responsible for selecting three juror’s choice awards and three honourable mentions.
Michelle Hutchinson, who co-chaired the show with Barb Marlin, told the Beaver there were about 10 per cent more entries in 2018 from the inaugural show. She also felt that Holland did a great job piecing together a display that really showcases some great work by local artists.
“Obviously because of the constraints of where we’re showing, we have a limited amount of wall space,” she said. “I think the curator did a great job of fitting us all in.”
Hutchinson said the exhibit features a wide range of media with pieces of all different sizes. One of the attractions for the GNAAA was partnering with the Waterfront because of its support and the exposure the collective works will receive.
“The show runs until Dec. 12 — for one month. The Waterfront is handling our sales. People can come here every day, see our art and make a purchase decision. It really is an ideal situation for us, we can do it for the whole month and have someone else take care of the financial logistics.”
Visitors to the pub are allowed to purchase pieces and take them home the same day. Hutchinson said there was a realization that tourists may be visiting and the ability to remove pieces might help artists sell. That time frame also encourages potential buyers looking to decorate or gift the pieces.
“The earlier they come, the more choice they have,” she explained.
On opening night, dignitaries joined the artists to present the awards. Deputy mayor-elect Max Kaiser said council is “very proud of the artists and artistry in the community” and congratulated the participating artists on their show.
“This is a wonderful thing and I’m very proud of all of you for bringing this to our community, keeping it alive and making it happen.”
Greater Napanee arts and culture committee chair Tim Nimigan and Waterfront owner Jane Adams-Roy presented honourable mentions, while the show’s gold sponsor, Exit Realty’s Wade Mitchell, presented the juror’s choice awards.
With her highest honours Holland selected Richard Campbell for his abstract acrylic painting “Orange Orb 2,” offering the comment “Balance everywhere — shape, colour, texture, line. A pleasing experience all around; Paul Langevin for his oil and cold wax abstract painting “Morning on the Balcony,” commenting “Intriguing abstract — a snapshot of the moment. The busyness is well handled and piques the other senses for a full sensory imagining; and Lois Sexsmith for her watercolour “Last of the Apples,” noting “A fine example of the mastery of this medium. Delicate yet strong.”
Campbell offered thanks to those who made the show possible and said it’s an indication of the community’s backing for its artists.
“The fine arts community in Greater Napanee is quite strong and support for the arts is growing,” he said.
Langevin said he has the GNAAA to thank for his inclusion among the winners — literally. Five years ago, he had not done any art to speak of, but when he saw an ad in the Beaver for some of the association’s workshops he decided to join. He enjoyed meeting like-minded people and saw his art progress.
While he can paint landscapes, Langevin said he really likes abstract pieces like his winning entry.
“This one I really enjoyed doing. It probably too over a year to complete it,” he said. “I don’t really plan a piece usually. I started it, set it up in my studio where I could constantly see it and let it tell me where it wanted to go. Then, when I had it figured out, I’d take it down and finish it. It’s been that way with me. Even when I plan to do something, it usually goes off the rails. It takes on a life of its own and I let it go.”
In a busy series of lines and squiggles, Langevin said in his art, he sees a city scene looking down on a cascade of balconies with building tops, railings, green space and the sun coming up on the horizon.
Holland, apparently, saw similar.
“She said ‘I can almost smell the coffee,’” he recalled.
Langevin said his art and the public show have taken him far from his comfort zone. That said, he says he gets a sense of satisfaction by knowing he’s producing art for public consumption.
“The big thing, when I’m doing this, is there’s this thought in the back of my head that I’m creating something that will be around long after I’m gone. Unless all the paintings in the world burn up, it might end up in a yard sale some day or in an auction sale. Somebody will look at it some day and wonder.”
Sexsmith, who says she started painting watercolours a long time ago, is happy that she’s been able to get back into her work upon retirement, teaching classes and sharing her art with her grandchildren. She said she really wanted to enter a watercolour in the show. The idea came to her while picking apples. She found a soft background and used her colours to make dark, strong tones in the red apples.
“That’s the fun of watercolours, getting it strong enough,” she said.
Sexsmith was involved in the intake process and, given the entries she’s seen, was pleased to win.
“This would be such a hard competition to judge. There’s all different mediums, all different styles and there was no one theme. You could put in whatever you wanted. It would be very difficult for the judge to decide one against the other,” she said. “The first thing I said when I saw what was coming in was the quality of work was amazing. It was great to see.”
Honourable mentions went to Merle Mossey for the acrylic “Jazz,” Gerry Hogaboam for the acrylic “A Winter’s Delight,” and Diane Phaneuf for the acrylic “Spot of Tea?”
Visitors to the show are encouraged to vote for their people’s choice award winner until Dec. 12.
Hutchinson expects the GNAAA will grow in the coming years, which should only add to the quality of the annual show.
“We believe the GNAAA is starting to get a foothold here in Napanee. People are into the arts and people want to meet like-minded people. As the association grows, the juried show will grow at the same rate or maybe even more as we open it up to other people.”