"Together" featuring Jamie Jardine of London & Vera Vicente of Montreal

The exhibition "Together" brings together two artists working in different media. Jamie with paint and Vera with clay have both created evocative and sensual abstract works. Their creations demand of us contemplation for their full enjoyment. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines “Voluptuous” as ‘full of delight or pleasure to the senses: conducive to or arising from sensuous or sensual gratification’. The exhibition “Together” could also be described as voluptuous.

In “Together” Jamie’s paintings become the visual expression of the sensual delight of caressing one of Vera’s sculptures while Vera’s sculptures become the visceral manifestation of the visual experience of Jamie’s paintings.

“Together” it is an experience......and so reads the info panel on the invitation that will be going in the post on Saturday morning. As simple as the title 'Together' may be it didn't present itself quite so simply. Choosing a name for an exhibition is never really that easy. I wanted a title that was evocative and in the middle of the night it all came together. Pairing artists working in different media is the perfect opportunity for people to see art in the way it may be presented in their own homes. Ceramic art injects a three dimensional element that makes a room more exciting. 

In November the gallery hosted "Abstracts in the Home II" featuring the abstract expressionist paintings of the founder of Painters Eleven's William Ronald. Walter Dexter, Canada's abstract expressionist of clay, was the artist featured with Ronald. Thanks to London's Kingsmill's department store we had the added benefit of quality furnishings to even more creatively showcase the pairing of Ronald's & Dexter's art. Visitors to the exhibition remarked on how well the paintings worked with the ceramics. It was almost as if the artists had collaborated the pieces went together so well. The additional element to the exhibition was Jamie's display of abstract paintings in the iconic island window of Kingsmill's department store at 130 Dundas St. in down town London. 

Jamie Jardine 2012 image size 4' x 3' (122cm x  91.5cm)

Jamie Jardine has been exhibiting with the gallery since 2000. During that time he has had a minimum of one solo exhibition a year. The themes of the all the exhibitions up until now have been representational and primarily landscape inspired (France, Italy, England, Nunavut, Northern Canada, Saskatchewan) with the occasional cityscapes. Jamie's work 

Jamie has also painted abstracts and other than the fortunate few who own them not many are aware of this fact. This year’s exhibition is a presentation of his latest abstract work.While to paint a landscape is to paint what is there, to paint an abstract is often to paint an emotion. In 2000 after a successful sold out show Jamie was having difficulty getting back to painting. His success was, in a way, stifling him. To précis a long conversation I essentially told him to go for it; experiment, take chances, paint what you want not what you think is expected. In this exhibition he does that; he challenges us to see and gives us something we are not expecting. This body of work is a depiction of the visualization of emotion.

Vera Vicente, of Montreal, Quebec,  has been exhibiting with the gallery since 2001 when she participated in the first Matter of Clay exhibition. Since that exhibition Vera has participated in numerous group shows in the gallery and her work has developed a core following. Collectors are attracted to her strongly sensual sculptures.

Vera’s sculpture’s, deceptively simple in form, are the culmination of a time consuming coil-built technique. From conception to completion months can transpire. The final touch, the stopper, can also take months before even the right shape is decided upon. While Vera’s vessels are not functional her stoppers offer to the interior a beautifully sculpted surface, honouring the original purpose of a vessel: that of containment. This surface is only seen by the viewer when physically removed from the vessel. Essentially the beholder can not experience fully the beauty of the pot without physically engaging it, to come together with it through handling. 

William Ronald Painters Eleven "Abstracts at Home II"

Everyone has been asking what has been going on. Suffice to say that it has been a totally crazy time and Brian and I have been really busy getting things ready in the gallery for the upcoming show featuring William Ronald and Walter Dexter two of Canada's most important abstract expressionists. Odds are if you are a fan of abstract painting then you already know about William Ronald the founder of Painters Eleven (1953-1960). If you are on this because of an interest in ceramics then you are already aware of Walter Dexter, a ceramic artist, from Victoria, BC who is is represented in major collections throughout Canada and internationally.

The William Ronald paintings come directly from the the family, in particular from Helen Ronald, his widow and  Suzanne, his daughter. Consequently the work has an impeccable pedigree. In 1953 William Ronald was frustrated with the trying to get the public interested in his non-representational paintings. He was not alone. This was a common sentiment with a number of artists. Abstract Expressionism had a long way to go before it  began to enjoy the reputation that it does today. William was working at the Robert Simpson family department store and in 1953 they allowed him to exhibit the work of eleven artists, himself included, in the major display windows in downtown Toronto, currently known as The Bay. In one fell swoop Painters eleven was formed with Alexandra Luke, Hortense Gordon, William Yarwood, Harold Town, Ray Mead, William Hodgsons, Oscar Cahen, Jack Bush, Kazuo Nakamura, J.W.G. MacDonald, and of course William Ronald. 

