Tiny Textiles!

One of the most exciting parts of putting together the Pre-Shrunk show is the variety of works that are submitted. While size and format are the two major criteria that must be met, there are no guidelines or rules regarding materials. We received numerous submissions this year that incorporated textile materials and techniques to create imaginative and playful works.

The Pre-Shrunk show is not limited only to paintings, so we thought we'd share with you some amazing works in the show this year that use fibres instead of paint!

Dorothyanne Brown is one artist who used various types of fibres to create colorful works with great contrast in textures. She is able to create a lot of depth in these works with the variety of fine and chunkier fibers.

Dorothyanne Brown, Frida, 4" x 5",  Embroidery on Linen, Wool, Velvet, Metal Thread

Dorothyanne Brown, Pablo's Wife, 4' x 5", Embroidery on Linen, Glass Beads

Dorothyanne Brown, Brad, 4" x 5", Embroidery on Linen, Horsehair

Lisa Hulbert is another artist who incorporated embroidery into her work. Her lovely floral works are so delicate, and created with a warm and pleasing color palette. The fabric is mounted on thick wood panel with a rich brown wood stain; this adds a modern edge and contrast.

Lisa Hulbert, 02, 4" x 5", Embroidery on Fabric, Mounted on Wood Panel

Lisa Hulbert, 03, 4" x 5", Embroidery on Fabric, Mounted on Wood Panel

We love this whale embroidered by artist Katie Ryan! The imaginative and decorative details add such a nice touch. Can you spot the night sky, stormy waves, and the tiny sailboat?! :)

Katie Ryan, Whale, 4" x 5", Embroidery Floss on Fabric, mounted

Artist Amanda Nicholson put a very creative spin on the 4" x 5" size restriction by using an appropriately-sized base to support her mini upholstered chairs! We love the fabric she used to cover the chairs so much...we wish they were human-sized!!

Amanda Nicholson, Red Chair, Foam Board, Fabric, Balsa Wood, Painted 4" x 5" Wood Base

Amanda Nicholson, Blue Chair, Foam Board, Fabric, Balsa Wood, Painted 4" x 5" Wood Base

Textile-based artist Tacha Reed used hand-dyed wool to create topographic views of NS. What a neat idea!

Tacha Reed, Nova Scotia at Low Tide, Hand-Dyed Wool, mounted

Tacha Reed, Unama'Ki, Hand-Dyed Wool, mounted

Yoko White's use of embroidery thread and ink on cotton fabric creates a unique contrast that feels clean and modern. The ink creates an illustrative style, while the colored embroidery thread adds texture and juxtaposes the natural world against the built environment. We posted more of Yoo's fantastic work in yesterday's post!

Yoko White, Pier 21, Caligraphy Ink, Embroidery Floss on Cotton

Last but definitely not least, Mindy Harris! Mindy brilliantly combines painting and embroidery. She applies watercolor onto canvas to achieve subtle color washes, and works over top with embroidery thread, leaving some areasof paint fully exposed, while fully stitching over others. Her women of sci-fi series is just incredible. A must see!!

Mindy Harris, You Can't Take The Sky From Me, 4" x 5", Embroidery and Watercolour on Canvas

Mindy Harris, The Truth Is Out There, 4" x 5",  Embroidery and Watercolour on Canvas

Mindy Harris, Set Phasers To Stun, 4" x 5", Embroidery and Watercolour on Canvas

If you haven't made it down to the gallery yet to see the show, you still have  a bit of time! In the meantime, you can view all the works online HERE. We're trying our best to keep the album updated with what has sold...and as you can see, pieces are selling fast. Take a browse!:)

Tiny Works, Big Love!

Pre-Shrunk 2019 opened last Friday, and we can confidently say, wow, what a show! With 393 works on display, this show offers something for everyone, and is truly a showcase of the broad range of talent that exists not just here within our city, but also within our country (we have a few artists from outside of NS).

Among the 393 works, we noticed some recurring and favorite themes. Many artists created works about their surroundings, urban and rural; many highlighted the beauty in nature; some were an ode to the cutest critters, both domestic and wild. There's such a variety.

In today's post, we thought we'd highlight some pieces that focus right here, right now, on the city we live in: Halifax. If you're reading this, you survived January (even if it wasn't fully painless), and give yourself an extra pat on the back if you have gotten this far through a Maritime winter. We have so much love for Halifax, but the winters sure can be tough.

Here are a few pieces to remind you of what life looks like here in the summer (four more months-ish...has anyone else started a summer countdown?)

Wenxiu Ji, Sunday Afternoon, Ink and Acrylic on Canvas

Wenxiu Ji, 4" x 5", Blue Corner, Ink and Acrylic on Canvas

We think Yoko White is brilliant with her "tropical" takeover over of Halifax scenes. Imagine Barrington St. or Government House being taken over by colorful blooms, or St. Paul's Anglican Church boasting palm trees at its entrance?!

