The Women's Art Association of Hamilton is painting the town red. The association was founded 125 years ago and the theme of this year's annual juried exhibition is Celebrations. It's on at the Art Gallery of Hamilton.
The WAAH, a nonprofit organization, began in 1894 with the aim of encouraging local female artists to work, learn and exhibit together. But the organization also contributed to the cultural life of Hamilton by raising money for the building of a home for the AGH near McMaster University in the 1950s.
Ten years after the WAAH's founding, its members numbered 100. Today, there are about 115.
This year's exhibition comprises 26 works by 20 artists working in painting, printmaking and photography. Subjects include landscape, still life and the human figure.
Jodi Kitto-Ward went festive with "Celebration" and was awarded best in show.
Kitto-Ward likes to paint urban views. Sharp, crisp lines and bright colours characterize her work.
In "Celebration," she comes up close to the tops of vividly coloured buildings. The straight lines of the architecture reappear in the utility pole and its taut wires. The straight lines contrast with the undulating shapes of the clouds behind them.
Seven tiny black birds perch on some of the wires. The birds are stationary. But four balloons float upward as though they will disappear from view at any moment.
"I was inspired by how one feels when seeing balloons adrift, whether it's reflecting on a past celebration or thinking about what one has to celebrate presently in their life," she tells me. "There's also the notion of attaching our hopes and dreams inside a balloon, feeling it happen and then letting it go in order to be fulfilled.
"Though I knew they were always going to be an element of the painting, I waited till the end to decide the colour, size and placement of the balloons."
Jodie Hart pairs the stability of still-life objects with a fleeting moment in "Wish." Hart excels at lifelike still lifes, arranging her objects in a traditional way on a ledge or shelf that juts out of a darkened background.
Textural and sensual contrasts abound. A cupcake takes centre stage. Its pink icing and polka-dotted pleated paper cup adds a celebratory flavour. It sits on a slightly crumpled white doily. Two striped candles lie nearby.
Another candle tops the cupcake. Someone has just blown it out. A wish has been made. A wisp of smoke lingers in the air, lighting up the darkened space — but only for a moment. We're invited to imagine the fleeting scent of the smoke.
Hart received honourable mention. Another honourable mention went to Susan Outlaw for a view of downtown Dundas at Christmas.
Frances O'Flynn's "Gathering to Celebrate," a cut-paper collage on a painted surface, offers a pleasantly ambiguous composition.
At first, we see a group of nuns walking toward something in the distance. But the space they inhabit consists of many vibrantly hued and animated geometric shapes. Are the black forms nuns or simply more geometrics?
Debra Carson's "Harvest: Three Sisters" celebrates the three vegetables traditionally planted as companions by Indigenous peoples.
Carson crops her landscape to show these essential plants — corn, beans and squash — growing together against a brilliant blue sky.
Regina Haggo is giving an illustrated talk, Understanding Impressionism, at the Carnegie Gallery, 10 King St. W., Dundas. The talk starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19. For more information and tickets, phone 905-627-4265.
Regina Haggo, art historian, public speaker, curator, YouTube video maker and former professor at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, teaches at the Dundas Valley School of Art.
Regina Haggo, art historian, public speaker, curator, YouTube video maker and former professor at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, teaches at the Dundas Valley School of Art.
The Women's Art Association of Hamilton is painting the town red. The association was founded 125 years ago and the theme of this year's annual juried exhibition is Celebrations. It's on at the Art Gallery of Hamilton.
The WAAH, a nonprofit organization, began in 1894 with the aim of encouraging local female artists to work, learn and exhibit together. But the organization also contributed to the cultural life of Hamilton by raising money for the building of a home for the AGH near McMaster University in the 1950s.
Ten years after the WAAH's founding, its members numbered 100. Today, there are about 115.
This year's exhibition comprises 26 works by 20 artists working in painting, printmaking and photography. Subjects include landscape, still life and the human figure.
“I was inspired by how one feels when seeing balloons adrift, whether it’s reflecting on a past celebration or thinking about what one has to celebrate presently in their life.”
Jodi Kitto-Ward
Jodi Kitto-Ward went festive with "Celebration" and was awarded best in show.
Kitto-Ward likes to paint urban views. Sharp, crisp lines and bright colours characterize her work.
In "Celebration," she comes up close to the tops of vividly coloured buildings. The straight lines of the architecture reappear in the utility pole and its taut wires. The straight lines contrast with the undulating shapes of the clouds behind them.
Seven tiny black birds perch on some of the wires. The birds are stationary. But four balloons float upward as though they will disappear from view at any moment.
"I was inspired by how one feels when seeing balloons adrift, whether it's reflecting on a past celebration or thinking about what one has to celebrate presently in their life," she tells me. "There's also the notion of attaching our hopes and dreams inside a balloon, feeling it happen and then letting it go in order to be fulfilled.
"Though I knew they were always going to be an element of the painting, I waited till the end to decide the colour, size and placement of the balloons."
Jodie Hart pairs the stability of still-life objects with a fleeting moment in "Wish." Hart excels at lifelike still lifes, arranging her objects in a traditional way on a ledge or shelf that juts out of a darkened background.