William Ronald was creative in the manner by which he presented abstract expressionism to Torontonians. He was fortunate that Simpson's, a family owned department store, subscribed to his vision which brings me to today! Kingsmill's department store in downtown London was established in 1865. For five generations they have through a commitment to excellence and superior customer service provided London and its environs a destination store that is now a London landmark.

When I was presented with the opportunity to have an exhibition showcasing William Ronald and Walter Dexter I wanted to honour Ronald's memory by hosting a show as iconic as his 1953 exhibition. The title "Abstracts at Home II" was the obvious choice and I needed was a business to collaborate with. Kingsmill's was the obvious choice. It was more obvious than I thought as when I was being interviewed by Bill Paul for 'Straight Talk' and started telling him about my idea for the exhibition he immediately said "I would imagine that this event will include Kingsmill's" as if to say 'Who else would fill the bill?'. Both of us then continued to talk about the Kingsmill's brand and how iconic it was and how it was the natural choice. This was all well and good except that at the time of the interview I hadn't even had a chance to ask Tim Kingsmill what he thought of the idea. I needn't have worried. He and his wife Laurie were all for it. 

"Abstracts at Home II" was a go! Kingsmill's has graciously agreed to provide a selection of furniture so that the exhibition room in my gallery can showcase the work of William Ronald and Walter Dexter with contemporary furniture showing how well today's furniture works with Abstract art. 

That's not all! It gets better! They have also provided the use of their landmark island window on Dundas Street to provide a showcase for the latest abstract art of London artist Jamie Jardine. Jamie Jardine has been exhibiting with me since 2000. Actually we both pretty well began our careers in contemporary art together. He is creator and me as connector. There will be an exhibition in the gallery following "Abstracts at Home II" of Jamie's paintings but in keeping with the original intent of Ronald's exhibition in 1953 the abstract expressionist work of a  London artist will be introduced to Londoners at Kingsmill's. 

This additional fillip of introducing Jamie Jardine's abstracts at Kingsmill's has been added at the request of the Kingsmill's. Sixty years ago it was Simpson's. Today it is Kingsmills. In both situations it is Canadians promoting Canadian. You will have a chance to see Jamie's paintings starting Wednesday November 7th at Kingsmill's department store at 130 Dundas Street in downtown London. Actually you may well want to visit Kingsmill's on Wednesday November 7th for their annual Xmas shopping event. You should check out their site www.kingsmills.com . In my gallery at 258 Dundas Street you will be able to see Kingsmill's quality furniture providing the perfect setting for the extraordinary paintings of William Ronald and the wonderful ceramic art of Walter Dexter.

YESTERDAY & TODAY opens to public AUG 10

Finally it is happening, this years August exhibition opens next week. The theme for this year's exhibition is Yesterday and Today. with participating artists having sent an early piece and a contemporary piece. It is shaping up to be an exciting exhibition and as usual the excitement starts for us as the work arrives in the gallery. We are introducing three new artists to the gallery. Bruce Taylor (Ontario), Samantha Dickie (British Columbia) and Kirsten Abrahamson (Ontario). They are three exceptional artists each presenting a totally different aesthetic.

Bruce Taylor work for Yesterday & Today
Clorox bottle is 38" tall

I have admired Bruce Taylor's work for years and it is wonderful to finally have his work in the gallery. We did have one of his monumental sculptural works arrive a couple of months ago and for the exhibition he has sent three incredible works that I just love ranging from the 38" Clorox bottle to the relatively diminutive yogurt container (not pictured) at 17" high. They just blow me away. As you can see from the bottle on the right there are figures all around the bottle. The bottle on the right is also decorated but the images are more difficult to see in this photo.

Kirsten Abrahamson historical work
for Yesterday & Today

The picture above depicts Kirsten Abrahamson's graduating piece from the Alberta College of Art. Apparently it made quite a stir at the year end show a few decades ago. Kirsten say that there was a line-up of professors ogling it at the opening. I had an artist in yesterday from BC and he named all six of the professors about to be devoured in this art student take on Goya. It is really quite wonderful. Similarly is 'Gloria' the Abrahamson update done specifically for this exhibition.

"Gloria" the 21st century update on the Goyaesque
sculpture done by Kirsten for her graduating show.

Don't you just love "Gloria"? She is the updated version of the graduation piece. Note the six skulls in the right hand. This work is fabulous. I think Kirsten was way ahead of her time when she started doing her 'bots' (ceramic robot figures). We received five in December and they sold in a couple of hours. i think Gloria will find a good home on opening night!