Yoko White, 4" x 5", Barrington St., Caligraphy Ink, Embroidery Floss on Cotton

Yoko White, 4" x 5", Government House, Caligraphy Ink, Embroidery Floss on Cotton

Yoko White, St. Paul's Anglican Church, Caligraphy Ink, Embroidery Floss on Cotton

We love how a few artists created such nostalgia for the mundane, everyday scenes of life in Halifax, from colorful neighborhood intersections, to small neighborhood shops. Many pieces feel like snapshots from a commute to or from work.

Lindsay Hicks, 4' x 5', The Inner Light, Oil on Wood Panel

Lindsay Hicks, 4" x 5", Before the Dawn, Oil on Wood Panel

Dominic Lajeunesse, North & Agricola, Oil on Wood

Jan Davison, 4" x 5",  LF Bakery, Acrylic on Wood Panel

Catherine Bagnell Styles, South Park, Acrylic and Ink on Paper, Mounted

If you haven't made it down to the gallery yet to see the show, you still have a couple weeks left! In the meantime, you can view all the works online HERE. We're trying our best to keep the album updated with what has sold...and as you can see, pieces are selling fast. Take a browse!:)

PRE-SHRUNK 2019 OPENS TONIGHT! 7pm-9pm

It's the most wonderful time of the year.......it's PRE-SHRUNK 2019!  Please drop by this evening for the opening launch tonight, Friday- January 25th, 7pm-9pm to feast your eyes on 393 little works of art!  Each work measures 4" x 5" and each work is just $175 each!

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ENTIRE SHOW below, but remember that seeing all these works together and in person is really the best way to enjoy the show, so if you don't get over tonight put this on your TO-DO LIST for Saturday or anytime until February 16th.

GET SET...GET ART LOOKING: CLICK HERE 

Thanks to all the artists, patrons, friends, family members, install team! 

We couldn't host this show without all of you!

By Kathy Richards

FINAL HIGH NOON AT NOON and the ROUND UP!

Welcome to Wednesday and the last official day for HIGH NOON POSTINGS! We still have some works that didn't sell from the past HIGH NOON features in the last few days and have decided to keep those sales open  (check them out in this post and in our older blog posts on here too- if the works don't say SOLD they are still available at those special prices until end of day this Saturday, January 26th) :-)
 
What IS HIGH NOON ANYWAY?

HIGH NOON is a time sensitive "sale" on  selected works that the gallery and artist that created them feel is some of their best works...but haven't found a home yet. We'd like to introduce you to these works and hope that some of them find a home with you. We feature ONE  piece of art at HIGH NOON that will be priced at a special price but for just 24 hours! 
 
Today's HIGH NOON AT NOON features are two original mixed media works by Meike Duch from many years ago, when we hosted a Canadiana art exhibit. Mmmmm....Lobster! Below are their details.

This first work is called "Three Graces" and it's made with  Marker, Acrylic, Ink, Varnish,  5" x 7" , Framed. It's original price was $190 but it's on  sale for just $75!

  
This second work is called "And Lobsters Come From Mars" made with Marker, Acrylic, Ink, Varnish,  5" x 7" $190  but it's on  sale for just $75!

BELOW ARE THE REMAINING 21 WORKS STILL AVAILABLE AT SPECIAL PRICES. INQUIRE AT THE GALLERY or check the details out on this blog (older posts, last couple of days!:-)

HIGH NOON at NOON: Michelle St-Onge

 Welcome to Tuesday- the second last day for the HIGH NOON SALES! We still have some works that didn't sell from the past HIGH NOON features in the last few days and have decided to keep those sales open until end of day January 26th. 

In fact you can view some of these works in person when you attend our upcoming show "PRE-SHRUNK" opening this Friday 7pm-9pm in our lower gallery. So take another gander and buy some art to start off your 2019 in style!
 

HIGH NOON is a time sensitive "sale" on  selected works that the gallery and artist that created them feel is some of their best works...but haven't found a home yet. We'd like to introduce you to these works and hope that some of them find a home with you. We feature ONE  piece of art at HIGH NOON that will be priced at a special price but for just 24 hours! 
 
Today's HIGH NOON AT NOON features are by Michelle St-Onge and include two architectural limited edition screenprints and one of the very first watercolours she ever brought us of this beautiful butterfly- a beautiful memory of warmer days ahead...take a look below for details on each piece.  

This work  below of LOVE SHACK will sell for just $285 until January 26th , and  it's regular price is $425. It's the very last of it's kind and a very special piece of Halifax history and architecture.

 

"Love Shack", 18" x 22", Edition 1/10, Screen printed and hand coloured on canvas

 

 

 

 
 This work  below of Chicken Little  will sell for just $195 until January 26th , and  it's regular price is $325. It's also  the very last of it's kind and a very special reminder of summer in HRM- cooling off with a cone at the Chicken Little. :-) Ah.....dear summer, we miss you!

"Chicken Little", 12" x 18", Edition 1/8, Screen printed and hand coloured on canvas

 This work  below called "Swallowtail Butterfly" and will sell for just $95 until January 26th , and  it's regular price is $185. This work is framed and much nicer in person as well.