UNcOMMON GROuND Revisited

December 22, 2011

UNcOMMON GROuND Revisited

We are mid-way through hanging our latest exhibition and the Gallery already looks amazing. UNcOMMON GROuND Revisited is something of a continuing departure for us. When we complete our installation, we will have more than 25 regional, national and international artists on display.

Artwork is hung with more air space than some of our past exhibitions and each artist will have their own selected area of the Gallery. When several pieces of a single artist are hung and viewed together you get a strong sense of what the artist is about. I think you’ll agree that UNcOMMON GROuND Revisited is visually stunning and exciting.

A formal opening reception will be held towards the end of January – when everyone has had an opportunity to recover from the holiday festivities and obligations.

Blazing Figures: A Retrospective of Robert Markle

August 5, 2011

Gallery de Boer-Fine Art & Jazz is pleased to showcase the exciting exhibition ‘Blazing Figures: A Retrospective of Robert Markle. This exhibition is an opportunity to see a glimpse of the creative genius Markle conveyed. His work primarily focused on the female nude; transforming the content throughout his many series.

Robert was a teacher, jazz musician, writer and artist whose work can be found in many private and corporate collections, including the AGO, National Gallery of Canada, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Tom Thomson Art Gallery.

This will be an exhibit and sale of over 80 original pieces by Robert Markle ranging from paintings, drawings and rare prints.

The exhibition will run from August 26th until October 31st, 2011.

We are hosting two opening receptions with special guests on Friday August 26th 7-10 pm and Saturday, August 27 1-4 pm. Author J.A. Wainwright who wrote the biography ‘Blazing Figures: A Life of Robert Markle’ will be present for both receptions to sign copies of his book.

View Robert’s full profile

UNcOMMON GROuND

December 24, 2010

Gallery de Boer – Fine Art & Jazz is actively engaged with leading contemporary artists as their vision and work develops. We have presented many fascinating exhibitions over the years, highlighting a wide range of artists, brimming over with vitality for over 10 years in downtown Owen Sound.

The new exhibition leads you through a unique history and character of each artist and their deeply personal perceptions and ways of recording and sharing their worldview.

They all have a common ground to express creatively, but their individuality and a distinctive vision is what sets their perceptual manifestations apart.

UNcOMMON GROuND features 20 of our established artists, past and present with some exceptional guest artists. These works will captivate and beguile your senses with their vivacious imagery. From the high realism of Siggy Blum, to the vivacious colours of Cynthia Porter, this exhibition will allow any admirer to appreciate the range of recent and best career works of each artist.

Uncommon GroundHere you will find exceptional opportunities in works by some of our late artists. Don Nixon’s (1928-1999) delicate watercolour studies in the Apple Series, or his renowned collages; Clarence Parsons’ (1917-2008) vivid Maritime and architectural lino-cuts; and Paul Rodrik’s (1915-1983) signature landscapes, as well as his colourful urban life and spiritual meditation pieces. Audrey Holrod’s (1926-2010) legacy pieces are treasure to behold and own.

We are also pleased to introduce vivid works by artists new to our gallery. Peter Large from Amherst Island enlightens us with his visual reveries contemplating the heritage, cultural and natural surroundings of his home ground. Sarah Slater’s rich skyscapes enfold us in the dynamic and sublime of nature and its powers. Regina Gudelis’ watercolours and acrylics illustrate her communion with the energies and images emerging from the universe’s creative and spiritual phenomena. Tiffany Horrocks gives us confident challenging textures and colours shaping Raku ceramic wall mounted works.

With wonderful new works from Lorne Wagman, Jacqueline Domato, Heidi Berger, Bruce Steinhoff, Roman Zuzuk, John Mlacak, Valerie Nichol, John Visser and Mark Thurman, it celebrates their expanding creative vision and exploration of their superb technique.

Each artist’s group of works is showcased in its special location in the main gallery. As you wander at leisure through the exhibition of interpretive aesthetic adventures, you will find each artist engaging your imagination in rich conversation.

Gallery de Boer's Uncommon GroundThis is a deeply personal UNcOMMON GROuND experience of fine art and look forward to introducing you to this vibrant new exhibit at Gallery de Boer – Fine Art & Jazz in Downtown Owen Sound. The entire gallery has transformed each exhibition space to showcase the array of artwork there is to offer.

The new ‘Photo Gallery’ features original photographs along with works that focus on experimentation with the photo process. Artists like Michelle Dobrin who uses quilting techniques and digital photography to create her unique fiber artworks along with Audra Noble who uses photography and painting to create vibrant imagery of natural life.

The ever popular Native Art gallery has a fresh layout. Art ranges from traditional symbolic imagery to expressionistic depictions of the native lifestyle. The admired work of Norval Morrisseau is accented by the vibrancy of his son David’s while the intricate watercolours of Nijanani Novalinga describe the way of life in the arctic. With the various styles and subject matter Native Art has to offer, the new representation will be sure to entice your senses.

The Final Days for Aesthetic Energy

November 19, 2010

Gallery de Boer is a flurry of activity as everyone is working hard to prepare for the next exhibition. By November 26th all the artwork on display for Aesthetic Energy will be removed, the walls will be painted and our new exhibition will be hung. Our new Photo Gallery will be set up and the Native Gallery will have been rearranged.


We are excited about the new exhibition which will feature 20 artists. Please check back soon for details and photographs of this exciting new show.

In the meantime, this is your last chance to view the Aesthetic Energy exhibition. If you haven’t seen the power and energy of this show hurry in before it is all gone.

