Aesthetic Energy

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.

Mindscapes & Landscapes – Abstractions of Potential

Gallery de Boer – Fine Art’s latest exhibition, Landscapes & Mindscapes – Abstractions 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 7^th from 4 pm to 7 pm.

Ontario Society of Artists Summer Exhibition 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 11^th 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 11^th. 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

Patric Ryan

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 Steinhoff

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

John 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

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

MIGWETCH:

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.