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The 18th annual Festival of Smalls (original artworks from $55-$250) is quickly approaching (opening Saturday, November 12th, at 10am), and I couldn’t help but share a few gems. Hope to see you there.
Leila Cools
Derek Maryanovich
Patti Normand
Diane Lingenfelter
Danielle Hession
When I walked into the gallery Monday morning I immediately gravitated to the newest arrivals: Patti Normand‘s playful sculptures. These nostalgic and witty works have played in my mind all week.
On the surface the miniature worlds I create seem safe, but look closer and it becomes apparent all is not as it seems. The settings in my pieces range from city parks to the Canadian wilderness. Carefully chosen, they play an integral part in narratives that are frequently disquieting and absurd. Inspired by my memories and fears, they examine our relationship with nature, both our indifference to it and each other.
Patti Normand has been a visual artist in Ottawa for over twenty years. She has worked professionally for many years as a sculptor and model maker for area museums, notably the Children’s Museum at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
Family Vacation
Detail
Island Getaway
Detail
Lost Ball
Detail
Park
Detail
Tek Yang
Dominic Pote
Dean West
Dean West
I often like to switch around the art I have. A new context brings new life and appreciation to the piece, the room, and ultimately, to my happiness. There’s no better feeling than rediscovering an old favorite , or noticing a detail of a painting you never noticed before – now that it’s in better light. The new grouping here above the yellow chair is of an older piece newly framed, and a newer portrait which I love. I sit on my couch directly across from these women, and I love the colour they bring to my space, as they stare back at me! - Lisa
Before: Dionne Simpson
After: J.T. Winik (top) and Elizabeth Bauman (bottom).
Earlier this month I decided to makeover the middle bedroom in my house into a study, since I was starting my Masters in Art History. As a student on a budget, I had to be thrifty and creative. I spent $50 on a can of white paint, covered an old arm chair, salvaged some old stools from my grandmother’s garage, and gathered some works of art from my bedroom. The calm and minimal environment, with a focus on the art (not unlike the white cube gallery), provides an ideal setting for a student of art.
The view from my desk.
Rather than centering this grouping on one wall, I thought this placement was more interesting. And all pieces are in perfect view when you walk past the room.
An antique mirror is grouped with Ryan Price (top), Amber Albrecht (bottom, left) and Paul Fortin (bottom, right).
Madeleine Lamont (left), antique photo (top), and Dionne Simpson (bottom, right).
On my desk: Yael Brotman (a gift from Lisa & Shira).
On the windowsill: Gerhard Richter postcard (left) and Erin Vincent collage (right).
A Tiny Tom Donuts t-shirt (purchased in the Food Building at the CNE this summer) is a playful reminder that there is life outside academia.
Peter Andrew‘s photographs are often shot from obscure places or points of view. Whether in a remote area of Iceland, or outside a helicopter capturing a highway below, these vast, unpopulated scenes are always cinematic.
Peter Andrew is an award-winning photographer from Toronto, Canada. Self-taught and armed with an apprenticeship at West Side Studio under Chris Gordaneer, Peter quickly developed a shooting style and mantra of ‘getting the shot no matter what’. His body of work includes advertising, location, portrait and landscape photography. His selected client list includes: Molson-Coors, Campbells, Ontario Heritage Trust, Canadian Press and The National Research Council of Canada.
Before: Megan McCabe
After: Stephanie Cormier
Michael Revil Madjus is a Product Designer and Marketer for imm Living, a design company in Toronto that marries “functionality with a playful sensibility.” Aside from being exceptionally creative, Michael is the type of roommate a girl dreams of: super neat, wildly entertaining, and helps me pick what heels to wear for a night out. His keen eye for design is a major bonus. Michael thoughtfully houses a number of works from my overflowing art collection in his carefully curated space.
Artwork: Ric Santon. Bowling Pins: "Lucky Strike Series" designed by Michael.
Andy Maclean
Bowling Pin: "Lucky Strike Series" designed by Michael.
Richard Herman (left) and Dionne Simpson (right).
Kenneth Herdy: "Tokyo Nights."