Aesthetic Energy

January 30, 2010

The creative spirit is at the heart of our humanity. To surround yourself with art is to visually express your own personal aesthetic inspirations. Aesthetic Energy, the latest exhibition at Gallery de Boer – Fine Art & Jazz, will immerse you in a sensual experience of the power and energy of some of Gallery de Boer’s finest artists.deb100125_5719-copy

Mindscapes & Landscapes – Abstractions of Potential

October 23, 2009

gallery - 2Gallery de Boer – Fine Art’s latest exhibition, Landscapes & MindscapesAbstractions of Potential, is a unique melange of abstract and landscape, oil and acrylic. Participating artists Vera Dernovsek, Valerie Nichol, Marieke Niemeijer and Lorne Wagman all live within 50km of Owen Sound making this a stunning showcase of regional art.

Owen Sound artist Lorne Wagman produces “large-scale renditions of small-scale phenomena.”  Czechoslovakian-Canadian artist Vera Dernovsek lives in Wiarton. She paints what she sees but “gives the reality a personal twist.”

Regional artist Marieke Niemeijer currently lives in Ferndale and believes “an artist is a kind of reporter, using any or all media to convey the experiences in life that they have captured, and then reissuing that experience.” Meaford artist Valerie Nichol grew up in a house filled with music. She says, “Abstract art for me is a visual form of music.”

However diverse the styles and media used by these four artists, the exhibition is unified by a bold and exciting use of colour. As you walk through the gallery and absorb these disparate works displayed side-by-side, your senses will be assaulted by a riot of colour. The surprising harmony that results will energize and excite you.

Landscapes & Mindscapes runs October 20 – December 5, 2009. Please join us for the Grand Opening & Reception to be held on November 7th from 4 pm to 7 pm.

Ontario Society of Artists Summer Exhibition 2009

August 25, 2009

In the spring of this year I was privileged to be a member of a juried art show put on by the Ontario Society of Artists. For 137 years this organization of professional artists has fostered and promoted outstanding Ontario artists.

The OSA has played a key role in the establishment of some of Ontario’s most important cultural institutions: The Art Gallery of Ontario, The Ontario College of Art and Design and the National Gallery of Canada to name a few. Many members of the OSA are also key members of the prestigious Arts & Letters Club of Toronto.

Honoured to be a jury member for this important event I looked forward to see what the artists had to offer. To put it bluntly, I was blown away by the quality of the work submitted. These are truly some of the best professional artists currently working in Ontario.

I was so impressed with these artists that I submitted a request to have Gallery de Boer – Fine Art & Jazz be one of the ten galleries to participate in the Ontario Society of Artists Summer Exhibitions 2009. I was thrilled to be accepted as a partner in this important series of exhibitions.

I hand picked 14 of the artists and a total of 151 pieces for our stage of the Ontario Society of Artists Summer Exhibitions 2009. These artists cover a wide range of styles, media and subject matter. Regardless of your taste, I think you’ll agree that each of the works displayed in our main gallery is of spectacular quality.

This exhibition is currently installed and will remain until October 9th. We will be hosting a Reception on Friday September 11th from 7:00 – 10:00 pm, when you will have an opportunity to meet all of the participating artists.

However, please don’t wait until September 11th. I know you’ll want to hurry in to view this important and impressive exhibit and sale.

Ron de Boer

Aerial Perspectives and Maritimes: Landscape Views

June 15, 2009

Patric Ryan

Low Tide Digby

Patric Ryan brings his new collection of maritime memories in colours that build from his vivid fauvist palette into subtler atmospheric shades and lights. An interesting aspect of Ryan’s contribution to this exhibition is a number of ink and wash studies that later became templates for his large acrylic paintings. It is a fascinating look at a single artist’s dual interpretations of a single image.

Bruce SteinhoffNorth of Sung Harbour

Bruce Steinhoff brings his bold broad brush strokes to the shores of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron with vivid energetic imagery from an impressionist palette, much to the enjoyment of all. Steinhoff is a recent addition to the Gallery de Boer – Fine Art family.

John Visser

Flowing LeavesJohn Visser’s vibrant impressionist colour-plays of subjects are evocative of the serenity of nature. Many of Visser’s Ontario landscapes are recognizably local settings which showcase the beauty of the Grey-Bruce landscape.

Audrey Holrod: A Lifetime Achievement Opportunity

May 1, 2009

I first met Audrey Holrod over ten years ago and was instantlyHanover Artist Audrey Holrod 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 8th 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

MIGWETCH:

July 25, 2008

A Celebration and Appreciation of the of the Heritage and Future of Aboriginal and Canadian Art

For the past 20 years, Gallery de Boer – Fine Art & Jazz has always had a healthy representation of Native art in our gallery. We’ve represented a variety of well known Native artists and had a number of exhibitions devoted to their work.


However lately I’ve become uncomfortable with keeping Native art separate from the rest of our gallery. Canadian Aboriginal and Inuit art is an exciting and vibrant part of the Canadian art scene. Aboriginal and Inuit artists are increasingly being recognized and sought after throughout Canada and the world.

For the past 14 months our focus has been to put together an exhibit that best represents the Woodland artists, spearheaded by Norval Morrisseau and an incredible support cast. They include: Carl Ray, Isaac Bignell, Blair DeBassige, James Simon, Carl Beam, Leland Bell, Josh Kakegamic, David Williams, David Morrisseau, Isadore Wadow, Randy Trudeau, Don Ningewance, Goyce Kakegamic, Shirlee CheeChoo and many others

As part of this exciting new exhibition we are also showing an evolving cornucopia: a selection of the best Gallery de Boer Fine Art & Jazz has to offer. An exciting array of artists, styles and periods will be on display.

Please join us for a special Open House Reception and Sale of MEGWITCH on Thursday September 25th from 7 pm to 10 pm.