Pieced Together Man #5

I really have to tell you about Sally Michener's Pieced Together Men of which this is #5. Pieced together man #1 was in last year's Matter of Clay III exhibition. It was snapped up very quickly by two very astute London collectors. While lolling about with a red dot it was seen by another London collector on his first visit to the gallery. He enquired about the price and said he would like to know when the next piece came in. I knew there were two more so I called Sally and she agreed to send another.

Pieced Together Man #2

Enter Pieced Together Man #2. 

So Sally agrees to send on #2. I give the interested collector a call to tell him it is in transit and if he comes in on the Friday he will be probably the first to see it. This was on a Tuesday. On Wednesday I was talking with a client in Vancouver who asked me if anything exciting was coming in. I tell him about #2 and he asks for an image. So given the Internet age I send it off to him and he gets to see it while we are talking. "Nice" says he. "Is it sold?" "Not yet but there is a chap interested." "I'll take it!" says he and so when it arrives we don't even open the crate and it is air shipped BACK to Vancouver. So he missed out again. No problem as Pieced Together Woman was on her way. It arrived a couple of weeks later on a Friday and Brian unpacked it. It was equally spectacular. This time a new collector happened to see it. He had earlier bemoaned the  fact that being a late baby boomer he had missed out on The Group of Seven, Painters Eleven and waterfront property. I told him to pay attention to art level ceramics. He saw the head and loved it. He and his wife had just bought a Walter Dexter vase. He was sitting debating about getting the head. "Jonathon, I feel under the gun to make a decision." "Don't worry about it. Come back next week and if it is here it is meant to be." "it won't be here next week. I'll take it!"

Pieced Together Man #3

Well yet again the original collector missed out. When he next came in i was a bit embarrassed. "Listen, next time I won't even show anyone else." "Not to worry - Next one to come in - I'll take it!" and he did! 

Pieced Together Man #4

To say that Sally's work has been popular would be an understatement. The truth of the matter is I honestly believe clay is about to get its place in the sun. The number of new collectors getting interested in collecting is growing steadily and they are willing to step out of the traditional collecting mode and are embracing the edgy. It is an exciting time to be selling ceramics and an exciting time to be collecting.

Okay folks that is enough for now. More on Yesterday and Today tomorrow!

Jonathon

Marianne Fisher, Nancy Latchford & Connie Jefferess

Opening Thursday July 19th at 7PM

Beal Secondary School's Art program is celebrating 100 Years in 2012. In celebration of this even t there are events taking place throughout the year all over London. The events celebrate Beal's place as one of the premier secondary school art programs in Canada. The list of distinguished artists that have been part of Beal is a Who's Who of the London scene and includes many highly respected artists who have made a name for themselves nationally and internationally. People like Patterson Ewen (1925-2002), Greg Curnoe (1936-1932), Herb Arris (1923-2009), Mackie Cryderman (1896?-1969), the list is endless. 

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When sculptor Ron Milton approached me in 2011 to ask if I would consider participating in th e2012 year lon celebration of 100 Years of Beal my answer was a resounding yes. Though not a Beal alumna I have been deeply affected through my contact with Beal. When the old Beal Art on Maitland was torn down I rescued , on a quiet Summer Sunday, the BEALART sign currently hanging in the west stairwell of the new Beal annex. It was a secret rescue and the sign was ceremoniously and fittingly restored to Beal during a Beal Year End Art Shoe at the then London Galleria currently known as Citi Plaza. My gallery next door to the exhibition hosted Return To Sender a Beal alumni show. Bevan Ling was retiring that year and he graciously accepted th emosaic sign thought lost by the faculty. It was at a Beal show that I met Byron Hodgins who was to be the feature artist of my first gallery show in April of 2000. Joseph Cernius, Trevor Kyle Carter, James McCreery, Gab Kokas, are a few of the young artists I met there. I am still in contact with all of them and cherish the early examples of their work dating from their time at Beal. They are part of the new generation of Canadian artists with a strong Beal connection. Recently reading Nancy Poole's informative Art of London I was reminded yet again of the importance of Beal to the arts in London.

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 The Beal Art Program is important. It provides an extraordinary service to London keeping us supplied with aspiring artists some of whom will become great Canadian icons. Beal graduates are often given preferred status at art schools all over Canada. Beal enhances the reputation of London as an arts Mecca.

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All that being said I had to decide on a focus. Fortuitously Marianne Fisher, herself a Beal graduate, approached me about the possibility of having a retrospective. Marianne's career in clay began at Beal with Herb Arris the head of the art department introduced her to the medium. She has never looked back. Marianne has had a successful career as a ceramic artist and now we have the opportunity to look back over her career through an exhibition of works she has held on to dating back to the beginning of her lover affair with clay.

