What's New
"Art Show and Sale to Celebrate the retirement of the Hamilton Family, Sherwood Park"
Friday, January 13, 2012 between 11:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Complimentary sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres, wine and other refreshments. Location: At Unit 18 (formerly Hall of Frame) 2 Athabascan Avenue, Broadmoor Business Centre at Monument Park on Sherwood Park's Heritage Mile. Original acrylic, watercolours and sculptures for sale. Artists participating in this celebration are Marjorie Ann Davies, Joyce Boyer, Mary Deeprose, Krista Hamilton, Dessirrie Plewis and myself. Feel free to bring a friend!
"Diverse Spaces" April 4-14, 2012. Walterdale Playhouse, Edmonton
Diverse Scapes - An exploration of the rural and urban landscape by Laurie MacFayden, Leona Olausen, Eileen Raucher-Sutton and Elaine Tweedy inconjunction with Timberlake Wertenbaker's The Love of the Nightingale. April 4 to 14, 2012. ASA Gallery at Walterdale Playhouse in the lobby area of this historic Edmonton theatre near Old Strathcona Farmers' Market and Whyte Avenue. Walterdale Playhouse produces a special Artists' Night complete with the featured play and art show. The gallery is open to the public during all performances as well as the two Saturdays during the run of the play.
"Flower Scapes"
June 26 to August 19, 2012. A Summer's garden offers Elaine the colours, shapes, spaces, values and movements that herald an emotional reaction to the world around us with all five of our senses. Reception - Friday, July 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Share with Elaine the special glories of a summer garden and enjoy refreshments. Kiwanis Gallery is in the Red Deer Public Library at 4818 – 49 Street, Red Deer.
"RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH THE MASTERS"
I have recently returned from a trip that I have often dreamed of but never thought would happen. France! When my sister and husband moved to Lyon France last June, I realized this was my golden opportunity. A place to stay and made-to-order tour guides. Flashing through my mind was Giverny, Monet's garden, Van Gogh's “Café du Niut”, Orangerie Museum, and d'Orsay museum; Ah, the impressionists!
I was there over three weeks, filling each day to the fullest. Lyon, the oldest city in France, was home base. My first look at the impressionist painters was in the heart of Lyon's historical district, which is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, one of Europe's leading museums.
We also travelled the back roads to Arles in southern France to find Van Gogh's famous cafe. As we entered the main part of town, it seemed all of southern France was here, heading toward a massive, antique Romanesque arena. It happened to be one of the busiest days of the year, a bull fight! The sound of Spanish music, people dressed in traditional clothing the Camargue horses along with the olé and clapping added to the atmosphere. We finally found the Place du Forum and stood before the “Cafe Terrace at Night”, still there almost as Vincent painted it in September 1888. The plaza was a buzz of people, food and music everywhere. Inside, the Cafe was colorful, with large prints of van Gogh's paintings on the walls. I managed to purchase a wine glass etched with “La Café La Nuit” and the café menu that cost 15€ each, I'm sure they saw me coming! As it was before noon, we opted out for coffee instead of Absinthe. Salute to Vincent! We then traced his steps to where his yellow house once stood at 2 Place Lamartine in front of the Arles railway bridge, which is still there.
Our last 4 days of the trip was spent in Paris. The Musée d'Orsay, one of Paris's most popular museums, is filled with works by the Impressionists. It covers a period from mid 19th century till mid 20th centuries and contains works from Monet, Manet, Renoir, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Pissarro, Degas, Courbet, Signac, Seurat, Corot, Millet, and others. As I only had an afternoon, I had to be selective in what I saw. Then a visit to the Orangerie in the Tuileries Gardens that includes two rooms dedicated to the Water Lilies of Monet. Viewing these massive paintings I could feel his energy, his whirling paint brush, his passion for color, light and harmony. Our last day, I took the train to Vernon, then a bus to Giverny. I must say that is was the best day of the whole trip. To see what inspired Monet, his love of his garden and transferring it to his canvas.
I took over 1500 photographs during the trip. I have already painted many of them – in my mind! I'm not able to paint ‘en plein-air' of course, but I can place myself back in the environment, to see, hear and feel the places I visited. Please continue to check back to see how the new works evolve.
