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July 20, 2016
We all had contact with this artist’s design. If you look closely at the “loonie” dollar coin, you’ll notice the initials RRC. Robert-Ralph Carmichael was a prolific artist who lived outside of Sault Ste. Marie in northern Ontario. The Echo Bay, Ontario artist who designed the loonie coin died this past Saturday at the age of 79. See: CBCNews story here.
In November 2004, I had the great opportunity to be included in a three-person exhibition with him and along with London, Ontario-based artist Rosemary Sloot. The show titled “Corruption of Reality” was held at The Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa and showcased a trio of artists at varying stages of their commitment to realist and figurative studio production.
right to left: Robert-Ralph Carmicheal, Rosemary Sloot, David Aurandt (exhibition curator), Olex Wlasenko at the opening of “Corruption of Reality” exhibition opening at The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, November 2004.
June 3, 2015
I’m honoured to have a recent drawing featured on the June/July 2015 cover of Slate Art Guide!
This latest drawing is a departure from my usual practice in both form and content.
In preparation for a solo exhibition at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum & Archives (PAMA), I’m creating a triptych related to the history of cinema in Brampton and the historic visit of actress Sarah Churchill to the city in 1949. The images were sourced from the Peel Archives, from which I composed three collages and created a trio of large drawings. I’m putting the finishing touches on the third and final piece…
If you’re in the area, please join me for the opening reception at PAMA on Sunday, June 14 between 2 and 4pm.
On Sundays, June 21 and June 28, I’ll be presenting a Synchronicities: Art & Cinema marathon of art talks starting at 2pm at PAMA in Brampton.
For more details see: http://www.pama.peelregion.ca/en/index.asp
March 6, 2014
This year will mark the 21st anniversary of Station Gallery’s signature fundraiser–Drawing for Art. I’d like to donate one of my latest drawings. Both are inspired by a 1960 Italian film titled “I dolci inganni” (1960). Which drawing should I donate?
October 24, 2013
The stage is set in Aurora, Ontario. Earlier this week, we installed an exhibition of my drawings at the Aurora Cultural Centre. If you have a chance, please join me this Saturday, October 26 between 1:00 and 4:00 PM for the opening reception of “Somewhere in Time” along with parallel exhibitions featuring works by Sheila Davis, Jean Kallmeyer, Tracey Lee Green and Ellen Cameron.
I’m very excited to also present an illustrated talk on Synchronicities: Art & Cinema, starting at 1:30 PM this Saturday. I can hardly contain my excitement as I write this post and will be delighted to share some recent findings of Canadian art references in Hollywood films.
Hope to see you in Aurora!
January 16, 2013
With the new year begins a new exhibition season. Yesterday was an installation day at the Art Gallery of Peterborough (AGP). A solo show of my latest drawings will open this Saturday, January 19th. Pictured below are a few shots of me putting up some charcoal drawing inspired by 60’s European cinema.
The show will open with a presentation titled Synchronicities: Art & Cinema. With this illustrated talk, I’ll survey artists who are inspired by film and who in-turn inspire me with their work: John Abrams, Peter Doig, Mathieu Dufois, Douglas Gordon, Christian Marclay, Sheena Mcrae and Cindy Sherman
Where: Art Gallery of Peterborough, Peterborough, Ontario
When: Saturday, January 19th, 1:00 p.m.
The shows at the AGP will continue until March 17th, 2013. Hope to see you in Peterborough…
September 6, 2012
Tomorrow evening a solo exhibition of my drawings opens at the Abbozzo Gallery in Oakville, Ontario. This show captures what’s been an exhilarating and provocative year, particularly the nights when I worked in the studio to produce a new body of work. This latest series commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of a landmark year in cinema. The show titled, Cinemarks captures the spirit of 1962 in European cinema. Some of the sources for my recent works include Vivre sa vie (France), Les Dimanches de Ville d’Avray (France), L’eclisse (Italy), La commare secca (Italy) and Nine Days in One Year (Soviet Union). These charcoal drawings capture slices of time—moments half a century away haunt this exhibition.
The show continues until September 22nd.
Click here to find out more about the “Cinemarks” at the Abbozzo Gallery.
March 25, 2011
A few weeks ago, I was uncertain about which drawing I would part with for the Gallery’s upcoming fundraiser called Drawing for Art (DFA). I posted four works and asked you to vote and comment on your favorite Olex drawing. If last year’s vote was more of a nail-biter with all four works jockeying for first position, this year’s vote had a clear leader. Station was the favorite from the start and ended with just over half of the votes going to the street scene. The next step is to get it framed, matted and ready for hanging for the in-gallery preview that will run from April 14 until the big night on Thursday, April 28. Starting April 1st, you can check-out the high calibre of artists’ submissions for this year’s DFA on the gallery website for the month of April.
It’s most interesting to see the ebb and flow of popular taste. Station is an older work that I’ve shown on several occasions. Many years ago, I displayed it at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition on Nathan Phillips Square. It seemed to go unnoticed. The majority gravitated to the figurative works and pictures with people. The opposite was the case with this on-line vote. How could this be explained? Could it be that people are tired of being indoors all winter and are more interested in outdoor scenes like Station? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts….
Curious about Station Gallery’s Drawing for Art event? Click here for details…
This year’s jurors based their final selection of 34 works from a total of 208 images submitted by 112 artists. Each artist submitted works digitally, on a disc. As someone who is involved with organizing a similar juried show at year’s end here at Station Gallery, I began to wonder if digital submissions are the way to go. Some of the pros include:
- getting broader exposure from artists outside the region—let’s call it “casting a broader net”
- a more economical and stream-lined use of resources, gallery staffing, etc.
- less chance for artwork to get damaged from over-handling
- less gas to transport the works back and forth equals a smaller carbon footprint
And on the other side, the more traditional approach of adjudicating from original artworks has its good points too:
- jurors get a better sense of the scale, texture, intent, etc…
- the final exhibition design can be stronger (i.e., themes and grouping are more apparent)
- the artist/gallery relationship is more organic, more personal
- doesn’t handicap artists who don’t have access to digital equipment
It’s a dilemma. So I put it to you, the blogosphere; what are your thoughts on submitting to juried shows? Digital or Tangible; what works best?