Mixed Media Hanover Artist Audrey Holrod

Marketing consultant Andrea Stenberg first met Audrey Holrod at an opening for Radiations at Gallery de Boer – Fine Art & Jazz. She sipped her wine and stopped in front of some beautiful abstract photographs which turned out to be Audrey’s work. Audrey came up and introduced herself and the two women began a conversation that lasted twenty minutes as Audrey shared her story.

This vibrant artist, whose career spans five decades, began those particular images in the 1980s when Polaroid released their newest instant camera the SPECTRA. Audrey borrowed the new camera from a local store and after a week she was hooked.

However, Audrey didn’t limit herself to using the camera as Polaroid intended. Using a variety of techniques chosen by trial and error, Audrey altered the developing photographs in a variety of ways.

“In the back of my mind, there continued to lurk the question of what would happen if I cut open the two layers of Polaroid film and peeled it open. What was inside? It is possi­ble that I might never have posed the question if Polaroid had not so specifically urged its customers NOT to do it!”

Poking holes in the film, pushing the emulsion by hand, running a hot iron over the film, running a hot iron around the edges, opening up the film and re-closing, while the film was developing are all techniques Audrey has used to take these instant photographs and turn them into innovative works of art. Audrey says, “I discovered that any kind of disturbance or interruption to the normal developing process had potential for altering the image in interesting ways.”

Gallery de Boer is proud to have represented Audrey for many years. In celebration of her 50 years as an artist, Gallery de Boer is devoting the month of May to a retrospective of her work. Including manufactured landscapes, florals, butterflies and straight abstractions, this exhibit showcases the evolution of this 83-year-old Hanover artist’s work.

To kick off Audrey Holrod: A Lifetime Achievement Opportunity exhibition, will be a Grand Opening Reception on Friday May 8^th starting at 7 pm. Stuart Reid, curator of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery will be opening the festivities by introducing this artist and her body of work.

If you have never met Audrey, please don’t miss this opportunity to meet this feisty, internationally recognized woman who views the world through the eyes of an artist. Come and view this retrospective of her amazing career. You’ll be amazed.

Audrey Holrod: A Lifetime Achievement Opportunity exhibition and sale runs until May 30, 2009.

Audrey Holrod: A Lifetime Achievement Opportunity

I first met Audrey Holrod over ten years ago and was instantly intrigued by the artist and her work. The Gallery began to represent Audrey and has seen her reputation grow over the years.

Audrey became an artist late in life, but has made up for lost time. She has had over 34 solo shows and has been part of numerous group exhibitions.

Her works have hung in cities across Canada and have won over 50 awards. Her work has been published in Education Forum and Canadian Camera. In 1995 Polaroid Canada acquired four of her works. In 2006 she self published Beyond the Photo, a history of her experimentation and creation with Polaroid Spectra film and camera

While Audrey’s work has been included in many Gallery de Boer exhibitions, Audrey Holrod: A Lifetime Achievement Opportunity is her first solo exhibition at this gallery. Running for the entire month of May, 50 years of Audrey’s work is on display and sale, with special pricing in place for this once in a lifetime event.

To launch things off, a Grand Opening Reception will be held on Friday May 8^th starting at 7 pm at Gallery de Boer. Special guest Stuart Reid, curator of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery will be opening the festivities by introducing this artist and her body of work.

“Being a teacher was my profession. Being a flower gardener is my hobby. Being an artist is who I am.”

Audrey Holrod: A Lifetime Achievement Opportunity runs May 1 to May 30 2009.

Also see Mixed Media Hanover Artist Audrey Holrod