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I am also pleased to include work by Nancy Latchford, also a graduate of Beal. Nancy has created two new works that we are pleased to be exhibiting. As if that isn't enough we are thrilled to have a hanging by Connie Jefferess who taught at Beal and was also Nancy's mentor. Connie, now retired and in her eighties, was yet another artist touched by the inimitable Herb Arris. I almost feel like I should be calling this exhibition Herb's Choice as each of these artists was directly impacted by the energy and love of art that Herb exhibited through his dedication to maintaining a vibrant and exciting art program at Beal.

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I hope you will take the opportunity to visit the gallery and see the work of:

~ Marianne Fisher ~ ceramic artist ~

~ Nancy Latchford ~ fibre artist ~

~ Connie Jefferess ~ fibre artist ~

FUSION

Well here it is May and the first event of the year is rapidly approaching. This will be an interesting show. Fusion - The association of glass and clay artists is having their annual exhibition in London at the end of May. We show a number of the artists who belong and in appreciation and in recognition of these artists we are hosting an exhibition featuring the Fusion members past and present that we currently show.

In addition to the exhibition of their work we will also have an exhibition of the people we show who have given workshops to Fusion over the past many years.If you are reading this and are either a Fusion member or have been a Fusion presenter please get in touch with us so that you are not forgotten.

Today is rapidly disappearing and considering that I still have other fish to fry or mugs to throw or kilns to stoke and I think I better get moving! Have a great day!

The Fusion conference is in London Ontario this year and in appreciation of the many Fusion members that we represent we are having a special exhibition dedicated to Fusion members. It opens Thursday, May 24th. We have been busily assembling the work for what is shaping up to be an excellent exhibition. This will also be the first time in the history of the gallery that I will not be here for the opening! I will be in Victoria. To be honest it is a bit strange to think that I will not be present but I am very fortunate to have an excellent gallery manager. Brian Cooke will be hosting the opening. Brian has been with the gallery now for almost eight years so I know everything will be great.

We are also happy to announce that Bruce Taylor will be showing with us. The upcoming exhibition is the first time he has exhibited with us. I am also thrilled to say that Kirsten Abrahamson will also have a piece in the show. Kirsten has only recently joined the gallery and her first pieces sold out in a day so we are looking forward to seeing some more work from her. For those of you unfamiliar with her work: you are in for a treat!

Also stay tuned to this page for information on our annual August exhibition "Yesterday and Today". It will feature the work of 25 of Canada's top ceramic artists. They will be showcasing one historical piece and one contemporary piece. This will be an excellent opportunity for collectors to acquire some truly innovative work!

Signing off for now!

Matter of Clay III - 3 more sleeps!

Okay folks - here's the scoop! We are just three days away from the opening and, to be honest, I am a wee bit tired. The work continues to arrive and never ceases to amaze. This afternoon the installation arrived by Zsuzsa Monostory of Toronto. It is extraordinary! The theme is that of Punchinello commedia dell'arte. Actually I first met Zsuzsa at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto in 2001 and fell in love with her figures (someone else did too as one was actually stolen the night of the opening from the display!) and three years ago we discussed the possibility of doing a set of figures based on the 18th century concept of the garniture. And here we are three years later and it is a fait accompli and a true tour de force. It is awesome and will no doubt find a suitable home.

Artists are texting, calling and emailing their arrival times. They are coming by plane, train and automobile! There will be more nationally renowned Canadian artists in one place at one time than have been in a long time! A young artist, named Luke, swung by the gallery today visiting from Vancouver. He has just graduated from Emily Carr and is very excited about attending all the events but his comment that most resonated with e was "You have no idea what a thrill it is to be in a room filled with the work of artists that you have admired but only seen in slides. It is incredible to see everything 3D".

Let's not forget the catalogue! Sebastian Frye has designed an amazing work. I said to him a couple of weeks ago that when he looked at it and was proud to call it a creation of his then I would be pleased. It is fantastic. If you are thinking of getting one - don't hesitate. There are only five hundred copies and we have already sold over 20% and it hasn't even been printed yet! Actually as I type (or hunt and peck) the first part is being printed by the Ronald Frye Publishing House in Toronto. I am really pleased that an exhibition featuring Canadian talent has been designed and printed by a Canadian company. Margaret Atwood would be proud.

Judy and Rick Blake have just arrived in Dundas Ontario on their way to London. They will be staying at the home of Carol and Richard Rossman tonight, sharing potter hospitality. No doubt Rick and Richard will be commiserating with one another. Where David Hayashida is at the moment I don't know but I would imagine that he is off the island and Newfoundland is a far bit away. Well folks I am off to the pub to meet Stephen who has just arrived from Florida fresh from his respite before the serious entertaining begins!