Textural and sensual contrasts abound. A cupcake takes centre stage. Its pink icing and polka-dotted pleated paper cup adds a celebratory flavour. It sits on a slightly crumpled white doily. Two striped candles lie nearby.
Another candle tops the cupcake. Someone has just blown it out. A wish has been made. A wisp of smoke lingers in the air, lighting up the darkened space — but only for a moment. We're invited to imagine the fleeting scent of the smoke.
Hart received honourable mention. Another honourable mention went to Susan Outlaw for a view of downtown Dundas at Christmas.
Frances O'Flynn's "Gathering to Celebrate," a cut-paper collage on a painted surface, offers a pleasantly ambiguous composition.
At first, we see a group of nuns walking toward something in the distance. But the space they inhabit consists of many vibrantly hued and animated geometric shapes. Are the black forms nuns or simply more geometrics?
Debra Carson's "Harvest: Three Sisters" celebrates the three vegetables traditionally planted as companions by Indigenous peoples.
Carson crops her landscape to show these essential plants — corn, beans and squash — growing together against a brilliant blue sky.
Regina Haggo is giving an illustrated talk, Understanding Impressionism, at the Carnegie Gallery, 10 King St. W., Dundas. The talk starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19. For more information and tickets, phone 905-627-4265.
Regina Haggo, art historian, public speaker, curator, YouTube video maker and former professor at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, teaches at the Dundas Valley School of Art.
Regina Haggo, art historian, public speaker, curator, YouTube video maker and former professor at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, teaches at the Dundas Valley School of Art.
The Women's Art Association of Hamilton is painting the town red. The association was founded 125 years ago and the theme of this year's annual juried exhibition is Celebrations. It's on at the Art Gallery of Hamilton.
The WAAH, a nonprofit organization, began in 1894 with the aim of encouraging local female artists to work, learn and exhibit together. But the organization also contributed to the cultural life of Hamilton by raising money for the building of a home for the AGH near McMaster University in the 1950s.
Ten years after the WAAH's founding, its members numbered 100. Today, there are about 115.
This year's exhibition comprises 26 works by 20 artists working in painting, printmaking and photography. Subjects include landscape, still life and the human figure.
“I was inspired by how one feels when seeing balloons adrift, whether it’s reflecting on a past celebration or thinking about what one has to celebrate presently in their life.”
Jodi Kitto-Ward
Jodi Kitto-Ward went festive with "Celebration" and was awarded best in show.
Kitto-Ward likes to paint urban views. Sharp, crisp lines and bright colours characterize her work.
In "Celebration," she comes up close to the tops of vividly coloured buildings. The straight lines of the architecture reappear in the utility pole and its taut wires. The straight lines contrast with the undulating shapes of the clouds behind them.
Seven tiny black birds perch on some of the wires. The birds are stationary. But four balloons float upward as though they will disappear from view at any moment.
"I was inspired by how one feels when seeing balloons adrift, whether it's reflecting on a past celebration or thinking about what one has to celebrate presently in their life," she tells me. "There's also the notion of attaching our hopes and dreams inside a balloon, feeling it happen and then letting it go in order to be fulfilled.
"Though I knew they were always going to be an element of the painting, I waited till the end to decide the colour, size and placement of the balloons."
Jodie Hart pairs the stability of still-life objects with a fleeting moment in "Wish." Hart excels at lifelike still lifes, arranging her objects in a traditional way on a ledge or shelf that juts out of a darkened background.
Textural and sensual contrasts abound. A cupcake takes centre stage. Its pink icing and polka-dotted pleated paper cup adds a celebratory flavour. It sits on a slightly crumpled white doily. Two striped candles lie nearby.
Another candle tops the cupcake. Someone has just blown it out. A wish has been made. A wisp of smoke lingers in the air, lighting up the darkened space — but only for a moment. We're invited to imagine the fleeting scent of the smoke.
Hart received honourable mention. Another honourable mention went to Susan Outlaw for a view of downtown Dundas at Christmas.
Frances O'Flynn's "Gathering to Celebrate," a cut-paper collage on a painted surface, offers a pleasantly ambiguous composition.
At first, we see a group of nuns walking toward something in the distance. But the space they inhabit consists of many vibrantly hued and animated geometric shapes. Are the black forms nuns or simply more geometrics?
Debra Carson's "Harvest: Three Sisters" celebrates the three vegetables traditionally planted as companions by Indigenous peoples.
Carson crops her landscape to show these essential plants — corn, beans and squash — growing together against a brilliant blue sky.
Regina Haggo is giving an illustrated talk, Understanding Impressionism, at the Carnegie Gallery, 10 King St. W., Dundas. The talk starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19. For more information and tickets, phone 905-627-4265.
Regina Haggo, art historian, public speaker, curator, YouTube video maker and former professor at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, teaches at the Dundas Valley School of Art.
Regina Haggo, art historian, public speaker, curator, YouTube video maker and former professor at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, teaches at the Dundas Valley School of Art.