Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: I graduated from the Ontario College of Art & Design with a Bachelor of Design in 2005.
I majored in Ceramics, in the Material Art and Design program. Since graduating I work part time on my craft, producing enough work for three to four craft sales a year, such as; Cabbagetown, Toronto Outdoor Art Show and the One of a kind Show. In my neighbourhood, I do the St.Clair and Wychcraft markets, and annually I've been involved with the winter and spring sales of Mt.Pleasant Pottery.
Artist Statement: Ceramics satisfies my need to pursue a range of techniques and procedures. My enjoyment lies within the processes of making and the progression of discovering my capabilities. Whether making functional or sculptural work, I’m guided by an interest in complementary elements and a consideration for balance both conceptually and aesthetically. Ideas of duality, unity and infinity are sources of inspiration.
Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: Since 2008 we participated at Brick Works Farmers Market. We are back in 2010. We had a table at the Cabbagetown St. Festival in 2008 and in 2009 participated at Queen West Art Crawl. MHSM Design specializes in custom jewellery. We create unique pieces that are one of a kind created by Michael, Maria and Hailey Shakespear Miles. We've taken classes on Wire wrapping, wiring, knitting and currently, Michael is in his 2nd year at Harbourfront Craft Studio for intermediate jewellery classes.
Artist Statement: MHSM Design is a vibrant, young, design company that specializes in custom jewellery that can be enjoyed every day or for those special occasions. Beads, stones, crystals, pearls and the incredible selection that is available from around the world inspire us to make each piece. We are involved all through the design process and have lots of fun creating unique jewellery for you.
Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: I am a Classically trained Animator with a BFA Honours in Printmaking, Photography and Painting. I presently work as an Animation Director here in Ottawa and spend my free time crafting up a storm! I have participated in many craft shows in Ottawa and look forward to tapping the Toronto market to share my work with others.
Artist Statement: I received my formal training from the University of Windsor with a major in Fine Arts. I then turned to Animation to hone my career, earning my degree from VanArts in Vancouver BC. Since then I work by day as an Animation Director and spend my evenings crafting up a storm in my home in Ottawa.
Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: I'd particpated in the Interior Design Show 2010 (IDS10) February 2010 in Toronto; the Artist Project in Toronto and the Architectural Digest Home Design Show in New York City (both) last month (March 2010) and have several upcoming indoor & outdoor art shows in Ottawa, Chicago, New York and others. I've been showcasing my acrylic paintings as well as photographs on metal.
Artist Statement: I've been splitting my artistic focus between both my paintings and photography. I'm better known as a painter of acrylic work on canvas or wood panel, using brush and palette knives, sometimes using epoxy resin to further enhance my work. I would say my paintings are more personal. However, I've also developed a strong series of photographs printed directly onto metal, sometimes creating installations that marriage the two mediums, depending on the concept.
Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: To date, I’ve sold my work exclusively through art and craft sales. I value independent employment and self-distribution is essential to my vision. Since bookbinding is difficult to learn outside of academia I’ve directed my own education, completing apprenticeships with Lumiere Press (Toronto) and Arion Press (San Francisco). I’ve studied at the San Francisco Center for Book Arts, and with fine binder Eleanore Ramsey (Sausalito). I seek out exhibitions of bookworks, routinely visiting the Grolier Club and the Morgan Library (NYC). I’m a life-long reader - every book I’ve held has contributed to the skills I now possess.
Artist Statement: I’m a bookbinder making lovely notebooks from quality paper, bookcloth, and hand-printed images. I’ve had estimable mentors, but my skills were largely attained through personal curiosity and commitment. I perform all stages of production in my home bindery without extensive equipment. I enjoy bookbinding and printmaking for their processes, the extent to which outcomes depend upon cumulative steps. Completing work by hand demonstrates human capability, suffusing it with something of yourself. My books constitute collaboration with their users, becoming special keepsakes or repositories for others’ creativity.
Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: JACK ZHOU
CURRICULUM VITAE
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
“Pretty Indeed”, Deleon White Gallery, Toronto, 2009
“Original Oil Landscapes”, ArtTrax, Port Credit, Mississauga, November 2007
“Sense of Place”, Auburn Gallery of Fine Art, Gravenhurst, Ontario, July
Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: Painting professionally since 2007, I am the founding member of the SolidColour art collective and was a Member of the Board of Directors for the Artists Network throughout 2009. Recently I have exhibited at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, Arta Gallery, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition and Speakeasy. Also I am a regular contributor to: Queen West Art Crawl, Square Foot, Hang Man Gallery, Riverdale Art Walk, The Octopus Project, World of Imagination: New York, The Little Art Show Whodunnit?, The Beverly Owens Project.
Artist Statement: I am heavily influenced by the English Arts and Crafts movement and Art Nouveau, especially Charles Rennie Mackintosh, whose works are an integral part of my native Glasgow. Acrylics have granted me the freedom to express these organic, sinuous forms whilst also allowing me to build up depth using translucent layers reflecting many years working with pastels. Recently I have started to incorporate my photography into my art using the acrylic transfer technique.
Other sources of inspiration have been Josef Albers, travel, Clyfford Still, Wassily Kandinsky, tea, and Bridget Riley.
Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: Stephen received his art education in Hong Kong since the immigration to Toronto in 1995. He has participated in 27 solos and over 200 group shows in many countries. His works had won numerous awards and are in the collections of local and overseas corporations, museums and prvate collectors. His recent shows include One of A Kind Christmas Show 2009, Toronto ArExpo 2010 and Heintzman House Invitational Art Show 2010.
Artist Statement: 'Fantasy' is Stephen's most recent series of acrylic painting, it has been inspired by his textural watercolours since 2008. While he is still focusing on the natural world, most recent images are characterized by an explosion of colour as the vibrant hues of nature spill out of the boundary of their forms and weave complex webs of colour, splattered, splashed and washed thorough the dense background jungle in a more abstract way.